DF4 Diesel Locomotive Cab Ride｜Real Engine Sounds, Power, and Mountain Action!｜東風4型內燃機車｜司機室沉浸體驗

The DF4 diesel locomotive is the first model of China’s second generation of diesel-electric locomotives and the country’s first domestically designed AC–DC diesel-electric type. In the mid-1960s, Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock Works and associated institutes began developing the 240/275 series medium-speed diesel engines and a 4,000-hp diesel-electric locomotive. The first DF4 prototype was completed in 1969. However, due to the political and industrial conditions of the time, its performance and build quality did not fully meet the design targets.

In the mid-1970s, driven by an urgent need for high-power diesel locomotives, the DF4 entered batch production before full endurance testing had been completed, which led to many in-service problems and a long period of “producing and improving at the same time.” After extensive redesign and testing, reliability and durability improved significantly around 1980. The upgraded DF4B, introduced in 1982 and mass-produced from 1984, became the most numerous and widely used diesel locomotive class in Chinese railway history.

The DF4 series uses a 3,300-hp 16V240ZJ four-stroke diesel engine (later 16V240ZJA/JB) and an AC–DC transmission system consisting of a TQFR-3000 main generator, ZQDR-410 traction motors and GTF-4800/770 silicon rectifiers. By changing the gear ratio, the locomotive can be configured either for freight service (design speed 100 km/h) or passenger service (design speed 120 km/h). In September 2024, China’s railway regulator announced a phase-out plan under which DF4 locomotives are scheduled to be fully retired by the end of 2035, marking the closing chapter of this classic diesel class.

東風4型內燃機車（DF4）是中國鐵路第二代電力傳動柴油機車的首款車型，也是中國首台自行設計、研製的交—直流電傳動柴油機車。1960 年代中期，大連機車車輛廠與大連熱力機車研究所開始研製 240／275 系列中速柴油機，以及 4,000 馬力電力傳動機車；1969 年試製出首台 DF4。受文化大革命等因素影響，早期車性能與品質未達設計指標。1970 年代中期在大功率柴油機車需求壓力下，DF4 在耐久性試驗尚未完全完成就匆忙投入批量生產，導致投用後問題頻出，只能一邊生產、一邊改進。

經過多年設計優化與試驗，柴油機可靠性與耐久性在 1980 年前後有明顯提升。1982 年問世、1984 年開始批量生產的東風4B型，成為 DF4 系列的成熟升級型號，也是中國鐵路史上產量最大、運用最廣的柴油機車。DF4 採用 3,300 馬力 16V240ZJ 系列四衝程柴油機，配合 TQFR-3000 牽引發電機、ZQDR-410 牽引電動機與 GTF-4800/770 矽整流裝置構成交—直流電傳動系統；透過不同齒輪比可兼作貨運（構造速度 100 km/h）或客運機車（構造速度 120 km/h）。2024 年 9 月，國家鐵路局發布新規，計畫於 2035 年底前完成東風4型機車的全面淘汰更新，為這一代經典柴油機車劃下時間表。

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