The new Russian shunting locomotive TEM23 with two KAMAZ engines has started operating outside Russia for the first time. The first export machine was purchased by Belarusian railway workers for operation in the fleet of one of the industrial enterprises.
The first foreign operator was the Slutsk Sugar Refinery in the Minsk region. For the enterprise, this is the first locomotive in its own fleet. The customer notes the compactness and efficiency of the new machine.
What kind of locomotive
TEM23 is a four-axle, two-diesel shunting locomotive. It has been mass-produced at the Bryansk Machine-Building Plant since 2024, and in 2025 it was included in the register of Russian industrial products of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Its service weight is 90–98 tons.
The manufacturer offers four modifications. Versions TEM23-00 and TEM23-02 are equipped with two in-line six-cylinder KAMAZ-910.72-500 engines with a power of 500 hp each. The total power is 1000 hp. Modifications TEM23-01 and TEM23-03 are equipped with two V-shaped eight-cylinder KAMAZ-740.642-420 engines with a power of 420 hp each, totaling 840 hp.
The length of the locomotive is about 16.4 meters, and the design speed is 100 km/h.
The two-diesel power plant and asynchronous motors reduce fuel and oil consumption. According to the manufacturer, savings reach 30% compared to its predecessor TEM18DM. The modular design allows the locomotive to be used both at public stations and in industrial parks.