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South African Class 31-000

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South African Classes 1-DE & 31-000
No. 31-028 (D727) at Bellville Depot, 31 October 2010
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
DesignerGeneral Electric
BuilderGeneral Electric
Serial number33507-33551
ModelGE U12B
Build date1958
Total produced45
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo'Bo'
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Wheel diameter915 mm (36.0 in)
Wheelbase10,118 mm (33 ft 2.3 in) ​
 • Bogie2,438 mm (8 ft 0 in)
Pivot centres7,680 mm (25 ft 2.4 in)
Length:
​
 • Over couplers15,150 mm (49 ft 8.5 in)
Width2,780 mm (9 ft 1.4 in)
Height3,916 mm (12 ft 10.2 in)
Axle load18,900 kg (41,700 lb)
Adhesive weight75,600 kg (166,700 lb)
Loco weight75,600 kg (166,700 lb) max
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity3,000 litres (660 imp gal)
Prime moverCooper-Bessemer FVBL-8
RPM range400-1,000 ​
 • RPM low idle400
 • RPM idle535
 • Maximum RPM1,000
Engine type4 stroke V8 diesel
AspirationC-B ET13 turbocharger
GeneratorDC 10 pole GE 5GT-581C3
Traction motorsFour GE 5GE-761A4 DC 4 pole ​
 • Rating 1 hour600A
 • Continuous590A @ 16 km/h (9.9 mph)
CylindersV8
Gear ratio94:17
MU working3 maximum
Loco brake6-SLAV-1 with vigilance control
Train brakesWestinghouse 6CDX4UC compressor/exhauster
Air tank cap.700 litres (150 imp gal)
Compressor0.039 m3/s (1.4 cu ft/s)
Exhauster0.155 m3/s (5.5 cu ft/s)
CouplersAAR knuckle SASKOP SS
Performance figures
Maximum speed90 km/h (56 mph)
Power output:
​
 • Starting985 kW (1,321 hp)
 • Continuous895 kW (1,200 hp)
Tractive effort:
​
 • Starting181 kN (41,000 lbf) @ 25% adhesion
 • Continuous145 kN (33,000 lbf) @ 18 km/h (11 mph)
Factor of adh.:
​
 • Starting25%
 • Continuous20% @ 18 km/h (11 mph)
Brakeforce65% ratio @ 345 kPa (50.0 psi)
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
Spoornet
Sheltam
ClassClass 31-000
Number in class45
Numbers31-001 to 31-045 (D700-D744)
DeliveredJune to July 1958
First run1958

The South African Railways Class 31-000 of 1958 is a diesel-electric locomotive.

In June and July 1958, the South African Railways placed forty-five Class 1-DE General Electric type U12B diesel-electric locomotives in service. They were later reclassified to Class 31-000 and renumbered.[1]

Manufacturer

The South African Class 31-000 type GE U12B diesel-electric locomotive was designed for the South African Railways (SAR) and built by General Electric in 1958. They were the first diesel-electric road locomotives to enter SAR service in quantity.[1][2]

Reclassification & renumbering

Upon delivery, they were classified as Class 1-DE and numbered in the range from D700 to D744, in the electric locomotive number range. When the SAR adopted a new classification and numbering system for electric and diesel-powered locomotives c. 1960, they were reclassified to Class 31-000 and renumbered in the range from 31-001 to 31-045.[1][2]

Orientation

The Class 31-000 is a high short hood locomotive. While the short hood end is usually considered as the front end, the cab is equipped with dual station controls to make it fully bidirectional.[1]

Service

They were placed in service working out of Johannesburg to Kroonstad in the Free State and to Volksrust on the mainline to Natal. By the 1980s they were relegated to shunting and pickup service on the Reef and at some other major centres.[2]

Of the original forty-five locomotives, forty survived into the Spoornet era in the 1990s. Now retired from Spoornet service, some still see service in private hands. Three of them, numbers 31-001 (D700), 31-005 (D704) and 31-038 (D737), were acquired by Sheltam for use at Rand Uranium near Randfontein and at Welkom. The first two were converted to low short hood locomotives and were still in service in 2014, while the third was used for spare parts.[3][4]

Another private rail operator, RRL Grindrod, owns no. 31-009 (D708) as its no. RB-201, which is employed at Welkom.[4]

Works numbers

The Class 31-000 builder’s works numbers, renumbering and disposition are listed in the table.[3]

Illustration

Some of the liveries which were applied to Class 31-000 locomotives are illustrated below.

  • Sheltam no. 1201, ex SAR no. 31-005 (D704), 19 May 2010
    Sheltam no. 1201, ex SAR no. 31-005 (D704), 19 May 2010
  • No. 31-007 (D706) at Bellville Depot, 10 January 2009
    No. 31-007 (D706) at Bellville Depot, 10 January 2009

References

  1. ^ a b c d South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 610 mm and 1065 mm Gauges, Ref LXD 14/1/100/20, 28 January 1975, as amended
  2. ^ a b c Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 137–138. ISBN 0869772112.
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ a b SAR-L Yahoogroup message no. 47981 of 17 October 2014
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