DF8 The first generation DF8 is powered by the original 16V280ZJ engine, manufactured by
Qishuyan Locomotive and Rolling Stock Works. 141 locomotives are produced from 1989 to 1997. The prototype engine DF8-0001&0002 features different hull design with the batch-produced engines. 41 engines (0001-0041, including 2 prototype engines) assigned to South Wuchang Locomotive Depot,
China Railway Wuhan Group, 100 engines assigned to Mudanjiang Locomotive Depot,
China Railway Harbin Group.
DF8B The second generation, DF8B, is powered by an updated 16V280ZJA engine with , whose production started in 1997. Qishuyan manufactured 0 series, while
Ziyang Locomotive Works manufactured 5000 series.
7000 series version In 2000, Qishuyan built a DF8B with radial bogies numbered
DF8B-7001. As an experimental locomotive there was only one produced. Now it is owned by
Liuzhou Locomotive Depot,
Nanning Railway Bureau.
9000 series version Qishuyan built a few DF8Bs originally for
Qingzang Railway, however they were unsuccessful. They were numbered
DF8B-9001 and
9002. In 2006, in order to cope with the situation that the
NJ2 locomotives had not fully arrived when Qingzang Railway began to be fully operational, the Ministry of Railways still ordered 10 DF8Bs, numbered 9003~9012. In 2015, Qinghai Local Railway Construction Investment Co., Ltd. () separately ordered 5 units for the operation of
Xitieshan-
North Hulsan Lake Railway, numbered 9013~9017.
Other versions and related models A variant of DF8B has been designed for use in
Jamaica by Qishuyan. 12 CKD4Cs were exported to
Venezuela and are called
DF8Bven, however they are generally identical to the domestically used DF8B. A variant of DF8B has been designed for
Mombasa-Nairobi railway in
Kenya. A variant of DF8B, DF8BI, has been designed for use in
Iran. There is another model SDD21 designed for Iran, equipped with a 12V280ZJ engine. A variant of DF8B, CKD9A, has been designed for use in
Turkmenistan. A variant of DF8B, SDD16, has been designed for use in
Guinea. There is a model SDD17 with 12V280ZJ prime mover, used in
Saudi Arabia. There is a model SDD19 with 6280ZJ prime mover, used in
Uzbekistan. Passenger models DF9 and DF11 series use the same 16V280ZJA prime mover as DF8B.
Taeyangho armoured train used by the North Korean leaders is a variant of DF8.
DF8BJ The DF8BJ, which uses the 16V280ZJG engine (), GTO VVVF inverter and AC traction motors, was produced by Ziyang. It was designed for
Qingzang Railway.
DF8CJ The DF8CJ is produced by Qishuyan. It was equipped with a 16V280ZJB (R16V280ZJ) engine (maximum power ) and AC traction motors. Later passenger model HXN5K, freight model HXN5B and FXN5C use a 12-cylinder version (R12V280ZJ) prime mover.
DF8DJ Ziyang made a special DF8B which was originally intended to be used on the
Qingzang line and was numbered
DF8DJ-0001. The DF8DJ version has a
Caterpillar 3616 engine of rated power and AC asynchronous
traction motors and its service power is . The
Chinese Ministry of Railways rejected the proposal and it was renumbered
DF8B-5672. It's now running on Xiyan Line in Shaanxi and has been remodified with dual-fuel engine (LNG & diesel oil). == Vietnam Railways D15E ==