South African Class 7E: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|South African electric locomotive}} |
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{{About|the South African electric locomotive|the steam locomotive|South African Class 7E 4-8-0}} |
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{{Use South African English|date=October 2013}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} |
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{{Infobox locomotive |
{{Infobox locomotive |
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| name = South African Class 7E |
| name = South African Class 7E |
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| image = Class 7E E7058.JPG |
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| image = SAR Class 7E E7067.JPG |
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| alt = |
| alt = |
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| caption = E7058 at [[Swartkops]], [[Port Elizabeth]] in April 2013 |
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| imagesize = |
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| powertype = Electric |
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| caption = E7067 at [[Beaufort West]], [[Western Cape]], 2 August 2007 |
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| designer = 50 <sup>c</sup>/s Group |
| designer = 50 <sup>c</sup>/s Group |
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| builder = [[Union Carriage & |
| builder = [[Union Carriage & Wagon]] |
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| ordernumber = |
| ordernumber = |
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| serialnumber = |
| serialnumber = |
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| Line 16: | Line 19: | ||
| rebuilddate = |
| rebuilddate = |
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| numberrebuilt = |
| numberrebuilt = |
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| |
| gauge = {{Track gauge|1067mm}} |
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| |
| bogies = [[Co-Co locomotive|Co-Co]] |
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| gauge = {{RailGauge|cape|al=on}} |
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| trucks = |
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| bogies = {{convert|4.400|m|ftin|abbr=on}} wheelbase |
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| leadingdiameter = |
| leadingdiameter = |
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| wheeldiameter = {{convert |
| wheeldiameter = {{convert|1.22|m}} |
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| trailingdiameter = |
| trailingdiameter = |
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| minimumcurve = |
| minimumcurve = |
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| wheelbase = {{convert|13. |
| wheelbase = {{convert|13.80|m}} |
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| |
| bogie = {{convert|4.40|m}} |
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| wheelspacing = |
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| width = {{convert|2.896|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |
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| |
| length = |
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| over couplers = {{convert|18.47|m}} |
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| framesize = |
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| over bufferbeams = |
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| axleload = {{convert|21000|kg|LT|1|abbr=on}} |
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| body = {{convert|17.54|m}} |
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| weightondrivers = |
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| |
| width = {{convert|2.90|m}} |
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| height = |
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| pantodown = {{convert|4.20|m}} |
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| bodyonly = {{convert|3.94|m}} |
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| frametype = |
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| pivotcentres = {{convert|10.20|m}} |
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| pantoshoecentres = {{convert|10.20|m}} |
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| axleload = {{convert|21|tonnes}} |
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| leadingbogie/pony= |
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| weightondrivers = {{convert|123.5|tonnes}} |
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| trail bogie/pony = |
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| locoweight = {{convert|123.5|tonnes}} |
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| sandcap = |
| sandcap = |
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| |
| powersupply = |
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| electricsystem = [[25 kV AC]] 50 [[Hertz|Hz]] [[Overhead line|catenary]] |
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| collectionmethod = [[pantograph (rail)|Pantographs]] |
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| collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (transport)|Pantographs]] |
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| alternator = |
| alternator = |
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| generator = |
| generator = |
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| tractionmotors = Six MG 680 |
| tractionmotors = Six MG 680 |
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| t/m amps 1 hr = {{convert|540|kW|hp|abbr=on}} |
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| transmission = 20/117 Gear ratio |
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| t/m amps cont = {{convert|500|kW|hp|abbr=on}} |
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| headendpower = |
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| transmission = |
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| gear ratio = 20:117 |
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| multipleworking = |
| multipleworking = |
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| topspeed = {{convert|100|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} |
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| poweroutput = '''Per motor:'''<br>{{convert|540|kW|hp|abbr=on}} 1 hour<br>{{convert|500|kW|hp|abbr=on}} continuous<br>'''Total:'''<br>{{convert|3240|kW|hp|abbr=on}} 1 hour<br>{{convert|3000|kW|hp|abbr=on}} continuous |
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| tractiveeffort = {{convert|450|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} starting<br>{{convert|319|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} 1 hour<br>{{convert|300|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} continuous <ref name="E&D diagram-book"/> |
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| factorofadhesion = |
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| trainheating = |
| trainheating = |
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| locobrakes = [[Dynamic braking#Rheostatic braking|Rheostatic]] |
| locobrakes = [[Railway airbrake|Air]] & [[Dynamic braking#Rheostatic braking|Rheostatic]] |
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| locobrakeforce = {{convert|210|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} |
| locobrakeforce = {{convert|210|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} |
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| trainbrakes = Air & Vacuum |
| trainbrakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]] & [[Vacuum brake|Vacuum]] |
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| reservoircap = |
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| compressorcap = |
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| exhaustercap = |
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| safety = |
| safety = |
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| coupling = [[Janney coupler|AAR knuckle]] |
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| railroad = South African Railways<br>Spoornet<br>[[Transnet Freight Rail]]<br>Shosholoza Meyl |
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| maxspeed = {{convert|100|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} |
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| railroadclass = Class 7E |
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| |
| poweroutput = |
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| poweroutput start= |
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| poweroutput 1 hr = {{convert|3240|kW|hp|abbr=on}} |
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| poweroutput cont = {{convert|3000|kW|hp|abbr=on}} |
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| tractiveeffort = |
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| t/e starting = {{convert|450|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} |
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| t/e 1 hr = {{convert|319|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} |
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| t/e continuous = {{convert|300|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} |
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| factorofadhesion = |
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| f/adh starting = |
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| f/adh 1 hr = |
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| f/adh continuous = |
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| operator = South African Railways<br />Spoornet<br />[[Transnet Freight Rail]]<br />[[Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa|PRASA]] |
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| operatorclass = Class 7E |
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| powerclass = |
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| numinclass = 100 |
| numinclass = 100 |
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| |
| fleetnumbers = E7001-E7100 |
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| officialname = |
| officialname = |
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| nicknames = |
| nicknames = ''MacGyver'' |
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| axleloadclass = |
| axleloadclass = |
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| locale = |
| locale = |
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| deliverydate = 1978-1979 |
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| deliverydate = 1978-1979 <ref name="E&D diagram-book">South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 610mm and 1065mm Gauges, Ref LXD 14/1/100/20, 28 January 1975, as amended</ref> |
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| firstrundate = 1978 |
| firstrundate = 1978 |
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| lastrundate = |
| lastrundate = |
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| Line 68: | Line 97: | ||
| scrapdate = |
| scrapdate = |
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| currentowner = |
| currentowner = |
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| disposition = |
| disposition = |
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| notes = |
| notes = }} |
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}} |
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The '''South African Railways Class 7E''' is an electric locomotive. [[South African Railways]] placed 100 Class 7E electric locomotives with a [[Co-Co locomotive|Co-Co]] wheel arrangement in service in 1978/79. They were the first [[25 kV AC]] locomotives to enter service in South Africa. |
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==Manufacturer== |
==Manufacturer== |
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[[File:SAR Class 7E E7008 BT.jpg|thumb|E7008 in ''[[Blue Train (South Africa)|Blue Train]]'' livery near Die Put in May 1985]] |
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The '''Class 7E''' 25 kV AC electric locomotive was designed for the South African Railways (SAR) by the 50 <sup>c</sup>/s Group, consisting of [[SA Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi|ACEC]] of Belgium, [[AEG-Telefunken]] and [[Siemens]] of Germany, [[Alsthom|Alsthom-Atlantique]] and Société MTE of France, and [[Brown Boveri]] of Switzerland. They were built by Union Carriage and Wagon (UCW) in Nigel, Transvaal, who was the sub-contractor for mechanical components and assembly.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref>{{cite web|title=UCW - Electric locomotives|url=http://www.ucw.co.za/pdf/electric_loco.pdf |publisher=The UCW Partnership|accessdate=30 September 2010 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071012023401/http://www.ucw.co.za/pdf/electric_loco.pdf |archivedate = 12 October 2007}}</ref> |
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[[File:SAR Class 7E E7067.JPG|thumb|E7067 in Spoornet orange livery at [[Beaufort West]] in August 2007]] |
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[[File:SAR Class 7E E7061.JPG|thumb|E7061 in Spoornet maroon livery at [[Beaufort West]] in September 2009]] |
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[[File:E7010 - Shosholoza Meyl Livery.JPG|thumb|No. E7010 in [[Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa|PRASA’s]] [[Shosholoza Meyl]] livery at the Edwin Swales shops, [[Durban]] in June 2010]] |
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The [[25 kV AC]] Class 7E electric locomotive was designed for the South African Railways (SAR) by the 50 <sup>c</sup>/s Group, consisting of [[Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi|ACEC]] of Belgium, [[AEG (German company)|AEG-Telefunken]] and [[Siemens Mobility|Siemens]] of Germany, [[Alstom|Alsthom-Atlantique]] and Société MTE of France, and [[Brown, Boveri & Cie]] of Switzerland. The locomotives were built by [[Union Carriage & Wagon]] (UCW) in Nigel, [[Transvaal (province)|Transvaal]], which was the sub-contractor for mechanical components and assembly.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne">{{Paxton-Bourne|pages=129-131}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UCW - Electric locomotives|url=http://www.ucw.co.za/pdf/electric_loco.pdf |publisher=The UCW Partnership|access-date=30 September 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012023401/http://www.ucw.co.za/pdf/electric_loco.pdf |archive-date = 12 October 2007}}</ref> |
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One hundred Class 7E locomotives were delivered in 1978 and 1979, numbered in the range from E7001 to E7100. Beginning with the Class 7E, the SAR numbering practice for electric locomotives was changed to make the class number a part of the locomotive’s number. From the Class 1E through to the last of the Class 6E1 series of locomotives, all electric locomotives were numbered sequentially in the number range from E1 to E2185, with only twelve numbers in the range skipped over the years.<ref name="E&D diagram-book">South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 610mm and 1065mm Gauges, Ref LXD 14/1/100/20, 28 January 1975, as amended</ref> |
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UCW did not allocate builder’s numbers to the locomotives it built for the SAR |
UCW did not allocate builder’s numbers to the locomotives it built for the SAR, but used the SAR unit numbers for their record keeping.<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/> |
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==Features== |
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On the Class 7E control of traction and rheostatic braking is by stepless solid-state electronics. The electrical equipment was designed for high power factor operation, obtained by a sector control method.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/> |
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==Orientation== |
==Orientation== |
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These dual cab locomotives have a roof access ladder on one side only, just to the right of the cab access door. The roof access ladder end is marked as the |
These dual cab locomotives have a roof access ladder on one side only, just to the right of the cab access door. The roof access ladder end is marked as the no. 2 end.<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/> |
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Judging from early photographs of Class 7E locomotives, the distinctive "eyebrow" rainwater beadings above the cab windscreens were added post-delivery. |
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==Characteristics== |
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===Electric equipment=== |
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Control of traction and rheostatic braking on the Class 7E is by stepless solid-state electronics. The electrical equipment was designed for high power factor operation, obtained by a sector control method. These were the first South African AC electric locomotives with thyristor technology from the 50 <sup>c</sup>/s Group.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref>Jane's World Railways 1980-81</ref><ref name="Class 7E">Class 7E – Principle (sic) Dimensions and Technical Data (TFR leaflet used in driver training, circa 2010)</ref> |
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===Bogies=== |
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The Class 7E was built with sophisticated traction linkages on the bogies, similar to the bogie design which was introduced on the [[South African Class 6E1, Series 1|Class 6E1]] in 1969. Together with the locomotive's electronic wheel slip detection system, these traction struts, mounted between the linkages on the bogies and the locomotive body and colloquially referred to as grasshopper legs, ensure the maximum transfer of power to the rails without causing wheel slip by reducing the traction force of the leading bogie and increasing that of the trailing bogie by as much as 15% upon starting off.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/> |
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===Pantographs=== |
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The Class 7E was the first SAR electric locomotive on which the pantograph contact shoe centres were located directly above the bogie pivot centres. This reduces the risk of pantograph hookups on catenary in sharp curves such as in turnouts as a result of sideways movement of the pantograph in relation to the overhead wire.<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/> |
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==Service== |
==Service== |
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The Class 7E was designed primarily for goods train service on South Africa’s 25 kV |
The Class 7E was designed primarily for goods train service on South Africa’s [[25 kV AC]] electrified lines. Until 1978, all electrified mainline routes in South Africa used 3 kV DC, but from that year all new mainline electrification projects bar one used 25 kV AC. The one exception is the {{nowrap|50 kV AC}} [[Sishen]]-[[Saldanha Bay|Saldanha]] line. There are four isolated 25 kV AC routes.<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/><ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Middleton">{{Middleton-SA Loco Guide|pages=50, 60-61}}</ref> |
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* From Pyramid South to [[Pietersburg]] and via |
* From Pyramid South to [[Pietersburg]] and via [[Brits, North West|Brits]] to [[Thabazimbi]]. |
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* From Ermelo to the [[Richards Bay Coal Terminal]] at [[Richards Bay]]. |
* From Ermelo to the [[Richards Bay Coal Terminal]] at [[Richards Bay]]. |
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* From Port Elizabeth to De Aar and from there |
* From Port Elizabeth to De Aar and from there northward to [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]] and southward to [[Beaufort West]]. |
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* From East London to Springfontein. |
* From [[East London, Eastern Cape|East London]] to [[Springfontein]] in the Free State. |
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When it was electrified, the well known double line " |
When it was electrified, the well known double line "racetrack" between Kimberley and De Aar was single-lined and the section was signalled for single-track [[Centralized traffic control|centralised traffic control]] (CTC) with long crossing loops. Here the Class 7E finally replaced South Africa’s last big [[South African Class 25NC 4-8-4|Class 25NC]] steam locomotives. The second set of tracks were left in place, but unelectrified and isolated from the electrified track. In anticipation of increased ore traffic to the Eastern Cape from [[Hotazel]], north-west of Kimberley, work on electrifying the second track commenced in July 2008.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Middleton"/><ref name="Kimberley-De Aar">[http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2007/08/kimberley-de-aar-electrification/ Railways Africa, 5 Aug 2007: Kimberley-De Aar Electrification]</ref> |
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The Class 7E was placed in service on the coal line from Ermelo to Richards Bay. When later model 25 kV locomotives were |
The Class 7E was initially placed in service on the coal line from Ermelo to Richards Bay.<ref>Transnet ''[[Locomotives International]]'' issue 108 June 2017 page 22</ref> When later model 25 kV AC locomotives were acquired, a few Class 7E locomotives went to the Pyramid South and East London lines, but the majority were transferred to the Cape Midland system to work goods and passenger traffic from Kimberley via De Aar to either Port Elizabeth or Beaufort West.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/> |
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==Regional co-operation== |
==Regional co-operation== |
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A 30c postage stamp depicting a pair of Class 7E locomotives hauling an ore train was one of a set of four commemorative [[postage stamps]] |
A 30c postage stamp, depicting a pair of Class 7E locomotives hauling an ore train, was one of a set of four commemorative [[postage stamps]] which were issued by the [[South African Post Office]] on 15 February 1990. The theme illustrated interdependence and regional co-operation in Southern Africa and on this stamp, the integrated railway systems which stretched from [[Cape Town]] in the south to as far north as Dar es Salaam in [[Tanzania]]. The artwork and stamp design was by the noted stamp designer and artist A.H. Barrett.<ref name="Philbullet">Philatelic Bulletin 207, issued by Philatelic Services and INTERSAPA, 1990</ref> |
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==Liveries== |
==Liveries== |
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The whole series was delivered in the SAR Gulf Red livery with signal red cowcatchers, yellow whiskers and with the number plates on the sides mounted on three-stripe yellow wings. When the section from Kimberley to Beaufort West was electrified, six Class 7E locomotives, numbers E7004 to E7009, were painted blue with yellow whiskers for use with the ''[[Blue Train (South Africa)|Blue Train]]'' on that section. In the 1990s many of the units began to be repainted in the Spoornet orange livery with a yellow and blue chevron pattern on the cowcatchers. Several later received the Spoornet maroon livery. In the late 1990s many were repainted in the Spoornet blue livery with solid numbers on the sides while just as many, including the former Blue Train units, received the Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers on the sides. In the [[Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa]] (PRASA) era after 2008, at least two were repainted in the Shosholoza Meyl purple livery.<ref name="Middleton"/><ref name="Soul of a Railway 7-9">[https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-7-1/south-eastwards-as-far-as-volksrust-2nd-section-wattles-to-union-junction-by-les-pivnic Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 9. South-Eastwards as far as Volksrust (2nd part) by Les Pivnic. Caption 4.] (Accessed on 11 April 2017)</ref> |
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In the SAR and Spoornet eras, when the official liveries were Gulf Red and yellow whiskers for the SAR, and initially orange and later maroon for Spoornet, many selected electric locomotives and some diesel-electrics were painted blue for use with the [[Blue Train (South Africa)|Blue Train]], but without altering the layout of the various paint schemes. Blue Train locomotives were therefore blue with yellow whiskers in the SAR era, blue with the Spoornet logo and "SPOORNET" in Spoornet’s orange era, and blue with the Spoornet logo but without "SPOORNET" in Spoornet’s maroon era. In Spoornet’s blue era there was no need for a separate Blue Train livery, while in the [[Transnet Freight Rail]] (TFR) era the Blue Train was relegated to the very bottom of the railway’s business priority list. |
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==References== |
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When the section from Kimberley to Beaufort West was electrified, six Class 7E locomotives, numbers E7004 to E7009, were painted blue with yellow whiskers for use with the Blue Train on that section.<ref name="Middleton"/> |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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The main picture shows E7067 in Spoornet orange livery. |
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*{{commons category-inline}} |
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<center> |
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{| |
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|[[File:E7010 Beaconsfield 240110.JPG|thumb|x167px|E7010 in SAR Gulf Red and whiskers livery, Beaconsfield, Northern Cape, 24 January 2010]] |
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|[[File:SAR Class 7E E7008 BT.jpg|thumb|x167px|E7008 in SAR Blue Train livery on a goods train near Die Put, about {{convert|16|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} south of De Aar, Cape Province, 2 May 1985]] |
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|[[File:SAR Class 7E E7061.JPG|thumb|x167px|E7061 in Spoornet maroon livery at [[Beaufort West]], [[Western Cape]], 16 September 2009]] |
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|} |
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{| |
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|[[File:SAR Class 7E E7047.JPG|thumb|x170px|E7047 in Spoornet blue livery with solid numbers, Beaufort West, Western Cape, 1 May 2006]] |
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|[[File:SAR Class 7E E7100.JPG|thumb|x170px|E7100 in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers, [[De Aar]], [[Northern Cape]], 26 August 2007]] |
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|[[File:E7010 - Shosholoza Meyl Livery.JPG|thumb|x170px|E7010 in Shosholoza Meyl livery, Edwin Swales shops, [[Durban]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]], 4 June 2010]] |
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|} |
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</center> |
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==See also== |
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{{Commons category multi|South African Class 7E}} |
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* [[South African locomotive numbering and classification#Electric locomotives|Electric locomotive numbering and classification]] |
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* [[List of South African locomotive classes]] |
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{{Locomotives of South Africa}} |
{{Locomotives of South Africa}} |
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[[Category:Cape gauge railway locomotives]] |
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==References== |
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[[Category:Co-Co locomotives]] |
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<references/> |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:South African Electric Class 7E}} |
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[[Category:Electric locomotives of South Africa]] |
[[Category:Electric locomotives of South Africa]] |
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[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1978]] |
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[[Category:Union Carriage & Wagon locomotives]] |
[[Category:Union Carriage & Wagon locomotives]] |
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[[Category:50 c/s Group locomotives]] |
[[Category:50 c/s Group locomotives]] |
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[[Category:Co-Co locomotives]] |
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[[Category:Cape gauge railway locomotives]] |
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[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1978]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:20, 28 June 2024
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 E7058 at Swartkops, Port Elizabeth in April 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The South African Railways Class 7E is an electric locomotive. South African Railways placed 100 Class 7E electric locomotives with a Co-Co wheel arrangement in service in 1978/79. They were the first 25 kV AC locomotives to enter service in South Africa.
Manufacturer
[edit]
The 25 kV AC Class 7E electric locomotive was designed for the South African Railways (SAR) by the 50 c/s Group, consisting of ACEC of Belgium, AEG-Telefunken and Siemens of Germany, Alsthom-Atlantique and Société MTE of France, and Brown, Boveri & Cie of Switzerland. The locomotives were built by Union Carriage & Wagon (UCW) in Nigel, Transvaal, which was the sub-contractor for mechanical components and assembly.[1][2]
One hundred Class 7E locomotives were delivered in 1978 and 1979, numbered in the range from E7001 to E7100. Beginning with the Class 7E, the SAR numbering practice for electric locomotives was changed to make the class number a part of the locomotive’s number. From the Class 1E through to the last of the Class 6E1 series of locomotives, all electric locomotives were numbered sequentially in the number range from E1 to E2185, with only twelve numbers in the range skipped over the years.[3]
UCW did not allocate builder’s numbers to the locomotives it built for the SAR, but used the SAR unit numbers for their record keeping.[3]
Orientation
[edit]These dual cab locomotives have a roof access ladder on one side only, just to the right of the cab access door. The roof access ladder end is marked as the no. 2 end.[3]
Judging from early photographs of Class 7E locomotives, the distinctive "eyebrow" rainwater beadings above the cab windscreens were added post-delivery.
Characteristics
[edit]Electric equipment
[edit]Control of traction and rheostatic braking on the Class 7E is by stepless solid-state electronics. The electrical equipment was designed for high power factor operation, obtained by a sector control method. These were the first South African AC electric locomotives with thyristor technology from the 50 c/s Group.[1][4][5]
Bogies
[edit]The Class 7E was built with sophisticated traction linkages on the bogies, similar to the bogie design which was introduced on the Class 6E1 in 1969. Together with the locomotive's electronic wheel slip detection system, these traction struts, mounted between the linkages on the bogies and the locomotive body and colloquially referred to as grasshopper legs, ensure the maximum transfer of power to the rails without causing wheel slip by reducing the traction force of the leading bogie and increasing that of the trailing bogie by as much as 15% upon starting off.[1]
Pantographs
[edit]The Class 7E was the first SAR electric locomotive on which the pantograph contact shoe centres were located directly above the bogie pivot centres. This reduces the risk of pantograph hookups on catenary in sharp curves such as in turnouts as a result of sideways movement of the pantograph in relation to the overhead wire.[3]
Service
[edit]The Class 7E was designed primarily for goods train service on South Africa’s 25 kV AC electrified lines. Until 1978, all electrified mainline routes in South Africa used 3 kV DC, but from that year all new mainline electrification projects bar one used 25 kV AC. The one exception is the 50 kV AC Sishen-Saldanha line. There are four isolated 25 kV AC routes.[3][1][6]
- From Pyramid South to Pietersburg and via Brits to Thabazimbi.
- From Ermelo to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal at Richards Bay.
- From Port Elizabeth to De Aar and from there northward to Kimberley and southward to Beaufort West.
- From East London to Springfontein in the Free State.
When it was electrified, the well known double line "racetrack" between Kimberley and De Aar was single-lined and the section was signalled for single-track centralised traffic control (CTC) with long crossing loops. Here the Class 7E finally replaced South Africa’s last big Class 25NC steam locomotives. The second set of tracks were left in place, but unelectrified and isolated from the electrified track. In anticipation of increased ore traffic to the Eastern Cape from Hotazel, north-west of Kimberley, work on electrifying the second track commenced in July 2008.[1][6][7]
The Class 7E was initially placed in service on the coal line from Ermelo to Richards Bay.[8] When later model 25 kV AC locomotives were acquired, a few Class 7E locomotives went to the Pyramid South and East London lines, but the majority were transferred to the Cape Midland system to work goods and passenger traffic from Kimberley via De Aar to either Port Elizabeth or Beaufort West.[1]
Regional co-operation
[edit]A 30c postage stamp, depicting a pair of Class 7E locomotives hauling an ore train, was one of a set of four commemorative postage stamps which were issued by the South African Post Office on 15 February 1990. The theme illustrated interdependence and regional co-operation in Southern Africa and on this stamp, the integrated railway systems which stretched from Cape Town in the south to as far north as Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The artwork and stamp design was by the noted stamp designer and artist A.H. Barrett.[9]
Liveries
[edit]The whole series was delivered in the SAR Gulf Red livery with signal red cowcatchers, yellow whiskers and with the number plates on the sides mounted on three-stripe yellow wings. When the section from Kimberley to Beaufort West was electrified, six Class 7E locomotives, numbers E7004 to E7009, were painted blue with yellow whiskers for use with the Blue Train on that section. In the 1990s many of the units began to be repainted in the Spoornet orange livery with a yellow and blue chevron pattern on the cowcatchers. Several later received the Spoornet maroon livery. In the late 1990s many were repainted in the Spoornet blue livery with solid numbers on the sides while just as many, including the former Blue Train units, received the Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers on the sides. In the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) era after 2008, at least two were repainted in the Shosholoza Meyl purple livery.[6][10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 129–131. ISBN 0869772112.
- ^ "UCW - Electric locomotives" (PDF). The UCW Partnership. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ a b c d e South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 610mm and 1065mm Gauges, Ref LXD 14/1/100/20, 28 January 1975, as amended
- ^ Jane's World Railways 1980-81
- ^ Class 7E – Principle (sic) Dimensions and Technical Data (TFR leaflet used in driver training, circa 2010)
- ^ a b c Middleton, John N. (2002). Railways of Southern Africa Locomotive Guide - 2002 (as amended by Combined Amendment List 4, January 2009) (2nd, Dec 2002 ed.). Herts, England: Beyer-Garratt Publications. pp. 50, 60–61.
- ^ Railways Africa, 5 Aug 2007: Kimberley-De Aar Electrification
- ^ Transnet Locomotives International issue 108 June 2017 page 22
- ^ Philatelic Bulletin 207, issued by Philatelic Services and INTERSAPA, 1990
- ^ Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 9. South-Eastwards as far as Volksrust (2nd part) by Les Pivnic. Caption 4. (Accessed on 11 April 2017)
External links
[edit]
Media related to South African Class 7E at Wikimedia Commons
