NEW DIESELS FOR S A
Posted on 15 January 2010 by Railways Africa Editor
Swaady Martin - Acting Chief Executive Officer, GE South Africa Technologies and Pradeep Maharaj - Acting Group Chief Executive, Transnet.
GE Transportation has signed a contract with Transnet in South Africa to supply 100 new diesel-electric locomotives. Ten units are to be built in Erie and Grove City, Pennsylvania. In addition, 90 locomotive kits – also manufactured in Pennsylvania – will be sent to South Africa for assembly to meet localisation requirements stipulated in the contract. The locomotives will be built at the end of 2010 and delivered in early 2011.
GE’s model C30ACi, the first AC diesel-electric locomotive to be introduced to sub-Saharan Africa, will have an engine that delivers 3,300 gross horsepower (GHP) using an electronic fuel-injection system that automatically supplies the exact amount of fuel needed for optimal engine efficiency. The locomotives will also feature GE’s unique AC propulsion technology and dynamic braking, aimed at lowerlife-cycle costs, improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
According to the GE Transportation announcement, “This contractis especially relevant in light that South Africa has not placed an order for locomotives in approximately 20 years.”
[ Not quite. Some 75 new class 10E1 and 10E2 locomotives were placed in service in 1989-90, followed by the class 14E and 14E1 dual-voltage units after 1990, and 50 class 38 electro-diesels in 1992; not to mention the class 19E in 2009. It is true there were no new straight diesels during this time (GE was remiss it failing to make this distinction clear) – and in fact even the 50 class 38s had diesel engines. – editor
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As GE comes to South Africa after such a long time means one thing.Yes GE Locomotives were made to last and this proven through GEU20C operating in Zambia,Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.Spoornet (Transwerk) did Africa proud by introducing GE Class 33 locomotives which are still running.Yes technology has moved very fast, but I still believe the GEU20C was the best locomotive ever designed by American Rail Engineers. It is the benchmark of all Diesel locomotives.The beauty of these locos espeacilly the Class 33, exudes masculanity with its hump above the cockpit like a full grown lion with its mane.Meantime there is no harm for GE Engineers to revisit the GEU20C for future designs.The best photos of GEU20C’s (Rhodesia Railways) can be seen at Geoffs trains website, who used to reside in Zimbabwe.
who are the two in the picture?
Swaady Martin – Acting Chief Executive Officer, GE South Africa Technologies and Pradeep Maharaj – Acting Group Chief Executive, Transnet
(left to right)