GE to build 100 locomotives for South Africa

[NorthWest]

To me, they look like C trucks (not the bridge plate double B trucks), somewhat similar to the trucks used by GE in Europe and Australia but with the sandboxes and of course a different gauge.

I'm pretty sure it has the FDL; the GEVO is taller and harder to shoehorn into tight clearances. Other tight clearance modern GEs have used the P616, but only if emissions regulations necessitate its use. I doubt that is the case here.

I wonder what the barrels are about-sensor arrays?

[Allen Hazen]

NorthWest--
Hmmmm…. Looking at it again, I think you are right and I was wrong about the axle count: there is what appears to be a roller-bearing cap equidistant from the ends on both trucks, so there is a centre axle. So 3, not 4. … I'd stared at the picture for a while, and I think my first thought was that they were C trucks, then stared some more and… Thanks for the correction!
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As to the barrels… Maybe grease to be laid down on the railheads (through the hoses that are draped all over the unit) to give the wheelslip control hardware and software a good workout? One of the first published photos of the AC44CW prototype of 1993 (the unit with the paint scheme of blue and red ribbons on a silver background) showed it testing (on, I think, the former PRR line across northern Pennsylvania to Erie) with a barrel on the front walkway, and I ***THINK*** I remember the barrel being explained that way.
(But my memory is as little to be trusted as my eyesight!)

[NorthWest]

Hadn't considered that, but it makes sense. Thanks!

[MEC407]

I'm not sure about grease, but maybe water to simulate wet rail conditions...?

[MEC407]

The following comment has been posted below the photo:

Posted by Mel Turner on June 20, 2015
This is the class leader for the Transnet 44 Class Eventually heading to South Africa. Order is for 233 units Unsure if number to be assembled in USA is 6 or 10 Balance to be assembled at Koedoespoort (Pretoria) in South Africa

For what it's worth, that Transnet order was for ES40ACi locos.

- - -

Photo by G.R. Harper:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=4171650

[Allen Hazen]

There's a photo on page 4 of the June 1994 issue of "Railfan and Railroad" of GE 2000 (the AC44 prototype) testing (in February of that year) on the Buffalo and Pittsburgh, with a barrel (55 gallon drum) on its front walkway. The caption doesn't explain the barrel, so the I must have gotten the idea that it had to do with adhesion testing somewhere else: perhaps the caption on a similar photo in "Trains"?
(And, yes, water seems more likely than grease.)
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The first two digits of the locomotive number, in South African practice, denote the locomotive class: in this case "Class 44". So it may not have anything to do with horsepower rating.

[renrut44]

The Transnet Rail Freight C30ACi order is completed, The Wikipedia entry is suspect re total quantity built. Total is probably 187, no higher numbered locos have been sighted
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Afr ... ass_43-000

As part of this contract 6 units were also supplied to Anglo American, and 10 to CFM in Mozambique
The CFM units are lighter in weight, having different bogies and traction motors

All of the locos of this type ride on bogies from UGL (Australian GE licensee), these bogies are now manufactured under license by Transnet Engineering at Koedoespoort (suburb of Pretoria)
http://www.ugllimited.com/Asset/cms/Ind ... ct_WEB.pdf

The current order is for 233 ES40ACi. These have derated engines, due to the inability to fit sufficient intercooling within the restricted narrow gauge outline, 6 in total now shipped

The March announcement of 100 locomotives for Angola, These are believed to be lightweights like the CFM Moz units
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/trac ... ngola.html

Namibian order for 6 C23EMP announced this week
http://www.railway-technology.com/news/ ... es-4672349
This batch similar to the 14 on order from GE do Brazil for Ferroviaria Oriental in Bolivia
Brazil have now built over 100 examples of this modular C21/23/25/30EMP family