On Apr. 10, SDA1 diesel locomotive whose propulsion system was provided by CRRC Times Electric (CRRC TEC) passed through COWAN BANK test route named hairpin curve. This means the locomotive passed the most complicated qualification test in Australia and got the TOC waiver for operating in New South Wales.
From 2011 to 2013, as the only one CRRC in-house core electric system provider, CRRC TEC had provided propulsion system consisting of traction converter system, auxiliary converter system, network system and other core components to CRRC Ziyang for 18 SDA1 AC-Diesel locomotives. The maximum power and speed are respectively 3000kw and 120 km/h. In 2012, SDA-1 locomotives got the approval to operate in ARTC network in South Australia, West Australia and Victoria. Next challenge is approval from Australia Asset Standard Authority (ASA) in New South Wales.
The experiment was taken in the Hawkesbury River -- Cowan bank with a total length of 8.5km,of which More than 75% of the whole sections are ramps with 25‰ gradient. And the most difficult section is the 25‰ gradient ramp with 220 meters continuous S type curve. As required by ASA, the testing should be with single locomotive operated and the whole railway is watered by sprinkler. Manual sanding is prohibited. The lowest speed can’t be less than 10km/h and test time can’t exceed 26 minutes. And uncontrolled wheel slips are not allowed to happen.
Due to weather conditions and other issues, the diesel locomotive did not meet Australian requirements during the first two tests. Australian expert even claimed that “It’s impossible that SDA1 can pass COWAN bank test with bogie control and single locomotive, hauling 1500t”. Engineers of CRRC TEC upgraded 4 software versions which were the result of continuous discussion, analysis, calculation and improvement.
Finally in the third test, the diesel locomotive finished the whole journey in 24 minutes. The certification engineer sang high praise for the perfect performance of the SDA1 diesel locomotive. They also mentioned that no single operated locomotive hauling 1500t had passed COWAN test before. SDA1 is the first diesel locomotive to pass the most difficult test of Australia for both axle control and bogie control with single locomotive hauling 1500t.
