The Dongfang Hong (Chinese: 东方红) was a type of single-cab diesel-hydraulic locomotive used on China Railways. The first DFH began trial production in 1959 at the Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Works (CRRC Sifang), before entering mass production in 1966. The DFH series of diesel locomotives, includes the DFH2, DFH3, DFH4, DFH5, DFH7 and DFH21. The DFH 2,5,6,7 and 21 were shunting locomotives built from the 1970s to 1990s.
The use of diesel-hydraulic shunters has fallen out of favour on the Chinese rail network, with diesel-electric locomotives being used. However, diesel-hydraulic machines continued to be produced for industrial railways – mainly the China Railways GK classes.DFH5 东方红5 , www.railwaysofchina.com
The DFH21 class is a meter gauge version of the DFH2, and was used on the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway for both passenger and freight services; the same machines are used on the Vietnam Railways where they are known as the D10H.
China Railways standard gauge
DFH2 The DFH2 was originally designed by Sifang locomotive works in 1966 as a passenger locomotive of rated power . The design did not enter mass production. In 1973, the design was changed at Ziyang locomotive works to a power locomotive with a top speed of .东方红型内燃机车, The East is Red Diesel locomotive, www.kepu.net.cn新闻资料：东方红型内燃机车 , Dongfang Hong (The east is red) types 2 and 3 museum images, news.workercn.cn
The mass was and the starting tractive effort was . The locomotive used a 12V180ZL engine and SF2010 transmission.中国铁路东方红2型(DFH2)内燃机车, China Railway "Dongfang Hong" 2 (DFH2) Diesel locomotive, www.hudong.com
In 1976, CRRC Sifang produced several DFH and DFH2 locomotives for use on the Chinese funded Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA Railway), becoming the first locomotive to be exported from China.CRRC Corporation Ltd. (2025, October 3). Classic Locomotive Retrospective | Dongfanghong [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQIyC-qXNnk
DFH5
To compensate to the growing needs of growing railway traffic for industrial and mining operations, the Ziyang Diesel Locomotive Factory redesigned the DFH2, addressing technical issues in the manufacturing process and operations, to create the DFH5. The locomotive's pushing capacity was increased to 3300 tons. Between 1975 and 1993, 450 units were manufactured.
Early models of the DFH2 and DFH5 locomotives suffered from high oil temperatures in warm environments. To address this issue, in August 1976, the Ziyang Diesel Locomotive Factory improved the lubrication oil pipeline on the DFH5 locomotive No. 0001 to reduce oil temperatures, a change that was further implemented on later units of the DFH5. In 1986, the Ziyang Diesel Locomotive Factory then made improvements to the torque converter in the hydraulic transmission box, adding a new turning mechanism and module axle gears. Improvements were also made to the axle gearbox and bogie frame. To meet the high-temperature and corrosion-resistant requirements of metallurgical and chemical systems, the locomotive uses fire-resistant, heat-insulating, and corrosion-resistant materials, enabling it to operate in external temperatures of 50°C. These improvements led to the widespread use of the DFH5 diesel locomotive in local railways and industrial and mining enterprises.Huang Jiayou 黄家友. “东方红5(DFHs)型 0001 号内燃机车” (Dongfanghong 5 (DFHs) type diesel locomotive No. 0001). In 图说中国铁道博物馆珍贵文物 (Illustrated Treasures of the China Railway Museum), vol. 1. 北京: 中国铁道出版社, 2014, pp. 44–46.
The DFH5 engine was a 12V180ZJ and transmission ZJ2011, producing of tractive effort with a mass of and with a top speed of . A higher speed was available with a limit of and tractive effort reduced to approximately half.新闻资料：东方红型内燃机车 , Dongfang Hong (The east is red) type 5, museum images and technical details, news.workercn.cn
Variants, the DFH5B and DFH5C, were introduced in 1985, with modifications to improve reliability and performance – in both where the rated power was increased to , and the mass by . DFH5C was produced for operations in metalworks.
DFH6 In 1981, CRRC Ziyang designed and trial-produced the 2,000 horsepower hydraulic transmission shunting locomotive, the DFH 6.CRRC Corporation Ltd. (2025, October 3). Classic Locomotive Retrospective | Dongfanghong [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQIyC-qXNnk One example was produced for shunting in the Chinese port of Huangpu District, Shanghai.
DFH7 Four units were produced for shunting in mines and industrial environments.
Metre gauge DFH21
CRRC Sifang designed and developed the DFH 21 diesel shunting locomotive in 1977 for use on Yunnan’s metre-gauge railway, upgrading the line from steam to modern diesel powered engines.CRRC Corporation Ltd. (2025, October 3). Classic Locomotive Retrospective | Dongfanghong [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQIyC-qXNnk The DFH 21 locomotive was similar in design to the DFH2 type but was built to meter gauge and used as universal locomotives.中国機関車大全 液体式ディーゼル機関車編 : 東方紅21型（DFH21） Chinese locomotives : diesel hydraulics, section "DFH21", www.chinarailway.jp The locomotives were used on the Kunming metre gauge railway, including passenger services., section "Kunming meter gauge", Peter Patt, Jan Schirling, 2005, www.sy-country.co.ukDFH21 Images via www.flickr.com
As of 2012, Kunming rail fans report that DFH21 locomotives are still used to haul a few passenger trains a day along the metre gauge tracks from Kunming North Railway Station to several nearby stations. , these trains were still in operation.滇越铁路徒步第一程（昆明——宜良） (A walk along the Kunming-Vietnam Railway. Part 1: Kunming-Chenggong)
30 of the locomotives are also used by Vietnam Railways, where they are known as the D10H.Danh sách đầu máy D10H tại Việt nam, Info on D10H in Vietnam, daumaytoaxe.com In 2005, Vietnam railways had 20 units operational. In 2009, ten of the engines had Caterpillar Inc. 3512B engines fitted as replacements.Vòng quanh các xí nghiệp đầu máy ở VN, Tour of railway factories in Vietnam, p.16, daumaytoaxe.com
Preserved locomotives DFH2 0008 and DFH5 0001 are both preserved at the Beijing China Railway Museum.Preserved Locomotives , www.railwaysofchina.com
See also China Railways DFH mainline locomotives, Contemporary Chinese diesel-hydraulic locomotives used primarily for passenger and freight trains
References
Images
External links
☆中国鉄道博物館 車両図録☆ Railway museum Beijing, diesel hydraulic gallery, www.geocities.jp