South African Class 44-000 Explained

South African Class 44-000
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Designer:General Electric
Builder:General Electric
Transnet Engineering
Builddate:2015-
Totalproduction:233
Aarwheels:C-C
Uicclass:Co'Co'
Britishclass:Co-Co
Wheeldiameter:10401NaN1
Axleload:22000kg (49,000lb)
Locoweight:132000kg (291,000lb)
Fueltype:Diesel
Primemover:GEVO-12
Enginetype:4-stroke diesel
Displacement:Bore 2501NaN1
Stroke 3201NaN1
Tractionmotors:Six 445kW GE 3-phase AC induction
Locobrakes:Air & Dynamic
Coupling:AAR knuckle
Poweroutput:4200hp
Operator:Transnet Freight Rail
Operatorclass:Class 44-000
Numinclass:233
Fleetnumbers:44-001 to 44-233
Locale:South Africa
Deliverydate:2015-
Firstrundate:2015

The Transnet Freight Rail Class 44-000 of 2015 is a South African diesel-electric locomotive operated by Transnet Freight Rail.

History

In 2014, Transnet Freight Rail ordered 233 GE ES40ACis from General Electric.[1] [2] [3]

The first six were built in the United States by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania, in April and July 2015. In October 2015 the first of 227 locally-built locomotives was nearing completion at the Koedoespoort shops in Pretoria, while the first two of the six imported locomotives were undergoing testing on the line between Pyramid South and Warmbad.[4] [5]

The core components, such as the GEVO-12 prime movers, were manufactured in the United States, with locomotive construction and final assembly taking place at Koedoes­poort. The contract required a minimum local content for rolling stock of 55%.[1]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/mechanical/locomotives/transnet-1064-locomotives-5-billion.html Transnet: 1,064 locomotives, $5 billion
  2. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/business/single-view/view/transnet-seals-mou-with-csr-zhuzhou.html Transnet seals MoU with CSR Zhuzhou
  3. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/africa/single-view/view/south-africas-largest-ever-locomotive-order-awarded-to-four-suppliers.html South Africa's 'largest ever' locomotive order awarded to four suppliers
  4. http://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/new-transnet-diesel-electric-locomotives?p=blog/2015/02/11/new-transnet-diesel-electric-locomotives/ New Transnet Diesel-Electric Locomotives
  5. http://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/transnet-loco-acquisition?p=blog/2015/03/03/transnet-loco-acquisition/ Transnet Loco Acquisition