Belgian Railways Class 54

Series 54
Unit 5404 shown in 2010
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Designer General Motors EMD Builder Anglo-Franco-Belge Build date middle to late 1950s Total produced 8 Rebuild date late 1970s
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co′Co′ Gauge standard gauge Wheel diameter 1,010 mm (3 ft) Minimum curve 90 m (295 ft) Wheelbase: ​  • Engine 1 Engine Length 18.85m Width 2.94m Height 4.237m Loco weight 108t Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 3,500 liters (920 U.S. gal) 769 imp gallon Lubricant cap. 750 L (200 U.S. gal) 164 imp gallon Water cap. 800 L (210 U.S. gal) Sandbox cap. 640 kg (1,410 lb) Prime mover EMD 16-567C Engine type Diesel V16 Cylinders 16 Transmission Electric MU working Yes Train heating Steam Loco brake Air Train brakes Air Couplers Screw link
Performance figures Maximum speed as built 140km/h (87 mph), after 1980: 120 km/h (75 mph) Power output: ​  • Starting 261 kN (58675 lbf)  • Continuous 245 kN (55078 lbf)
Career Operators SNCB, CFL Nicknames Gros Nez (Big Nose) Last run main live service 2002, secondary lines and work train service: 2009 Preserved 1, unit 5404 at Train World Scrapped 2013, 2016

Series 54, (originally Type 204) were diesel locomotives used by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB). Along with Series 52, 53 and 59, they were the first generation of Belgian diesel locomotives, built in the 1950s. All three types were ultimately derived from the earlier Series 52 locos, representing a faster version of the design, allowing for 140 km/h usage instead of 120 km/h.

The Series 54 (along with the similar Series 52 and 53 locos) were known as the "Big Noses", given their silhouette. An American design from General Motors - Electro-Motive Diesel, they also have several cousins built in Sweden by Nohab for the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) as Serie M61, for the Danish Railways (DSB) as Series MX and MY and for the Norwegian Railways (NSB) as Serie Di 3. Their design was largely derived from Victorian Railways B class diesels in Australia.