# South African Class ES1

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Class of 1 South African battery-electric locomotive

South African Class ES1 Class ES1 shunting locomotive, c. 1930 Type and origin Power type Electric Designer English Electric Builder English Electric Model SAR ES1 Build date 1924 Specifications Configuration: ​ • Whyte 4wBE • AAR B • UIC Bo • Commonwealth Bo Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge Wheel diameter 38 in (965 mm) Wheelbase 10 ft 5 in (3,175 mm) Length: ​ • Over couplers 24 ft 5 in (7,442 mm) • Over beams 22 ft (6,706 mm) Height 10 ft (3,048 mm) Axle load 12 LT 3 cwt (12,340 kg) Loco weight 24 LT 5 cwt (24,640 kg) Electric system/s 235 V 196 A, 208 cell battery Current pickup N/A Traction motors Two Gear ratio 5.4:1 Couplers Johnston link-and-pin AAR knuckle (1930s) Performance figures Power output 50 hp (37 kW) Tractive effort: ​ • 1 hour 8,500 lbf (38 kN) Career Operators South African Railways ESKOM Class Class ES1 Number in class 1 Numbers E123, renumbered E502 Nicknames Queen Mary Delivered 1924 First run 1924 Withdrawn 1978

The **South African Railways Class ES1** of 1924 was an electric locomotive.

In 1924, the South African Railways placed a single Class ES1 battery-powered [shunting locomotive](/source/Shunting_locomotive) in service at the construction site of the [Colenso](/source/Colenso%2C_KwaZulu-Natal) power station. In 1927, the power station and the locomotive were sold to the Electricity Supply Commission and in 1937 the locomotive was purchased back for use at the [Daimana](/source/Danskraal) (Danskraal) locomotive depot.[1][2]

## Manufacturer

During the electrification of the [Glencoe](/source/Glencoe%2C_KwaZulu-Natal) to [Pietermaritzburg](/source/Pietermaritzburg) section of the Natal mainline, a mountainous single-track line which carried heavy mineral traffic towards the port of [Durban](/source/Durban) on an alignment with severe gradients and tight curves, the [Colenso power station](/source/Colenso_Power_Station) was built by the South African Railways (SAR) to supply the power for this line.[3]

A single battery-powered electric shunting locomotive, the only battery-powered locomotive to ever see service on the SAR, was purchased from [English Electric](/source/English_Electric) in 1924 for use at the power station construction site.[1][4]

## Characteristics

The centre-cab locomotive had a Bo wheel arrangement, the two axles being driven by two 37 kilowatts (50 horsepower) traction motors, operating at 235 volts and powered by a 208 cell nickel-iron alkali type battery with a 435 amp-hour capacity.[1]

## Service

The locomotive remained in service at the Colenso power station after 1927, when the power station and all its equipment, including the battery locomotive, was sold to the [Electricity Supply Commission](/source/Eskom) (ESKOM), the state-owned South African national power corporation.[1]

In 1937, the locomotive was purchased back from ESKOM by the SAR, designated Class ES1 with unit number E123 and stationed at the Daimana (Danskraal) locomotive depot at [Ladysmith](/source/Ladysmith%2C_KwaZulu-Natal) where it was used as shop shunting engine to move cold steam locomotives and dead electric units. Nicknamed *Queen Mary*, it was later renumbered to E502. It remained in service at Danskraal until it was withdrawn from service in 1978.[1][2]

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [South African Class ES1](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:South_African_Class_ES1).

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) Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). *Locomotives of the South African Railways* (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 135. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0869772112](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0869772112).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SAR&H_Apr_1946_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SAR&H_Apr_1946_2-1) 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.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["South African Railways Power Plant"](https://archive.org/stream/electricrailwayj60mcgrrich#page/914/mode/1up). *Electric Railway Journal*. **60** (24): 914. 9 December 1922. Retrieved 15 September 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1940s_diagram-book_4-0)** South African Railways Index and Diagrams Electric and Diesel Locomotives, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge, circa 1940, as amended

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

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