DJ1 locomotive composes of two same units of 4-axle locomotive by interior coupling, with each unit having a complete system and a driver's cab. A middle corridor is employed at the double-head position for entry from one unit to the other. The locomotive also has the function of being multiple operated externally and driver can operate the two units in one cab.

Low pull rod is used on bogie; high deflection spring is employed for secondary suspension and disc brake is adopted for foundation brake.

The carbody is structured by welding through integral support .

Main circuit formation: AC-DC-AC drive and a water cooling GTO converter energizing four three-phase asynchronous motors.

Control system: step computer control, communication and diagnosis system composed by CCU、TCU、KLIP、 DIAGNOSIS/DISPLY、MVB、WTB from Siemens SIBAS32 series products.

Regarding to its air brake, DK-1 E-P brake is adopted while backup regenerative braking is employed for its electric brake..

As freight locomotive of a new type for China Railway Ministry, DJ1, following European standard, is the fruit of the joint venture corporation held by ZELW and SIEMENS. Up to the present, 20 sets (40 units) of this locomotive have been produced, with a rated power of 6400kW and a rated power of 817kW for its motor. The locomotive is designed so as to achieve increase of its power, i.e. 8000kW of locomotive can be taken as its rated power when motor of 1020kW is mounted to meet the requirement of customer.