South African Class 36-000

No. 36-013 at Rugby, Cape Town, 4 November 2013

Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Designer	General Electric
Builder	SA GE-DL Locomotive Group
Serial number	40420-40519, 41380-41399, 40586-40589
Model	GE SG10B
Build date	1975–1981
Total produced	124

Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR	B-B
• UIC	Bo'Bo'
• Commonwealth	Bo-Bo
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Wheel diameter	915 mm (36.0 in)
Wheelbase	10,782 mm (35 ft 4.5 in)
• Bogie	2,082 mm (6 ft 10.0 in)
Pivot centres	8,700 mm (28 ft 6.5 in)
Length:
• Over couplers	15,151 mm (49 ft 8.5 in)
Width	2,727 mm (8 ft 11.4 in)
Height	3,924 mm (12 ft 10.5 in)
Axle load	18,250 kg (40,230 lb)
Adhesive weight	73,000 kg (161,000 lb)
Loco weight	73,000 kg (161,000 lb) max
Fuel type	Diesel
Fuel capacity	2,200 litres (480 imp gal)
Prime mover	GE 7FDL-8
RPM range	385–1,050
• RPM low idle	385
• RPM idle	450
• Maximum RPM	1,050
Engine type	4-stroke diesel
Aspiration	GE 1408 turbocharger
Generator	10 pole GE 5GT-581C15
Traction motors	Four GE 5GE-761-A13 DC 4 pole
• Rating 1 hour	665A
• Continuous	655A @ 15 km/h (9.3 mph)
Cylinders	V8
Gear ratio	92:19
MU working	4 maximum
Loco brake	28-LAV-1 with vigilance control
Train brakes	Westinghouse 6CDX4UC compressor/exhauster
Air tank cap.	800 litres (180 imp gal)
Compressor	0.033 m³/s (1.2 cu ft/s)
Exhauster	0.130 m³/s (4.6 cu ft/s)
Couplers	AAR knuckle type E

Performance figures
Maximum speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output:
• Starting	875 kW (1,173 hp)
• Continuous	800 kW (1,100 hp)
Tractive effort:
• Starting	176 kN (40,000 lbf) @ 25% adh.
• Continuous	141 kN (32,000 lbf) @ 14 km/h (8.7 mph)
Factor of adh.:
• Starting	25%
• Continuous	20%
Brakeforce	70% ratio @ 345 kPa (50.0 psi)

Career
Operators	South African Railways Spoornet Transnet Freight Rail PRASA
Class	Class 36-000
Number in class	124
Numbers	36-001 to 36-124
Delivered	1975–1981
First run	1975

The South African Railways Class 36-000 is a diesel-electric locomotive.

Between June 1975 and 1981, the South African Railways placed 124 Class 36-000 General Electric type SG10B diesel-electric locomotives in service.^[1]^[2]

Manufacturer

The Class 36-000 type GE SG10B diesel-electric locomotive was designed by General Electric (GE) and built for the South African Railways (SAR) in three batches by the South African General Electric-Dorman Long Locomotive Group (SA GE-DL, later Dorbyl). The first one hundred locomotives were delivered between June 1975 and September 1978, numbered in the range from 36-001 to 36-100. These were followed in 1981 by two batches of twenty and four locomotives respectively, numbered in the ranges from 36-101 to 36-120 and 36-121 to 36-124 respectively.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Class 36 series

The Class 36 locomotive family consists of two series, the GE type SG10B Class 36-000 and the General Motors Electro-Motive Division (GM-EMD) type SW1002 Class 36-200. Both manufacturers also produced locomotives for the South African Classes 33, 34 and 35.^[2]

Characteristics

The Class 36-000 is a general purpose locomotive which is equipped with two station controls for bi-directional operation. It is used mainly for yard shunting and pickup work to service industrial customers.

Their large cab windows were designed to afford the crew the maximum all-round field of vision, but in South African summer months the sun can cause much discomfort in the cab. It is not unusual to find a locomotive on yard work with the sun-side windows covered with newspaper taped onto the insides. A few Class 36-000 locomotives have been observed at Vereeniging and at Port Elizabeth with home depot-applied modifications to their cab roofs in the form of sheetmetal roof extensions to the front and rear to serve as sun-shades.

Service

When placed in service, they were initially distributed for service between Natal and the Western Transvaal, but they were later exchanged with Class 36-200 units from the Western and Eastern Cape, the Free State and Western Transvaal where they are still serving.^[1]^[3]

Works numbers

The Class 36-000 builder's works numbers and years built are shown in the table.^[1]

**Class 36-000, GE type SG10B**
Loco no.	Works no.	Year built
36-001	40420	1975
36-002	40421	1975
36-003	40422	1975
36-004	40423	1975
36-005	40424	1975
36-006	40425	1975
36-007	40426	1975
36-008	40427	1975
36-009	40428	1975
36-010	40429	1975
36-011	40430	1975
36-012	40431	1975
36-013	40432	1975
36-014	40433	1975
36-015	40434	1975
36-016	40435	1975
36-017	40436	1975
36-018	40437	1975
36-019	40438	1975
36-020	40439	1975
36-021	40440	1975
36-022	40441	1975
36-023	40442	1975
36-024	40443	1975
36-025	40444	1975
36-026	40445	1975–78
36-027	40446	1975–78
36-028	40447	1975–78
36-029	40448	1975–78
36-030	40449	1975–78
36-031	40450	1975–78
36-032	40451	1975–78
36-033	40452	1975–78
36-034	40453	1975–78
36-035	40454	1975–78
36-036	40455	1975–78
36-037	40456	1975–78
36-038	40457	1975–78
36-039	40458	1975–78
36-040	40459	1975–78
36-041	40460	1975–78
36-042	40461	1975–78
36-043	40462	1975–78
36-044	40463	1975–78
36-045	40464	1975–78
36-046	40465	1975–78
36-047	40466	1975–78
36-048	40467	1975–78
36-049	40468	1975–78
36-050	40469	1975–78
36-051	40470	1975–78
36-052	40471	1975–78
36-053	40472	1975–78
36-054	40473	1975–78
36-055	40474	1975–78
36-056	40475	1975–78
36-057	40476	1975–78
36-058	40477	1975–78
36-059	40478	1975–78
36-060	40479	1975–78
36-061	40480	1975–78
36-062	40481	1975–78
36-063	40482	1975–78
36-064	40483	1975–78
36-065	40484	1975–78
36-066	40485	1975–78
36-067	40486	1975–78
36-068	40487	1975–78
36-069	40488	1975–78
36-070	40489	1975–78
36-071	40490	1975–78
36-072	40491	1975–78
36-073	40492	1975–78
36-074	40493	1975–78
36-075	40494	1975–78
36-076	40495	1975–78
36-077	40496	1975–78
36-078	40497	1975–78
36-079	40498	1975–78
36-080	40499	1975–78
36-081	40500	1975–78
36-082	40501	1975–78
36-083	40502	1975–78
36-084	40503	1975–78
36-085	40504	1975–78
36-086	40505	1975–78
36-087	40506	1975–78
36-088	40507	1975–78
36-089	40508	1975–78
36-090	40509	1975–78
36-091	40510	1975–78
36-092	40511	1975–78
36-093	40512	1975–78
36-094	40513	1975–78
36-095	40514	1975–78
36-096	40515	1975–78
36-097	40516	1975–78
36-098	40517	1975–78
36-099	40518	1975–78
36-100	40519	1975–78
36-101	41380	1981
36-102	41381	1981
36-103	41382	1981
36-104	41383	1981
36-105	41384	1981
36-106	41385	1981
36-107	41386	1981
36-108	41387	1981
36-109	41388	1981
36-110	41389	1981
36-111	41390	1981
36-112	41391	1981
36-113	41392	1981
36-114	41393	1981
36-115	41394	1981
36-116	41395	1981
36-117	41396	1981
36-118	41397	1981
36-119	41398	1981
36-120	41399	1981
36-121	40586	1981
36-122	40587	1981
36-123	40588	1981
36-124	40589	1981

Liveries

The Class 36-000 were all delivered in the SAR Gulf Red livery with signal red buffer beams, yellow side stripes on the long hood sides and a yellow V on each end. In the 1990s many of the units began to be repainted in the Spoornet orange livery with a yellow and blue chevron pattern on the buffer beams. From 2007 many were repainted in the Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers on the long hood sides. After 2008 in the Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) era, many were repainted in the TFR red, green and yellow livery and at least one was repainted in the PRASA blue livery.^[1]^[4]

Class 91-000

Bogies and traction motors from Class 36-000 locomotives were often used under the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge Class 91-000 GE UM6B diesel-electric locomotives when they were being transferred between the Cape and Natal narrow gauge systems. These "Bigfoot bogies" enabled them to travel under their own power on 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge. Bigfoot bogies were also used under the narrow gauge locomotives whenever they had to be exchanged for maintenance purposes, sometimes running under their own power, sometimes hauled dead.^[1]

After most of the Class 91-000 narrow gauge locomotives were withdrawn, one of them was allocated to the Swartkops electric locomotive depot in Port Elizabeth for use as shunting engine. It was also running on Class 36-000 bogies, but with only one bogie powered.

Illustration

The main picture shows no. 36-013 in Transnet Freight Rail livery approaching Rugby in Milnerton from Table Bay Harbour on 4 November 2013. Other liveries which were applied to Class 36-000 locomotives and the sun-shade depot modification are illustrated below.

No. 36-069 in Spoornet orange livery at the Bloemfontein Locomotive Depot, 29 April 2013
No. 36-052 with a sun-shade modified cab roof at Swartkops, Port Elizabeth, 17 October 2009
No. 36-001 in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers at Stikland, Cape Town, 23 May 2007
No. 36-027 in Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa blue livery at Culemborg Yard, Cape Town, 15 October 2015
No. 36-001 in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers at Cape Town Station carrying Shosholoza Meyl Carriages, 09 December 2023

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class 36-000.

^ ^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. 38, 43.
^ ^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
^ ^a ^b Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0869772112.
^ Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 9. South-Eastwards as far as Volksrust (2nd part) by Les Pivnic. Caption 4. Archived 24 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed on 11 April 2017)

Locomotives of South Africa

Steam

7' ¼" gauge	East London 0-4-0VB Table Bay 0-4-0ST Table Bay 0-4-0T Table Bay 0-4-0WT
Standard gauge	Cape 0-4-0T Blackie Cape 0-4-2 Cape 2-4-0T CGR 0-4-0ST Aid Natal 0-4-0ST Durban Natal 0-4-0WT Natal Natal 4-4-0T Perseverance
Cape gauge Tank engines	CGR 0-4-0ST 1873 CGR 0-4-0ST 1874 CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 Coffee Pot CGR 0-6-0ST CGR 0-6-0T CGR 2-6-0ST 1900 CGR 2-6-0ST 1902 CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1875 CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1876 CGR 1st Class 2-6-0ST CGR 1st Class 4-4-0T CGR 2nd Class 4-4-0T CGR 3rd Class 2-6-0T CGR Railmotor CSAR Class C CSAR Class E CSAR Rack 4-6-4RT CSAR Railmotor Durban's Congella Durban's Edward Innes Durban's John Milne Durban's Sir Albert Port Elizabeth 0-4-0ST Kowie Railway 0-6-0T Kowie Railway 4-4-0T Metropolitan & Suburban 4-6-2T NGR 2-6-0T Durban & Pietermaritzburg NGR Class I 2-6-2T NGR Class K 0-4-0ST NGR Class K 0-6-0ST NGR Class K 2-6-0T NZASM 10 Tonner NZASM 13 Tonner NZASM 14 Tonner NZASM 18 Tonner NZASM 19 Tonner NZASM 32 Tonner NZASM 40 Tonner PPR 26 Tonner PPR 35 Tonner Portuguese SAR Class A SAR Class B SAR Class C SAR Class C1 SAR Class C2 SAR Class D SAR Class E SAR Class F SAR Class G SAR Class H SAR Class H1 SAR Class H2 SAR Class J SAR Class K SAR Railmotor SAR Dock 0-4-0ST SAR Dock 0-4-0T SWA 2-8-0T
Cape gauge Tender engines	CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 BP CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Kitson CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1879 CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1891 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0TT CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1883 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1884 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1889 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1898 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1901 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1903 CGR 4th Class 4-4-2 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882 Joy CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1884 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1890 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891 NGR Havelock NGR Class I SAR Class Exp 1 SAR Class Exp 2 SAR Class Exp 3 SAR Class Exp 4 SAR Class Exp 5 SAR Class Exp 6 SAR Class S SAR Class S1 SAR Class S2 SAR Class 1 SAR Class 1A SAR Class 1B SAR Class 2 SAR Class 2C SAR Class 3 SAR Class 3A SAR Class 3B SAR Class 4 SAR Class 4A SAR Class 5 SAR Class 5A SAR Class 5B SAR Class 6 SAR Class 6A SAR Class 6B SAR Class 6C SAR Class 6D SAR Class 6E SAR Class 6F SAR Class 6G SAR Class 6H SAR Class 6J SAR Class 6K SAR Class 6L SAR Class 6Y SAR Class 6Z SAR Class 7 SAR Class 7A SAR Class 7B SAR Class 7C SAR Class 7D SAR Class 7E SAR Class 7F SAR Class 8 SAR Class 8A SAR Class 8B SAR Class 8C SAR Class 8D SAR Class 8E SAR Class 8F SAR Class 8R SAR Class 8X SAR Class 8Y SAR Class 8Z SAR Class 9 SAR Class 10 SAR Class 10A SAR Class 10B SAR Class 10C SAR Class 10D SAR Class 11 SAR Class 12 SAR Class 12A SAR Class 12B SAR Class 13 SAR Class 14 SAR Class 14A SAR Class 14B SAR Class 14C 1st SAR Class 14C 2nd SAR Class 14C 3rd SAR Class 14C 4th SAR Class 15 SAR Class 15A SAR Class 15B SAR Class 15C SAR Class 15CA SAR Class 15E SAR Class 15F SAR Class 16 SAR Class 16A SAR Class 16B SAR Class 16C SAR Class 16D SAR Class 16DA 1928 SAR Class 16DA 1930 SAR Class 16E SAR Class 17 SAR Class 18 SAR Class 19 SAR Class 19A SAR Class 19B SAR Class 19C SAR Class 19D SAR Class 20 SAR Class 21 SAR Class 23 SAR Class 24 SAR Class 25 SAR Class 25NC SAR Class 26 SAR Katanga SWA 2-8-0
Cape gauge Articulated engines	CGR Fairlie CGR Kitson-Meyer SAR Class FC SAR Class FD SAR Class GA SAR Class GB SAR Class GC SAR Class GCA SAR Class GD SAR Class GDA SAR Class GE SAR Class GEA SAR Class GF SAR Class GG SAR Class GH SAR Class GK SAR Class GL SAR Class GM SAR Class GMA SAR Class GO SAR Class HF SAR Class KM SAR Class MA SAR Class MB SAR Class MC SAR Class MC1 SAR Class MD SAR Class ME SAR Class MF SAR Class MG SAR Class MH SAR Class MJ SAR Class MJ1 SAR Class U
2' 6" gauge	Cape Copper John King & Miner Cape Copper Britannia Cape Copper Caledonia Cape Copper Clara Cape Copper Condenser Cape Copper Scotia Namaqua Copper Pioneer Walvis Bay 2-4-2T Hope
2' & 600mm gauges	ACR Class NG-G16A CGR NG 0-4-0T CGR NG 0-6-0T CGR NG 4-6-2T CGR Type A 2-6-4T CGR Type C 0-4-0T NGR Class N 4-6-2T SAR Dutton SAR NG 0-4-0T SAR Class NG1 SAR Class NG2 SAR Class NG3 SAR Class NG4 SAR Class NG5 SAR Class NG6 SAR Class NG7 SAR Class NG8 SAR Class NG9 SAR Class NG10 SAR Class NG-G11 SAR Class NG-G12 SAR Class NG-G13 SAR Class NG-G14 SAR Class NG15 SAR Class NG-G16 SWA Class Ha SWA Class Hb SWA Class Hc SWA Class Hd SWA Jung SWA Zwillinge

Electric

Amcoal Class E38

Gas-electric

SAR Gas-electric

Diesel

Cape gauge Diesel-electric	PRASA Class Afro 4000 SAR Class DS SAR Class DS1 SAR Class 31-000 SAR Class 32-000 SAR Class 32-200 SAR Class 33-000 SAR Class 33-200 SAR Class 33-400 SAR Class 34-000 SAR Class 34-200 SAR Class 34-400 SAR Class 34-500 SAR Class 34-600 SAR Class 34-800 SAR Class 34-900 SAR Class 35-000 SAR Class 35-200 SAR Class 35-400 SAR Class 35-600 TFR Class 35-800 SAR Class 36-000 SAR Class 36-200 SAR Class 37-000 Spoornet Class 39-000 TFR Class 39-200 TFR Class 43-000 TFR Class 44-000 TFR Class 45-000
2' gauge Diesel-electric	SAR Class 91-000
Cape gauge Diesel-hydraulic	SAR Class 61-000
Cape gauge Electro-diesel	Spoornet Class 38-000

v t e Diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation / GE Rail
Industrial and switch engines	60-ton boxcab 100-ton boxcab 600-hp centercab 1000-hp centercab DEY-2 EN-6 25-ton 35-ton 43-ton 44-ton 45-ton 50-ton 60-ton 65-ton 70-ton 80-ton 95-ton 100-ton 110-ton 125-ton 126-ton 128-ton 1800-hp transfer 2000-hp transfer U5B U6B
Universal Series	UM6B U9B U10B U12B U13B UD18 U18B U23B U25B U28B U30B U33B U36B UM12C U12C U14C U15C U17C U18C U18C1 U20C U20C1 U23C U25C U26C U28C U30C U33C U36C U50C U50
Passenger locomotives	U28CG U30CG U34CH P30CH B32-8WH Genesis series (P40DC, P32AC-DM, P42DC)
Dash 7 Series	B23-7 BQ23-7 B30-7 B30-7A B36-7 C30-7 C30-7A C36-7
Dash 8 Series	B32-8 B39-8 B40-8 B40-8W C32-8 C39-8 C40-8 C40-8M C40-8W C40-8.5W C41-8W C44-8W
Dash 9 Series	C40-9 C40-9W C44-9W BB40-9W C-38AChe Cv40-9i
AC series	AC4400CW AC6000CW C30ACi C44ACi
Evolution Series	ES40ACi ES40DC ES44DC ES44DCi ES44AC ES44C4 ET44AC ET44C4 ES59ACi
PowerHaul Series	PH37ACmi PH37ACi PH37ACmai
Indonesian series	U18A1A C18MMi C20EMP CM20EMP
(see also: List of GE locomotives)