South African Class 18E, Series 1

South African Class 18E, Series 1
No. 18-224, Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, 5 August 2007
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
DesignerUnion Carriage & Wagon
BuilderTranswerk
Transnet Rail Engineering
ModelSpoornet 18E
Build date2000-2009
Total produced446
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo'Bo'
 • CommonwealthBo-Bo
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Wheel diameter1,220 mm (48.0 in)
Wheelbase11,279 mm (37 ft 0.1 in) ​
 • Bogie3,430 mm (11 ft 3.0 in)
Pivot centres7,849 mm (25 ft 9.0 in)
Panto shoes6,972 mm (22 ft 10.5 in)
Length:
 • Over couplers15,494 mm (50 ft 10.0 in)
 • Over body14,631 mm (48 ft 0 in)
Width2,896 mm (9 ft 6.0 in)
Height:
 • Pantograph4,089 mm (13 ft 5.0 in)
 • Body height3,937 mm (12 ft 11.0 in)
Loco weight88,904 kg (196,000 lb) max
Electric system/s3 kV DC catenary
Current pickup(s)Pantographs
Loco brakeAir & Rheostatic
Train brakesAir & Vacuum
CouplersAAR knuckle
Career
OperatorsSpoornet
Transnet Freight Rail
PRASA
ClassClass 18E
Number in class446
Numbers18-001 to 18-420
18-500 to 18-525
Delivered2000-2009
First run2000

The Spoornet Class 18E, Series 1 of 2000 is a South African electric locomotive.

Beginning in 2000, Spoornet embarked on a program to rebuild Class 6E1 locomotives to Class 18E, Series 1 locomotives. Most of the Class 6E1s which had previously been reclassified or modified to Class 16E or Class 17E respectively were rebuilt to Class 18E as well.[1]

Manufacturer

The 3 kV DC Class 6E1 electric locomotive was built for the South African Railways (SAR) by Union Carriage & Wagon (UCW) in Nigel, Transvaal, with the electrical equipment supplied by the General Electric Company (GEC). Eleven series of Class 6E1 were delivered between 1969 and 1984, with altogether 960 units built. UCW did not allocate builder's numbers to the locomotives which it built for the SAR, but used the SAR unit numbers for their record keeping.[2]

Rebuilding

The rebuilding to Class 18E, Series 1 was done by Transwerk, later renamed Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) and then Transnet Engineering (TE), at its Koedoespoort workshops in Pretoria. The rebuilding to Series 1 locomotives ceased in 2009, with 446 units rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 6 to 11 locomotives, numbered in the ranges from 18-001 to 18-420 and 18-500 to 18-525.[1]

Brake rack in Class 18E no. 18-089

Since it was probably not intended at the beginning of the project to rebuild virtually the whole fleet of Class 6E1s to Class 18Es, most of the early rebuilds were done on the newest of the Class 6E1 fleet, Series 8 to 11. One of the reasons was that these series, numbers E1896 and up, already had an air equipment frame brake system, commonly referred to as a brake rack, similar to that intended for the Class 18E which would reduce the overall per-unit cost of rebuilding.[3]

Another consideration was possibly that their bodywork usually required less heavy repairs than the older models in terms of rust and other damage, such as bent panels and frames.[4]

Similar considerations possibly also applied when older Class 6E1s of Series 6 and 7 began to be rebuilt in 2003, since these units in the number range from E1646 to E1895, used the same brake valve as that of the Class 18E. The result by 2013, however, was a fleet of already ageing Class 18Es and ancient Class 6E1s, the latter mostly of Series 6 and older models.[4]

Orientation

The Class 6E1 was a dual cab locomotive and had a roof access ladder on one side only, just to the right of the cab access door. The roof access ladder end was marked as the no. 2 end. A corridor along the centre of the locomotive connected the cabs, which are identical apart from the fact that the handbrake is located in cab 2.[5]

The rebuilt Class 18E locomotive, on the other hand, is a single cab unit since cab 1 was stripped of all controls during the rebuilding to have additional equipment and a chemical toilet installed. Since the driving cab's noise level had to be below 85 decibels, cab 2 was selected as the Class 18E driving cab, primarily based on its lower noise level compared to cab 1, which is closer and more exposed to the compressor's noise and vibration. Another factor was the closer proximity of cab 2 to the low voltage switch panel. The fact that the handbrake was located in cab 2 was not a deciding factor, but was considered an additional benefit.[1][4][5][6]

18-017 upgrade information plate

On some early rebuilds a small plate, about the size of a cigarette packet and engraved with the upgrade information was attached on the cab wall in Cab 1 next to the compressor ventilation opening. The specimen depicted is in error about the original Class 6E series, which was S11 in the case of no. E2167.

Brake systems

Air brakes

The Class 6E1 locomotives were built with an air brake system, consisting of various valves connected to each other with pipes, commonly referred to as a “bicycle frame” brake system. The compressed air pipe is run through bolster and other members and then in a zig-zag pattern under the locomotive's belly to extend its length, which allows the maximum amount of moisture to condense on the way to the reservoirs. As a result, it has multiple pipe connections. A weakness of the system was that, after an accident or even a hard coupling, these pipes tended to develop leaks at the joints which were extremely difficult to repair.[3]

Compressed air pipes

When Class 6E1, Series 7 and earlier locomotives began to be rebuilt, it was necessary to retrofit them with a brake equipment frame or brake rack. Since this already increased the per-unit rebuilding cost, it was decided to simultaneously re-route the compressor pipe away from bolster and other members to the outside of the bodywork on the locomotive's right side, from below and to the right of the cab door to just before the second sandbox lid from the rear end. An added advantage was that the pipe would run cooler and more moisture would condense on the way to the reservoirs. The same modification was not done on locomotives which were rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 8 and later.[3]

Dynamic brakes

The Class 6E1 locomotives were equipped with regenerative brakes. With regenerative braking, the energy generated by the traction motors is dissipated by the resistor grid banks at the substations, when it is not absorbed by other locomotives in the same electrical section. A stumbling block was that the regeneration equipment at many of the sub-stations along the route was unreliable. Since there was no guarantee that another train would be in the same section to absorb the regenerated energy, there was always the risk that line voltage could exceed 4.1 kV, which would make either the sub-station or the locomotive trip out.[7]

As a result, the rebuilt Class 18E locomotives were equipped with rheostatic braking instead of regenerative braking. With rheostatic braking, the energy generated by the traction motors is dissipated by the resistor grids on the locomotive itself. The rheostatic braking of the Class 18E was superior and very reliable for higher speed trains, compared with the regenerative braking of the older Classes 6E1 and 17E locomotives.[7]

Bogies

Class 6E1 Series 2 to 11 bogies

The Class 6E1 was built with sophisticated traction linkages on their bogies. Together with the locomotive's electronic wheel-slip detection system, these traction struts, mounted between the linkages on the bogies and the locomotive body and colloquially referred to as grasshopper legs, ensure the maximum transfer of power to the rails without causing wheel-slip by reducing the adhesion of the leading bogie and increasing that of the trailing bogie by as much as 15% upon starting.[8]

During rebuilding, all bogies and traction motors underwent a complete refurbishment. Traction motors were tested back-to-back to ensure quality.[4]

New equipment

The rebuilding included the installation of Alstom micro-processor control technology. New equipment in the totally refurbished Class 18E locomotive include the following:[1]

  • A transducer to relay vacuum and compressed air pressure to an electric signal.
  • Dual-purpose main resistance modules which replaced the accelerating resistance system and which are used for motoring and rheostatic braking. The resistance blowers use AC motors which are powered through inverters.[4]
  • A DC current transformer (DCCT) which measures the current flowing to and from certain equipment, such as the traction motors or total overhead line current.
  • A potential divider to measure the voltage in the overhead equipment and traction motors.
  • A main processor unit (MPU) located in high tension compartment 1, used for primary (master) control of the locomotive.
  • Remote input-output modules (RIOM) located in high tension compartment 2, in the low tension panel and the driving compartment, used for secondary (slave) control of the locomotive.
  • Two digital display units (DDU) mounted on the driving console to display, for example information like speed, current draw and available overhead voltage, current draw of the traction motors in each bogie, rheostatic braking current generated per bogie, as well as performance information about all the locomotives in the consisted set.[1]
  • Overspeed protection which will automatically open the line switches if any pair of wheels slips and a speed of 95 kilometres per hour (59 miles per hour) is exceeded.[6]
  • The driver's cab and console received a lot of attention to ensure crew comfort and safety. It included the installation of an air conditioner and windows which offer better protection against rocks thrown by trackside vagrants.[4]

Batteries

Beginning in 2009, in an attempt to reduce theft, the 110 V battery bank was relocated from the locomotive sides below the frame and between the bogies to cab 1, where the toilet occupied less than half of the available space. This appears to have been done only with numbers 18-510 and later. Identifying features are a small grille to the left of the bottom of the cab 1 side door and, in most cases, the remaining battery box frames without side covers.[4]

Appearance

Identifying features

The most obvious visual feature to distinguish the Class 18E from the Class 6E1 is the filled-in driver's windows at the rear end, where the toilet is installed. On the first rebuilds, as observed up to no. 18-012, the small driver's side window was left in place as a toilet window, but most of these have since also been filled in. The remaining rear windscreen still has the slanted upper edge of the 6E1 windscreens, but the new front windscreens on the Class 18E are rectangular.[6]

On the sides, obvious visual distinctions from the Class 6E1 are the left one of the two large grilles which was removed, with the opening filled in, two new large grilles which are installed in the centre lower sides to serve as air intakes for the rheostatic braking resistance blowers, and a large access door to one of the high-tension compartments, which is installed in place of the rightmost small window which was in the upper side of the Class 6E1. On some Class 18E locomotives, one or more of the remaining small windows were slightly enlarged vertically. On the left side, the air intakes for the air conditioner in the cab are installed between the top three steps of the roof access ladder.[6]

Locomotives which were rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 6 and 7, have part of the compressed air piping sunk into a recess which runs along the rear of the lower edge of the body on the locomotive's right side, the side opposite the roof access ladder side. On locomotives which were rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 8 to 11 this pipe was not rerouted.[3]

Lineage identification

All features which distinguished Class 6E1, Series 6 to 11 locomotives from each other, are still present on the Class 18E rebuilds, making it possible to visually determine the Class 6E1 origin of most Class 18E locomotives. Examples are shown in the pictures below.[5]

  • The smooth sides of ex Series 6 and 7 locomotives and, on the Class 18Es rebuilt from them, the recessed compressed air pipe on the right side.
  • The rainwater beading above the small grilles immediately to the right of the side door, which was only installed on Series 6 and later Class 6E1s.
  • The large hatch door on each side, below the second small window to the right of the side door on the roof access ladder side, and below the first window immediately to the right of the door on the opposite side, on ex Series 8 to 11 locomotives.
  • The rainwater downpipe drainage holes on the lower sides of ex Series 9 to 11 locomotives. As on the pre-rebuilt locomotives, these holes are usually covered by so-called buckets, but these covers are absent on several units.
  • The end doors, which are flush with the doorframes on ex Series 6 to 8 locomotives, and recessed into the doorframes on ex Series 9 to 11 locomotives;
  • The small side window on the driver's assistant's side, which was omitted on ex Series 9 to 11 locomotives;
  • The squared corners on all doors on ex Series 6 to 8 locomotives, with a weather strip at the bottom, and the rounded corners and no weather strips on all doors on ex Series 9 to 11 locomotives;
  • The side doors with:
    • mid-door mounted door handles on ex Series 6 and early Series 7 locomotives;
    • low-mounted handles with a drawer pull type handle at mid-door level on ex later Series 7 and Series 8 locomotives; and
    • two interconnected latch handles on the outside, one handle mounted near floor level and the other at mid-door level, on ex Class 6E1 Series 9 to 11 locomotives.

Operation

The locomotive is controlled via resistors over which the voltage is dropped in a configuration of series and parallel electrical circuits. The circuit breakers which switch these circuits, work under very high power and voltage and are all pneumatically operated for insulation purposes. Compressed air is required to open or close the switch actions and air is also used for the weak field Cam Switch, which also switches under very high currents.[7]

Upon starting and in the low notches, the major part of the voltage is dropped over the banks of resistors and all four traction motors are in series. As the driver notches up, some of the resistor banks are cut out via the pneumatically operated switches and the voltage increases across the traction motors. The more resistors which are cut out as the driver notches higher, the more power is developed by the traction motors. At around 22 to 28 kilometres per hour (14 to 17 miles per hour) the locomotive switches to a parallel combination, where the two traction motors per bogie are in a series electrical circuit, while the two bogies are in parallel electrical circuit. Eventually, when all resistors are cut out, the locomotive is operating in full-field.[7]

The locomotives in a consisted set are switched between series and parallel mode automatically, based on speed, overhead voltage and electromotive force (EMF). The driver can select "series hold" to force some or all of the locomotives in the consisted set to remain in series mode when overhead voltage is low. If nothing is done, some of the locomotives will switch off under low overhead voltage conditions, to prevent damage to resistors, and switch on again when the voltage improves.[4][7]

Table of rebuilds

The table lists the original Class 6E1 number, series and year built for each Class 18E, Series 1 locomotive, as well as the year it was rebuilt to Class 18E. All the table columns are sortable.[1][4]

Class 6E1 units rebuilt to Class 18E, Series 1

Count
6E1
no.
6E1
ser.
Year
built
18E
no.
Year
rebuilt
Notes
1 E1954 8 1980 18-001 2000
2 E1955 8 1980 18-002 2001
3 E2150 11 1984 18-003 2001
4 E2106 10 1983 18-004 2001
5 E2144 11 1984 18-005 2001
6 E1920 8 1979-80 18-006 2001
7 E2166 11 1985 18-007 2001
8 E2074 9 1982 18-008 2001
9 E2004 9 1981-82 18-009 2001
10 E1912 8 1979 18-010 2001
11 E1942 8 1980 18-011 2001
12 E1911 8 1979 18-012 2001
13 E1978 8 1980 18-013 2001
14 E1975 8 1980 18-014 2002
15 E1961 8 1980 18-015 2002
16 E2125 10 1983 18-016 2002
17 E2167 11 1985 18-017 2002
18 E1935 8 1980 18-018 2002 ex 17E
19 E1974 8 1980 18-019 2002
20 E2072 9 1982 18-020 2002
21 E1902 8 1979 18-021 2002
22 E2010 9 1981-82 18-022 2002
23 E2089 10 1983 18-023 2002
24 E2119 10 1983 18-024 2002
25 E1903 8 1979 18-025 2002
26 E1980 8 1980 18-026 2002
27 E1981 8 1980 18-027 2002
28 E2055 9 1982 18-028 2002 ex 17E
29 E2001 9 1981 18-029 2002 ex 16-500A
30 E2002 9 1981 18-030 2002 ex 16-500B
31 E2157 11 1984 18-031 2002
32 E2128 10 1984 18-032 2002
33 E1925 8 1979-80 18-033 2002 ex 16-504A
34 E1926 8 1979-80 18-034 2002 ex 16-504B
35 E1916 8 1979-80 18-035 2002 ex 16-501A
36 E1917 8 1979-80 18-036 2002 ex 16-501B
37 E2037 9 1981-82 18-037 2002 ex 17E
38 E2165 11 1985 18-038 2002
39 E2095 10 1983 18-039 2002
40 E2131 10 1984 18-040 2002 Written off, rebuilt as 18-862
41 E1988 8 1981 18-041 2002
42 E2009 9 1981-82 18-042 2002
43 E2129 10 1984 18-043 2002
44 E2102 10 1983 18-044 2002
45 E2021 9 1981-82 18-045 2002
46 E2087 10 1982 18-046 2002
47 E2132 10 1984 18-047 2002
48 E2180 11 1985 18-048 2002
49 E1929 8 1979-80 18-049 2002 ex 16-506B
50 E2013 9 1981-82 18-050 2002
51 E1963 8 1980 18-051 2002
52 E2110 10 1983 18-052 2002
53 E2099 10 1983 18-053 2002
54 E2078 9 1982 18-054 2002
55 E1928 8 1979-80 18-055 2002 ex 16-506A
56 E2061 9 1982 18-056 2002
57 E2083 9 1982 18-057 2002
58 E2014 9 1981-82 18-058 2002
59 E2093 10 1983 18-059 2002
60 E2112 10 1983 18-060 2002
61 E1909 8 1979 18-061 2002 ex 17E
62 E1946 8 1980 18-062 2002 ex 17E
63 E1918 8 1979-80 18-063 2002 ex 16-505A
64 E1949 8 1980 18-064 2002 ex 17E
65 E1999 8 1981 18-065 2002 ex 17E
66 E2183 11 1985 18-066 2003
67 E1919 8 1979-80 18-067 2003 ex 16-505B
68 E2149 11 1984 18-068 2002
69 E1948 8 1980 18-069 2003
70 E1962 8 1980 18-070 2003 ex 17E
71 E2162 11 1984 18-071 2003
72 E1958 8 1980 18-072 2003
73 E2075 9 1982 18-073 2003 ex 17E
74 E2038 9 1981-82 18-074 2003 ex 17E
75 E2153 11 1984 18-075 2003
76 E2124 10 1983 18-076 2003
77 E1914 8 1979 18-077 2003 ex 16-503A
78 E1915 8 1979 18-078 2003 ex 16-503B
79 E2056 9 1982 18-079 2003 ex 17E
80 E1885 7 1979 18-080 2003
81 E2109 10 1983 18-081 2003
82 E2126 10 1984 18-082 2003
83 E2184 11 1985 18-083 2003
84 E1940 8 1980 18-084 2003 ex 17E
85 E2122 10 1983 18-085 2003
86 E1831 7 1978 18-086 2003
87 E1904 8 1979 18-087 2003 ex 17E
88 E2138 10 1984 18-088 2003
89 E2088 10 1982 18-089 2003
90 E1871 7 1978-79 18-090 2003
91 E2152 11 1984 18-091 2003
92 E2154 11 1984 18-092 2003
93 E2053 9 1982 18-093 2003 ex 17E
94 E1934 8 1980 18-094 2003 ex 17E
95 E2163 11 1984 18-095 2003
96 E2118 10 1983 18-096 2003
97 E1822 7 1977-78 18-097 2003 ex 17E
98 E2175 11 1985 18-098 2003
99 E2116 10 1983 18-099 2003
100 E1669 6 1976 18-100 2003 ex 16-422A
101 E2158 11 1984 18-101 2003
102 E2105 10 1983 18-102 2003
103 E2123 10 1983 18-103 2003
104 E1686 6 1976 18-104 2003
105 E2155 11 1984 18-105 2003
106 E2174 11 1985 18-106 2003
107 E1780 7 1977 18-107 2003
108 E2114 10 1983 18-108 2004
109 E2173 11 1985 18-109 2004
110 E2170 11 1985 18-110 2004
111 E2142 11 1984 18-111 2004
112 E2164 11 1984 18-112 2004
113 E2121 10 1983 18-113 2004
114 E2135 10 1984 18-114 2004
115 E2137 10 1984 18-115 2004
116 E2146 11 1984 18-116 2004
117 E2141 11 1984 18-117 2004
118 E2182 11 1985 18-118 2004
119 E2151 11 1984 18-119 2004
120 E2176 11 1985 18-120 2004
121 E2130 10 1984 18-121 2004
122 E2120 10 1983 18-122 2004
123 E2133 10 1984 18-123 2004
124 E1687 6 1976 18-124 2004
125 E2156 11 1984 18-125 2004
126 E2094 10 1983 18-126 2004
127 E2079 9 1982 18-127 2004 ex 17E
128 E2139 10 1984 18-128 2004
129 E2172 11 1985 18-129 2004
130 E2090 10 1983 18-130 2004
131 E2127 10 1984 18-131 2004
132 E2136 10 1984 18-132 2004
133 E1854 7 1978 18-133 2004
134 E1765 7 1977 18-134 2004
135 E1842 7 1978 18-135 2004
136 E2147 11 1984 18-136 2004
137 E1782 7 1977 18-137 2004
138 E1860 7 1978 18-138 2004
139 E1769 7 1977 18-139 2004
140 E2178 11 1985 18-140 2004
141 E1747 7 1977 18-141 2004
142 E1646 6 1976 18-142 2004
143 E1693 6 1976 18-143 2004
144 E1710 6 1976-77 18-144 2004
145 E2148 11 1984 18-145 2004
146 E2185 11 1985 18-146 2004
147 E1673 6 1976 18-147 2004
148 E2145 11 1984 18-148 2004
149 E2100 10 1983 18-149 2004
150 E2160 11 1984 18-150 2004
151 E2113 10 1983 18-151 2004
152 E2161 11 1984 18-152 2004
153 E2140 10 1984 18-153 2004
154 E2143 11 1984 18-154 2004
155 E2117 10 1983 18-155 2004
156 E1997 8 1981 18-156 2004 ex 17E
157 E2181 11 1985 18-157 2004
158 E2086 10 1982 18-158 2004
159 E1746 7 1977 18-159 2004
160 E2104 10 1983 18-160 2005
161 E1893 7 1979 18-161 2005
162 E2159 11 1984 18-162 2005
163 E1742 6 1977 18-163 2005
164 E2092 10 1983 18-164 2005
165 E1785 7 1977 18-165 2003
166 E2101 10 1983 18-166 2003
167 E1699 6 1976-77 18-167 2004 ex 16-425A
168 E2171 11 1985 18-168 2004
169 E1700 6 1976-77 18-169 2004 ex 16-425B
170 E2179 11 1985 18-170 2005
171 E2168 11 1985 18-171 2005
172 E2177 11 1985 18-172 2005
173 E2169 11 1985 18-173 2005
174 E2096 10 1983 18-174 2004
175 E2103 10 1983 18-175 2004
176 E2091 10 1983 18-176 2004
177 E2108 10 1983 18-177 2004
178 E1966 8 1980 18-178 2005 ex 17E
179 E2098 10 1983 18-179 2005
180 E2097 10 1983 18-180 2005
181 E2080 9 1982 18-181 2005
182 E1704 6 1976-77 18-182 2005
183 E1876 7 1979 18-183 2005
184 E1790 7 1977-78 18-184 2005 ex 16-407B
185 E1730 6 1977 18-185 2005
186 E2107 10 1983 18-186 2005
187 E1788 7 1977-78 18-187 2005
188 E1796 7 1977-78 18-188 2005
189 E1697 6 1976-77 18-189 2005
190 E1656 6 1976 18-190 2005
191 E2115 10 1983 18-191 2005
192 E2065 9 1982 18-192 2005 ex 17E
193 E2025 9 1981-82 18-193 2005 ex 17E
194 E2020 9 1981-82 18-194 2005 ex 17E
195 E1899 8 1979 18-195 2005
196 E2026 9 1981-82 18-196 2005 ex 17E
197 E1944 8 1980 18-197 2005 ex 17E
198 E1878 7 1979 18-198 2005
199 E1959 8 1980 18-199 2005
200 E1941 8 1980 18-200 2005
201 E1969 8 1980 18-201 2005 ex 17E
202 E1931 8 1980 18-202 2005 ex 17E
203 E1939 8 1980 18-203 2005 ex 17E
204 E1972 8 1980 18-204 2005
205 E1894 7 1979 18-205 2005
206 E1750 7 1977 18-206 2005
207 E1945 8 1980 18-207 2005 ex 17E
208 E1752 7 1977 18-208 2005
209 E1652 6 1976 18-209 2005
210 E2028 9 1981-82 18-210 2005 ex 17E
211 E2022 9 1981-82 18-211 2005 ex 17E
212 E2066 9 1982 18-212 2005 ex 17E
213 E1873 7 1979 18-213 2005
214 E2085 9 1982 18-214 2005 ex 17E
215 E1986 8 1980-81 18-215 2005 ex 17E
216 E1937 8 1980 18-216 2005 ex 17E
217 E2084 9 1982 18-217 2005 ex 17E
218 E2052 9 1982 18-218 2005 ex 17E
219 E2044 9 1982 18-219 2005 ex 17E
220 E1960 8 1980 18-220 2005
221 E1932 8 1980 18-221 2005
222 E1968 8 1980 18-222 2005 ex 17E
223 E2030 9 1981-82 18-223 2005 ex 17E
224 E2070 9 1982 18-224 2005 ex 17E
225 E1991 8 1981 18-225 2005 ex 17E
226 E1984 8 1980-81 18-226 2005 ex 17E
227 E2042 9 1981-82 18-227 2005 ex 17E
228 E2076 9 1982 18-228 2005 ex 17E
229 E2051 9 1982 18-229 2005 ex 17E
230 E2039 9 1981-82 18-230 2005 ex 17E
231 E1797 7 1977-78 18-231 2005
232 E2016 9 1981-82 18-232 2005 ex 17E
233 E1837 7 1978 18-233 2005
234 E2043 9 1981-82 18-234 2005 ex 17E
235 E2082 9 1982 18-235 2005 ex 17E
236 E2007 9 1981-82 18-236 2005 ex 17E
237 E1998 8 1981 18-237 2006 ex 17E
238 E2045 9 1982 18-238 2005 ex 17E
239 E2050 9 1982 18-239 2006 ex 17E
240 E2057 9 1982 18-240 2005 ex 17E
241 E2040 9 1981-82 18-241 2006 ex 17E
242 E2063 9 1982 18-242 2006 ex 17E
243 E2073 9 1982 18-243 2006 ex 17E
244 E2077 9 1982 18-244 2006 ex 17E
245 E2067 9 1982 18-245 2006 ex 17E
246 E2033 9 1981-82 18-246 2006 ex 17E
247 E2036 9 1981-82 18-247 2006 ex 17E
248 E1943 8 1980 18-248 2006
249 E2018 9 1981-82 18-249 2006 ex 17E
250 E2060 9 1982 18-250 2006 ex 17E
251 E2081 9 1982 18-251 2006 ex 17E
252 E2019 9 1981-82 18-252 2006 ex 17E
253 E2058 9 1982 18-253 2006 ex 17E
254 E2034 9 1981-82 18-254 2006 ex 17E
255 E2011 9 1981-82 18-255 2006 ex 17E
256 E1976 8 1980 18-256 2006 ex 17E
257 E2054 9 1982 18-257 2006 ex 17E
258 E2048 9 1982 18-258 2006 ex 17E
259 E2024 9 1981-82 18-259 2006 ex 17E
260 E1805 7 1977-78 18-260 2006 ex 17E
261 E2015 9 1981-82 18-261 2006 ex 17E
262 E1900 8 1979 18-262 2006 ex 17E
263 E1967 8 1980 18-263 2006 ex 17E
264 E1848 7 1978 18-264 2006 ex 16-405A
265 E1849 7 1978 18-265 2006 ex 16-405B
266 E1889 7 1979 18-266 2006
267 E2023 9 1981-82 18-267 2006 ex 17E
268 E2047 9 1982 18-268 2006 ex 17E
269 E1971 8 1980 18-269 2006 ex 17E
270 E1843 7 1978 18-270 2006 ex 17E
271 E2046 9 1982 18-271 2006 ex 17E
272 E1982 8 1980 18-272 2006 ex 17E
273 E2012 9 1981-82 18-273 2006 ex 17E
274 E1936 8 1980 18-274 2006 ex 17E
275 E2008 9 1981-82 18-275 2006 ex 17E
276 E2041 9 1981-82 18-276 2006 ex 17E
277 E1647 6 1976 18-277 2006
278 E1992 8 1981 18-278 2006 ex 17E
279 E1995 8 1981 18-279 2006 ex 17E
280 E1835 7 1978 18-280 2006
281 E2064 9 1982 18-281 2006 ex 17E
282 E2062 9 1982 18-282 2006 ex 17E
283 E1827 7 1977-78 18-283 2006 ex 17E
284 E1906 8 1979 18-284 2006 ex 17E
285 E2003 9 1981-82 18-285 2006 ex 17E
286 E1923 8 1979-80 18-286 2006
287 E1694 6 1976 18-287 2006
288 E1908 8 1979 18-288 2006 ex 17E
289 E1777 7 1977 18-289 2006 ex 17E
290 E1947 8 1980 18-290 2006 ex 17E
291 E2069 9 1982 18-291 2006 ex 17E
292 E1775 7 1977 18-292 2006 ex 17E
293 E1938 8 1980 18-293 2006 ex 17E
294 E1810 7 1977-78 18-294 2006 ex 17E
295 E1910 8 1979 18-295 2006 ex 17E
296 E1983 8 1980 18-296 2006 ex 17E
297 E1690 6 1976 18-297 2006
298 E1901 8 1979 18-298 2006 ex 17E
299 E2017 9 1981-82 18-299 2006 ex 17E
300 E1691 6 1976 18-300 2006
301 E2032 9 1981-82 18-301 2006 ex 17E
302 E2068 9 1982 18-302 2006 ex 17E
303 E1989 8 1981 18-303 2006 ex 17E
304 E2031 9 1981-82 18-304 2006 ex 17E
305 E1994 8 1981 18-305 2006 ex 17E
306 E1922 8 1979-80 18-306 2007 ex 17E
307 E1832 7 1978 18-307 2007 ex 17E
308 E2005 9 1981-82 18-308 2007 ex 17E
309 E2000 8 1981 18-309 2007 ex 17E
310 E1990 8 1981 18-310 2007 ex 17E
311 E1905 8 1979 18-311 2007 ex 17E
312 E1985 8 1980-81 18-312 2007 ex 17E
313 E1696 6 1976 18-313 2007
314 E1883 7 1979 18-314 2007
315 E1996 8 1981 18-315 2007 ex 17E
316 E1965 8 1980 18-316 2007 ex 17E
317 E1838 7 1978 18-317 2007
318 E1881 7 1979 18-318 2007
319 E2027 9 1981-82 18-319 2007 ex 17E
320 E1933 8 1980 18-320 2007 ex 17E
321 E2059 9 1982 18-321 2007 ex 17E
322 E1716 6 1977 18-322 2007
323 E1685 6 1976 18-323 2007
324 E1987 8 1980-81 18-324 2007 ex 17E
325 E2006 9 1981-82 18-325 2007 ex 17E
326 E1776 7 1977 18-326 2007 ex 17E
327 E2029 9 1981-82 18-327 2007 ex 17E
328 E2071 9 1982 18-328 2007 ex 17E
329 E1964 8 1980 18-329 2007 ex 17E
330 E1907 8 1979 18-330 2007 ex 17E
331 E1801 7 1977-78 18-331 2007 ex 17E
332 E1749 7 1977 18-332 2007 ex 17E
333 E1792 7 1977-78 18-333 2007
334 E1924 8 1979-80 18-334 2007 ex 17E
335 E1770 7 1977 18-335 2007
336 E1993 8 1981 18-336 2007 ex 17E
337 E1979 8 1980 18-337 2007 ex 17E
338 E1840 7 1978 18-338 2007 ex 16-409A
339 E1841 7 1978 18-339 2007 ex 16-409B
340 E1913 8 1979 18-340 2007 ex 17E
341 E1921 8 1979-80 18-341 2007 ex 17E
342 E1861 7 1978 18-342 2007
343 E1814 7 1977-78 18-343 2007
344 E1826 7 1977-78 18-344 2007 ex 17E
345 E1684 6 1976 18-345 2007 ex 16-427A
346 E1701 6 1976-77 18-346 2007 ex 16-427B
347 E1718 6 1977 18-347 2007 ex 16-428A
348 E1720 6 1977 18-348 2007 ex 16-428B
349 E1679 6 1976 18-349 2007 ex 16-429A
350 E1714 6 1976-77 18-350 2007 ex 16-429B
351 E1683 6 1976 18-351 2007
352 E1732 6 1977 18-352 2007
353 E1895 7 1979 18-353 2007
354 E1787 7 1977 18-354 2008
355 E1722 6 1977 18-355 2007
356 E1875 7 1979 18-356 2007
357 E1721 6 1977 18-357 2007
358 E1795 7 1977-78 18-358 2007
359 E1846 7 1978 18-359 2007 ex 16-404A
360 E1847 7 1978 18-360 2007 ex 16-404B
361 E1789 7 1977-78 18-361 2007
362 E1886 7 1979 18-362 2007
363 E1863 7 1978-79 18-363 2007
364 E1864 7 1978-79 18-364 2007
365 E1833 7 1978 18-365 2007
366 E1748 7 1977 18-366 2007
367 E1743 6 1977 18-367 2007
368 E1853 7 1978 18-368 2007
369 E1817 7 1977-78 18-369 2007
370 E1888 7 1979 18-370 2007
371 E1892 7 1979 18-371 2007
372 E1698 6 1976-77 18-372 2008
373 E1665 6 1976 18-373 2008
374 E1879 7 1979 18-374 2007
375 E1692 6 1976 18-375 2008
376 E1973 8 1980 18-376 2007
377 E1764 7 1977 18-377 2008
378 E1970 8 1980 18-378 2008
379 E1799 7 1977-78 18-379 2008
380 E1675 6 1976 18-380 2008
381 E1655 6 1976 18-381 2008
382 E1772 7 1977 18-382 2008
383 E1897 8 1979 18-383 2008
384 E1734 6 1977 18-384 2008
385 E1774 7 1977 18-385 2008
386 E1705 6 1976-77 18-386 2008
387 E1830 7 1977-78 18-387 2008
388 E1740 6 1977 18-388 2008
389 E1760 7 1977 18-389 2008
390 E1751 7 1977 18-390 2008
391 E1759 7 1977 18-391 2008
392 E1850 7 1978 18-392 2008 ex 16-410A
393 E1851 7 1978 18-393 2008 ex 16-410B
394 E1712 6 1976-77 18-394 2008
395 E1649 6 1976 18-395 2008
396 E1872 7 1979 18-396 2008
397 E1724 6 1977 18-397 2008
398 E1766 7 1977 18-398 2008
399 E1753 7 1977 18-399 2008
400 E1695 6 1976 18-400 2008
401 E1815 7 1977-78 18-401 2008 PRASA
402 E1819 7 1977-78 18-402 2009 PRASA
403 E1804 7 1977-78 18-403 2008 PRASA
404 E1711 6 1976-77 18-404 2008 PRASA
405 E1738 6 1977 18-405 2008 PRASA
406 E1829 7 1977-78 18-406 2008 PRASA
407 E1758 7 1977 18-407 2009
408 E1756 7 1977 18-408 2009
409 E1821 7 1977-78 18-409 2009 PRASA
410 E1771 7 1977 18-410 2009 PRASA
411 E1689 6 1976 18-411 2009
412 E1857 7 1978 18-412 2008 PRASA
413 E1828 7 1977-78 18-413 2008 PRASA
414 E1868 7 1978-79 18-414 2008 PRASA
415 E1957 8 1980 18-415 2009 PRASA
416 E1755 7 1977 18-416 2009 TFR, ex PRASA
417 E1786 7 1977 18-417 2009
418 E1779 7 1977 18-418 2009 TFR, ex PRASA
419 E1952 8 1980 18-419 2009 PRASA
420 E1898 8 1979 18-420 2009 PRASA
421 E1798 7 1977-78 18-500 2009
422 E1802 7 1977-78 18-501 2009
423 E1808 7 1977-78 18-502 2009
424 E1709 6 1976-77 18-503 2009 ex 16-422B
425 E1650 6 1976 18-504 2009
426 E1836 7 1978 18-505 2009
427 E1648 6 1976 18-506 2009
428 E1927 8 1979-80 18-507 2009
429 E1707 6 1976-77 18-508 2009
430 E1874 7 1979 18-509 2009
431 E1781 7 1977 18-510 2009
432 E1856 7 1978 18-511 2009
433 E1811 7 1977-78 18-512 2009
434 E1880 7 1979 18-513 2009
435 E1794 7 1977-78 18-514 2009
436 E1891 7 1979 18-515 2009
437 E1763 7 1977 18-516 2009
438 E1725 6 1977 18-517 2009
439 E1745 6 1977 18-518 2009
440 E1731 6 1977 18-519 2009
441 E1761 7 1977 18-520 2009
442 E1757 7 1977 18-521 2009
443 E1773 7 1977 18-522 2009
444 E1865 7 1978-79 18-523 2009
445 E1825 7 1977-78 18-524 2009
446 E1706 6 1976-77 18-525 2009

Illustration

The Class 6E1 series lineage identification features, as well as the liveries which were applied to these locomotives, are illustrated in the following pictures. Note the external compressed air pipe on the right side of locomotives rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 6 and 7.

Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 6
  • No. 18-349 (E1679) in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers at Warrenton, 2 May 2013
    No. 18-349 (E1679) in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers at Warrenton, 2 May 2013
  • No. 18-404 (E1711) in PRASA's purple Shosholoza Meyl livery at Sentrarand, 8 October 2009
    No. 18-404 (E1711) in PRASA's purple Shosholoza Meyl livery at Sentrarand, 8 October 2009
  • No. 18-508 (E1707) in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Warrenton, Northern Cape, 8 October 2015
    No. 18-508 (E1707) in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Warrenton, Northern Cape, 8 October 2015
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 7
  • No. 18-266 (E1889) in Spoornet blue with outline numbers, Bayhead, Durban, 11 August 2007
    No. 18-266 (E1889) in Spoornet blue with outline numbers, Bayhead, Durban, 11 August 2007
  • No. 18-418 (E1779) in PRASA's purple Shosholoza Meyl livery at Sentrarand, 29 September 2009
    No. 18-418 (E1779) in PRASA's purple Shosholoza Meyl livery at Sentrarand, 29 September 2009
  • No. 18-512 (E1811) in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Kaalfontein, Gauteng, 28 September 2009
    No. 18-512 (E1811) in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Kaalfontein, Gauteng, 28 September 2009
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 8
  • No. 18-001 (E1954) in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers at Koedoespoort, 2 October 2009
    No. 18-001 (E1954) in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers at Koedoespoort, 2 October 2009
  • No. 18-420 (E1898) in PRASA's purple Shosholoza Meyl livery at Pyramid South, 6 October 2009
    No. 18-420 (E1898) in PRASA's purple Shosholoza Meyl livery at Pyramid South, 6 October 2009
  • No. 18-197 (E1944) in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Capital Park, Pretoria, 9 October 2009
    No. 18-197 (E1944) in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Capital Park, Pretoria, 9 October 2009
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 9
  • No. 18-009 (E2004) with a toilet side window, at Capital Park, Pretoria, 29 September 2006
    No. 18-009 (E2004) with a toilet side window, at Capital Park, Pretoria, 29 September 2006
  • No. 18-328 (E2071) with no toilet window, at Sentrarand, Gauteng, 22 September 2009
    No. 18-328 (E2071) with no toilet window, at Sentrarand, Gauteng, 22 September 2009
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 10
  • No. 18-076 (E2124) with covered drainage holes at Capital Park, Pretoria, 2 October 2006
    No. 18-076 (E2124) with covered drainage holes at Capital Park, Pretoria, 2 October 2006
  • No. 18-160 (E2104) with uncovered drainage holes at Kaalfontein, 23 September 2009
    No. 18-160 (E2104) with uncovered drainage holes at Kaalfontein, 23 September 2009
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 11
  • No. 18-048 (E2180) with covered drainage holes at Capital Park, Pretoria, 20 August 2007
    No. 18-048 (E2180) with covered drainage holes at Capital Park, Pretoria, 20 August 2007
  • No. 18-129 (E2172) with uncovered drainage holes at Capital Park, 10 May 2013
    No. 18-129 (E2172) with uncovered drainage holes at Capital Park, 10 May 2013

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f 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. 49, 51, 57–58.
  2. ^ "UCW - Electric locomotives" (PDF). The UCW Partnership. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d Information obtained from Transnet engineers and drivers
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Information gathered from the rebuild files of individual locomotives at Transnet Rail Engineering’s Koedoespoort shops, or obtained from John Middleton as well as several Transnet employees
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b c d 18E Locomotive (TFR leaflet used in driver training, circa 2010)
  7. ^ a b c d e Operation - South African Classes 6E, 6E1, 16E, 17E and 18E
  8. ^ Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 128–129. ISBN 0869772112.

External links

Media related to South African Class 18E Series 1 at Wikimedia Commons

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