The Dutch State Railways ordered a totally new diesel locomotive from the Kiel Machine Company (MaK) for the modernization of non-electrified motive power. It is based on the DE 1002 in use on several privately owned railroads in Germany and makes use of electrical components from the development of the class 120 electric locomotive.
The almost 1,200 kilowatt (approximately 1,609 horsepower) output required of the electronically controlled, three-phase asynchronous motors demanded a larger motor and fuel tank. This made the locomotive over 1.5 meters (4 feet 11-1/16") longer. The exhaust was installed off-center for better visibility down the track. Many other design detail changes were necessary, until the NS standard locomotive class 6400 resulted from the DE 1002.
In the year 2000, 120 units of this class were in use, most of them in the NS classic gray/yellow paint scheme. After the freight service in the Netherlands was privatized and separated into groups, the last units were painted in the red color scheme for NS Cargo.
Dutch State Railways class 6400 / freight traffic area (NS Cargo). With digital decoder and controlled high-efficiency propulsion. Headlights digitally controlled. 2 axles powered. 4 traction tires. Special motor with flywheel. Metal side rails and end platforms separately applied. Length over buffers 16.5 cm (6-1/2").
