Mehano Blue Tiger box set

The prototype was unveiled in 1996.

Initially the axle load was expected to be a light 18 tonnes (17.7 long tons; 19.8 short tons) and the power at ~2,500 kW (3,400 hp).[4] In practice, the German locomotives had an axle load of 21 tonnes (20.7 long tons; 23.1 short tons) (which is normal for this type of diesel locomotive).

General Electric supplied diesel engines and electrical transmission system (which used IGBT-based inverters driving AC traction motors). The rest of the locomotive was built by AdTranz in Kassel.

For the Pakistani export models a 16-cylinder engine was used.

Bombardier took over AdTranz in 2001, subsequently the Blue Tiger locomotive was shown at InnoTrans in 2002[5] with a view to European orders. The German production models had a mass of 126 tonnes (124.0 long tons; 138.9 short tons) (axle load 21 tonnes or 20.7 long tons or 23.1 short tons) and an engine power of 2,430 kW (3,260 hp).

As of 2009, the class is no longer listed as a production model by Bombardier; GE also lists the family as a former production type.[6] For the European market, Bombardier produces the less powerful diesel variants of the TRAXX family, whilst GE offers variants of its Evolution series for export.