The 500 series locomotives are a group of diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic locomotives bought either new or second-hand by the Korean State Railway from the Soviet Union and Russia. The series includes several types of locomotive, all numbered in the 내연5xx range. The exact assignment of running numbers is not known, nor is the total number of units imported - or even all the types included in this series. However, the following are known:

• ТЭМ1 - Diesel-electric. Soviet-made derivative of the American ALCO RSD-1. Around 20 units imported in the early 1990s.[1] 내연569 is operational in the Namp'o area.[2]
• ТЭМ2 - Diesel-electric. Further development of the ТЭМ1. Number imported is not known, but at least two – 내연587 is operational in the P'yŏngyang area in a livery like the ТЭМ1s, and another has been seen painted in the North Korean standard light blue over dark green colours.
• ТГМ3Б - Diesel-hydraulic. Eleven imported new from the USSR in 1972–73.[3] Very similar to the SM15-class of the Polish State Railways. At least one converted to electric operation via pantograph.
• ТГМ4 - Diesel-hydraulic. Two imported new in 1985.[3]
• ТГМ4Б^Л - Diesel-hydraulic. Two imported new in 1991.[3]
• ТГМ8Э - Diesel-hydraulic. Export version of ТГМ6, same as JŽ series 744. A total of nine were imported new - 4 in 1986 and 5 in 1990.[3]

내연500 series
A TGM3 converted to electric operation on a train on the Hambuk Line.
Type and origin Data reflects ТЭМ1 units, the most numerous in the series Power type Diesel-electric Builder Bryansk  Soviet Union Build date 1958-1968
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge Wheel diameter 1,050 mm (3 ft 5 in) Wheelbase 12,800 mm (42 ft 0 in) Length 19,969 mm (65 ft 6.2 in) Width 3.080 mm (0.1213 in) Height 4,643 mm (15 ft 2.8 in) Axle load 21 t (46,000 lb) Loco weight 120 t (260,000 lb) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 5,440 kg (11,990 lb) Fuel consumption 224 g (0.494 lb)/kWh Prime mover 2D50 RPM range 740 rpm Engine type 4 stroke straight-6 Diesel engine Traction motors 6 x EDT-200B Transmission Electrical Couplers AAR knuckle
Performance figures Maximum speed 90 km/h (56 mph) Power output 735.5 kW (986.3 hp) Tractive effort 196.1 kN (44,100 lbf)

Some second hand broad gauge (1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge) units are operation around Rajin since the conversion of the Hongŭi Line from Tumangang on the DPRK-Russia border to Hongŭi, and of a section of the Hambuk Line from Hongŭi to Rajin to dual (standard and broad) gauge, completed in 2013.[4]

Numbering

• 내연565 - ТЭМ1
• 내연567 - ТЭМ1
• 내연569 - ТЭМ1
• 내연573 - ТГМ8Э
• 내연587 - ТЭМ2

Gallery

• 
  Russian ТЭМ1. Some North Korean units wear the same livery.
• 
  Russian ТЭМ2. Some North Korean units wear the same livery.
• 
  A ТГМ3 of the Soviet Railways.
• 
  A Russian ТГМ6; the ТГМ8Э is an export variant of this type.

References