South African Class 32-200
Encyclopedia
In June and July 1966 the South African Railways placed ten Class 32-200 GE U20C1 diesel-electric locomotives in service in South West Africa
..
diesel-electric locomotive was designed and built to South African Railways (SAR) requirements by General Electric
(GE) and imported. It is a low short hood version of the earlier Class 32-000.
and the low short hood Class 32-200, both GE products.
Garratt locomotives and the arrival of the Class 35 diesel-electrics on the line between Amabele and Umtata in Transkei, some performed temporary service on that line.
Of the original ten locomotives, most survived in service into the 21st century, some with TransNamib
, the Namibia
n railway, or sold to other railways or into industry such as Sudan Railways, PPC Saldanha or Sheltam
. Their disposition is shown in the table.
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
..
Manufacturer
The Class 32-200 type GE U20C1GE Universal Series locomotives
The GE Universal Series locomotives were diesel locomotives launched by GE in early 1956.Initially, there were nine U-series models: U4B, U6B, U9B, U9C, U12B, U12C, U18B, U18C and UD18B. They were designed to be readily adaptable to different track gauges for export markets. The U5B and U8B...
diesel-electric locomotive was designed and built to South African Railways (SAR) requirements by General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
(GE) and imported. It is a low short hood version of the earlier Class 32-000.
Class 32 series
The South African Class 32 consists of two series, the high short hood Class 32-000South African Class 32-000
Between November 1959 and November 1961 the South African Railways placed one hundred and fifteen Class 32-000 GE U18C1 diesel-electric locomotives in service in South West Africa.- Manufacturer :...
and the low short hood Class 32-200, both GE products.
Service
While it was designed specifically for service in SWA, the Class 32-200s also ended up being employed in South Africa at times. From 1972 to 1974, between the withdrawal of the Class GO 4-8-2+2-8-4South African Class GO 4-8-2+2-8-4
In 1954 the South African Railways placed twenty-five Class GO light branch line Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...
Garratt locomotives and the arrival of the Class 35 diesel-electrics on the line between Amabele and Umtata in Transkei, some performed temporary service on that line.
Of the original ten locomotives, most survived in service into the 21st century, some with TransNamib
TransNamib
TransNamib is the railway parastatal of Namibia. Organised as a holding company, it provides freight by rail and road as well as passenger services. Its administration is located in Windhoek.-History:...
, the Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n railway, or sold to other railways or into industry such as Sudan Railways, PPC Saldanha or Sheltam
Sheltam
Sheltam is a locomotive hire and repair company that undertakes complete operating contracts and maintenance contracts, based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. By the year 2000, Sheltam locomotives were operating at Randfontein Estates Gold Mine in Gauteng, and in Mpumalanga at Douglas and...
. Their disposition is shown in the table.
| SAR no |
GE works no |
Post SAR owner |
Post SAR no |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32-201 | 35842 | Sheltam | 2012 |
| 32-202 | 35843 | PPC Lime | |
| 32-203 | 35844 | Sheltam | 2013 |
| 32-204 | 35845 | Goldfields | |
| 32-205 | 35846 | TransNamib | 205 |
| 32-206 | 35847 | TransNamib | 206 |
| 32-207 | 35848 | TransNamib | 207 |
| 32-208 | 35849 | TransNamib | 208 |
| 32-209 | 35850 | Sudan Ry | |
| 32-210 | 35851 | Sudan Ry | |
Gallery
The main picture shows PPC Saldanha’s Class 32-200 32-202 at the PPC Saldanha plant on 8 January 2009.See also
- South African Class 32-000South African Class 32-000Between November 1959 and November 1961 the South African Railways placed one hundred and fifteen Class 32-000 GE U18C1 diesel-electric locomotives in service in South West Africa.- Manufacturer :...
- Diesel-electric locomotive numbering and classification
- List of South African locomotive classes