# South African Class 14E

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Class of 3 South African electric locomotives

South African Class 14E No. 14-001 in its original livery at Bellville, 6 June 2010 Type and origin Power type Electric Designer 50 c/s Group Builder Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Serial number 5415-5417 Model 50 c/s Group 14E Build date 1988 Total produced 3 Specifications Configuration: ​ • AAR B-B • UIC Bo'Bo' • Commonwealth Bo-Bo Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Wheel diameter 1,250 mm (49.21 in) new 1,170 mm (46.06 in) worn Minimum curve 85 m (278.87 ft) radius Wheelbase 12,400 mm (40 ft 8+1⁄4 in) ​ • Bogie 3,100 mm (10 ft 2 in) Pivot centres 9,300 mm (30 ft 6+1⁄8 in) Panto shoes 8,800 mm (28 ft 10+1⁄2 in) Length: ​ • Over couplers 18,500 mm (60 ft 8+3⁄8 in) • Over body 17,400 mm (57 ft 1 in) Width 2,973 mm (9 ft 9 in) Height: ​ • Pantograph 4,120 mm (13 ft 6+1⁄4 in) • Body height 4,047 mm (13 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Axle load 23,125 kg (50,982 lb) Adhesive weight 92,500 kg (203,900 lb) Loco weight 92,500 kg (203,900 lb) Electric system/s Dual 3 kV DC & 25 kV AC 50 Hz catenary Current pickup Pantographs Traction motors Four Siemens ITB2 820-OGA03 ​ • Continuous 1,020 kW (1,370 hp) Gear ratio 20:103 Loco brake Air, Regenerative on 3 kV DC & Rheostatic on 25 kV AC Train brakes Air Couplers AAR knuckle Performance figures Maximum speed 140 km/h (87 mph) Power output: ​ • Continuous 4,080 kW (5,470 hp) Tractive effort: ​ • Starting 300 kN (67,000 lbf) • 1 hour 198 kN (45,000 lbf) • Continuous 194 kN (44,000 lbf) & 72 km/h (45 mph) Career Operators Spoornet Transnet Freight Rail Class Class 14E Number in class 3 Numbers 14-001 - 14-003 Delivered 1990 First run 1991 Withdrawn 2015

The **Spoornet Class 14E** of 1991 was a South African electric locomotive.

In 1990, Spoornet took delivery of three prototype Class 14E dual voltage electric mainline locomotives with a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement. They were the first dual voltage 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC locomotives to see service on South African rails when they were placed in service in 1991 and were followed in 1994 by ten locally manufactured [Class 14E1](/source/South_African_Class_14E1) locomotives.[1]

## Manufacturer

In January 1984, the South African Railways (SAR) invited tenders for six prototype Class 14E locomotives. These were required to be dual voltage 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC locomotives with self steering bogies and fully suspended AC traction motors, with a 3,800 kilowatts (5,100 horsepower) power output plus some 400 kilowatts (540 horsepower) to be available for train services such as heating. The maximum speed was to be at least 160 kilometres per hour (99 miles per hour) with a 22,000 kilograms (49,000 pounds) maximum axle loading.[2][3]

[Builder's plates](/source/Builder's_plate) on no. 14-001

Only three prototype locomotives were eventually built and delivered in 1990. The 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC dual voltage Class 14E electric locomotive, the first dual voltage locomotive in South Africa, was designed by the 50 c/s Group consisting of [SA Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi](/source/SA_Ateliers_de_Constructions_Electriques_de_Charleroi) (ACEC) of Belgium, [AEG-Telefunken](/source/AEG-Telefunken) and [Siemens](/source/Siemens_Mobility) of Germany, [Alstom-Atlantique](/source/Alstom) of France and [Brown Boveri](/source/Brown%2C_Boveri_%26_Cie) of Switzerland. They were built by [Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works](/source/Swiss_Locomotive_and_Machine_Works) (SLM) in [Winterthur](/source/Winterthur).[1]

## Characteristics

These dual cab locomotives had a roof access ladder on one side only, just to the right of the cab access door. The roof access ladder end was designated the no. 1 end. A corridor along the centre of the locomotive connected the cabs.[1]

Unlike the later dual voltage [Classes 19E](/source/South_African_Class_19E), [20E](/source/South_African_Class_20E) and [21E](/source/South_African_Class_21E) which were equipped to automatically transition between AC and DC mode on the run, the Class 14E had to be stopped and then restarted under the different voltage. Upon their introduction in 1990, these were some of the most powerful electric locomotives on the Spoornet roster. They featured three-phase AC motors (induction motors) made by Siemens. In addition, they incorporated Siemens' sophisticated train communication network system.[4]

Class 14E wheelset with herringbone gear

All earlier South African electric locomotives, with the exception of the Orex Line's [Class 9Es](/source/South_African_Class_9E%2C_Series_1), ran on spoked wheels using [spur gears](/source/Spur_gear). Amongst South African electric locomotives, the Class 14E was the first to have solid wheels with [double helical](/source/Gear#Double_helical) or [herringbone gears](/source/Herringbone_gear) and with a traction motor to wheel gear ratio of 20:103. This gear ratio had the result that, while the three prototypes were very fast, they struggled to pick up a load. The locally built [Class 14E1](/source/South_African_Class_14E1), on the other hand, ran on spoked wheels with [helical gears](/source/Gear#Helical) and had a more conservative traction motor to wheel gear ratio of 18:67.[5]

## Works numbers

On the Class 14E, the [transformer](/source/Transformer) serial numbers were engraved on a plate which depicted the circuit diagram of the transformer, mounted below the sill and halfway between the bogies on the roof access ladder side of the locomotive. These serial numbers do not follow the unit number sequence.[6]

The respective SLM works numbers, transformer serial numbers, dates of delivery to Spoornet for testing and the dates placed in stock service are listed in the table.[4]

Class 14E works numbers & dates in service Loco No. SLM no. Transformer no. Delivered In service 14-001 5415 16657-1-3/1988 26 Jun 1990 26 Nov 1991 14-002 5416 16657-1-1/1988 9 Sep 1990 26 Nov 1991 14-003 5417 16657-1-2/1988 21 Sep 1990 26 Nov 1991

## Service

Class 14E locomotives initially entered service on the Reef, but from c. 2000 they were [Bellville](/source/Bellville%2C_Western_Cape)-based and were mainly employed in freight service on the route between [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town) and [Beaufort West](/source/Beaufort_West) in the [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape). Since they were dual voltage 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC locomotives, they could work on any electrified line country-wide with the exception of the 50 kV AC Sishen-Saldanha iron ore line. On occasion, the Class 14E locomotives were employed to haul the [Blue Train](/source/Blue_Train_(South_Africa)) all the way along the Cape Town-Pretoria route across the 25 kV AC stretch between Beaufort West and [Kimberley](/source/Kimberley%2C_Northern_Cape), but this task was usually performed by selected Class 14E1 locomotives. After two incidents, in 2013 with Class 14E1 no. 14-104 and in 2014 with Class 14E no. 14-001 when the locomotives caught alight and were destroyed while hauling the Blue Train, the Class was replaced by Class 18E locomotives on Blue Train service.

In 1998, a number of Spoornet's electric locomotives and most of their Class 38-000 electro-diesel locomotives were sold to Maquarie-GETX (General Electric Financing) and leased back to Spoornet for a ten-year period, which was to expire in 2008. Of the Class 14E, numbers 14-002 and 14-003 were included in this leasing deal.[4]

## Disposal

None of the three units were preserved.

- No. 14-001 burnt out while working the Blue Train near Kimberley in February 2014. The hulk remained at Kimberley and was sold without bogies during an auction on 17 July 2014.

- No. 14-002 was sold at Bellville complete with bogies during an auction on 15 July 2015, along with Class 14E1 no. 14-105.

- No. 14-003 was used as a source of spare parts for its two sister units at Bellville for years and was eventually sold without bogies during an auction on 14 February 2014.

## Illustration

Class 14E locomotives were all painted in an orange, grey and red livery unique to them. The Spoornet emblem on the sides with the name "SPOORNET" below the emblem, as displayed in the main picture, was only applied on no. 14-002 at the same time that its red lower sides were repainted to orange lower sides and dark grey sills, probably during repairs or a major overhaul. Only no. 14-001 survived in service long enough to receive the new Blue Train livery in 2012.

		- No. 14-001 in final assembly hall of SLM in [Winterthur](/source/Winterthur)

		- No. 14-002 on a goods train at Stikland, [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town), 15 August 2006

		- Class 14E bogie off no. 14-003, Bellville, Cape Town, 27 June 2009

		- No. 14-003 without bogies, parked on rail sleepers at Bellville Depot, 18 July 2009

		- No. 14-001 in Blue Train livery at Beaufort West, Western Cape, 9 May 2013

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_1-2) 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

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_2-0)** Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). *Locomotives of the South African Railways* (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 134. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0869772112](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0869772112).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Class_14E1_3-0)** Class 14E1 – Principal Dimensions and Technical Data (TFR leaflet used in driver training, circa 2010)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Middleton_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Middleton_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Middleton_4-2) 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. pp. 49–52, 60.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Duplessis_5-0)** [Comments by Jaco Holtzhausen (Blue train driver) & Philmar du Plessis (TFR Electrical engineer)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1827816830864549/?multi_permalinks=1831291053850460&comment_id=1832551667057732&notif_t=like&notif_id=1506029040473755) (Accessed on 22 September 2017)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** The numbers were visually and photographically confirmed on individual locomotives by the contributor during 2009 and 2010

## External links

Media related to [South African Class 14E](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:South_African_Class_14E) at Wikimedia Commons

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Class 16D SAR Class 16DA 1928 SAR Class 16DA 1930 SAR Class 16E SAR Class 17 SAR Class 18 SAR Class 19 SAR Class 19A SAR Class 19B SAR Class 19C SAR Class 19D SAR Class 20 SAR Class 21 SAR Class 23 SAR Class 24 SAR Class 25 SAR Class 25NC SAR Class 26 SAR Katanga SWA 2-8-0 Cape gauge Articulated engines CGR Fairlie CGR Kitson-Meyer SAR Class FC SAR Class FD SAR Class GA SAR Class GB SAR Class GC SAR Class GCA SAR Class GD SAR Class GDA SAR Class GE SAR Class GEA SAR Class GF SAR Class GG SAR Class GH SAR Class GK SAR Class GL SAR Class GM SAR Class GMA SAR Class GO SAR Class HF SAR Class KM SAR Class MA SAR Class MB SAR Class MC SAR Class MC1 SAR Class MD SAR Class ME SAR Class MF SAR Class MG SAR Class MH SAR Class MJ SAR Class MJ1 SAR Class U 2' 6" gauge Cape Copper John King & Miner Cape Copper Britannia Cape Copper Caledonia Cape Copper Clara Cape Copper Condenser Cape Copper Scotia Namaqua Copper Pioneer Walvis Bay 2-4-2T Hope 2' & 600mm gauges ACR Class NG-G16A CGR NG 0-4-0T CGR NG 0-6-0T CGR NG 4-6-2T CGR Type A 2-6-4T CGR Type C 0-4-0T NGR Class N 4-6-2T SAR Dutton SAR NG 0-4-0T SAR Class NG1 SAR Class NG2 SAR Class NG3 SAR Class NG4 SAR Class NG5 SAR Class NG6 SAR Class NG7 SAR Class NG8 SAR Class NG9 SAR Class NG10 SAR Class NG-G11 SAR Class NG-G12 SAR Class NG-G13 SAR Class NG-G14 SAR Class NG15 SAR Class NG-G16 SWA Class Ha SWA Class Hb SWA Class Hc SWA Class Hd SWA Jung SWA Zwillinge Electric Amcoal Class E38 SAR Class ES SAR Class ES1 SAR Class Exp-AC SAR Class 1E SAR Class 2E SAR Class 3E SAR Class 4E SAR Class 5E s1 SAR Class 5E s2 SAR Class 5E s3 SAR Class 5E1 s1 SAR Class 5E1 s2 SAR Class 5E1 s3 SAR Class 5E1 s4 SAR Class 5E1 s5 SAR Class 6E SAR Class 6E1 s1 SAR Class 6E1 s2 SAR Class 6E1 s3 SAR Class 6E1 s4 SAR Class 6E1 s5 SAR Class 6E1 s6 SAR Class 6E1 s7 SAR Class 6E1 s8 SAR Class 6E1 s9 SAR Class 6E1 s10 SAR Class 6E1 s11 SAR Class 7E SAR Class 7E1 SAR Class 7E2 s1 SAR Class 7E2 s2 SAR Class 7E3 s1 SAR Class 7E3 s2 Spoornet Class 7E4 SAR Class 8E SAR Class 9E s1 SAR Class 9E s2 SAR Class 10E SAR Class 10E1 s1 Spoornet Class 10E1 s2 SAR Class 10E2 SAR Class 11E SAR Class 12E Spoornet Class 14E Spoornet Class 14E1 TFR Class 15E Spoornet Class 16E Spoornet Class 17E Spoornet Class 18E s1 TFR Class 18E s2 TFR Class 19E TFR Class 20E TFR Class 21E TFR Class 22E TFR Class 23E Gas-electric SAR Gas-electric Diesel Cape gauge Diesel–electric PRASA Class Afro 4000 SAR Class DS SAR Class DS1 SAR Class 31-000 SAR Class 32-000 SAR Class 32-200 SAR Class 33-000 SAR Class 33-200 SAR Class 33-400 SAR Class 34-000 SAR Class 34-200 SAR Class 34-400 SAR Class 34-500 SAR Class 34-600 SAR Class 34-800 SAR Class 34-900 SAR Class 35-000 SAR Class 35-200 SAR Class 35-400 SAR Class 35-600 TFR Class 35-800 SAR Class 36-000 SAR Class 36-200 SAR Class 37-000 Spoornet Class 39-000 TFR Class 39-200 TFR Class 43-000 TFR Class 44-000 TFR Class 45-000 2' gauge Diesel–electric SAR Class 91-000 Cape gauge Diesel–hydraulic SAR Class 61-000 Cape gauge Electro-diesel Spoornet Class 38-000 List of South African locomotive classes South African locomotive numbering and classification

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [South African Class 14E](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_14E) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_14E?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.