# South African Class 34-900

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Type of diesel-electric locomotive

South African Class 34-900 No. 34-926, in Spoornet’s orange era Blue Train livery, at Bellville Depot, Cape Town, 15 May 2010 Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Designer General Electric Builder SA GE-DL Locomotive Group Serial number 41350-41379 Model GE U26C Build date 1980 Total produced 30 Specifications Configuration: ​ • AAR C-C • UIC Co'Co' • Commonwealth Co+Co Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge Wheel diameter 915 mm (36 in) Wheelbase 13,004 mm (42 ft 8 in) ​ • Bogie 3,188 mm (10 ft 6 in) Pivot centres 10,058 mm (33 ft 0 in) Length: ​ • Over couplers 17,982 mm (59 ft 0 in) Width 2,756 mm (9 ft 1 in) Height 3,962 mm (13 ft 0 in) Axle load 18,850 kg (41,560 lb) Adhesive weight 113,100 kg (249,300 lb) Loco weight 113,100 kg (249,300 lb) max Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 5,400 litres (1,200 imp gal) as built 7,000 litres (1,500 imp gal) modified Prime mover GE 7FDL-12 RPM range 450-1,050 ​ • RPM low idle 450 • RPM idle 535 • Maximum RPM 1,050 Engine type 4-stroke diesel Aspiration GE 7S14O8A1 turbocharger Alternator 10 pole 3 phase GE 5GT-A11C1 Traction motors Six GE 5GE-761A13 DC 4 pole ​ • Rating 1 hour 665A • Continuous 655A @ 24 km/h (15 mph) Cylinders V12 Gear ratio 92:19 MU working 6 maximum Loco brake 28-LAV-1 with vigilance control Train brakes Westinghouse 6CDX4UC compressor/exhauster Air tank cap. 825 litres (181 imp gal) Compressor 0.039 m3/s (1.4 cu ft/s) Exhauster 0.155 m3/s (5.5 cu ft/s) Couplers AAR knuckle type E Performance figures Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph) Power output: ​ • Starting 2,050 kW (2,750 hp) • Continuous 1,940 kW (2,600 hp) Tractive effort: ​ • Starting 272 kN (61,000 lbf) @ 25% adh. • Continuous 218 kN (49,000 lbf) @ 26 km/h (16 mph) Factor of adh.: ​ • Starting 25% • Continuous 20% Brakeforce 60% ratio @ 345 kPa (50.0 psi) Dynamic brake peak effort 180 kN (40,000 lbf) @ 29 km/h (18 mph) Career Operators South African Railways Spoornet Transnet Freight Rail Class Class 34-900 Number in class 30 Numbers 34-901 to 34-930 Delivered 1980-1981 First run 1980

The **South African Railways Class 34–900** of 1980 is a diesel-electric locomotive.

In 1980 and 1981, the South African Railways placed thirty Class 34–900 General Electric type U26C diesel-electric locomotives in service.[1]

## Manufacturer

The Class 34-900 type [GE U26C](/source/GE_U26C) diesel-electric locomotive was designed by [General Electric](/source/General_Electric) and built for the South African Railways (SAR) by the South African General Electric-Dorman Long Locomotive Group (SA GE-DL, later Dorbyl). Thirty locomotives were delivered in 1980 and 1981, numbered in the range from 34-901 to 34-930.[1][2][3][4]

## Distinguishing features

SA GE-DL Builder's plate on 34-914

As built, the GE Classes 34-000, 34-400 and 34-900 were visually indistinguishable from each other. The ex Iscor Class 34-500 loco­motives could be visually dis­ting­uished from the other series by the air conditioning units mounted on the cab roofs of most of them and initially, when it was still a feature unique to them, by their running board-mounted handrails.[5]

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 on the sides behind the cab. Since then, Class 34-900 locomotives could be distinguished from the older models by the absence of the saddle filter.[5]

## Modifications

### Fuel capacity

As built, the Class 34-900 had a 5,400 litres (1,200 imperial gallons) fuel tank and interlinked bogies, while the Class 34-500 was delivered new to Iscor with a 7,000 litres (1,500 imperial gallons) fuel tank to cope with the lack of en route refueling points on the Sishen-Saldanha iron ore line. To accommodate the larger fuel tank, the inter-bogie linkage found on all other models was omitted on the Class 34-500.[6]

To be usable on the iron ore line, Class 34-900 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.[7]

Standard 5,400 litre fuel tank Enlarged 7,000 litre fuel tank

### Running board-mounted handrails

Class 34-900 locomotives which are allocated to the Sishen-Saldanha Orex line are usually further modified by having removable running board-mounted handrails installed. All South African diesel-electric locomotives have 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 welded onto the running board, they are easily removed.[1][5]

### Electronic control system

Beginning in 2010, some locomotives were equipped with electronic fuel injection and GE Bright Star control systems. On some of the first locomotives which were so modified, externally visible evidence of the modification is a raised middle portion of the long hood. All Bright Star-equipped locomotives emerged from this modification repainted in the Transnet Freight Rail livery.

## Service

Class 34-900 locomotives work on most mainlines and some branchlines in the central, western, southern and southeastern parts of the country. Some eventually joined the Class 34-500 on the 861 kilometres (535 miles) [Sishen-Saldanha iron ore line](/source/Sishen%E2%80%93Saldanha_railway_line) to haul export ore from the open cast iron mines at Sishen in the [Northern Cape](/source/Northern_Cape) to the harbour at Saldanha in the [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape).[4]

On the [Sishen–Saldanha Orex line](/source/Sishen%E2%80%93Saldanha_Orex_line), GE Class 34 series diesel-electric locomotives run consisted to [Class 9E](/source/South_African_Class_9E%2C_Series_1) and [Class 15E](/source/South_African_Class_15E) electric locomotives to haul the 342-truck iron ore trains. Each truck has a 100-ton capacity and the trains are at least 3.72 kilometres (2.31 miles) in length, powered by mixed consists of Class 9E and Class 15E electric and type GE U26C [Class 34-000](/source/South_African_Class_34-000), [34-400](/source/South_African_Class_34-400), [34-500](/source/South_African_Class_34-500), 34-900 and, from 2012, type GE C30ACi [Class 43-000](/source/South_African_Class_43-000) diesel-electric locomotives. In South Africa, mixed electric and diesel-electric consists are unique to the iron ore line.[1][8][9]

Ore train about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Lamberts Bay

## Works numbers

The Class 34-900 [builder's works numbers](/source/Builder's_plate) are listed in the table.[2]

Class 34-900, GE type U26C Loco no. Works no. Special livery 34-901 41350 34-902 41351 34-903 41352 34-904 41353 34-905 41354 34-906 41355 34-907 41356 34-908 41357 34-909 41358 34-910 41359 34-911 41360 34-912 41361 34-913 41362 34-914 41363 34-915 41364 34-916 41365 34-917 41366 34-918 41367 34-919 41368 34-920 41369 34-921 41370 34-922 41371 34-923 41372 34-924 41373 Blue train 34-925 41374 Blue train 34-926 41375 Blue train 34-927 41376 Blue train 34-928 41377 Blue train 34-929 41378 Blue train 34-930 41379 Blue train

## Liveries

All but seven Class 34-900 locomotives were 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. In the 1990s many of the Class 34-900 units began to be repainted in the Spoornet orange livery with a yellow and blue chevron pattern on the buffer beams. 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](/source/Transnet_Freight_Rail) (TFR) era, many were repainted in the TFR red, green and yellow livery.[2][10]

The seven exceptions, numbers 34-924 to 34-930, were painted in the SAR Blue Train livery and took the place of the five SAR Blue Train liveried Class 34-000 locomotives, numbers 34-055 to 34-059 which were then all eventually repainted in Spoornet's orange livery. Some of the Class 34-900 locomotives, numbers 34-925 to 34-927, 34-929 and 34-930, were later repainted in Spoornet's orange era Blue Train livery, while the other two, numbers 34-924 and 34-928, received the Spoornet blue with outline numbers livery.[2]

## Illustration

		- No. 34–911 in SAR Gulf Red and whiskers livery, Bloemfontein, 30 April 2013

		- No. 34–917 at [Bellville](/source/Bellville%2C_South_Africa), [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town), [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape), in Spoornet orange livery, 25 October 2007

		- No. 34–928 at [Warrenton, Northern Cape](/source/Warrenton%2C_Northern_Cape), in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers, 24 August 2007

		- "Bright Star" equipped no. 34–913 in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Addo, Eastern Cape, 13 July 2012

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [South African Class 34-900](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:South_African_Class_34-900).

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) [***d***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_1-3) 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. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Middleton_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Middleton_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Middleton_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Middleton_2-3) 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. 38, 40–41, 45–46.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GE_Export_3-0)** [GE Export List](http://www.locopage.net/ge-expt-lst.doc)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_4-1) Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). *Locomotives of the South African Railways* (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 140–141. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0869772112](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0869772112).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-34-907_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-34-907_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-34-907_5-2) [34-907 sans saddle filter with running board handrails](http://grela.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=937656)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Information received from John Nicholas Middleton

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Interlink_7-0)** [Bogie interlinking removed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAR_Class_34-000_34-080_FTR.JPG)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Actom_8-0)** [Actom Divisions News, 22 July 2010](http://www.actom.co.za/pages/Actom-Divisions/news.asp?ID=5&DivisionID=4&BusinessUnitID=20&NewsID=45) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083604/http://www.actom.co.za/pages/Actom-Divisions/news.asp?ID=5&DivisionID=4&BusinessUnitID=20&NewsID=45) 5 March 2016 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Orex_9-0)** Information supplied by Orex train crew members

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Soul_of_a_Railway_7-9_10-0)** [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.](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) [Archived](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) 24 July 2021 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (Accessed on 11 April 2017)

v t e Locomotives of South Africa Steam 7' ¼" gauge East London 0-4-0VB Table Bay 0-4-0ST Table Bay 0-4-0T Table Bay 0-4-0WT Standard gauge Cape 0-4-0T Blackie Cape 0-4-2 Cape 2-4-0T CGR 0-4-0ST Aid Natal 0-4-0ST Durban Natal 0-4-0WT Natal Natal 4-4-0T Perseverance Cape gauge Tank engines CGR 0-4-0ST 1873 CGR 0-4-0ST 1874 CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 Coffee Pot CGR 0-6-0ST CGR 0-6-0T CGR 2-6-0ST 1900 CGR 2-6-0ST 1902 CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1875 CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1876 CGR 1st Class 2-6-0ST CGR 1st Class 4-4-0T CGR 2nd Class 4-4-0T CGR 3rd Class 2-6-0T CGR Railmotor CSAR Class C CSAR Class E CSAR Rack 4-6-4RT CSAR Railmotor Durban's Congella Durban's Edward Innes Durban's John Milne Durban's Sir Albert Port Elizabeth 0-4-0ST Kowie Railway 0-6-0T Kowie Railway 4-4-0T Metropolitan & Suburban 4-6-2T NGR 2-6-0T Durban & Pietermaritzburg NGR Class I 2-6-2T NGR Class K 0-4-0ST NGR Class K 0-6-0ST NGR Class K 2-6-0T NZASM 10 Tonner NZASM 13 Tonner NZASM 14 Tonner NZASM 18 Tonner NZASM 19 Tonner NZASM 32 Tonner NZASM 40 Tonner PPR 26 Tonner PPR 35 Tonner Portuguese SAR Class A SAR Class B SAR Class C SAR Class C1 SAR Class C2 SAR Class D SAR Class E SAR Class F SAR Class G SAR Class H SAR Class H1 SAR Class H2 SAR Class J SAR Class K SAR Railmotor SAR Dock 0-4-0ST SAR Dock 0-4-0T SWA 2-8-0T Cape gauge Tender engines CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 BP CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Kitson CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1879 CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1891 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0TT CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1883 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1884 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1889 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1898 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1901 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1903 CGR 4th Class 4-4-2 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882 Joy CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1884 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1890 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891 NGR Havelock NGR Class I SAR Class Exp 1 SAR Class Exp 2 SAR Class Exp 3 SAR Class Exp 4 SAR Class Exp 5 SAR Class Exp 6 SAR Class S SAR Class S1 SAR Class S2 SAR Class 1 SAR Class 1A SAR Class 1B SAR Class 2 SAR Class 2C SAR Class 3 SAR Class 3A SAR Class 3B SAR Class 4 SAR Class 4A SAR Class 5 SAR Class 5A SAR Class 5B SAR Class 6 SAR Class 6A SAR Class 6B SAR Class 6C SAR Class 6D SAR Class 6E SAR Class 6F SAR Class 6G SAR Class 6H SAR Class 6J SAR Class 6K SAR Class 6L SAR Class 6Y SAR Class 6Z SAR Class 7 SAR Class 7A SAR Class 7B SAR Class 7C SAR Class 7D SAR Class 7E SAR Class 7F SAR Class 8 SAR Class 8A SAR Class 8B SAR Class 8C SAR Class 8D SAR Class 8E SAR Class 8F SAR Class 8R SAR Class 8X SAR Class 8Y SAR Class 8Z SAR Class 9 SAR Class 10 SAR Class 10A SAR Class 10B SAR Class 10C SAR Class 10D SAR Class 11 SAR Class 12 SAR Class 12A SAR Class 12B SAR Class 13 SAR Class 14 SAR Class 14A SAR Class 14B SAR Class 14C 1st SAR Class 14C 2nd SAR Class 14C 3rd SAR Class 14C 4th SAR Class 15 SAR Class 15A SAR Class 15B SAR Class 15C SAR Class 15CA SAR Class 15E SAR Class 15F SAR Class 16 SAR Class 16A SAR Class 16B SAR Class 16C SAR 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

v t e Diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation / GE Rail Industrial and switch engines 60-ton boxcab 100-ton boxcab 600-hp centercab 1000-hp centercab DEY-2 EN-6 25-ton 35-ton 43-ton 44-ton 45-ton 50-ton 60-ton 65-ton 70-ton 80-ton 95-ton 100-ton 110-ton 125-ton 126-ton 128-ton 1800-hp transfer 2000-hp transfer U5B U6B Universal Series UM6B U9B U10B U12B U13B UD18 U18B U23B U25B U28B U30B U33B U36B UM12C U12C U14C U15C Class 35-000 Class 35-400 U17C U18C U18C1 U20C U20C1 U23C U25C U26C U28C U30C U33C U36C U50 U50C Passenger locomotives U28CG U30CG U34CH P30CH B32-8WH Genesis series (P40DC, P32AC-DM, P42DC) Dash 7 Series B23-7 BQ23-7 B30-7 B30-7A B36-7 C30-7 C30-7A C36-7 Dash 8 Series B32-8 B39-8 B40-8 B40-8W C32-8 C39-8 C40-8 C40-8M C40-8W C40-8.5W C41-8W C44-8W Dash 9 Series C40-9 C40-9W C44-9W BB40-9W C-38AChe Cv40-9i AC series AC4400CW AC6000CW C30ACi C44ACi Evolution Series ES40ACi ES40DC ES44DC ES44DCi ES44AC ES44C4 ET44AC ET44C4 ES59ACi PowerHaul Series PH37ACmi PH37ACi PH37ACmai Indonesian series U18A1A C18MMi C20EMP CM20EMP (see also: List of GE locomotives)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [South African Class 34-900](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_34-900) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_34-900?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.