| Red Flag 6 | |
| Powertype: | Electric |
| Builder: | Kim Chong-t'ae Works |
| Builddate: | 1981-1987 |
| Uicclass: | Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′ |
| Wheeldiameter: | 1370mm |
| Wheelbase: | 3300mm |
| Length: | 32600mm |
| Width: | 3100mm |
| Height: | 4700mm |
| Locoweight: | 176t |
| Collectionmethod: | Pantographs |
| Rpmrange Max: | 745 rpm |
| T/M Amps 1 Hr: | 1520 A |
| Electricsystem: | 3,000 V DC |
| Gear Ratio: | 1:3.86 |
| Locobrakes: | hand, air, regenerative brake |
| Coupling: | AAR knuckle |
| Maxspeed: | 120km/h one hour: 49 km/h |
| Poweroutput 1 Hr: | 4240kW |
| T/E 1 Hr: | 306kN |
| Operator: | Korean State Railway |
| Operatorclass: | 붉은기6 Pulg'ŭn'gi-6 |
| Numinclass: | ≥37 |
| Fleetnumbers: | 6001-6037+ |
| Notes: | [1] |
The Red Flag 6-class (ko|붉은기6 Pulg'ŭn'gi-6) is a 4240kW[2] two-section, permanently coupled electric locomotive built by the Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works and used by the Korean State Railway for heavy freight trains on mountainous lines.[3]
As the electrification of the Korean State Railway's network continued into the 1980s, the Red Flag 1 and Red Flag 2 class locomotives were the dominant type in service under the wires. However, with the electrification of steep mountain lines, it was realised that a more powerful locomotive was needed. Therefore, the Kim Chong-tae Electric Locomotive Works began design work on an articulated locomotive to operate freight trains on the difficult mountainous sections.[3]
Using the Red Flag 2 class as a starting point, the Red Flag 6 (붉은기6, Pulg'ŭn'gi-6) class was developed.[3] The result was a permanently coupled Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo' articulated locomotive with eight capacitors,[4] made up of two sections; these sections are single-cab versions of the Red Flag 2. The Red Flag 6 class is thus an articulated descendant of the Škoda Type 30E, which had formed the basis for the design of the Red Flag 1 and Red Flag 2 after North Korea bought a licence to build the type, including technology transfer, from Czechoslovakia.[3] The first prototype was shown in 1981.[5]
Numbered in the 6000 series, production of the new design began in 1986, and was put into service in 1987 to haul freight trains on the P'yŏngra Line.[6] These four-bogie, eight-axle articulated units are 33m (108feet) long, weigh 176t and produce 4240kW. They have a maximum speed of 100km/h and can pull 3200t.[7] Trial runs with passenger trains were undertaken, but the type is now mainly used on east-west freight trains on the P'yŏngra Line.[3] The first prototype received a cream over red paint scheme, but production units are painted in the standard light blue over dark green livery.
There are three known named Red Flag 6 locomotives: