[Original] - SS8 quasi high speed passenger electric locomotive after discarding.

The locomotives are designed for Chinese railway Parameters (structure gauge, axle load etc.), which does not allow Operation on railways outside China. As they operate mostly passenger trains to and from Hong Kong, which are to be served by high-speed EMUs from late 2018 and their performance is not good enough to handle passenger and freight trains, which increased in length and weight since their purchase, they are going to be withdrawn, as there is no use for the locomotives.

read up on it a little, seems the chinese railroad infrastructure (or that corner of asia in general) needs a little work towards electrification and standardization still ... elsewhere such locomotives would serve much longer on secondary lines or with private businesses as long as there are no technical flaws .. shame, they seem nice enough.

In fact, as a railway enthusiast, it is really sad to see a locomotive disappear.
But SS8 electric locomotive has been unable to meet the development of China's high-speed railway. For example,before year 2012, travel from Beijing to Guangzhou, The distance between the two places is 2342 kilometers. Use traditional electric locomotive to pull 25T sleeper compartment. Run at 140 - 160KM/H speed, the shortest journey also takes 23 hours and 47 minutes. After the opening of the Beijing - Guangzhou high-speed railway, the CR400AF and BF EMUs are running at 350 kilometers per hour. From Beijing to Guangzhou, Only cost less than 8 hours. Therefore, the traditional electric locomotives are slowly being replaced by more energy efficient， more powerful HXD series electric locomotives.
In addition, because of the different railway voltages in each country, electric locomotives can not be used in other countries. The power supply voltage of China's railway catenary is 25-30 kV and 50-60 Hz. Railway voltages in each country are different and cannot be used.
Unless it's a diesel engine. As long as the rail gauge is the same. Any country can be used. Only the locomotive signal system and the coupler need to be replaced.

i completely understand its not used for the long range anymore, china has some impressive routes when it comes to range ... I am just surprised that there is no use for them on shorter routes in china, 100-170km/h is a very common speed for europe with cities around every corner ... guess china has either too few regions so densly settled or those are well enough equipped already if such a loco is not needed. Hard to get a grasp on such a huge nation.

Mainly the difference between the region and the national conditions.
In Europe, the use of one electric locomotive traction 18 passenger cars running 1000 - 2000 kilometers, may very difficult to appear. But this is very common in China. because the distance between major cities is around 450-700 kilometers,It's really a bit different from the train in Europe.
The length of China's passenger train station platform is about 480 meters to 800 meters. An electric locomotive needs to traction 18 passenger cars to run at 120-160km/h speed, and the longest running distance can reach more than 2000 kilometers. ( Replace drivers every 250 - 550 km & without changing trains). The latest passenger electric locomotives used in China are HXD3, HXD3C, HXD1D, HXD3D. The power is 7200KW and It takes only 5 minutes to accelerate from 0 - 160KM/H.
Therefore, those old electric locomotives with a power of only 2000 - 4000 KW will be gradually eliminated due to the small traction power and long acceleration time.
China's railway planning is the separation of passengers and goods.
intercity railway uses 160-200KM/H EMUs. CRH1，CRH2，CRH6.
High-speed railway adopts 300-350km/h high-speed train, CR400AF / BF, CRH3, CRH380 / AL / BL, CRH4, CRH6.
The ordinary railways will gradually reduce passenger trains, which are used exclusively for 120-200KM/H freight trains. The freight train power is 7200 - 9600KW and the speed is 120 - 200KM/H. Freight train: HXD1B, HXD1C, HXD1, HXD2, HXD2B, HXD2C, HXD3, HXD3B, HXD3CA.

This SS8 might be between 17 and 24 years old, as this locomotive class was built between 1994 and 2001.
Diese SS8 könnte zwischen 17 und 24 Jahre alt sein, da diese Baureihe zwischen 1994 und 2001 gebaut wurde.

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