South African Class 43-000
Encyclopedia
In January 2011 Transnet Rail Engineering took delivery of the first two of one hundred Class 43-000 type GE C30ACi diesel-electric locomotives for Transnet Freight Rail. A further eight were shipped from the United States of America in April 2011. In July 2011 the first of the ninety locally built locomotives rolled out at the Koedoespoort shops in Pretoria.
, a division of General Electric
(GE). The first ten locomotives were built by GE in Erie, Pennsylvania
and imported, delivered between January and April 2011 and numbered 43-001 to 43-010. The remaining ninety were built for Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) at the Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) Koedoespoort shops in Pretoria
, numbered 43-011 to 43-100. The first of these, 43-011, rolled out in July 2011.
Three manufacturers, Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), GE and Siemens
, were invited to bid for the contract. An earlier tendering process in 2006 and 2007 had selected Electro-Motive Sibanye, a joint venture between EMD and Sibanye Trade and Services, a South African Black Economic Empowerment
(BEE) company dealing with locomotives and spares, as preferred bidders to supply two hundred and twelve locomotives, but this agreement was cancelled amid reports and then confirmation of tender irregularities.
Manufacturers
The Class 43-000 type GE C30ACi diesel-electric locomotive was designed by GE Transportation SystemsGE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...
, a division of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
(GE). The first ten locomotives were built by GE in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
and imported, delivered between January and April 2011 and numbered 43-001 to 43-010. The remaining ninety were built for Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) at the Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) Koedoespoort shops in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, numbered 43-011 to 43-100. The first of these, 43-011, rolled out in July 2011.
Three manufacturers, Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), GE and Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
, were invited to bid for the contract. An earlier tendering process in 2006 and 2007 had selected Electro-Motive Sibanye, a joint venture between EMD and Sibanye Trade and Services, a South African Black Economic Empowerment
Black Economic Empowerment
Black Economic Empowerment is a programme launched by the South African government to redress the inequalities of Apartheid by giving previously disadvantaged groups economic opportunities previously not available to them...
(BEE) company dealing with locomotives and spares, as preferred bidders to supply two hundred and twelve locomotives, but this agreement was cancelled amid reports and then confirmation of tender irregularities.
Crew comfort
The locomotives were constructed with safety and crew comfort in mind. The cab is equipped with a "Loco-cam", an air conditioner, a refrigerator located adjacent to the cab front door, and a toilet in the form of a Porta Pottie with a floor drain to wayside.Fuel-efficiency
The locomotives were expected to be more fuel efficient and to produce lower emissions than typical diesel-electric locomotives hitherto operating in South Africa. They were the first locomotives in the South African region to meet UIC2 emissions standards for brake-specific nitrogen oxides, unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Compared to the, on average, thirty year old existing TFR diesel-electric locomotive fleet, the Class 43-000 also offered a greater continuous tractive effort and a higher adhesion capability, allowing the same amount of freight to be hauled with fewer locomotives.Service
The Class 43-000 was placed in service on the line from the Mpumalanga Lowveld via Swaziland and Golela to Richards Bay.Gallery
The main picture shows the first of the Class 43-000 locomotives on its delivery run, being hauled from Durban to Koedoespoort after being brought ashore at Durban harbour.See also
- Diesel-electric locomotive numbering & classification
- List of South African locomotive classes