South African Class 31-000

South African Classes 1-DE & 31-000
No. 31-028 (D727) at Bellville Depot, 31 October 2010
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Designer General Electric Builder General Electric Serial number 33507-33551 Model GE U12B Build date 1958 Total produced 45
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo'Bo'  • Commonwealth Bo-Bo Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge Wheel diameter 915 mm (36.0 in) Wheelbase 10,118 mm (33 ft 2.3 in) ​  • Bogie 2,438 mm (8 ft 0 in) Pivot centres 7,680 mm (25 ft 2.4 in) Length: ​  • Over couplers 15,150 mm (49 ft 8.5 in) Width 2,780 mm (9 ft 1.4 in) Height 3,916 mm (12 ft 10.2 in) Axle load 18,900 kg (41,700 lb) Adhesive weight 75,600 kg (166,700 lb) Loco weight 75,600 kg (166,700 lb) max Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 3,000 litres (660 imp gal) Prime mover Cooper-Bessemer FVBL-8 RPM range 400-1,000 ​  • RPM low idle 400  • RPM idle 535  • Maximum RPM 1,000 Engine type 4 stroke V8 diesel Aspiration C-B ET13 turbocharger Generator DC 10 pole GE 5GT-581C3 Traction motors Four GE 5GE-761A4 DC 4 pole ​  • Rating 1 hour 600A  • Continuous 590A @ 16 km/h (9.9 mph) Cylinders V8 Gear ratio 94:17 MU working 3 maximum Loco brake 6-SLAV-1 with vigilance control Train brakes Westinghouse 6CDX4UC compressor/exhauster Air tank cap. 700 litres (150 imp gal) Compressor 0.039 m3/s (1.4 cu ft/s) Exhauster 0.155 m3/s (5.5 cu ft/s) Couplers AAR knuckle (SASKOP SS)
Performance figures Maximum speed 90 km/h (56 mph) Power output: ​  • Starting 985 kW (1,321 hp)  • Continuous 895 kW (1,200 hp) Tractive effort: ​  • Starting 181 kN (41,000 lbf) @ 25% adhesion  • Continuous 145 kN (33,000 lbf) @ 18 km/h (11 mph) Factor of adh.: ​  • Starting 25%  • Continuous 20% @ 18 km/h (11 mph) Brakeforce 65% ratio @ 345 kPa (50.0 psi)
Career Operators South African Railways Spoornet Sheltam Class Class 31-000 Number in class 45 Numbers 31-001 to 31-045 (D700-D744) Delivered June to July 1958 First run 1958

The South African Railways Class 31-000 of 1958 was a diesel-electric locomotive.

In June and July 1958, the South African Railways placed forty-five Class 1-DE General Electric type U12B diesel-electric locomotives in service. They were later reclassified to Class 31-000 and renumbered.^[1]

Manufacturer

The South African Class 31-000 type GE U12B diesel-electric locomotive was designed for the South African Railways (SAR) and built by General Electric in 1958. They were the first diesel-electric road locomotives to enter SAR service in quantity.^[1][2]

Reclassification and renumbering

Upon delivery, they were designated Class 1-DE and numbered in the range from D700 to D744 in the non-steam locomotive number range which had hitherto been used almost exclusively for electric locomotives, the exceptions being the pre-war experimental Class DS and Class DS1 diesel-electric locomotives. After the SAR adopted a new classification and numbering system for diesel-powered locomotives upon the arrival of the Class 32-000 in 1959, they were reclassified to Class 31-000 and renumbered in the range from 31-001 to 31-045.^[1][2]

Orientation

The Class 31-000 was a high short hood locomotive. While the short hood end was usually considered as the front end, the cab was equipped with dual station controls to make it fully bidirectional.^[1]

Service

They were placed in service at Germiston. One of their first duties was to take over the shunt duties at Milner Park from where complaints had been received from the tennis players at the club about the cinders being deposited on the all-weather courts. When originally ordered, it had been the intention to use them on shunting and block-load transfers on the Reef and as part of the program to eliminate steam traction from the new Johannesburg station, but their success in this service prompted a change in utilisation policy. In 1959 they were placed in mainline service working out of Johannesburg to Kroonstad and Bloemfontein in the Free State and to Volksrust on the mainline to Natal. They were very successful on mainline work and showed their ability to handle anything from goods workings to fast passenger trains like the Trans-Natal. They usually worked in pairs and longer lash-ups of up to four units were rarely seen.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]}

The Class 31-000 had a huge impact on SAR motive power. In terms of speed and acceleration, they were superb and it didn't take long for the diesels to become a common sight on mainline working. Their unqualified success played a large part in the eventual demise of SAR steam traction.^[8][9]

By 1969 they were also used in goods working on the line from Krugersdorp via Magaliesburg and Swartruggens to Zeerust. By the 1980s they were finally relegated to the shunting and pickup service that they were originally intended for when new, working on the Reef and at some other major centres.^[2][10][11]

Withdrawal

Of the original forty-five locomotives, forty survived into the Spoornet era in the 1990s. Now retired from Spoornet service, some still see service in private hands. Three of them, numbers 31-001 (D700), 31-005 (D704) and 31-038 (D737), were acquired by Sheltam for use at Rand Uranium near Randfontein and at Welkom. The first two were converted to low short hood locomotives and were still in service in 2014, while the third was used for spare parts.^[12][13]

Another private rail operator, RRL Grindrod, owns no. 31-009 (D708) as its no. RB-201, which was still employed at Welkom in 2014.^[13]

Preservation

As of 2015, no. D706 (31-007) has been staged at Bloemfontein Locomotive Depot where a Locomotive Museum is being created to restore it and some other historically significant units, while no. D727 (31-028) is preserved at Bellville Loco Depot. ^[14]

Liveries

The locomotives were delivered in a livery that displayed the colours of the South African flag, white on the upper half and blue on the lower half, separated by an orange stripe on the sides and orange whiskers on the ends. They had black running boards, red buffer beams and black cowcatchers. From 1960 this livery gradually began to be replaced by Gulf Red with yellow stripes.^[6][15]

Works numbers

The Class 31-000 builder's works numbers, renumbering and known disposition are listed in the table.^[12][13]

Illustration

• 
  Sheltam no. 1201, ex SAR no. 31-005 (D704), 19 May 2010
• 
  No. 31-007 (D706) at Bellville Loco Depot, 10 January 2009

References

External links

Media related to South African Class 31-000 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 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