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With 6,000 Horsepower, the GE ES58ACi, Operated by Vale on the Carajás Railway, Establishes Itself as the Largest Locomotive in Operation in Brazil, Being the Force Behind the Largest Freight Train in the World.
In the heart of the Amazon, a true steel giant glides along the tracks, pulling compositions that seem endless. The GE ES58ACi locomotive, manufactured by Wabtec Corporation, is the largest locomotive in operation in Brazil. Designed specifically for the extreme needs of Vale, it is the driving force that ensures the flow of millions of tons of iron ore every year.
According to an article published on specialized portals in railroads, the story of this machine is not just about brute strength, but about a complex synergy between cutting-edge technology, heavy-load engineering, and a logistics strategy that positions Brazil as a global reference in the sector.
What is the GE ES58ACi? The Technical Specifications of the “Monster” of the Tracks
The ES58ACi is a diesel-electric locomotive that stands out for its unmatched power on the national scene. Its engine, a GE GEVO-16 with 16 cylinders, generates a gross power of 6,000 HP (horsepower), with an effective traction power of 5,750 HP.
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This power places it in a category of its own. To give you an idea, the most modern locomotives used by other major Brazilian railroads, such as Rumo and MRS, are of the ES44ACi model, with 4,500 HP. The extra 1,500 HP from the ES58ACi is what makes it the largest locomotive in operation in Brazil.
The Carajás Railway (EFC)
The ES58ACi operates exclusively on the Carajás Railway (EFC), a railway that stretches 892 km and forms the backbone of Vale’s logistics. Inaugurated on February 28, 1985, the EFC connects the largest open-pit iron ore mine in the world, located in Serra dos Carajás (PA), to the Maritime Terminal of Ponta da Madeira, in São Luís (MA).
In 2024, the railway transported more than 176 million tons of iron ore, a volume that requires a highly efficient logistics operation and, of course, locomotives with extraordinary traction capacity.
The Mission: Pulling the Largest Freight Train in Regular Operation in the World
The main mission of the largest locomotive in operation in Brazil is to pull the largest freight train in regular operation on the planet. The standard composition of the EFC is an engineering feat:
- 330 wagons
- 3.3 kilometers in length
- More than 36,000 tons of iron ore
To move such a colossus, Vale utilizes advanced technologies, such as the distributed traction system Locotrol, which allows a single driver to synchronously control the multiple locomotives distributed along the train.
The Strategic Partnership Between Vale and Wabtec
The relationship between Vale and Wabtec Corporation (the successor of GE Transportation) is a long-term partnership. In June 2024, the two companies signed a R$ 1.77 billion agreement for the management and maintenance of the EFC fleet of locomotives for ten years.
The commitment to the platform was reaffirmed in March 2025, when Vale announced the order for an additional 14 ES58ACi locomotives, which will be produced at Wabtec’s factory in Contagem (MG), with deliveries expected to begin in 2026.
The Bet on Decarbonization with Biodiesel and Electric Locomotives
Vale is already planning the future of the largest locomotive in operation in Brazil and its entire fleet, with a strong focus on sustainability. The new locomotives ordered are already designed to operate with a mixture of up to 25% biodiesel.
In addition, the company has partnered with Wabtec to acquire three 100% battery-electric locomotives of the FLXdrive model. They are expected to begin operations in 2026, replacing the diesel locomotives that assist trains in overcoming uphill sections, creating the country’s first hybrid freight rail composition.
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