South African Class 32-200

South African Class 32-200
PPC Saldanha’s Class 32-200 32-202, 8 January 2009
Power type Diesel-electric
Designer General Electric
Builder General Electric
Serial number 35842-35851[1]
Model GE U20C1
Build date 1966
Total produced 10
UIC classification 1Co+Co1 interlinked bogies
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Bogies 4.927 m (16 ft 2.0 in) wheelbase
Leading wheel
diameter		 762 mm (30.0 in)
Wheel diameter 915 mm (36.0 in)
Wheelbase 13.246 m (43 ft 5.5 in)
Length 16.866 m (55 ft 4.0 in)
Width 2.756 m (9 ft 0.5 in)
Height 3.924 m (12 ft 10.5 in)
Axle load Pony 10,180 kg (10.0 long tons)
Traction 12,700 kg (12.5 long tons)
Locomotive weight 93,000 kg (91.5 long tons) average
96,520 kg (95.0 long tons) maximum
Fuel type Fuel oil
Fuel capacity 4,300 litres (950 imp gal)
Prime mover GE 7FDL-12 4 stroke V12
Engine RPM range 400 rpm idle
1,000 rpm maximum
Engine type Diesel
Aspiration Cooper-Bessemer ET13 turbocharger
Generator DC 10 pole GE 5GT-581C9
Traction motors Six GE 5GE-761A9 DC 4 pole
* 625A rating 1 hour
* 615A rating continuous at 18 km/h (11 mph)
Transmission 92/19 gear ratio
Multiple working 4 maximum
Top speed 100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output 1,605 kW (2,152 hp) starting
1,490 kW (2,000 hp) continuous
Tractive effort 183 kN (41,000 lbf) starting
146 kN (33,000 lbf) continuous at 27 km/h (17 mph)
Factor of
adhesion		 25% starting, 20% continuous
Locomotive brakes 28-LV-1 with vigilance control
Not equipped with dynamic brakes
Locomotive
brakeforce		 65% ratio at 345 kPa (50.0 psi) brake cylinder pressure
Train brakes 700 litres (180 USgal) main reservoir
Compressor capacity 0.029 m3/s (1.0 cu ft/s) at idle
Exhauster capacity 0.116 m3/s (4.1 cu ft/s) at idle
Career South African Railways
Spoornet
TransNamib
Sudan Railway
Goldfields
PPC Lime
Sheltam
Class Class 32-200
Number in class 10
Number 32-201 to 32-210
Delivered June and July 1966
First run 1966

In June and July 1966 the South African Railways placed ten Class 32-200 GE U20C1 diesel-electric locomotives in service in South West Africa.[2].

Contents

Manufacturer

The Class 32-200 type GE U20C1 diesel-electric locomotive was designed and built to South African Railways (SAR) requirements by General Electric (GE) and imported. It is a low short hood version of the earlier Class 32-000.[2]

Class 32 series

The South African Class 32 consists of two series, the high short hood Class 32-000 and the low short hood Class 32-200, both GE products.[2]

Service

While it was designed specifically for service in SWA, the Class 32-200s also ended up being employed in South Africa at times. From 1972 to 1974, between the withdrawal of the Class GO 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt locomotives and the arrival of the Class 35 diesel-electrics on the line between Amabele and Umtata in Transkei, some performed temporary service on that line.[3]

Of the original ten locomotives, most survived in service into the 21st century, some with TransNamib, the Namibian railway, or sold to other railways or into industry such as Sudan Railways, PPC Saldanha or Sheltam. Their disposition is shown in the table.[1]

Gallery

The main picture shows PPC Saldanha’s Class 32-200 32-202 at the PPC Saldanha plant on 8 January 2009.

See also

References

  1. ^ 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. 38, 45, 47, 66. 
  2. ^ a b c 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
  3. ^ Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 138-139. ISBN 0869772112.