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English Electric's K, RK and V type diesel engines were manufactured by the English Electric company of the United Kingdom for stationary, rail transport and maritime use between 1934 and 1976.

History

Initially, the "K" type engine developed in the 1930s were offered in I4, I6, I7 and I8 variants, had 2-valve cylinder heads and ran at 600-680rpm. In 1940, turbocharging became an option, boosting power output by about 61%.

Due to the demand of more power, the Mark I "RK" (Revised K) and "V" type were introduced in 1947. The "V" type were built in V8, V12 and V16 configurations.

In 1951, the engines received 4-valve cylinder heads, thus creating Mark II "RK" and "V" types which ran at 750-850rpm. Intercooling became an option in 1960, adding a "C" to the engine designation should it be equipped. More revisions saw the creation of the Mark III engines in 1962.

Unlike other comparable engines (and unusually for its size), EE used timing chains instead of timing gears. This was changed in 1968 with the introduction of the RK3 series by Ruston-Paxman after the demise of EE in the same year.

Nomenclature

  • 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 16 - Cylinder count
  • C - Intercooler
  • S - Supercharged (actually turbocharged)
  • K, RK, V - Engine type
  • M, T - Intended purpose
    • M - Maritime
    • T - Rail Traction

Variants

Type Cylinders Aspiration Applications
4RKM 4 Naturally Aspirated Port Phillip Bay pilot ship DE (or MV or TS) Wyuna (originally had three but third engine was removed in 1980s and is with the Australian Maritime College)
4SRKT Mk II 4 Turbocharger BR Class 73, 201, 202, 205 & 207, UTA 70 Class, NIR 80 Class, NIR 450 Class, SAR 500 Class
6KT 6 Naturally Aspirated BR Class 08, 09, 11, 12, 13 & D3/11, VR F class, KTM Class 15, Litt V1 Nr 3 & 4 & NS Class 600, AIS D9 Class
6RKT Mk I 6 Naturally Aspirated SAR 350 Class
6SRKT Mk I 6 Turbocharger NZR DE Class, TGR X Class
6SRKT Mk II 6 Turbocharger MRWA F Class, NZR DG & DH Classes (1955), SAR 800 Class, Tasmanian Government Railways Y class
6CSRKT 6 Turbocharger & Intercooler GML1-2, NZR DI Class, QR 1600 & 1620 Classes, WAGR H Class, AIS D35 Class
6CSRKM 6 Turbocharger & Intercooler NZR rail ferries Aramoana, Aranui, Aratika, Arahunga
7SKM 7 Turbocharger MV North Head, MV Baragoola & MV Bellubera
8RKM 8 Naturally Aspirated Port Phillip Bay pilot ship DE (or MV or TS) Wyuna (3x)
8SRKT 8 Turbocharger AIS D1 Class, AIS D16 Class
8SVT Mk II 8 Turbocharger British Rail Class 20, MRWA G Class
8CSV 8 Turbocharger & Intercooler Hinkley Point A Nuclear Power Station emergency diesel generators
8CSVT 8 Turbocharger & Intercooler CP Class 1400, KTM Class 22
12SVT Mk II 12 Turbocharger BR Class 31, KTM Class 20, NZR DF Class (1954), QR 1200, 1225, 1250 & 1270 Classes
12CSVT 12 Turbocharger & Intercooler BR Class 37, AIS D34 Class, East African Railways 90 Class, Ghana Railway 1851 Class, GML3-9, QR 1300, 2350 & 2370 Classes, Sudan Government Railways 1000 Class, TGR Z & Za Classes, WAGR C, K & R/RA Classes, Rhodesia Railways Class DE3
16SVT Mk I 16 Turbocharger BR Class D16/1 (equipped with Brown Boveri turbochargers)[1] & D16/2 (equipped with Napier & Son turbochargers),[2] SAR 900 Class
16SVT Mk II 16 Turbocharger BR Class 40, Rhodesia Railways Class DE2
16CSVT 16 Turbocharger & Intercooler BR DP2 & Class 50, CP Class 1800
16CSVM 16 Turbocharger & Intercooler Royal Australian Navy Oberon-class submarine, NZR rail ferries Aramoana, Aranui

References

  1. ^ Clough, David N. (2011). "2: Diesel-Electric Development after 1945". Hydraulic vs Electric: The battle for the BR diesel fleet. Ian Allan. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7110-3550-8.
  2. ^ Clough 2011, p. 20
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