Power at rail
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The power at rail is the amount of power which a train applies to achieve the tractive effort.
Power at rail is measured in kilowatts.
The power at rail of a train follows the equation power (kW) = force (kN) x speed (m/s)
A sample of UK rail locomotives are included on the below table to illustrate their power at rail.
| Class | Type | Top speed | Maximum tractive effort |
Speed to reduce tractive effort |
Continuous tractive effort |
Maximum power at rail |
Mass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km/h | mph | |||||||
| Class 08 | Shunter | 24 | 15 | 156 kN | 14.2 km/h | 49 kN | 194 kW | 49.6 - 50.4 t |
| Class 33 | Passenger | 137 | 85 | 200 kN | 28.2 km/h | 116 kN | 906 kW | 77.7 t |
| Class 56 | Light freight | 129 | 80 | 275 kN | 27 km/h | 240 kN | 1790kW | 125.2 t |
| Class 58 | Light freight | 129 | 80 | 275 kN | 28 km/h | 240 kN | 1780 kW | 130 t |
| Class 59 | Heavy freight | 97 or 121 | 60 or 75 | 506 kN | 23 km/h | 291 kN | 1889 kW | 121 t |
| Class 60 | Heavy freight | 97 | 60 | 500 kN | 28 km/h | 336 kN | 1800 kW | 129-131 t |
| Class 66 | Heavy freight | 121 | 75 | 409 kN | 25.6 km/h | 260 kN | 1850 kW | 126 t |
| Class 67 | Light freight | 201 | 125 | 141 kN | ?? | 90 kN | 1860 kW | 90 t |
The power at rail only includes the power which reaches the rail to create tractive effort and excludes power which is used for heating, cooling, lighting, etc. and also excludes power wasted by inefficiencies of the vehicle (including the production of sound and heat energy).
