South African Class 2E
Encyclopedia
In 1937 the South African Railways placed three German built Class 2E 3 kV DC electric locomotives with a Bo+Bo
wheel arrangement in service.
and the three locomotives were built for the South African Railways (SAR) by Henschel and Son
in Germany
. Numbered E134 to E136, they were the only German built electric locomotives ever supplied to South Africa.
The Class 2E was similar in external appearance to the Class 1E
, the main visual distinction being the difference in window and grille layout on the locomotive sides. The internal arrangement of their electrical components differed from that of the Class 1E and their four 402 hp traction motors made them more powerful. Even so, only these three were ever acquired, after which the SAR reverted to the Class 1E, Series 5 to 7, for its subsequent acquisitions of similar electric locomotives.
Like the Class 1E, Class 3E and Class 4E, the Class 2E had bogie mounted draft gear, therefore no train forces were transmitted to the locomotive body. It had a Bo+Bo wheel arrangement with an articulated inter-bogie linkage.
Bo+Bo
A Bo+Bo is a locomotive with two four-wheeled bogies with articulated connection between them and with all axles powered by individual traction motors.Typical Bo+Bo locomotives include the South African Class 1E and South African Class 2E....
wheel arrangement in service.
Manufacturer
South Africa's second electric locomotive type, the Class 2E, entered service in Natal in 1937, intended for mixed traffic haulage. The electrical equipment was designed by Siemens-SchuckertSiemens-Schuckert
Siemens-Schuckert was a German electrical engineering company headquartered in Berlin, Erlangen and Nuremberg that was incorporated into the Siemens AG in 1966....
and the three locomotives were built for the South African Railways (SAR) by Henschel and Son
Henschel & Son
Henschel & Son was a German company, situated in Kassel, best known during the 20th century as a maker of transportation equipment, including locomotives, trucks, buses and trolleybuses, and armoured fighting vehicles and weapons....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Numbered E134 to E136, they were the only German built electric locomotives ever supplied to South Africa.
The Class 2E was similar in external appearance to the Class 1E
South African Class 1E
Between 1925 and 1945 the South African Railways placed altogether one hundred and seventy-two Class 1E electric locomotives in service, spread over seven orders.-Manufacturers:...
, the main visual distinction being the difference in window and grille layout on the locomotive sides. The internal arrangement of their electrical components differed from that of the Class 1E and their four 402 hp traction motors made them more powerful. Even so, only these three were ever acquired, after which the SAR reverted to the Class 1E, Series 5 to 7, for its subsequent acquisitions of similar electric locomotives.
Orientation
These dual cab locomotives had three windows with a grille between each pair of windows on one side, and a line of five grilles and two windows on the other side. The number 1 end would be at the front when the side with five grilles was to the left.Like the Class 1E, Class 3E and Class 4E, the Class 2E had bogie mounted draft gear, therefore no train forces were transmitted to the locomotive body. It had a Bo+Bo wheel arrangement with an articulated inter-bogie linkage.
Service
The three Class 2E locomotives served between the Transvaal and Natal, and briefly in the Western Cape near the end of their service lives, before being withdrawn from service in 1973.Images
The main picture shows a Class 2E, with its right side visible, running consisted to a Class 1E.See also
- South African Class 1ESouth African Class 1EBetween 1925 and 1945 the South African Railways placed altogether one hundred and seventy-two Class 1E electric locomotives in service, spread over seven orders.-Manufacturers:...
- Electric locomotive numbering and classification
- List of South African locomotive classes