South African Class 39-200
Encyclopedia
Early in 2010 fifty Class 39-200 type EMD GT26CU-3 diesel-electric locomotives were placed in service by Transnet Freight Rail.
(TRE), commenced a project of rebuilding existing locomotives to Class 39-000
locomotives for Spoornet. The type EMD GT26CU-3 diesel-electric locomotives were to be rebuilt from Class 34-600
, 34-800
and 37-000
locomotives, all of which were designed by Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) and built by General Motors South Africa
(GMSA) in Port Elizabeth between 1974 and 1981.
The rebuilding was done at the Bloemfontein
Transwerk shops. It was intended to produce one hundred Class 39-000s, but in spite of the technical success of the TRE part of the project, rebuilding was halted after completing only the first five locomotives, allegedly due to higher than anticipated cost. It was decided, instead of rebuilding one hundred old locomotives, to rather continue the program by building fifty new Class 39-200 locomotives.
, in collaboration with EMD. By the end of 2009, more than twenty locomotives had been built and were undergoing road testing, and by April 2010 the last of the fifty locomotives came off the production line, thereby completing the building project in twelve months.
electronic brake rack (EBR) instead of the old pneumatic braking controls.
The EM2000 control system featured in the Class 39-200 is a proprietary EMD microprocessor-based system that offers improved performance and reliability compared with older locomotives. It manages all critical operating functions and greatly improves tractive effort, while its creep control attains high and low speed adhesion advantages.
Lowveld and northern KwaZulu-Natal, working mainly on the line from Lydenburg
via Swaziland
to Golela
in northern KwaZulu-Natal
, en route to the coal export harbour at Richards Bay.
The Rebuilt Class 39-000
In 2005 Transwerk, later renamed Transnet Rail EngineeringTranswerk
Transwerk, since renamed to Transnet Rail Engineering, is a subsidiary of Transnet whose business it is to keep South Africa's trains rolling. According to the Operational Report at Transnet, Transwerk's responsibility includes "the maintenance, upgrade and manufacture of locomotives, wagons,...
(TRE), commenced a project of rebuilding existing locomotives to Class 39-000
South African Class 39-000
In 2005 Transwerk commenced a project of rebuilding one hundred existing locomotives to new Class 39-000 EMD GT26CU-3 locomotives for Spoornet. Only five were eventually rebuilt and placed in service between April 2006 and 2009.-Manufacturer:...
locomotives for Spoornet. The type EMD GT26CU-3 diesel-electric locomotives were to be rebuilt from Class 34-600
South African Class 34-600
Between December 1974 and July 1976 the South African Railways placed one hundred Class 34-600 EMD GT26MC diesel-electric locomotives in service.-Manufacturer:...
, 34-800
South African Class 34-800
Between August 1978 and December 1979 the South African Railways placed fifty Class 34-800 EMD GT26MC diesel-electric locomotives in service. In 1979 one more of the same type was placed in service by Iscor in Newcastle, and between April and July 1980 a further eight of these locomotives were...
and 37-000
South African Class 37-000
Between May 1981 and 1982 the South African Railways placed one hundred Class 37-000 EMD GT26M2C diesel-electric locomotives in service. After these locomotives were commissioned, the national carrier was not to invest in new diesel-electric locomotives before 2009, nearly three decades later.-...
locomotives, all of which were designed by Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) and built by General Motors South Africa
General Motors South Africa
General Motors South Africa, or GMSA is a wholly owned subsidiary of American automobile manufacturer General Motors. It manufacturers and distributes automobiles under the Chevrolet, Opel and Isuzu brands...
(GMSA) in Port Elizabeth between 1974 and 1981.
The rebuilding was done at the Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
Transwerk shops. It was intended to produce one hundred Class 39-000s, but in spite of the technical success of the TRE part of the project, rebuilding was halted after completing only the first five locomotives, allegedly due to higher than anticipated cost. It was decided, instead of rebuilding one hundred old locomotives, to rather continue the program by building fifty new Class 39-200 locomotives.
The New Class 39-200
The Class 39-200 locomotives were built new from imported and locally produced components and took place at the Koedoespoort TRE shops east of PretoriaPretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, in collaboration with EMD. By the end of 2009, more than twenty locomotives had been built and were undergoing road testing, and by April 2010 the last of the fifty locomotives came off the production line, thereby completing the building project in twelve months.
Features
Characteristics that distinguish the Class 39-200 from the aged existing TFR diesel-electric locomotive fleet are features such as EM2000 microprocessor control, 26% more maximum continuous tractive effort and 15% more tractive horsepower compared to a Class 37-000, and a Knorr-BremseKnorr-Bremse
Knorr-Bremse is a manufacturer of braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles that has operated in the field for over 100 years. The company also produces door systems for rail vehicles and torsional dampers. In 2009, the Group's workforce of over 14,000 achieved worldwide sales of EUR 2.761...
electronic brake rack (EBR) instead of the old pneumatic braking controls.
The EM2000 control system featured in the Class 39-200 is a proprietary EMD microprocessor-based system that offers improved performance and reliability compared with older locomotives. It manages all critical operating functions and greatly improves tractive effort, while its creep control attains high and low speed adhesion advantages.
Service
The Class 39-200 locomotives were placed in service in the MpumalangaMpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
Lowveld and northern KwaZulu-Natal, working mainly on the line from Lydenburg
Lydenburg
Lydenburg is a town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The town is slated to be renamed Mashishing, according to an announcement made on June 30, 2006 by the South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan. Lydenburg is situated on the Sterkspruit/Dorps River tributary of the Olifants River at...
via Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
to Golela
Golela
Golela is a town in South Africa, 45km east of Pongola on the border with Swaziland. The Golela border post is currently being rebuilt to meet the increasing movement of people and goods between South Africa and Swaziland.- Transport :...
in northern KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, en route to the coal export harbour at Richards Bay.
Liveries
All Class 39-200 locomotives were delivered in the Transnet Freight Rail livery.See also
- South African Class 39-000South African Class 39-000In 2005 Transwerk commenced a project of rebuilding one hundred existing locomotives to new Class 39-000 EMD GT26CU-3 locomotives for Spoornet. Only five were eventually rebuilt and placed in service between April 2006 and 2009.-Manufacturer:...
- Diesel-electric locomotive numbering and classification
- List of South African locomotive classes