South African Class 35-600

South African Class 35-600
35-662 at Vryheid, Kwa-Zulu Natal, 15 August 2007
Power type Diesel-electric
Designer Electro-Motive Diesel
Builder General Motors South Africa
Serial number 103-1 to 103-50 (35-601 to 35-650)
110-1 to 110-50 (35-651 to 35-700)
111-1 (Columbus 4)[1][2]
Model EMD GT18MC
Build date 1976-1978
Total produced 101
UIC classification Co+Co interlinked bogies
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Bogies 3.302 m (10 ft 10.0 in) wheelbase
Wheel diameter 915 mm (36.0 in)
Wheelbase 12.675 m (41 ft 7.0 in)
Length 16.485 m (54 ft 1.0 in)
Width 2.819 m (9 ft 3.0 in)
Height 3.924 m (12 ft 10.5 in)
Axle load 13,720 kg (13.5 long tons)
Locomotive weight 82,000 kg (80.7 long tons) average
82,320 kg (81.0 long tons) maximum
Fuel type Fuel oil
Fuel capacity 3,400 litres (900 USgal)
Prime mover EMD 8-645E3 2 stroke V8
Engine RPM range 250 rpm low idle
315 rpm idle
900 rpm maximum
Engine type Diesel
Aspiration EMD E-8 turbocharger
Displacement 10.570 litres (645.0 cu in)
Generator DC 8 pole EMD D25
Traction motors Six EMD D29CCBT DC 4 pole
* 485A 1 hour
* 450A continuous at 15 km/h (9.3 mph)
Transmission 57/16 gear ratio
Multiple working 4 maximum
Top speed 100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output 1,195 kW (1,603 hp) starting
1,065 kW (1,428 hp) continuous
Tractive effort 201 kN (45,000 lbf) starting
161 kN (36,000 lbf) continuous at 19 km/h (12 mph)
Factor of
adhesion		 25% starting
20% continuous
Locomotive brakes 28-LAV-1
Dynamic brake peak effort:
138 kN (31,000 lbf) at 28 km/h (17 mph)
Locomotive
brakeforce		 65% ratio at 345 kPa (50.0 psi) brake cylinder pressure
Train brakes 800 litres (210 USgal) main reservoir
Compressor capacity:
0.021 m3/s (0.74 cu ft/s) at idle
Exhauster capacity:
0.098 m3/s (3.5 cu ft/s) at idle
Safety systems Vigilance control
Career South African Railways
Columbus Stainless
Spoornet
Transnet Freight Rail
Class Class 35-600
Number in class 101
Number 35-601 to 35-700, Columbus 4
Delivered 1976-1978
First run 1976[3]

Between September 1976 and June 1978 the South African Railways placed one hundred Class 35-600 EMD GT18MC diesel-electric locomotives in service. In 1977 one Class 35-600 locomotive was also built for Columbus Stainless in Middelburg, Transvaal.[2][3]

Contents

Manufacturer

The Class 35-600 type GT18MC diesel-electric locomotive was designed by Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) and built in two batches for the South African Railways (SAR) by General Motors South Africa (GMSA) in Port Elizabeth. Fifty were delivered between September 1976 and May 1977, numbered 35-601 to 35-650, and another fifty between May 1977 and June 1978, numbered 35-651 to 35-700. Another single Class 35-600 GT18MC locomotive was also built new in 1977 for Columbus Stainless in Middelburg, Transvaal.[1][2][3][4]

Class 35 series

GE and EMD designs

South Africa’s Class 35 locomotive group consists of four series, the General Electric (GE) Class 35-000 and 35-400 and the EMD Class 35-200 and 35-600. Both these manufacturers also produced locomotives for the South African Classes 33, 34 and 36.[3]

Distinguishing Features

With the EMD Class 35 locomotives, the Class 35-200 and 35-600 are visually indistinguishable from each other.[3]

Service

The Class 35 is South Africa’s standard branch line diesel-electric locomotive. EMD Class 35-600s were designed for light rail conditions across difficult terrain and they work on most branch lines in the central, eastern, northern and northeastern parts of the country.[4]

Liveries

The main picture shows 35-662 in Spoornet orange livery.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b EMD Exports - South African Railways GT18MC
  2. ^ 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, 42-43, 46. 
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 141-142. ISBN 0869772112.