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
AAR wheel arr	C+C
UIC class	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 reservoir cap	825 litres (181 imp gal)
Compressor cap	0.039 m³/s (1.4 cu ft/s)
Exhauster cap	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%
Loco 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 diesel-electric locomotive was designed by 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]

Class 34 series

GE and GM-EMD designs

The Class 34 locomotive family consists of seven series, the GE Classes 34-000, 34-400, 34-500 (also known as 34-400 ex Iscor) and 34-900, and the General Motors Electro-Motive Division Classes 34-200, 34-600 and 34-800. Both these manufacturers also produced locomotives for the South African Classes 33, 35 and 36.^[1]

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 their cab roofs 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 has a 5,400 litres (1,200 imperial gallons) fuel tank, 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 refuelling points on the Sishen-Saldanha Orex 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 below, 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 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]

Since c. 2009, other mainline diesel-electric locomotive types also emerged from the Koedoespoort Transwerk shops after major overhauls with running board mounted handrails.^[8]

Electronic control system

Beginning in 2010, some locomotives were equipped with electronic fuel injection and GE "Brite 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.

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, to haul export ore from the open cast iron mines at Sishen in the Northern Cape to the harbour at Saldanha in the Western Cape.^[4]

On the Sishen–Saldanha Orex line, GE Class 34 series diesel-electric locomotives run consisted to Class 9E and 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, 34-400, 34-500, 34-900 and, from 2012, type GE C30ACi Class 43-000 diesel-electric locomotives. In South Africa, mixed electric and diesel-electric consists are unique to the iron ore line.^[1]^[9]^[10]

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

Works numbers

The Class 34-900 builder’s works numbers 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

Illustration

In the SAR and Spoornet eras, when the official liveries were Gulf Red and whiskers for the SAR, and initially orange and later maroon for Spoornet, many selected electric locomotives and some diesel-electrics were painted blue, for use with the Blue Train, but without altering the layout of the various paint schemes. Blue Train locomotives were therefore blue with yellow whiskers in the SAR era, blue with the Spoornet logo and the name "SPOORNET" in Spoornet’s orange era, and blue with the Spoornet logo, but without the name "SPOORNET", in Spoornet’s maroon era. In Spoornet’s blue era, there was no need for a separate Blue Train livery, while in the Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) era, one Class 14E and the surviving Class 14E1 electric locomotives were eventually repainted in blue during 2012, for use with the Blue Train.^[2]

Seven Class 34-900 locomotives, 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 repainted later 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]

The main picture shows no. 34-926, in Spoornet’s orange era Blue Train livery. Other liveries which were applied to Class 34-900 locomotives, are illustrated below.

No. 34-914, in SAR Gulf Red and whiskers livery and with handrails, Saldanha, 12 September 2007
No. 34-917 at Bellville, Cape Town, Western Cape, in Spoornet orange livery, 25 October 2007
No. 34-928 at Warrenton, Northern Cape, in Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers, 24 August 2007
"Brite Star" equipped no. 34-913, in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Beaconsfield, Kimberley, 17 September 2015

References

1 2 3 4 5 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 2 3 4 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.
↑ GE Export List
1 2 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 140–141. ISBN 0869772112.
1 2 3 34-907 sans saddle filter with running board handrails
↑ Information received from John Nicholas Middleton
↑ Bogie interlinking removed
↑ Shosholoza Meyl’s 34-102 with running board handrails
↑ Actom Divisions News, 22 July 2010
↑ Information supplied by Orex train crew members

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class 34-900.

Locomotives of South Africa

Steam

7' ¼" gauge	East London Harbour 0-4-0 Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0ST Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0T Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0WT

4' 8½" 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

3' 6" gauge Tank engines	CGR 0-4-0ST 1873 CGR 0-4-0ST 1874 CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 Coffee Pot CGR 0-6-0ST 1902 CGR 0-6-0T 1876 Back-to-Back 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 1876 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0T 1875 CGR 2nd Class 4-4-0T 1882 CGR 3rd Class 2-6-0T CGR Railmotor CSAR Class C CSAR Class E CSAR Rack CSAR Railmotor DSWA Eight-Coupled Tank 2-8-0T Durban's Congella Durban's Edward Innes Durban's John Milne Durban's Sir Albert Port Elizabeth Harbour 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 0-4-0ST 1903 SAR 0-4-0T no. 69 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 Clayton Railmotor

3' 6" gauge Tender engines	CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Beyer, Peacock 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 1879 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0TT 1881 CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT 1875 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 1884 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1890 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891 DSWA Eight-Coupled Tender 2-8-0 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 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 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 Red Devil

3' 6" 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 0-6-0T 1871 Cape Copper Britannia Cape Copper Caledonia Cape Copper Clara Class Cape Copper Condenser Cape Copper Scotia Class Namaqua Copper Pioneer

2' & 600mm gauges	ACR Class NG-G16A CGR NG 0-6-0T CGR NG 4-6-2T CGR Type A 2-6-4T CGR Type C 0-4-0T DSWA Class Ha DSWA Class Hb DSWA Class Hc DSWA Class Hd DSWA Jung DSWA Zwillinge NGR Class N 4-6-2T SAR NG 0-4-0T 1899 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

Electric

Amcoal Class E38

Diesel

3' 6" 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 SAR Class 36-000 SAR Class 36-200 SAR Class 37-000 Spoornet Class 39-000 TFR Class 35-800 TFR Class 39-200 TFR Class 43-000 TFR Class 44-000

2' gauge Diesel-electric	SAR Class 91-000

3' 6" gauge Diesel-hydraulic	SAR Class 61-000

3' 6" gauge Electro-diesel	Spoornet Class 38-000

Diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation / GE Rail (GE)

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 U17C U18C U18C1 U20C U20C1 U23C U25C U26C U28C U30C U33C U36C U50C U50

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

AC series	AC4400CW AC6000CW C30ACi C44ACi

Evolution Series	ES40ACi ES40DC ES44DC ES44DCi ES44AC ES44C4 ES59ACi

PowerHaul Series	PH37ACmi PH37ACi PH37ACmai

Indonesian series	U18A1A C18MMi C20EMP CM20EMP

(see also: List of GE locomotives)

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