International Railroad Discussion > First photos of South Africa 45 Class

Will word this carefully so as not to offend the sensitivities of MitchGDRMCo, who does not believe that third world politicians should be outed for accepting bribes

The Chinese State controlled locomotive assembly monopoly CRRC has completed the first prototype of the Transnet 45 Class.

232 examples are on order, 200+ to be assembled by Transnet Engineering in South Africa

Transnet is paying US$200k per copy more for the ABB designed CRRC unit (MTU 20V4000 @ 4400hp with ABB electrics), compared to the GE ES40ACi ordered at the same time. Both types are to be assembled in South Africa by the engineering arm of the State owned railway monopoly

Photo (copy below) from http://www.wedalian.com/Uploads/a/2015/12/03/xsem3shhtlp.jpg

GE 44 Class for comparison https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_44-000

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/16 03:31 by jmt.

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Posting on a us centric forum isn't going to expose any corrupt officials. Nice render tho.

The best word to describe it is "utilitarian."  No aesthetics at all.  Thanks for posting.  Gerry

Looks like a similar design of fabricated wheel truck as the SD70ACe-T4.

What? No bronze cabside number plates!!!!! ;>)

Cheers,
Jack

1435mmGauge Wrote:
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> Looks like a similar design of fabricated wheel
> truck as the SD70ACe-T4.

Not even close in design to the HTCR-6. Note the outboard traction connection to the loco frame and the primary suspension arrangement without pockets for the springs. The secondary springs are also pocketed into the underframe. The only similarity is they both have fabricated frames.

Exactly.

I sure wouldn't want to be in the cab of that thing when it hit a truck!
Any bulk commodity or liquid is going to be right in with you!
G

http://www.observer.org.sz/news/77839-go-back-to-work-or-no-work-no-pay.html

This is the 43 Class C30AC1, from which the current production 44 Class ES40ACi was developed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_43-000

Swazi Railways SR-002 is a NRE E3000, a replated Grindrod GL30SCC-3. The C30ACi cab stood up a lot better than the NRE, Swazi driver killed
http://www.observer.org.sz/news/77908-%E2%80%98swaziland-railway-ill-equipped-to-deal-with-accidents%E2%80%99.html

Wreck occured 17/12/2015, locos were not separated until December 22. Swazi SR-001 to 004 are on a maintained lease from South African company Thelo Leasing, delivered September 2014 http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/africa/swaziland-railway-purchases-rolling-stock.html

The appearance of the Chinese locomotive's cab and nose is remarkably similar to the C30AC1



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/16 07:08 by jmt.

GE is producing a similar locomotive for narrow gauge in Brazil. The model is called ES43BBi and uses BB+BB trucks.

Posted from iPhone

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=129312059

 

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

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Pedro's photos are another illustration of how to cram 4000 plus HP into a narrow gauge loco with a limited cross section (restricted loading gauge), for lightweight track. This is a problem faced by nearly all Third World countries, and some First World like Australia and NZ

The Chinese loco at the head of this thread has a 4400HP prime mover, AC traction, packaged to weigh 126 tonnes

The similar spec Cape gauge SDA2 for Australian operator Pacific National from CSR Qishuyan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSR_Qishuyan_SDA2

Within the given parameters, loco length is generally as short as possible to save weight, the resulting designs are generally cab forward, or with a minimal nose. GE have run into difficulties packaging a 12 cylinder GEVO engine within the South African loading gauge, and axle loading, so have utilised air to air inter-cooling in the ES40ACi, the engine is derated to 4000hp, CNR Dalian use the 1800rpm MTU 20V4000 which is roughly half of the GEVO weight and physically much smaller, the trade off is mechanical complexity, multiple turbos, and shorter engine life

FRA Crash Worthy Cabs are a luxury reserved for North America and some dedicated overseas heavy haul mineral lines. The SDA2 above relies on a heavy plate front skirt backed by collision posts to comply with Australian Standards, the crew space is an independent module behind this barrier

Other examples of modern locomotives built for these narrow gauge requirements are the Wabtec/MPI MP27 and MP33 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBH_class
Chicago Freight Car Leasing also have 16 MP33C in their Australian hire fleet configured for standard guage. Most of the aditional weight in the CFCLA locos is concentrated in the heavier cast bogies, and D87BTR traction motors. These units are at the upper weight limit for the Australian interstate open access network http://www.cfcla.com.au/datasheet/CM_Datasheet.pdf

Cat/PR/EMD are using similar cab arrangements for their export GT38/42/46/50 series
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/16 18:54 by jmt.