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SA to get new diesels
In terms of a recent contract between Transnet and GE Transportation, 100 new diesel-electric locomotives will be supplied to the South African public company. Ten units will be built in Erie and Grove City, Pennsylvania and 90 locomotive kits will be sent from their place of manufacture in Pennsylvania for local assembly in South Africa. Manufacture will be complete by the end of 2010 and delivery will take place early next year.
The GE C30ACi is the first AC diesel-electric locomotive in sub-Saharan Africa. Its 3 300 gross horsepower (GHP) engine has an electronic fuel-injection system for automatic supply of the precise quantity of fuel required for optimal engine efficiency. GE's AC propulsion technology and dynamic braking will also be features of the new locomotives in order to reduce life-cycle costs and emissions and improve fuel efficiency.
According to GE Transportation, “This contract is especially relevant in light that South Africa has not placed an order for locomotives in approximately 20 years.” However, the editor of Railways Africa has pointed out that "Some 75 new class 10E1 and 10E2 locomotives were placed in service in 1989-90, followed by the class 14E and 14E1 dual-voltage units after 1990, and 50 class 38 electro-diesels in 1992; not to mention the class 19E in 2009. It is true there were no new straight diesels during this time (GE was remiss it failing to make this distinction clear) – and in fact even the 50 class 38s had diesel engines."
Source: www.railwaysafrica.com
