On 5 January 2011, the
Korean Central News Agency announced that an unveiling ceremony had taken place for a new electric locomotive built by the Kim Chong-t'ae locomotive factory for the Korean State Railway. The primary design goal was to create a locomotive that produces higher power output with lower power usage.[2]
Given the Sŏngun Red Flag class name by Kim Jong Il (much like the prototype of the
Red Flag 1 locomotive was given its name by
Kim Il Sung),[2] the new locomotive is the first to be built in
North Korea with
asynchronous motors.[3] Intended for use on freight trains in mountainous areas,[3] it has a continuous power output of 2,000 kilowatts (2,700 hp),[4] resulting in a tractive effort nearly 1.5 times that of the Red Flag 1 class, while consuming 50% less power.[2]
The twin-cab body rides on two two-axle, self-steering
bogies with a computerised braking system.[2] It is equipped with a computerised operation control system with four
LCD display screens in each cab.[5] Although the KCNA report claimed that this was developed domestically, the control system is made by
CNR Dalian in China. This is also the case with the asynchronous motors, which are actually Chinese-made Xiangyang induction motors.[4]
Numbered in the 0000 series, the prototype was painted in a special red and blue paint scheme, but production versions are painted in a variant of the new standard light green over dark green livery; this also differs from the prototype in some details, such as the fluting on the sides and the shape of the upper headlamp.[6] At least one production unit has been seen numbered in the 4000 series (4071);[7] this series is allotted to the
Ch'ŏngnyŏnjŏl Kinyŏm-class class, although the highest known number assigned to one of those locomotives is 4056; this could mean that production units are now being numbered from 4070. The prototype has been used for a number of special events, including a ceremony in which
Kim Jong Il inspected the prototype, saying that "production of modern railway vehicles is important to our railway modernisation policy."[2] and the opening of the
Songdowŏn Line on 23 September 2014 was marked by a special inaugural train pulled by the prototype.[8] One of the production locomotives has been deployed to the
Sinuiju Locomotive Brigade.[9]
