# South African Class 14E1

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Type of electric locomotive

South African Class 14E1 No. 14-107 at Beaufort West on 1 May 2006 Type and origin Power type Electric Designer 50 c/s Group Builder Union Carriage & Wagon Model SLM 14E1 Build date 1993-1994 Total produced 10 Specifications Configuration: ​ • AAR B-B • UIC Bo'Bo' • Commonwealth Bo-Bo Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge Wheel diameter 1,250 mm (49.2 in) new 1,170 mm (46.1 in) worn Minimum curve 85 m (279 ft) radius Wheelbase 12,400 mm (40 ft 8.2 in) ​ • Bogie 3,100 mm (10 ft 2.0 in) Pivot centres 9,300 mm (30 ft 6.1 in) Panto shoes 8,800 mm (28 ft 10.5 in) Length: ​ • Over couplers 18,500 mm (60 ft 8.3 in) • Over body 17,400 mm (57 ft 1.0 in) Width 2,973 mm (9 ft 9.0 in) Height: ​ • Pantograph 4,120 mm (13 ft 6.2 in) • Body height 4,047 mm (13 ft 3.3 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 18:67 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 369 kN (83,000 lbf) • 1 hour 110 kN (25,000 lbf) @ 130 km/h (81 mph) • Continuous 245 kN (55,000 lbf) @ 58.6 km/h (36.4 mph) Brakeforce 172 kN (39,000 lbf) @ 12 to 60.5 km/h (7.5 to 37.6 mph) Career Operators Spoornet Transnet Freight Rail Class Class 14E1 Number in class 10 Numbers 14-101 to 14-110 Delivered 1994 First run 1994 Withdrawn 2015

The **Spoornet Class 14E1** of 1994 was a South African [electric locomotive](/source/Electric_locomotive).

In December 1994 Spoornet took delivery of the last of ten locally manufactured Class 14E1 dual voltage electric mainline locomotives with a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement. They had been preceded in 1991 by three prototype [Class 14E](/source/South_African_Class_14E) locomotives.[1]

## Manufacturer

The dual voltage 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC Class 14E1 electric locomotive was designed by Consortium 14E consisting of [Siemens](/source/Siemens_Mobility), [ABB](/source/ABB_Group), [AEG-Westinghouse](/source/AEG_(German_company)), [General Electric Company](/source/General_Electric_Company) and [Alsthom-Atlantique](/source/Alstom), headed by Siemens. They were built for Spoornet by [Union Carriage & Wagon](/source/Union_Carriage_%26_Wagon) (UCW) in Nigel, Transvaal, under licence to [Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works](/source/Swiss_Locomotive_and_Machine_Works) (SLM) in [Winterthur](/source/Winterthur). Ten locomotives were delivered and placed in service by December 1994, numbered in the range from 14-101 to 14-110.[2][3]

Builders' plates

The original order had been placed for fifty locomotives. The first units to be delivered were subjected to intensive trial runs on speed-freight trains in [KwaZulu-Natal](/source/KwaZulu-Natal) and the [Free State](/source/Free_State_(province)), during which it was found not to be a suitable locomotive for the infrastructure on lines rated at 20 tonnes (20 long tons) per axle. It caused some damage to points when travelling at 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour) in the Free State. When one of the units developed a vibration in the gear box, the order for fifty locomotives was summarily reduced to ten only given the unsatisfactory trial results to date.[4]

## 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. The cabs were connected by a corridor along the centre of the locomotive.[1]

Class 14E1 spoked wheelset with helical gear

With the exception of the [Class 9E](/source/South_African_Class_9E%2C_Series_1), all previous South African electric locomotives ran on spoked wheels and used [spur gears](/source/Spur_gear). The Swiss-built Class 14E ran on solid wheels and used [double helical](/source/Gear#Double_helical) or [herringbone gears](/source/Herringbone_gear) with a traction motor to wheel gear ratio of 20:103, while the locally built Class 14E1 was delivered with the traditional spoked wheels but with [helical gears](/source/Gear#Helical) and a traction motor to wheel gear ratio of 18:67.[5]

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 14E1 had to be stopped and then restarted under the different voltage. Along with the earlier [Class 14E](/source/South_African_Class_14E), these electric locomotives were some of the most powerful at the time. They were equipped with three-phase AC motors (induction motors) made by Siemens and also incorporated Siemens' sophisticated train communication network system.[6]

## Service

By 2006, Class 14E1 locomotives were all shedded at Bellville Loco in [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town). In freight service they were employed on the route between [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town) and [Beaufort West](/source/Beaufort_West) in the [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape). Since they are dual voltage 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC locomotives, they can work on any electrified line country-wide with the exception of the 50 kV AC Sishen-Saldanha iron ore line.[3]

In 1998 a number of Spoornet's electric locomotives and most of their [Class 38-000](/source/South_African_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 14E1, numbers 14-101 to 14-106 were also included in this leasing deal.[3]

Beginning c. 2005, selected Class 14E1 locomotives were employed to haul the [Blue Train](/source/Blue_Train_(South_Africa)) all the way along the [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town)-[Pretoria](/source/Pretoria) route across the 25 kV AC stretch between [Beaufort West](/source/Beaufort_West) and [Kimberley](/source/Kimberley%2C_Northern_Cape). By 2012 they often ran country-wide when hauling the Blue Train. Being fast and giving a comfortable ride in an air conditioned cab, the Class 14E1 became popular with drivers.

From July 2012, possibly as a result of popular demand, eight of the Class 14E1 locomotives were repainted in a special blue Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) livery to match the Blue Train livery. After two incidents shortly thereafter, in 2013 with Class 14E1 no. 14-104 and in 2014 with Class 14E no. 14-001 when the locomotives caught fire and were destroyed while working the Blue Train, the Class was replaced by a pair of blue-liveried Class 18E locomotives on Blue Train service.

## Serial numbers

UCW did not allocate works numbers to the locomotives they built for Spoornet. On the Class 14E1, the [transformer](/source/Transformer) serial numbers are engraved in the top right corner of a large plate which depicts 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 locomotive unit number sequence. Their transformer numbers, last livery and disposal are listed in the table.[7]

Class 14E1 transformer numbers & disposal Loco no. Transformer no. Final livery and disposal 14-101 16876-1- 9/1994 Blue, found staged at Bellville Loco on 4 July 2017. 14-102 16876-1- 4/1994 Orange, wrecked at Deelfontein on 26 October 2005, shell sold 13 April 2010 at De Aar. 14-103 16876-1- 7/1994 Blue, found staged at Bellville Loco on 4 July 2017. 14-104 16876-1-10/1994 Blue, burnt near Kimberley in late 2012, sold on 18 September 2014 at Bellville. 14-105 16876-1- 2/1993 Orange, staged and stripped for parts for several years, sold on 15 July 2015 at Bellville. 14-106 16876-1- 6/1994 Blue, found staged at Bellville Loco on 4 July 2017. 14-107 16876-1-11/1994 Blue, found staged at Bellville Loco on 4 July 2017. 14-108 16876-1- 3/1994 Blue, found staged at Bellville Loco on 4 July 2017. 14-109 16876-1- 8/1994 Blue, found staged at Bellville Loco on 4 July 2017. 14-110 16876-1- 5/1994 Blue, reserved for preservation, moved to Bloemfontein Loco for museum.

## Illustration

		- Numbers 14-101 and 14-103 at [Beaufort West](/source/Beaufort_West), [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape) on 2 August 2007

		- No. 14-108 in Blue Train livery at Bellville Locomotive Depot, Cape Town, 4 July 2015

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_1-1) 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-2)** ["UCW – Electric locomotives"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071012023401/http://www.ucw.co.za/pdf/electric_loco.pdf) (PDF). The UCW Partnership. Archived from [the original](http://www.ucw.co.za/pdf/electric_loco.pdf) (PDF) on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Middleton_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Middleton_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Middleton_3-2) 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-4)** Information supplied by Mr. Brian Clark, Krugersdorp

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-Class_14E1_6-0)** Class 14E1 – Principal Dimensions and Technical Data (TFR leaflet used in driver training, c. 2010)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** The serial numbers were visually and photographically confirmed on individual locomotives by the contributor during 2009 and 2010, except no. 14-102 which had been destroyed in 2005.

## External links

Media related to [South African Class 14E1](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:South_African_Class_14E1) 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 14E1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_14E1) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_14E1?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.