South African Class 34-000

{{Short description|Class of 125 South African diesel-electric locomotives}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use South African English|date=August 2013}} {{Infobox locomotive | name = South African Class 34-000 | image = SAR Class 34-000 34-044.JPG | alt = | caption = No. 34-044 at [[Saldanha, Western Cape]], 26 July 2009 | hatnote = | powertype = Diesel-electric | designer = [[General Electric]] | builder = General Electric SA GE-DL Locomotive Group | ordernumber = | serialnumber = 37810-37934 | buildmodel = [[GE U26C]] | builddate = 1971-1973 | totalproduction = 125 | rebuilder = | rebuilddate = | numberrebuilt = | aarwheels = [[AAR wheel arrangement#C-C|C-C]] | uicclass = [[Co'Co']] | Britishclass = [[Co+Co]] | gauge = {{Track gauge|Cape|allk=on}} | bogies = | leadingdiameter = | wheeldiameter = {{convert|915|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} | trailingdiameter = | minimumcurve = | wheelbase = {{convert|13004|mm|ftin|1|abbr=on}} | bogie = {{convert|3188|mm|ftin|1|abbr=on}} | wheelspacing = | length = | over couplers = {{convert|17982|mm|ftin|1|abbr=on}} | over bufferbeams = | body = | pivotcentres = {{convert|10058|mm|ftin|1|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|2756|mm|ftin|1|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|3962|mm|ftin|1|abbr=on}} | axleload = {{convert|18850|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | leadingbogie/pony= | weightondrivers = {{convert|113100|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | trail bogie/pony = | locoweight = {{convert|113100|kg|lb|abbr=on}} max | fueltype = [[Diesel fuel|Diesel]] | fuelcap = {{convert|5400|L|impgal}} as built {{convert|7000|L|impgal}} mod. | lubecap = | coolantcap = | watercap = | sandcap = | powersupply = | consumption = | watercons = | primemover = [[GE Transportation Systems|GE]] [[GE FDL|7FDL-12]] | rpmrange = 450-1,050 | rpmrange low = 450 | rpmrange idle = 535 | rpmrange max = 1,050 | enginetype = 4 stroke diesel | aspiration = Elliott H-581 turbocharger | displacement = | alternator = 10 pole 3 phase GE 5GT-A11C1 | generator = | tractionmotors = Six GE 5GE-761A13 DC 4 pole | t/m amps 1 hr = 665A | t/m amps cont = 655A @ {{convert|24|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} | headendpower = | cylindercount = [[V12 engine|V12]] | cylindersize = | transmission = | gear ratio = 92:19 | multipleworking = 6 maximum | trainheating = | locobrakes = 28-LAV-1 with vigilance control | dynamicpeakeffort= {{convert|180|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} @ {{convert|29|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} | trainbrakes = Westinghouse 6CDX4UC compressor/exhauster | reservoircap = {{convert|825|L|impgal}} | compressorcap = {{convert|0.039|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}} | exhaustercap = {{convert|0.155|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}} | safety = | coupling = [[Janney coupler|AAR knuckle type E]] | maxspeed = {{convert|100|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} | poweroutput = | poweroutput start= {{convert|2050|kW|hp|abbr=on}} | poweroutput 1 hr = | poweroutput cont = {{convert|1940|kW|hp|abbr=on}} | tractiveeffort = | t/e starting = {{convert|272|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} @ 25% adh. | t/e 1 hr = | t/e continuous = {{convert|218|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} @ {{convert|26|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} | factorofadhesion = | f/adh starting = 25% | f/adh 1 hr = | f/adh continuous = 20% | locobrakeforce = 60% ratio @ {{convert|345|kPa|psi|abbr=on}} | operator = South African Railways Spoornet [[Transnet Freight Rail]] PRASA | operatorclass = Class 34-000 | powerclass = | numinclass = 125 | fleetnumbers = 34-001 to 34-125 | officialname = | nicknames = | axleloadclass = | locale = | deliverydate = 1971-1973 | firstrundate = 1971 | lastrundate = | withdrawndate = | preservedunits = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition = | notes = }}

The '''South African Railways Class 34-000''' of 1971 is a diesel-electric locomotive.

Between July 1971 and March 1973, the South African Railways placed 125 Class 34-000 General Electric type U26C diesel-electric locomotives in service.<ref name="E&D diagram-book">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</ref>

==Manufacturer== The Class 34-000 type [[GE U26C]] diesel-electric locomotive of the South African Railways (SAR) was designed by [[General Electric]] (GE). The first three locomotives were built by GE and imported, numbered in the range from 34-001 to 34-003, while the remainder were built by the South African General Electric-Dorman Long Locomotive Group (SA GE-DL, later Dorbyl) and numbered in the range from 34-004 to 34-125. The 125 locomotives entered service between July 1971 and March 1973.<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/><ref name="Middleton">{{Middleton-SA Loco Guide|pages=38, 40-41, 46}}</ref><ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/>

The same U26C locomotive type is also in use on other railways around the world. One of them is the New Zealand Railways, where it is known as their [[New Zealand DX class locomotive|DX class]]. Other users are [[Kenya Railways]] who for some years also leased South African Class 34 U26C locomotives, and [[América Latina Logística]] (ALL) in [[Brazil]].<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/><ref name="Middleton"/><ref name="Paxton-Bourne">{{Paxton-Bourne|pages=140-141}}</ref>

==Class 34 series==

===GE and GM-EMD designs=== The Class 34 consists of seven series, the GE Classes {{nowrap|34-000}}, [[South African Class 34-400|{{nowrap|34-400}}]], [[South African Class 34-500|{{nowrap|34-500}}]] (also known as "{{nowrap|34-400}} ex Iscor") and [[South African Class 34-900|{{nowrap|34-900}}]], and the [[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors Electro-Motive Division (GM-EMD)]] [[South African Class 34-200|Classes {{nowrap|34-200}}]], [[South African Class 34-600|{{nowrap|34-600}}]] and [[South African Class 34-800|{{nowrap|34-800}}]]. Both manufacturers also produced locomotives for the South African Classes 33, 35 and 36.<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/>

===Distinguishing features=== As built, the GE Classes {{nowrap|34-000}}, {{nowrap|34-400}} and {{nowrap|34-900}} locomotives were visually indistinguishable from each other. The Class {{nowrap|34-500}} locomotives could be visually distinguished from the other series by the air conditioning units mounted on their cab roofs and initially when it was still a feature unique to them, by their running board mounted handrails. At some stage during the mid-1980s, all Class 34-000, 34-400 and 34-500 locomotives had saddle filters installed across the long hood, mounted just to the rear of the screens behind the cab on the sides. Since then, Class 34-900 locomotives could be distinguished from the older models by the absence of the saddle filter.<ref>[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAR_Class_34-000_34-057.JPG 34-057 with saddle filter, 14 October 2009]</ref><ref>[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAR_Class_34-000_34-058_%26_059.jpg 34-058 & 34-059 without saddle filter, 1 September 1975]</ref><ref>[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAR_Class_34-000_34-060.JPG 34-060 with saddle filter, 25 August 2007]</ref>

==Modifications==

===Fuel capacity=== As built, the Class 34-000 has a {{convert|5400|L|impgal|abbr=off}} fuel tank and interlinked bogies, while the Class {{nowrap|34-500}} was delivered new to Iscor with a {{convert|7000|L|impgal|abbr=off}} fuel tank to cope with the lack of en route refuelling points on the Sishen-Saldanha iron ore line. To facilitate the larger fuel tank, the inter-bogie linkage found on all other models had to be omitted on the Class {{nowrap|34-500}}.<ref>Information received from John Nicholas Middleton</ref> {| style="margin: 1em auto;" |[[File:Class 34-000 34-059 Tank.JPG|thumb|left|x160px|Standard 5,400 litre fuel tank]] |[[File:SAR Class 34-000 34-080 FTR.JPG|thumb|x160px|Enlarged 7,000 litre fuel tank]] |}

To be usable on the iron ore line, Class 34-000 locomotives which ended up working there were modified to a similar fuel capacity. The inter-bogie linkage was removed and the fuel tank was enlarged by changing it from saddle-shaped to rectangular box-shaped. To maintain its lateral balance, a slab of metal was attached to each bogie in place of the removed linkage. In the second picture, the weld lines on the end of the enlarged fuel tank as well as the metal slab at the end of the bogie are visible.<ref name="Interlink">[[:File:SAR Class 34-000 34-080 FTR.JPG|Bogie interlinking removed]]</ref>

===Running board mounted handrails=== Class 34-000 locomotives that were allocated to the Sishen-Saldanha Orex line were often modified by having removable running board-mounted handrails installed. All pre-2000 South African diesel-electric locomotives had their side handrails mounted along the upper edges of their long hoods. The ex Iscor Class 34-500s, however, came equipped with additional removable running board-mounted handrails. Since these handrails are slide-fit into brackets which are welded onto the running board, they are easily removed.<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/>

Since c. 2009, other mainline diesel-electric locomotive types also emerged from the Koedoespoort Transwerk shops with running board mounted handrails after major overhauls.<ref>[[:File:Class 34 34-102.jpg|Shosholoza Meyl’s 34-102 with running board handrails]]</ref>

===Electronic control system=== Beginning in 2010, some Class 34-000 locomotives were equipped with electronic fuel injection and GE "Bright Star" control systems. On some of the first locomotives which were so modified, evidence of the modification is a raised middle portion of the long hood.

==Service== [[File:SAR Class 34-000 34-100 ID.JPG|thumb|x100px]] GE Class 34-000s work on most mainlines and some branch lines in the central, western, southern and southeastern parts of the country. Some eventually joined the Class 34-500 on the {{convert|861|km|mi|adj=mid|-long|abbr=off}} [[Sishen–Saldanha Orex line]] to haul export ore from the open cast iron mines at Sishen near Kathu in the [[Northern Cape]] to the harbour at Saldanha in the [[Western Cape]], until they gradually began to be replaced by new [[South African Class 43-000|Class 43-000]] locomotives in 2012.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/>

On the Orex line, GE Class 34 series diesel-electric locomotives ran consisted to [[South African Class 9E, Series 1|Class 9E]] or [[South African Class 15E|Class 15E]] electric locomotives to haul the 342-wagon iron ore trains. Each wagon has a 100-ton capacity and the trains are at least {{convert|3.72|km|mi|abbr=off}} in length, powered by mixed consists of Class 9E and Class 15E electric, GE U26C Class 34-000, [[South African Class 34-400|{{nowrap|34-400}}]], [[South African Class 34-500|34-500]] and [[South African Class 34-900|34-900]] and from 2012, GE C30ACi [[South African Class 43-000|Class 43-000]] diesel-electric locomotives. In South Africa, mixed electric and diesel-electric consists are unique to the iron ore line.<ref name="E&D diagram-book"/><ref name="Actom">[http://www.actom.co.za/pages/Actom-Divisions/news.asp?ID=5&DivisionID=4&BusinessUnitID=20&NewsID=45 Actom Divisions News, 22 July 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083604/http://www.actom.co.za/pages/Actom-Divisions/news.asp?ID=5&DivisionID=4&BusinessUnitID=20&NewsID=45 |date=5 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Orex">Information supplied by Orex train crew members</ref> {{wide image|Sishen-Saldanha Iron Ore Train.jpg|1800px|alt=Ore train about {{convert|100|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} north of Lamberts Bay|Ore train about {{convert|100|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} north of Lamberts Bay}}

==Works numbers== The Class 34-000 builder's works numbers are listed in the table.<ref name="Middleton"/> {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:100%;" |+'''Class 34-000, GE type U26C''' |- ! Loco no. !Builder !Works no. |- |34-001 |GE |37810 |- |34-002 |GE |37811 |- |34-003 |GE |37812 |- |34-004 |GE-DL |37813 |- |34-005 |GE-DL |37814 |- |34-006 |GE-DL |37815 |- |34-007 |GE-DL |37816 |- |34-008 |GE-DL |37817 |- |34-009 |GE-DL |37818 |- |34-010 |GE-DL |37819 |- |34-011 |GE-DL |37820 |- |34-012 |GE-DL |37821 |- |34-013 |GE-DL |37822 |- |34-014 |GE-DL |37823 |- |34-015 |GE-DL |37824 |- |34-016 |GE-DL |37825 |- |34-017 |GE-DL |37826 |- |34-018 |GE-DL |37827 |- |34-019 |GE-DL |37828 |- |34-020 |GE-DL |37829 |- |34-021 |GE-DL |37830 |- |34-022 |GE-DL |37831 |- |34-023 |GE-DL |37832 |- |34-024 |GE-DL |37833 |- |34-025 |GE-DL |37834 |- |34-026 |GE-DL |37835 |- |34-027 |GE-DL |37836 |- |34-028 |GE-DL |37837 |- |34-029 |GE-DL |37838 |- |34-030 |GE-DL |37839 |- |34-031 |GE-DL |37840 |- |34-032 |GE-DL |37841 |- |34-033 |GE-DL |37842 |- |34-034 |GE-DL |37843 |- |34-035 |GE-DL |37844 |- |34-036 |GE-DL |37845 |- |34-037 |GE-DL |37846 |- |34-038 |GE-DL |37847 |- |34-039 |GE-DL |37848 |- |34-040 |GE-DL |37849 |- |34-041 |GE-DL |37850 |- |34-042 |GE-DL |37851 |- |34-043 |GE-DL |37852 |- |34-044 |GE-DL |37853 |- |34-045 |GE-DL |37854 |- |34-046 |GE-DL |37855 |- |34-047 |GE-DL |37856 |- |34-048 |GE-DL |37857 |- |34-049 |GE-DL |37858 |- |34-050 |GE-DL |37859 |- |34-051 |GE-DL |37860 |- |34-052 |GE-DL |37861 |- |34-053 |GE-DL |37862 |- |34-054 |GE-DL |37863 |- |34-055 |GE-DL |37864 |- |34-056 |GE-DL |37865 |- |34-057 |GE-DL |37866 |- |34-058 |GE-DL |37867 |- |34-059 |GE-DL |37868 |- |34-060 |GE-DL |37869 |- |34-061 |GE-DL |37870 |- |34-062 |GE-DL |37871 |- |34-063 |GE-DL |37872 |- |34-064 |GE-DL |37873 |- |34-065 |GE-DL |37874 |- |34-066 |GE-DL |37875 |- |34-067 |GE-DL |37876 |- |34-068 |GE-DL |37877 |- |34-069 |GE-DL |37878 |- |34-070 |GE-DL |37879 |- |34-071 |GE-DL |37880 |- |34-072 |GE-DL |37881 |- |34-073 |GE-DL |37882 |- |34-074 |GE-DL |37883 |- |34-075 |GE-DL |37884 |- |34-076 |GE-DL |37885 |- |34-077 |GE-DL |37886 |- |34-078 |GE-DL |37887 |- |34-079 |GE-DL |37888 |- |34-080 |GE-DL |37889 |- |34-081 |GE-DL |37890 |- |34-082 |GE-DL |37891 |- |34-083 |GE-DL |37892 |- |34-084 |GE-DL |37893 |- |34-085 |GE-DL |37894 |- |34-086 |GE-DL |37895 |- |34-087 |GE-DL |37896 |- |34-088 |GE-DL |37897 |- |34-089 |GE-DL |37898 |- |34-090 |GE-DL |37899 |- |34-091 |GE-DL |37900 |- |34-092 |GE-DL |37901 |- |34-093 |GE-DL |37902 |- |34-094 |GE-DL |37903 |- |34-095 |GE-DL |37904 |- |34-096 |GE-DL |37905 |- |34-097 |GE-DL |37906 |- |34-098 |GE-DL |37907 |- |34-099 |GE-DL |37908 |- |34-100 |GE-DL |37909 |- |34-101 |GE-DL |37910 |- |34-102 |GE-DL |37911 |- |34-103 |GE-DL |37912 |- |34-104 |GE-DL |37913 |- |34-105 |GE-DL |37914 |- |34-106 |GE-DL |37915 |- |34-107 |GE-DL |37916 |- |34-108 |GE-DL |37917 |- |34-109 |GE-DL |37918 |- |34-110 |GE-DL |37919 |- |34-111 |GE-DL |37920 |- |34-112 |GE-DL |37921 |- |34-113 |GE-DL |37922 |- |34-114 |GE-DL |37923 |- |34-115 |GE-DL |37924 |- |34-116 |GE-DL |37925 |- |34-117 |GE-DL |37926 |- |34-118 |GE-DL |37927 |- |34-119 |GE-DL |37928 |- |34-120 |GE-DL |37929 |- |34-121 |GE-DL |37930 |- |34-122 |GE-DL |37931 |- |34-123 |GE-DL |37932 |- |34-124 |GE-DL |37933 |- |34-125 |GE-DL |37934 |- |}

==Liveries== With five exceptions, the Class 34-000 were all delivered in the SAR Gulf Red livery with signal red buffer beams, yellow side stripes on the long hood sides and a yellow V on each end. The five exceptions, numbers 34-055 to 34-059, were delivered in blue with a yellow V on the ends and yellow buffer beams for use on the [[Blue Train (South Africa)|Blue Train]] between [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]] and [[Beaufort West]]. They were all eventually repainted in Spoornet’s orange livery after they were replaced in Blue Train service by seven Class 34-900 locomotives, numbers 34-924 to 34-930.<ref name="Middleton"/><ref name="Soul of a Railway 7-9">[https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-7-1/south-eastwards-as-far-as-volksrust-2nd-section-wattles-to-union-junction-by-les-pivnic Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 9. South-Eastwards as far as Volksrust (2nd part) by Les Pivnic. Caption 4.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724042106/https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-7-1/south-eastwards-as-far-as-volksrust-2nd-section-wattles-to-union-junction-by-les-pivnic |date=24 July 2021 }} (Accessed on 11 April 2017)</ref>

In the 1990s many of the Class 34-000 units began to be repainted in the Spoornet orange livery with a yellow and blue chevron pattern on the buffer beams. Several later received the Spoornet maroon livery. In the late 1990s many were repainted in the Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers on the long hood sides. After 2008 in the [[Transnet Freight Rail]] (TFR) and [[Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa]] (PRASA) era, many were repainted in the TFR red, green and yellow livery and at least four were repainted in the PRASA purple livery.<ref name="Middleton"/>

==Illustration== <gallery mode=packed heights="160px"> File:SAR Class 34-000 34-108 SAR.JPG|No. 34-108 in SAR Gulf Red and whiskers livery at Bloemfontein, Free State, 14 October 2009 File:SAR Class 34-000 34-058 & 059.jpg|No. 34-058 and 34-059 in SAR Blue Train livery, still without saddle filters, at [[Modder River]], Cape Province on 1 September 1975 File:Class 34-000 34-013.JPG|No. 34-013 in Spoornet maroon livery at Swartkops Loco Depot, Port Elizabeth, 20 April 2013 File:SAR Class 34-000 34-102.JPG|No. 34-102 in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers at Bloemfontein, Free State, 14 October 2009 File:Class 34-000 34-108.jpg|No. 34-108 in [[Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa]]'s Shosholoza Meyl livery at Beaufort West, 10 October 2015 File:Class 34-000 34-084.JPG| Bright Star equipped no. 34-084 in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Swartkops, 20 April 2013 </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|South African Class 34-000}} {{External media | float = left | width = 50% | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvdjM0tS1LE&t=11s 34-072 and 34-036, 14 October 2009] A pair of Class 34-000 locomotives leave the Bloemfontein yard with a mixed goods train, heading south. (3 minutes)}}

[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of South Africa|3350]] [[Category:C-C locomotives]] [[Category:Co′Co′ locomotives]] [[Category:Co+Co locomotives]] [[Category:General Electric locomotives]] [[Category:Dorbyl locomotives]] [[Category:Cape gauge railway locomotives]] [[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1971]] [[Category:1971 in South Africa]]