South African Class 5E, Series 1

Manufacturers

In order to cope with increased traffic loads on the South African Railways (SAR) in the 1950s, the capacity of its 3 kV DC electrified lines had to be increased. Since, in addition, more sections in Natal and Transvaal were being electrified, the SAR placed an order for the design and production of a new and more powerful Bo-Bo mainline electric locomotive with English Electric (EE) in 1952. Sixty Class 5E, Series 1 locomotives were delivered and placed in service in 1955 and 1956, numbered in the range from E259 to E318.

The first forty-eight locomotives, numbered in the range from E259 to E306, were built at the Dick Kerr works of EE in Preston in 1954 and 1955, while the construction of the last twelve, numbered in the range from E307 to E318, was subcontracted to Vulcan Foundry. These twelve, with EE works numbers in the range from 2211 to 2222, were therefore also allocated Vulcan works numbers in the range from E137 to E148.

They were delivered in a bottle green livery, initially without the yellow lines which were added later to improve their visibility. Since the long Class 4E was already nicknamed Groen Mamba (Green Mamba) by crews, the shorter Class 5E promptly became the Klein Mamba (Little Mamba), while the Class 4E was "promoted" to Groot Mamba (Large Mamba). Beginning in 1960, a Gulf Red and yellow livery gradually replaced the green and yellow.

With both the bottle green and later the Gulf Red SAR liveries, the locomotives had red cowcatchers, except in the Cape Western region. Locomotives based at the Bellville Depot could be identified by their yellow cowcatchers, as shown in the main picture.

Orientation

These dual cab locomotives have a roof access ladder on one side only, just to the right of the cab access door. The roof access ladder end is marked as the no. 2 end. A passage along the centre of the locomotive connects the cabs, which are identical, except that Cab 2 is where the handbrake is located.

Brakes

While the locomotive itself used air brakes, it was only equipped to operate trains with vacuum brakes. While hauling a train, the locomotive's air brake system would be made subordinate to the train's vacuum brake system and would come into operation as the vacuum brakes were being applied, gradually building up to its maximum of 350 kilopascals (51 pounds per square inch). While working a train downgrade, the locomotive's regenerative braking system would also work in conjunction with the train's vacuum brakes.

The locomotive's air brakes would usually only be used along with the train brakes during emergencies. Under normal circumstances the train would be controlled by using the train brakes alone to slow down and stop.

While the locomotive was stopped, the air brakes on each bogie could be applied independently. The handbrake or parking brake, located in Cab no. 2, only operated on the unit's last axle, or no. 7 and 8 wheels.

Class 5E series

The South African Class 5E was produced in three series, the EE and Vulcan-built Series 1 and the Vulcan-built Series 2 and Series 3. Between 1955 and 1959, altogether 160 Class 5E locomotives were placed in service, 60 Series 1, 45 Series 2 and 55 Series 3.

The traditional brass number plates on the sides of SAR locomotives, were usually in a perfect oval shape. On the Class 5E, Series 1, however, the plates were in an oval shape with blunted ends and were cast in aluminium, instead of the usual brass.

Legacy

The Class 5E introduced what eventually became the most prolific locomotive body shape to ever run on South African rails, serving on all the 3 kV DC lines country-wide. The body shape and dimensions were continued with the Class 5E1 in 1959, the Class 6E and the Class 6E1 from 1969 to 1985, and still later with the rebuilding of Class 6E1 locomotives to Class 18E, a project which began in 2000.

Industrial service

Six Class 5E, Series 1 locomotives were sold into industrial service.

Works numbers

The EE and Vulcan works numbers of the Class 5E, Series 1 and their known disposal are shown in the table.

Illustration

The main picture shows the right side and no. 2 end of the first Class 5E locomotive, no. E259, in the bottle green and whiskers livery.