English Electric diesel engines

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 TypeCylindersAspirationApplications4RKM4Naturally AspiratedPort 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 II4TurbochargerBR Class 73, 201, 202, 205 & 207, UTA 70 Class, NIR 80 Class, NIR 450 Class, SAR 500 Class6KT6Naturally AspiratedBR Class 08, 09, 11, 12, 13 & D3/11, VR F class, KTM Class 15, Litt V1 Nr 3 & 4 & NS Class 600, AIS D9 Class6RKT Mk I6Naturally AspiratedSAR 350 Class6SRKT Mk I6TurbochargerNZR DE Class, TGR X Class6SRKT Mk II6TurbochargerMRWA F Class, NZR DG & DH Classes (1955), SAR 800 Class, Tasmanian Government Railways Y class6CSRKT6Turbocharger & IntercoolerGML1-2, NZR DI Class, QR 1600 & 1620 Classes, WAGR H Class, AIS D35 Class6CSRKM6Turbocharger & IntercoolerNZR rail ferries Aramoana, Aranui, Aratika, Arahunga7SKM7TurbochargerMV North Head, MV Baragoola & MV Bellubera8RKM8Naturally AspiratedPort Phillip Bay pilot ship DE (or MV or TS) Wyuna (3x)8SRKT8TurbochargerAIS D1 Class, AIS D16 Class8SVT Mk II8TurbochargerBritish Rail Class 20, MRWA G Class8CSV Mk II8Turbocharger & IntercoolerHinkley Point A Nuclear Power Station emergency diesel generators 8CSVT8Turbocharger & IntercoolerCP Class 1400, KTM Class 22, NIR 101 Class12SVT Mk II12TurbochargerBR Class 31, KTM Class 20, NZR DF Class (1954), QR 1200, 1225, 1250 & 1270 classes12CSVT12Turbocharger & IntercoolerBR Class 37, AIS D34 Class, East African Railways 90 Class, Ghana Railways 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 DE316SVT Mk I16TurbochargerBR Class D16/1 (equipped with Brown Boveri turbochargers) & D16/2 (equipped with Napier & Son turbochargers), SAR 900 Class16SVT Mk II16TurbochargerBR Class 40, Rhodesia Railways Class DE216CSVT16Turbocharger & IntercoolerBR DP2 & Class 50, CP Class 180016CSVM16Turbocharger & IntercoolerRoyal Australian Navy Oberon-class submarine, NZR rail ferries Aramoana and Aranui

References