Between 1925 and 1945 the South African Railways placed altogether one hundred and seventy-two Class 1E electric locomotives with a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement in service, designed by Metropolitan-Vickers and spread over seven orders from four manufacturers (Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works, Metropolitan-Vickers, Nederlandsche Fabriek van Werktuigen en Spoorwegmaterieel and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns). They were the first main-line electric locomotives to be introduced in South Africa and were subclassified and numbered in seven series (Series 1 E1 to E78, Series 2 E79 to E95, Series 3 E98 to E102, Series 4 E103 to E122, Series 5 E139 to E160, Series 6 E161 to E180, and Series 7 E181 to E190). Thirty-five were later modified and reclassified to Class 1ES for use as shunter locomotives. The modifications included alteration of the resistance grids in the electrical circuit and enlarged and widened cabs.
See also the Wikipedia article on the South African Class 1E. |