South African Class 2E

{{Short description|South African electric locomotive}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use South African English|date=August 2013}} {{Infobox locomotive | name = South African Class 2E | image = SAR Class 2E E13x.jpg | alt = | caption = Class 2E locomotive in MU operation with a Class 1E | powertype = Electric | designer = [[Siemens-Schuckert]] | builder = [[Henschel & Son]] | ordernumber = | serialnumber = 23132-23134 | buildmodel = Siemens 2E | builddate = 1937 | totalproduction = 3 | rebuilder = | rebuilddate = | numberrebuilt = | aarwheels = [[AAR wheel arrangement#B-B|B-B]] | uicclass = [[Bo+Bo]] | Britishclass = [[Bo+Bo]] | gauge = {{Track gauge|Cape|allk=on}} | bogies = | leadingdiameter = | wheeldiameter = {{convert|48|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | trailingdiameter = | minimumcurve = | wheelbase = {{convert|30|ft|11|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | bogie = {{convert|9|ft|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | wheelspacing = | length = | over couplers = {{convert|43|ft|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | over bufferbeams = {{convert|30|ft|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | body = | pivotcentres = {{convert|21|ft|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | pantoshoecentres = {{convert|26|ft|4+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|9|ft|2.2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | height = | pantodown = {{convert|13|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}} | bodyonly = {{convert|11|ft|1+53/64|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | frametype = | axleload = {{convert|16|lt|15|lcwt|kg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}} | leadingbogie/pony= {{convert|33|lt|10|lcwt|kg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}} | weightondrivers = {{convert|66|lt|12|lcwt|kg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}} | trail bogie/pony = {{convert|33|lt|2|lcwt|kg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}} | locoweight = {{convert|66|lt|12|lcwt|kg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}} | sandcap = | electricsystem = 3 [[Volt|kV]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[Overhead line|catenary]] | collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (transport)|Pantographs]] | alternator = | generator = | tractionmotors = Four | t/m amps 1 hr = {{convert|402|hp|kW|abbr=on}} | t/m amps cont = | headendpower = | transmission = | gear ratio = 17:75 | multipleworking = 3 maximum | trainheating = | locobrakes = | locobrakeforce = | trainbrakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]] & [[Vacuum brake|Vacuum]] | reservoircap = | compressorcap = | exhaustercap = | safety = | coupling = [[Janney coupler|AAR knuckle]] | maxspeed = {{convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} | poweroutput = | poweroutput start= | poweroutput 1 hr = {{convert|1608|hp|kW|abbr=on}} | poweroutput cont = | tractiveeffort = | t/e starting = | t/e 1 hr = {{convert|21200|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} | t/e continuous = | factorofadhesion = | f/adh starting = | f/adh 1 hr = | f/adh continuous = | operator = [[South African Railways]] | operatorclass = Class 2E | numinclass = 3 | fleetnumbers = E134-E136 | officialname = | nicknames = | axleloadclass = | locale = | deliverydate = 1937 | firstrundate = 1937 | lastrundate = | withdrawndate = 1973 | preservedunits = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition = | notes = }}

The '''South African Railways Class 2E''' of 1937 was an electric locomotive.

In 1937, the South African Railways placed three German-built {{nowrap|Class 2E}} {{nowrap|3 kV DC}} electric locomotives with a [[Bo+Bo]] wheel arrangement in mainline service.<ref name="SAR&H Apr 1946">Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). ''The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued).'' South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, April 1946. p. 296.</ref><ref name="1940s diagram-book">South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge, c. 1940, as amended</ref>

==Manufacturer== South Africa's second mainline electric locomotive type, the Class 2E, entered service in Natal in 1937, intended for mixed traffic haulage. The electrical equipment was designed by [[Siemens-Schuckert]] of Berlin and the three locomotives were built for the South African Railways (SAR) by [[Henschel & Son|Henschel and Son]] in [[Germany]]. Numbered in the range from E134 to E136, they were the only German-built electric locomotives ever supplied to South Africa.<ref name="SAR&H Apr 1946"/><ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Henschel">Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow</ref>

==Characteristics== The Class 2E was very similar in external appearance and dimensions to the [[South African Class 1E|Class 1E]] and used identical bogies. The most obvious distinction from the Class 1E was the difference in window and grille layout on the locomotive sides. The internal arrangement of their electrical components differed from those of the Class 1E and their four {{convert|402|hp|kW|abbr=off}} traction motors made them more powerful. Even so, probably as a result of the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] in 1939, only these three units were ever acquired, after which the SAR reverted to the Class 1E, Series 5 to 7 for its subsequent acquisitions of similar electric locomotives.<ref name="SAR&H Apr 1946"/><ref name="Paxton-Bourne">{{Paxton-Bourne|page=126}}</ref>

The body of the locomotive was divided into a high voltage chamber and a low voltage auxiliary machine and equipment compartment with a side corridor along the right side of the locomotive when looking towards Cab 1. In the high tension chamber, 43 contactors were arranged along one side with the motor-generator set in the middle of the chamber. The motor-generator was a four-machine unit comprising a high tension motor, two DC exciters, one for each motor, and the 110 V generator for the auxiliary equipment. The machines were flexibly coupled with a blower fan directly coupled at each end of the four-unit set, each fan supplying air to two of the main motors.<ref name="SAR&H Apr 1946"/>

The Class 2E had a [[Bo+Bo]] wheel arrangement with an articulated inter-bogie linkage. Like the Classes [[South African Class 1E|1E]], [[South African Class 3E|3E]] and [[South African Class 4E|4E]], it had bogie-mounted [[draft gear]], therefore no train forces were transmitted to the locomotive body.<ref name="1940s diagram-book"/>

==Orientation== These dual cab locomotives had three windows with a grille between each pair of windows on one side, and a line of five grilles and two windows from left to right on the other side. When observing the locomotive from the side with the five grilles and two windows, the number 1 end of the locomotive would be to the left.<ref name="1940s diagram-book"/><ref name="Soul of a Railway 6-5">[https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-6-1/the-new-main-line-from-rossburgh-to-pietermaritzburg Soul of A Railway, System 6, Part 5: The New Main Line from Rossburgh to Pietermaritzburg compiled by Les Pivnic. Caption 94.] (Accessed on 26 August 2017)</ref>

==Service== The Class 2E could be, and were, utilised in multiple working with Class 1E units, but this did not apply to regenerative working. During the 1940s steam traction still ruled the mainlines, but the use of electric locomotives through [[Johannesburg]] station and on general Reef hauler service became commonplace in an attempt to reduce the smoke nuisance in the central business district.<ref name="SAR&H Apr 1946"/><ref name="Soul of a Railway 7-2">[https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-7-1/system-7-part-2-johannesburg-between-the-home-signals-2-by-les-pivnic Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 2. Johannesburg between the Home Signals, Part 2. Caption 9.] (Accessed on 21 March 2017)</ref>

They spent most of their years in service on the mainline between Transvaal and Natal. By 1946 they were mainly employed working between [[Pretoria]] and Johannesburg. They briefly served in the Western Cape near the end of their service lives. All three units were withdrawn from service in 1973.<ref name="SAR&H Apr 1946"/><ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/>

==Illustration== The main picture shows a Class 2E unit with its right side and no. 2 end visible, coupled to a Class 1E unit. <gallery mode=packed heights="280px"> File:SAR Class 2E.jpg|A Class 2E unit with its left side and no. 1 end visible, Pretoria, c. 1947 </gallery>

==References== {{Commons category|South African Class 2E}} {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Electric locomotives of South Africa|2750]] [[Category:B-B locomotives]] [[Category:Bo+Bo locomotives]] [[Category:3000 V DC locomotives]] [[Category:Henschel locomotives]] [[Category:Cape gauge railway locomotives]] [[Category:Boxcab locomotives]] [[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1937]] [[Category:1937 in South Africa]]