# South African Class 7E

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South African electric locomotive

This article is about the South African electric locomotive. For the steam locomotive, see [South African Class 7E 4-8-0](/source/South_African_Class_7E_4-8-0).

South African Class 7E E7058 at Swartkops, Port Elizabeth in April 2013 Type and origin Power type Electric Designer 50 c/s Group Builder Union Carriage & Wagon Model 50 c/s Group 7E Build date 1978-1979 Total produced 100 Specifications Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Bogies Co-Co Wheel diameter 1.22 metres (4 ft 0 in) Wheelbase 13.80 metres (45.3 ft) ​ • Bogie 4.40 metres (14.4 ft) Pivot centres 10.20 metres (33.5 ft) Panto shoes 10.20 metres (33.5 ft) Length: ​ • Over couplers 18.47 metres (60.6 ft) • Over body 17.54 metres (57.5 ft) Width 2.90 metres (9 ft 6 in) Height: ​ • Pantograph 4.20 metres (13.8 ft) • Body height 3.94 metres (12.9 ft) Axle load 21 tonnes (21 long tons; 23 short tons) Adhesive weight 123.5 tonnes (121.5 long tons; 136.1 short tons) Loco weight 123.5 tonnes (121.5 long tons; 136.1 short tons) Electric system/s 25 kV AC 50 Hz catenary Current pickup Pantographs Traction motors Six MG 680 ​ • Rating 1 hour 540 kW (720 hp) • Continuous 500 kW (670 hp) Gear ratio 20:117 Loco brake Air & Rheostatic Train brakes Air & Vacuum Couplers AAR knuckle Performance figures Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph) Power output: ​ • 1 hour 3,240 kW (4,340 hp) • Continuous 3,000 kW (4,000 hp) Tractive effort: ​ • Starting 450 kN (100,000 lbf) • 1 hour 319 kN (72,000 lbf) • Continuous 300 kN (67,000 lbf) Brakeforce 210 kN (47,000 lbf) Career Operators South African Railways Spoornet Transnet Freight Rail PRASA Class Class 7E Number in class 100 Numbers E7001-E7100 Nicknames MacGyver Delivered 1978-1979 First run 1978

The **South African Railways Class 7E** is an electric locomotive. [South African Railways](/source/South_African_Railways) placed 100 Class 7E electric locomotives with a [Co-Co](/source/Co-Co_locomotive) wheel arrangement in service in 1978/79. They were the first [25 kV AC](/source/25_kV_AC) locomotives to enter service in South Africa.

## Manufacturer

E7008 in *[Blue Train](/source/Blue_Train_(South_Africa))* livery near Die Put in May 1985

E7067 in Spoornet orange livery at [Beaufort West](/source/Beaufort_West) in August 2007

E7061 in Spoornet maroon livery at [Beaufort West](/source/Beaufort_West) in September 2009

No. E7010 in [PRASA’s](/source/Passenger_Rail_Agency_of_South_Africa) [Shosholoza Meyl](/source/Shosholoza_Meyl) livery at the Edwin Swales shops, [Durban](/source/Durban) in June 2010

The [25 kV AC](/source/25_kV_AC) Class 7E electric locomotive was designed for the South African Railways (SAR) by the 50 c/s Group, consisting of [ACEC](/source/Ateliers_de_Constructions_Electriques_de_Charleroi) of Belgium, [AEG-Telefunken](/source/AEG_(German_company)) and [Siemens](/source/Siemens_Mobility) of Germany, [Alsthom-Atlantique](/source/Alstom) and Société MTE of France, and [Brown, Boveri & Cie](/source/Brown%2C_Boveri_%26_Cie) of Switzerland. The locomotives were built by [Union Carriage & Wagon](/source/Union_Carriage_%26_Wagon) (UCW) in Nigel, [Transvaal](/source/Transvaal_(province)), which was the sub-contractor for mechanical components and assembly.[1][2]

One hundred Class 7E locomotives were delivered in 1978 and 1979, numbered in the range from E7001 to E7100. Beginning with the Class 7E, the SAR numbering practice for electric locomotives was changed to make the class number a part of the locomotive’s number. From the Class 1E through to the last of the Class 6E1 series of locomotives, all electric locomotives were numbered sequentially in the number range from E1 to E2185, with only twelve numbers in the range skipped over the years.[3]

UCW did not allocate builder’s numbers to the locomotives it built for the SAR, but used the SAR unit numbers for their record keeping.[3]

## Orientation

These dual cab locomotives have a roof access ladder on one side only, just to the right of the cab access door. The roof access ladder end is marked as the no. 2 end.[3]

Judging from early photographs of Class 7E locomotives, the distinctive "eyebrow" rainwater beadings above the cab windscreens were added post-delivery.

## Characteristics

### Electric equipment

Control of traction and rheostatic braking on the Class 7E is by stepless solid-state electronics. The electrical equipment was designed for high power factor operation, obtained by a sector control method. These were the first South African AC electric locomotives with thyristor technology from the 50 c/s Group.[1][4][5]

### Bogies

The Class 7E was built with sophisticated traction linkages on the bogies, similar to the bogie design which was introduced on the [Class 6E1](/source/South_African_Class_6E1%2C_Series_1) in 1969. Together with the locomotive's electronic wheel slip detection system, these traction struts, mounted between the linkages on the bogies and the locomotive body and colloquially referred to as grasshopper legs, ensure the maximum transfer of power to the rails without causing wheel slip by reducing the traction force of the leading bogie and increasing that of the trailing bogie by as much as 15% upon starting off.[1]

### Pantographs

The Class 7E was the first SAR electric locomotive on which the pantograph contact shoe centres were located directly above the bogie pivot centres. This reduces the risk of pantograph hookups on catenary in sharp curves such as in turnouts as a result of sideways movement of the pantograph in relation to the overhead wire.[3]

## Service

The Class 7E was designed primarily for goods train service on South Africa’s [25 kV AC](/source/25_kV_AC) electrified lines. Until 1978, all electrified mainline routes in South Africa used 3 kV DC, but from that year all new mainline electrification projects bar one used 25 kV AC. The one exception is the 50 kV AC [Sishen](/source/Sishen)-[Saldanha](/source/Saldanha_Bay) line. There are four isolated 25 kV AC routes.[3][1][6]

- From Pyramid South to [Pietersburg](/source/Pietersburg) and via [Brits](/source/Brits%2C_North_West) to [Thabazimbi](/source/Thabazimbi).

- From Ermelo to the [Richards Bay Coal Terminal](/source/Richards_Bay_Coal_Terminal) at [Richards Bay](/source/Richards_Bay).

- From Port Elizabeth to De Aar and from there northward to [Kimberley](/source/Kimberley%2C_Northern_Cape) and southward to [Beaufort West](/source/Beaufort_West).

- From [East London](/source/East_London%2C_Eastern_Cape) to [Springfontein](/source/Springfontein) in the Free State.

When it was electrified, the well known double line "racetrack" between Kimberley and De Aar was single-lined and the section was signalled for single-track [centralised traffic control](/source/Centralized_traffic_control) (CTC) with long crossing loops. Here the Class 7E finally replaced South Africa’s last big [Class 25NC](/source/South_African_Class_25NC_4-8-4) steam locomotives. The second set of tracks were left in place, but unelectrified and isolated from the electrified track. In anticipation of increased ore traffic to the Eastern Cape from [Hotazel](/source/Hotazel), north-west of Kimberley, work on electrifying the second track commenced in July 2008.[1][6][7]

The Class 7E was initially placed in service on the coal line from Ermelo to Richards Bay.[8] When later model 25 kV AC locomotives were acquired, a few Class 7E locomotives went to the Pyramid South and East London lines, but the majority were transferred to the Cape Midland system to work goods and passenger traffic from Kimberley via De Aar to either Port Elizabeth or Beaufort West.[1]

## Regional co-operation

A 30c postage stamp, depicting a pair of Class 7E locomotives hauling an ore train, was one of a set of four commemorative [postage stamps](/source/Postage_stamps) which were issued by the [South African Post Office](/source/South_African_Post_Office) on 15 February 1990. The theme illustrated interdependence and regional co-operation in Southern Africa and on this stamp, the integrated railway systems which stretched from [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town) in the south to as far north as Dar es Salaam in [Tanzania](/source/Tanzania). The artwork and stamp design was by the noted stamp designer and artist A.H. Barrett.[9]

## Liveries

The whole series was delivered in the SAR Gulf Red livery with signal red cowcatchers, yellow whiskers and with the number plates on the sides mounted on three-stripe yellow wings. When the section from Kimberley to Beaufort West was electrified, six Class 7E locomotives, numbers E7004 to E7009, were painted blue with yellow whiskers for use with the *[Blue Train](/source/Blue_Train_(South_Africa))* on that section. In the 1990s many of the units began to be repainted in the Spoornet orange livery with a yellow and blue chevron pattern on the cowcatchers. Several later received the Spoornet maroon livery. In the late 1990s many were repainted in the Spoornet blue livery with solid numbers on the sides while just as many, including the former Blue Train units, received the Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers on the sides. In the [Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa](/source/Passenger_Rail_Agency_of_South_Africa) (PRASA) era after 2008, at least two were repainted in the Shosholoza Meyl purple livery.[6][10]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-5) Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). *Locomotives of the South African Railways* (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 129–131. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0869772112](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0869772112).

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-E&D_diagram-book_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-E&D_diagram-book_3-4) 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-4)** Jane's World Railways 1980-81

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Class_7E_5-0)** Class 7E – Principle (sic) Dimensions and Technical Data (TFR leaflet used in driver training, circa 2010)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Middleton_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Middleton_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Middleton_6-2) 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. 50, 60–61.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kimberley-De_Aar_7-0)** [Railways Africa, 5 Aug 2007: Kimberley-De Aar Electrification](http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2007/08/kimberley-de-aar-electrification/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Transnet *[Locomotives International](/source/Locomotives_International)* issue 108 June 2017 page 22

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Philbullet_9-0)** Philatelic Bulletin 207, issued by Philatelic Services and INTERSAPA, 1990

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) (Accessed on 11 April 2017)

## External links

- Media related to [South African Class 7E](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:South_African_Class_7E) at Wikimedia Commons

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 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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 7E](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_7E) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_7E?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.