Photos courtesy of MAN Diesel & Turbo

The photo of an Australian road train towing a huge engine that was posted on the EngineLabs Facebook page yesterday drew so much attention and a wide range of comments, that more information was needed. Thanks to a few tips from the readers and a little research on the Web, we’ve got the story.

Cutaway of a the MAN V51/60DF engine.

Even though many skeptics claimed it was a Photoshop pic, it was an authentic shot taken during the engine’s trip to Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory. Built by the giant industrial firm MAN Diesel & Turbo, the engine is a 12-cylinder version of its 51/60 dual-fuel architecture. Various models of this cylinder are available, including V18 and an inline-9. Each cylinder is 510mm bore with a 600mm stroke (20.08 x 23.62 inches), giving this particular V12 model a total displacement of 1,470.8 liters, or 89,756 cubic inches. MAN rates the power output of the cylinder at 975 kilowatts, resulting in a total of 11,700 kW for this engine, which equates to 15,690 horsepower. Max operating rpm is 500, so the torque calculates out to around 164,800 lb-ft.

The engine is a 4-stroke diesel that runs on either liquified natural gas or diesel fuel. Fuel is injected via a common rail system that allows flexibility in timing, duration and pressure — which allows it respond quickly to combustion knock signals for each cylinder. 

According to a MAN press release, the engine was shipped in 2010 from France to Darwin, Australia, where it boarded the road train. Six days was needed to reach Alice Springs, where the engine is one of three used at an electrical power station. Check out the video below to learn more about the trip and the engine’s installation at the Owen Springs Power Station.