South African Class 5E, Series 2

South African Class 5E, Series 2
E326, E319 and E297 leaving Touwsrivier, circa September 1984
Power type Electric
Designer English Electric
Builder Vulcan Foundry
Serial number EE 2421-2465, VF E149-E193[1]
Model EE 5E
Build date 1956-1957
Total produced 45
UIC classification Bo-Bo
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Bogies 3.430 m (11 ft 3.0 in) wheelbase
Wheel diameter 1,219 mm (48.0 in)
Wheelbase 11.279 m (37 ft 0.1 in)
Length 15.494 m (50 ft 10.0 in)
Width 2.896 m (9 ft 6.0 in)
Height 4.089 m (13 ft 5 in) pantographs down
Axle load 21,591 kg (21.3 long tons)
Locomotive weight 86,364 kg (85.0 long tons)
Current collection
method		 Pantographs
Traction motors Four EE 529
Transmission 18/67 Gear ratio
Top speed 97 km/h (60 mph)
Power output Per motor:
377 kW (506 hp) 1 hour
325 kW (436 hp) continuous
Total:
1,508 kW (2,022 hp) 1 hour
1,300 kW (1,700 hp) continuous
Tractive effort 200 kN (45,000 lbf) starting
128 kN (29,000 lbf) 1 hour
104 kN (23,000 lbf) continuous
Locomotive brakes Regenerative
Train brakes Air & Vacuum
Career South African Railways
Spoornet
Class Class 5E
Power class 3 kV DC
Number in class 45
Number E319-E363[2]
Nicknames Balstamper
Delivered 1957-1958
First run 1957
Disposition Retired

In 1957 and 1958 the South African Railways placed forty-five Class 5E, Series 2 electric locomotives with a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement in main line service.[2]

Contents

Manufacturer

The Class 5E, Series 2 3 kV DC electric locomotive was built for the South African Railways (SAR) by Vulcan Foundry (VF), subcontracted by English Electric (EE). Forty-five series 2 locomotives were delivered and placed in service in 1957 and 1958, numbered E319 to E363.[3]

Orientation

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 number 2 end. A passage along the centre of the locomotive connects the cabs.[2]

They were delivered in a bottle green livery with yellow whiskers. Beginning in 1960, a Gulf Red and yellow whiskers livery gradually replaced the green and yellow.[3]

Class 5E series

The Class 5E was produced in three series, the EE and VF built Series 1 and the VF built Series 2 and Series 3. The VF built locomotives all have a works number for EE as well as VF, since the SAR placed the order with EE, who then subcontracted their construction to VF. Between 1955 and 1959 altogether one hundred and sixty Class 5E locomotives were delivered, sixty Series 1, forty-five Series 2 and fifty-five Series 3.[1][2][3]

The Class 5E gave a rough ride, which soon earned them the nickname balstamper. The successor Class 5E1 with its new design bogies presented a smoother ride.

Legacy

The Class 5E was the prototype of what eventually became the most prolific locomotive type to ever run on South African rails, serving on all the 3 kV DC lines country wide. The type was continued with the Class 5E1 in 1959, the Class 6E and the Class 6E1 from 1969 to 1985, and still later with the rebuilding of Class 6E1 locomotives to Class 18E, a project that started in 2000.[2][3]

Industrial service

Three Class 5E, Series 2 locomotives were sold into industrial service.

Images

The main picture shows E326, E319 and E297 departing Touws River, heading northeast towards Beaufort West, circa September 1984.

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. 50, 62. 
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c d Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 127-128. ISBN 0869772112.