The Transnet Freight Rail Class 18E, Series 2 of 2009 is a South African electric locomotive.
In 2000, Spoornet embarked on a program to rebuild Class 6E1, Series 6 to 11 locomotives to Class 18E, Series 1 locomotives. Most of the Class 6E1s which had previously been reclassified or modified to Class 16E or Class 17E respectively were rebuilt to Class 18E as well. Rebuilding to Series 1 locomotives ceased in 2009, with 446 units rebuilt.[1]
Commencing in late 2009, all further rebuilt Class 6E1 locomotives for Transnet Freight Rail and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa were designated Class 18E, Series 2. These were rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 8 locomotives and from one Class 18E, Series 1.[1]
Manufacturer
The 3 kV DC Class 6E1 electric locomotive was built for the South African Railways (SAR) by Union Carriage & Wagon (UCW) in Nigel, Transvaal, with the electrical equipment supplied by the General Electric Company (GEC). Eleven series of Class 6E1 were delivered between 1969 and 1984, with altogether 960 units built.[2]
Rebuilding
Rebuilding to Class 18E, Series 1 locomotives ceased in 2009 with 446 units rebuilt, the last Series 1 locomotive being no. 18-525. The rebuilding to Class 18E, Series 2 locomotives commenced in late 2009 and was done by Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE), now Transnet Engineering (TE), at its Koedoespoort shops in Pretoria. For Transnet Freight Rail locomotives, the Series 2 number range begins with no. 18-600.[1][3]
In 2012 and 2013, fifteen Series 2 locomotives were also rebuilt for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). These were numbered in the range from 18-421 to 18-435 and were delivered in a new light blue and charcoal livery designed by Peter Stow.[1][3]
By the time the rebuilding to Class 18E, Series 1 ceased, all available Class 6E1, Series 9 to 11, nearly all Series 8 and several Series 6 and 7 locomotives had been rebuilt. Most of the Class 18E, Series 2 locomotives were therefore rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 7 locomotives and two Series 8 locomotives.[1]
Batteries
Beginning in 2009, before rebuilding to Series 2 commenced and in an attempt to reduce theft, the 110 V battery bank was relocated from the locomotive sides below the frame and between the bogies to cab 1, where the toilet occupies less than half of the available space. On the Series 1 locomotives, this appears to have been done only with numbers 18-510 and later. Identifying features are a small grille to the left of the cab 1 side door and, in most cases, the remaining battery box frames without side covers.[1]
Appearance
Identifying features
The most obvious visual feature to distinguish the Class 18E from the Class 6E1, is the filled in driver’s windows at the rear end where the toilet is installed. The remaining rear windscreen still has the slanted upper edge of the Class 6E1 windscreens, but the new front windscreens on the Class 18E are rectangular.[4]
On the sides, obvious visual distinctions from the Class 6E1 are the left one of the two large grilles, which was removed and the opening filled in, two new large grilles which are installed in the centre lower sides to serve as air intakes for the rheostatic braking resistance blowers, and a large access door to one of the high-tension compartments, which was installed in place of the rightmost small window which was in the upper sides of the Class 6E1, to the rear of the driver's window. On the left side, the air intakes for the air conditioner in the cab are installed between the top three steps of the roof access ladder.[4]
Locomotives rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 7, have part of the compressed air piping sunk into a recess which runs along the left half of the lower edge of the body on the locomotive’s right side, the side opposite the roof access ladder side. This pipe was not rerouted on locomotives rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 8.
Lineage identification
All features which distinguished Class 6E1, Series 8 or older locomotives from each other are still present on the Class 18E rebuilds, in many instances making it possible to visually determine the Class 6E1 origin of a Class 18E locomotive. Examples are shown in the pictures below. Some of these spotting features are:[5]
The side doors with:
mid-door mounted door handles on ex Series 2 to early Series 7 locomotives; and
low mounted handles with a mid-door drawer pull type handle at mid-door level on ex late Series 7 and Series 8 locomotives.
On ex Series 8 locomotives, the large hatch door on each side, below the second small window to the right of the side door on the roof access ladder side, and below the first window immediately to the right of the side door on the opposite side.
No. 18-677, ex Series 3 no. E1322, with narrow stirrup step
On ex Series 6 and 7 locomotives, the smooth sides without hatch doors and the rainwater beading above the small grilles on the sides, just to the right of the side doors. On some ex Series 6 or later locomotives which have been observed, however, this beading is absent, possibly because it had been removed for some reason.
On locomotives rebuilt from series 2 to 7, the recessed pipe on the right side.
On ex Series 2 to 5 locomotives, the absence of the rainwater beading above the small grilles on the sides just to the right of the side doors.
The rebuilding project was abruptly terminated in January 2015, with 31 locomotives still on the Class 18E rebuilding line at Koedoespoort, possibly to vacate the assembly line for the construction of the new Classes 21E and 22E locomotives. Of these uncompleted locomotives, three were dispatched to Transwerk's Durban shops for their rebuilding to be completed, while those Class 6E1s which were still on the stripping, shell rewiring and equipment installation production lines were to be removed and scrapped. The last Class 18E to be completed at Koedoespoort was no. 18-863.[1]
Table of rebuilds
With one exception, all the Class 18E, Series 2 locomotives were rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 8 locomotives. No. 18-862 was rebuilt from the scrapped Class 18E, Series 1 no. 18-040, which had originally been rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 10 no. E2131 in 2002.[6]
Class 18E, Series 1 no. 18-040
Since TFR, PRASA and TE are separate corporate entities, serviceable Class 6E1 locomotives for rebuilding are sold to TE and rebuilt Class 18E locomotives are then sold back to TFR or PRASA. Profit-wise, it is to TE's benefit to also use the shells of wrecked or burnt locomotives to rebuild, depending on the condition of the shell. Since 2003, when Series 1 numbers 18-066 and 18-075 were built from burnt Class 6E1 shells, several locomotives had therefore been rebuilt from wrecked or burnt and scrapped shells.[1]
No. 18-040 had been left parked on a siding in the veld. When a crew went back to start it, they found virtually an empty shell, completely stripped by metal thieves. Since TFR considered the locomotive not economically repairable, it was scrapped. The shell, with the bogies, was bought by TE since it was already modified to the Class 18E specifications, and was used to build no. 18-862. Since it had been scrapped, the 18-040 number could not be used again.[6]
The table shows the original Class 6E1 number, series and year built for each Class 18E, Series 2 locomotive, as well as the year it was rebuilt to Class 18E. All the table columns are sortable.[1][3]
Class 6E1 units rebuilt to Class 18E, Series 2 (Incomplete list) as on 19 January 2015
Count
6E1 no.
6E1 ser.
Year built
18E no.
Year rebuilt
Notes
1
E1452
4
1973
18-421
2012
PRASA
2
E1437
3
1973
18-422
2012
PRASA
3
E1414
3
1973
18-423
2012
PRASA
4
E1490
4
1973-74
18-424
2012
PRASA
5
E1460
4
1973
18-425
2012
PRASA
6
E1259
2
1971
18-426
2013
PRASA
7
E1385
3
1972
18-427
2013
PRASA
8
E1481
4
1973-74
18-428
2012
PRASA
9
E1459
4
1973
18-429
2013
PRASA
10
E1397
3
1972-73
18-430
2013
PRASA
11
E1834
7
1978
18-431
2013
PRASA
12
E1434
3
1973
18-432
2013
PRASA
13
E1467
4
1973
18-433
2013
PRASA
14
E1379
3
1972
18-434
2013
PRASA
15
E1300
3
1971-72
18-435
2013
PRASA
16
E1703
6
1976-77
18-600
2009
17
E1791
7
1977-78
18-601
2009
18
E1715
6
1977
18-602
2009
19
E1767
7
1977
18-603
2009
20
E1741
6
1977
18-604
2009
21
E1768
7
1977
18-605
2010
22
E1877
7
1979
18-606
2009
23
E1762
7
1977
18-607
2009
24
E1896
8
1979
18-608
2010
25
E1882
7
1979
18-609
2009
26
E1823
7
1977-78
18-610
2010
27
E1677
6
1976
18-611
2010
28
E1809
7
1977-78
18-612
2009
29
E1820
7
1977-78
18-613
2010
30
E1680
6
1976
18-614
2010
31
E1824
7
1977-78
18-615
2009
32
E1884
7
1979
18-616
2010
33
E1739
6
1977
18-617
2010
34
E1806
7
1977-78
18-618
2010
35
E1719
6
1977
18-619
2010
36
E1737
6
1977
18-620
2010
37
E1660
6
1976
18-621
2010
38
E1727
6
1977
18-622
2010
39
E1662
6
1976
18-623
2010
40
E1887
7
1979
18-624
2010
41
E1839
7
1978
18-625
2010
42
E1845
7
1978
18-626
2010
43
E1681
6
1976
18-627
2010
44
E1717
6
1977
18-628
2010
45
E1729
6
1977
18-629
2010
46
E1672
6
1976
18-630
2010
47
E1890
7
1979
18-631
2010
48
E1674
6
1976
18-632
2010
49
E1793
7
1977-78
18-633
2010
50
E1728
6
1977
18-634
2010
51
E1676
6
1976
18-635
2010
52
E1535
4
1974
18-636
2010
53
E1632
5
1976
18-637
2010
54
E1508
4
1974
18-638
2010
55
E1626
5
1976
18-639
2010
56
E1493
4
1973-74
18-640
2011
57
E1578
5
1975
18-641
2010
58
E1573
5
1975
18-642
2010
59
E1521
4
1974
18-643
2010
60
E1723
6
1977
18-644
2010
61
E1736
6
1977
18-645
2010
62
E1399
3
1973
18-646
2010
63
E1628
5
1976
18-647
2010
64
E1661
6
1976
18-648
2010
65
E1812
7
1977-78
18-649
2011
66
E1519
4
1974
18-650
2010
67
E1303
3
1971-72
18-651
2011
68
E1428
3
1973
18-652
2011
69
E1400
3
1973
18-653
2011
70
E1807
7
1977-78
18-654
2011
71
E1422
3
1973
18-655
2011
72
E1530
4
1974
18-656
2011
73
E1458
4
1973
18-657
2011
74
E1463
4
1973
18-658
2011
75
E1487
4
1973-74
18-659
2011
76
E1480
4
1973-74
18-660
2011
77
E1566
5
1975
18-661
2011
78
E1644
5
1976
18-662
2011
79
E1609
5
1975
18-663
2011
80
E1635
5
1976
18-664
2011
81
E1494
4
1974
18-665
2011
82
E1479
4
1973-74
18-666
2011
83
E1663
6
1976
18-667
2011
84
E1561
5
1975
18-668
2011
85
E1503
4
1974
18-669
2011
86
E1571
5
1975
18-670
2012
87
E1470
4
1973-74
18-671
2011
88
E1313
3
1971-72
18-672
2011
89
E1442
3
1973
18-673
2011
90
E1524
4
1974
18-674
2011
91
E1502
4
1974
18-675
2011
92
E1337
3
1972
18-676
2011
93
E1322
3
1971-72
18-677
2012
94
E1336
3
1972
18-678
2011
95
E1325
3
1971-72
18-679
2012
96
E1371
3
1972
18-680
2011
97
E1315
3
1971-72
18-681
2011
98
E1323
3
1971-72
18-682
2012
99
E1375
3
1972
18-683
2011
100
E1363
3
1972
18-684
2012
101
E1386
3
1972
18-685
2011
102
E1581
5
1975
18-686
2012
103
E1671
6
1976
18-687
2011
104
E1512
4
1974
18-688
2011
105
E1390
3
1972-73
18-689
2011
106
E1733
6
1977
18-690
2012
107
E1866
7
1978-79
18-691
2012
108
E1862
7
1978
18-692
2012
109
E1576
5
1975
18-693
2012
110
E1538
4
1974
18-694
2012
111
E1311
3
1971-72
18-695
2012
112
E1501
4
1974
18-696
2012
113
E1634
5
1976
18-697
2012
114
E1553
5
1974-75
18-698
2012
115
E1800
7
1977-78
18-699
2012
116
E1641
5
1976
18-700
2012
117
E1869
7
1978-79
18-701
2012
118
E1421
3
1973
18-702
2012
119
E1630
5
1976
18-703
2012
120
E1316
3
1971-72
18-704
2012
121
E1567
5
1975
18-705
2012
122
E1331
3
1972
18-706
2012
123
E1319
3
1971-72
18-707
2012
124
E1447
4
1973
18-708
2012
125
E1639
5
1976
18-709
2012
126
E1622
5
1976
18-710
2012
127
E1610
5
1975
18-711
2012
128
E1702
6
1976-77
18-712
2012
129
E1638
5
1976
18-713
2012
130
E1516
4
1974
18-714
2012
131
E1614
5
1975-76
18-715
2012
132
E1625
5
1976
18-716
2012
133
E1536
4
1974
18-717
2012
134
E1531
4
1974
18-718
2012
135
E1492
4
1973-74
18-719
2012
136
E1664
6
1976
18-720
2012
137
E1358
3
1972
18-721
2012
138
E1624
5
1976
18-722
2012
139
E1568
5
1975
18-723
2013
140
E1369
3
1972
18-724
2013
141
E1844
7
1978
18-725
2013
142
E1546
5
1974-75
18-726
2013
143
E1564
5
1975
18-727
2013
144
E1726
6
1977
18-728
2013
145
E1637
5
1976
18-729
2013
146
E1867
7
1978-79
18-730
2013
147
E1620
5
1975-76
18-731
2013
148
E1367
3
1972
18-732
2013
149
E1594
5
1975
18-733
2013
150
E1570
5
1975
18-734
2013
151
E1408
3
1973
18-735
2013
152
E1713
6
1976-77
18-736
2013
153
E1640
5
1976
18-737
2013
154
E1518
4
1974
18-738
2013
155
E1532
4
1974
18-739
2013
156
E1526
4
1974
18-740
2013
157
E1951
8
1980
18-741
2013
158
E1453
4
1973
18-742
2013
159
E1326
3
1971-72
18-743
2013
160
E1416
3
1973
18-744
2013
161
E1372
3
1972
18-745
2013
162
E1540
4
1974
18-746
2013
163
E1406
3
1973
18-747
2013
164
E1346
3
1972
18-748
2013
165
E1544
4
1974
18-749
2013
166
E1616
5
1975-76
18-750
2013
167
E1268
2
1971
18-751
2013
168
E1265
2
1971
18-752
2013
169
E1537
4
1974
18-753
2013
170
E1572
5
1975
18-754
2013
171
E1562
5
1975
18-755
2013
172
E1584
5
1975
18-756
2013
173
E1708
6
1976-77
18-757
2013
174
E1527
4
1974
18-758
2013
175
E1343
3
1972
18-759
2013
176
E1415
3
1973
18-760
2013
177
E1297
3
1971-72
18-761
2013
178
E1430
3
1973
18-762
2013
179
E1495
4
1974
18-763
2013
180
E1310
3
1971-72
18-764
2013
181
E1488
4
1973-74
18-765
2013
182
E1361
3
1972
18-766
2013
183
E1533
4
1974
18-767
2013
184
E1688
6
1976
18-768
2013
185
E1589
5
1975
18-769
2013
186
E1575
5
1975
18-770
2013
187
E1353
3
1972
18-771
2013
188
E1783
7
1977
18-772
2013
189
E1407
3
1973
18-773
2013
190
E1517
4
1974
18-774
2013
circa 2013
191
E1402
3
1973
18-775
2013
circa 2013
192
E1298
3
1971-72
18-776
2013
circa 2013
193
E1557
5
1975
18-777
2013
circa 2013
194
E1569
5
1975
18-778
2013
circa 2013
195
E1855
7
1978
18-779
2013
circa 2013
196
E1542
4
1974
18-780
2013
circa 2013
197
E1545
4
1974
18-781
2014
circa 2014
198
E1433
3
1973
18-782
2014
circa 2014
199
E1413
3
1973
18-783
2014
circa 2014
200
E1511
4
1974
18-784
2014
circa 2014
201
E1446
4
1973
18-785
2014
circa 2014
202
E1668
6
1976
18-786
2014
circa 2014
203
E1498
4
1974
18-787
2014
circa 2014
204
E1320
3
1971-72
18-788
2014
circa 2014
205
E1613
5
1975
18-789
2014
circa 2014
206
E1419
3
1973
18-790
2014
circa 2014
207
E1327
3
1971-72
18-791
2014
circa 2014
208
E1590
5
1975
18-792
2014
circa 2014
209
E1370
3
1972
18-793
2014
circa 2014
210
E1588
5
1975
18-794
2014
circa 2014
211
E1621
5
1976
18-795
2014
circa 2014
212
E1410
3
1973
18-796
2014
circa 2014
213
E1476
4
1973-74
18-797
2014
circa 2014
214
E1602
5
1975
18-798
2014
circa 2014
215
E1653
6
1976
18-799
2014
circa 2014
216
E1563
5
1975
18-800
2014
circa 2014
217
E1277
2
1971
18-801
2014
circa 2014
218
E1473
4
1973-74
18-802
2014
circa 2014
219
E1670
6
1976
18-803
2014
circa 2014
220
E1471
4
1973-74
18-804
2014
circa 2014
221
E1547
5
1974-75
18-805
2014
222
E1330
3
1972
18-806
2014
223
E1329
3
1972
18-807
2014
224
E1441
3
1973
18-808
2014
225
E1615
5
1975-76
18-809
2014
226
E1627
5
1976
18-810
2014
227
E1633
5
1976
18-811
2014
228
E1380
3
1972
18-812
2014
229
E1617
5
1975-76
18-813
2014
230
E1606
5
1975
18-814
2014
231
E1608
5
1975
18-815
2014
232
E1623
5
1976
18-816
2014
233
E1591
5
1975
18-817
2014
234
E1586
5
1975
18-818
2014
235
E1592
5
1975
18-819
2014
236
E1580
5
1975
18-820
2014
237
E1583
5
1975
18-821
2014
238
E1560
5
1975
18-822
2014
239
E1577
5
1975
18-823
2014
240
E1261
2
1971
18-824
2015
241
E1585
5
1975
18-825
2014
242
E1651
6
1976
18-826
2014
243
E1579
5
1975
18-827
2014
244
E1558
5
1975
18-828
2014
245
E1461
4
1973
18-829
2015
246
E1604
5
1975
18-830
2015
247
E1506
4
1974
18-831
2015
248
E1744
6
1977
18-832
2015
249
E1529
4
1974
18-833
2015
250
E1534
4
1974
18-834
2015
251
E1556
5
1974-75
18-835
2015
252
E1514
4
1974
18-836
2015
253
E1551
5
1974-75
18-837
2015
254
E1507
4
1974
18-838
2015
255
E1522
4
1974
18-839
2015
256
E1505
4
1974
18-840
2015
257
E1509
4
1974
18-841
2015
258
E1596
5
1975
18-842
2015
259
E1513
4
1974
18-843
2015
260
E1631
5
1976
18-844
2015
261
E1510
4
1974
18-845
2015
262
E1477
4
1973-74
18-846
2015
263
E1504
4
1974
18-847
2015
264
E1478
4
1973-74
18-848
2015
265
E1554
5
1974-75
18-849
2015
266
E1429
3
1973
18-850
2015
267
18-851
2015
268
E1484
4
1973-74
18-852
2015
269
E1520
4
1974
18-853
2015
270
E1486
4
1973-74
18-854
2015
271
E1451
4
1973-74
18-855
2015
272
E1483
4
1973-74
18-856
2015
273
E1469
4
1973-74
18-857
2015
274
E1423
3
1973
18-858
2015
275
E1444
3
1973
18-859
2015
276
E1405
3
1973
18-860
2015
277
E1305
3
1971-72
18-861
2015
278
18-040
10
1984
18-862
2015
ex E2131
279
E1440
3
1973
18-863
2015
Illustration
The Class 6E1 series lineage identification features are illustrated in the following pictures. Note the external compressed air pipe on the right side of locomotives rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 7.
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2
No. 18-751 (E1268) at Capital Park, Pretoria, 26 December 2015
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 3
No. 18-706 (E1331) at Beaufort West, Western Cape, 10 October 2015
No. 18-432 (E1434) in PRASA blue livery at Sentrarand, 28 September 2015
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 4
No. 18-425 (E1460) in PRASA blue livery at Sentrarand, 28 September 2015
No. 18-843 (E1513) at Warrenton, Northern Cape, 19 September 2015
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 5
No. 18-668 (E1561) at Pyramid South, Gauteng, 7 May 2013
No. 18-725 (E1546) at Sentrarand, Gauteng, 28 September 2015
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 6
No. 18-617 (E1739) at Koedoespoort, Pretoria, 9 October 2009
No. 18-690 (E1733) at Beaconsfield, Kimberley, 17 September 2015
No. 18-611 (E1677) at Warrenton, Northern Cape, 21 May 2013
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 7
No. 18-613 (E1820) at Koedoespoort, Pretoria, 2 October 2009
No. 18-609 (E1882) at Warrenton, Northern Cape, 8 October 2015
No. 18-649 (E1812) at Capital Park, Pretoria, 26 September 2015
Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 8
No. 18-608 (E1896) at Pyramid South, Gauteng, 14 May 2013
References
^ abcdefghiInformation gathered from the rebuild files of individual locomotives at Transnet Rail Engineering's Koedoespoort shops, or obtained from John Middleton as well as several Transnet employees
^ abcMiddleton, 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. 49, 51, 57–58.
^ ab18E Locomotive (TFR leaflet used in driver training, c. 2010)
^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