South African Class 4E
Encyclopedia
Between 1952 and 1954 the South African Railways placed forty Class 4E electric locomotives with a 1Co+Co1 wheel arrangement in service.
(NBL) between 1952 and 1953. They were delivered between 1952 and 1954 and numbered E219 to E258. It was amongst the most powerful electric locomotives in the world at that time.
It has a 1Co+Co1 wheel arrangement, with an additional bissel truck (pony truck) at the outer end of each of the two three axle powered bogies. This makes the Class 4E unique amongst South African electric locomotives.
across the Hex River Pass
to Touws River
, from where Class 25
and Class 25NC
steam locomotives took over across the stretch of unelectrified main line to De Aar and from there to either Kimberley
or Bloemfontein
.
The first locomotives to be delivered were placed in service on the Natal main line while electrification from Worcester to Touws River was being completed, but they eventually had to be withdrawn from Natal because the severe curvature of the Natal main line caused their frames to crack.
Number E219 was the first Class 4E to be relocated to Cape Town
, where it initially ran on the 1.5 kV DC that was at that stage still being used for the Cape Town suburban trains. This restricted its load and mobility, until the upgrading of the lines to 3 kV DC was completed in November 1954.
One Class 4E locomotive even briefly served on the Western Transvaal system while being relocated from Natal to the Cape in 1957, when that system was granted permission to use number E247 for between four and six weeks before the locomotive was forwarded on to Cape Town.
, that entailed the construction of a series of four tunnels through the Hex River Mountains, which would have enabled a single Class 4E locomotive to haul 1,000 ton trains up the resulting 1 in 66 (1½%) gradients.
The Hex River Tunnels scheme was initially started in 1945, but was abandoned three years later due to a lack of funds after the project encountered serious technical difficulties at the eastern portal of the longest of the four tunnels. The portal was dug immediately adjacent to the N1 national road some 15 kilometres (9 mi) west of Touws River. The tunnel bore was hardly more than about 20 metres (66 ft) deep, however, when ground water flooding brought tunnelling to a halt, and the project was eventually abandoned.
The project was only resumed some thirty years later, with the eastern portal of the longest tunnel relocated a short distance to the southeast of the original site, while the location of the western portal remained as originally planned during the first attempt. The tunnel system was opened on 27 November 1989, by which time the Class 4Es were already retired after spending their entire careers double heading trains up the Hex River Pass.
). This changed to Groot Mamba (Large Mamba) when the much shorter Class 5E was introduced in 1955 and nicknamed Klein Mamba (Little Mamba).
Soon after they entered service, however, Hex River Valley farmers complained that the bottle green all over colour scheme made them difficult to see when approaching through the vineyards. Yellow lines were then added all around the locomotive to improve its visibility, with various line patterns being used before eventually settling on the "V" shaped whiskers on the ends that extended onto the sides, and multiple lines around the number plates on the sides.
Beginning in 1960, a Gulf Red and yellow livery gradually replaced the green and yellow.
Manufacturer
The Class 4E 3 kV DC electric locomotive was designed for the South African Railways (SAR) by the General Electric Company (GEC) and built by the North British Locomotive CompanyNorth British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
(NBL) between 1952 and 1953. They were delivered between 1952 and 1954 and numbered E219 to E258. It was amongst the most powerful electric locomotives in the world at that time.
Orientation
These dual cab locomotives have two large grilles on one side and a passage linking the cabs on the opposite side. The number 1 end is at the front when the side with the grilles is to the right. Like the Class 1E, Class 2E and Class 3E, the Class 4E has bogie mounted draft gear and an articulated inter-bogie linkage, therefore no train forces are transmitted to the locomotive body.It has a 1Co+Co1 wheel arrangement, with an additional bissel truck (pony truck) at the outer end of each of the two three axle powered bogies. This makes the Class 4E unique amongst South African electric locomotives.
Service
The Class 4E was specifically built for use on the main line from Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
across the Hex River Pass
Hex River Pass
Hex River Pass, Is situated in the Western Cape, province of South Africa, on the National road N1 road between De Doorns and Touws River.-Be Aware:* Driving Skill level: Novice* Road Condition: Tarred surface, sweeping turns...
to Touws River
Touws River (town)
Touws River is a small railway town of 6,800 people in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is located on the river of the same name, about north-east of Cape Town.-History:...
, from where Class 25
South African Class 25 4-8-4
Between 1953 and 1955 the South African Railways placed ninety Class 25 condensing steam locomotives with a 4-8-4 Northern wheel arrangement in service...
and Class 25NC
South African Class 25NC 4-8-4
Between 1953 and 1955 the South African Railways placed fifty Class 25NC steam locomotives with a 4-8-4 wheel arrangement in service. The Class 25NC is the non condensing version of the Class 25 condensing locomotive, of which ninety were placed in service at the same time...
steam locomotives took over across the stretch of unelectrified main line to De Aar and from there to either Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
or 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...
.
The first locomotives to be delivered were placed in service on the Natal main line while electrification from Worcester to Touws River was being completed, but they eventually had to be withdrawn from Natal because the severe curvature of the Natal main line caused their frames to crack.
Number E219 was the first Class 4E to be relocated to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, where it initially ran on the 1.5 kV DC that was at that stage still being used for the Cape Town suburban trains. This restricted its load and mobility, until the upgrading of the lines to 3 kV DC was completed in November 1954.
One Class 4E locomotive even briefly served on the Western Transvaal system while being relocated from Natal to the Cape in 1957, when that system was granted permission to use number E247 for between four and six weeks before the locomotive was forwarded on to Cape Town.
Hex River Tunnel scheme
The Class 4E purchase was part of a scheme to eliminate the 1 in 40 (2½%) gradients and severe curves of the Hex River PassHex River Pass
Hex River Pass, Is situated in the Western Cape, province of South Africa, on the National road N1 road between De Doorns and Touws River.-Be Aware:* Driving Skill level: Novice* Road Condition: Tarred surface, sweeping turns...
, that entailed the construction of a series of four tunnels through the Hex River Mountains, which would have enabled a single Class 4E locomotive to haul 1,000 ton trains up the resulting 1 in 66 (1½%) gradients.
The Hex River Tunnels scheme was initially started in 1945, but was abandoned three years later due to a lack of funds after the project encountered serious technical difficulties at the eastern portal of the longest of the four tunnels. The portal was dug immediately adjacent to the N1 national road some 15 kilometres (9 mi) west of Touws River. The tunnel bore was hardly more than about 20 metres (66 ft) deep, however, when ground water flooding brought tunnelling to a halt, and the project was eventually abandoned.
The project was only resumed some thirty years later, with the eastern portal of the longest tunnel relocated a short distance to the southeast of the original site, while the location of the western portal remained as originally planned during the first attempt. The tunnel system was opened on 27 November 1989, by which time the Class 4Es were already retired after spending their entire careers double heading trains up the Hex River Pass.
Liveries
The Class 4E was delivered in a bottle green livery. The colour and the almost 22 metres (72 ft) length of the Class 4E quickly earned it the nickname Groen Mamba (Green MambaMamba
Mambas, of the genus Dendroaspis , are a group of highly venomous, fast-moving land-dwelling snakes of Africa. They belong to the family of Elapidae which includes cobras, coral snakes, taipans, brown snakes, tiger snakes, death adders, kraits and, debatably, sea snakes...
). This changed to Groot Mamba (Large Mamba) when the much shorter Class 5E was introduced in 1955 and nicknamed Klein Mamba (Little Mamba).
Soon after they entered service, however, Hex River Valley farmers complained that the bottle green all over colour scheme made them difficult to see when approaching through the vineyards. Yellow lines were then added all around the locomotive to improve its visibility, with various line patterns being used before eventually settling on the "V" shaped whiskers on the ends that extended onto the sides, and multiple lines around the number plates on the sides.
Beginning in 1960, a Gulf Red and yellow livery gradually replaced the green and yellow.
Gallery
The main picture shows E238 at rest at the Salt River Depot in Cape Town on 7 January 1966.See also
- Electric locomotive numbering and classification
- Hex River Tunnels
- List of South African locomotive classes