South African Class E38

The Amcoal Class E38 of 1993 is a South African industrial electric locomotive.

South African Class E38
No. E38-003 at Sentrarand, 22 September 2009
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
DesignerConsortium led by Siemens
BuilderUnion Carriage & Wagon
ModelConsortium Class E38
Build date1992
Total produced3
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo'Bo'
 • CommonwealthBo-Bo
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Wheel diameter1,054 mm (41 1⁄2 in)
Wheelbase11,700 mm (38 ft 4 5⁄8 in)
 • Bogie2,600 mm (8 ft 6 3⁄8 in)
Pivot centres9,100 mm (29 ft 10 1⁄4 in)
Length:
​
 • Over couplers16,314 mm (53 ft 6 1⁄4 in)
Width2,780 mm (9 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Height:
​
 • Pantograph4,130 mm (13 ft 6 5⁄8 in)
Electric system/s3 kV DC catenary
Current pickup(s)Pantograph
Traction motorsFour AC 6 pole ABB/6FRA5252
 • Continuous378 kW (507 hp)
Loco brakeKnorr-Bremse air brake
Spring applied, air release parking
Train brakesKnorr-Bremse W450/150-3 compressor
CouplersAAR knuckle
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output:
​
 • Continuous1,500 kW (2,000 hp) continuous
Tractive effort:
​
 • Starting260 kN (58,000 lbf) @ 35% adhesion
 • Continuous180 kN (40,000 lbf) @ 30 km/h (19 mph)
Factor of adh.:
​
 • Starting35%
 • Continuous25%
Career
OperatorsAmcoal
Anglo Coal
ClassClass E38
Number in class3
NumbersE38-001 to E38-003
Delivered1993
First run1993

In 1993 Amcoal, now Anglo Coal, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglo American, placed three Class E38 electric locomotives in service at its Kromdraai Colliery near Witbank, Mpumalanga.[1]

Manufacturer

The 3 kV DC Class E38 electric locomotive is an electric-only version of the Class 38-000 electro-diesel locomotive which was designed for Spoornet by Consortium under the leadership of Siemens. In 1992, three of these locomotives were built for Amcoal by Union Carriage & Wagon (UCW) in Nigel, Transvaal.[2]

Builders’ plates on no. E38-003

The locomotives were delivered in 1993 and numbered in the range from E38-001 to E38-003. UCW did not allocate builder's numbers to the locomotives it built for Anglo Coal, but used the Amcoal unit numbers for their record keeping.[1]

Spoornet’s Class 38-000

Prior to the production of the Class E38 for Amcoal Mines, UCW also built fifty Class 38-000 locomotives for Spoornet. The Class 38-000 is a dual mode electro-diesel locomotive, identical in exterior appearance and dimensions to the Class E38 but designed for 3 kV DC electric as well as diesel-electric operation and equipped with a 780 kW (1,050 hp) Caterpillar DITA 3508 diesel prime mover.[3]

Service

The three Class E38s now serve at the Landau Colliery near Witbank.[1]

Illustration

The main picture shows no. E38-003 in its as-delivered Anglo Coal yellow livery.

  • No. E38-002 at Sentrarand, Gauteng, 8 October 2009, in Anglo Coal's white livery

References
  1. Middleton, John N. (2002). Railways of Southern Africa Locomotive Guide - 2002 (as amended by Combined Amendment List 4, January 2009) (2nd, Dec 2002 ed.). Herts, England: Beyer-Garratt Publications. p. 63.
  2. "UCW - Electric locomotives" (PDF). The UCW Partnership. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  3. South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 610mm and 1065mm Gauges, Ref LXD 14/1/100/20, 28 January 1975, as amended

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