South African Class 36-200

No. 36-201 at Ladysmith, 5 August 2007

Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Designer	General Motors Electro-Motive Division
Builder	General Motors South Africa GM-Astarsa, Argentina
Serial number	115-1 to 115-50, 118-1 to 118-51, 120-1, 122-1 & 122-2, 123-1 & 123-2, 91F1AA001
Model	GM-EMD SW1002
Build date	1980-1991
Total produced	107

Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR	B-B
• UIC	Bo'Bo'
• Commonwealth	Bo-Bo
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Wheel diameter	1,016 mm (40.0 in)
Wheelbase	9,905 mm (32 ft 6.0 in)
• Bogie	2,438 mm (8 ft 0 in)
Pivot centres	7,467 mm (24 ft 6.0 in)
Length:
• Over couplers	14,120 mm (46 ft 3.9 in)
Width	2,724 mm (8 ft 11.2 in)
Height	3,928 mm (12 ft 10.6 in)
Axle load	18,250 kg (40,230 lb)
Adhesive weight	73,000 kg (161,000 lb)
Loco weight	73,000 kg (161,000 lb) max
Fuel type	Diesel
Fuel capacity	2,250 litres (490 imp gal)
Prime mover	GM-EMD 8-645E
RPM range	250-900
• RPM low idle	250
• RPM idle	315
• Maximum RPM	900
Engine type	2-stroke diesel
Aspiration	GM-EMD ROOTS 3 lobe blower
Displacement	10.57 litres (645.0 cu in)
Generator	8 pole GM-EMD D25
Traction motors	Four EMD D29 DC 4 pole
• Rating 1 hour	485A
• Continuous	450A @ 15 km/h (9.3 mph)
Cylinders	V8
Gear ratio	63:14
MU working	4 maximum
Loco brake	28-LAV-1 with vigilance control
Train brakes	Gardner-Denver ADJV compressor/exhauster
Air tank cap.	850 litres (190 imp gal)
Compressor	0.021 m³/s (0.74 cu ft/s)
Exhauster	0.096 m³/s (3.4 cu ft/s)
Couplers	AAR knuckle type E

Performance figures
Maximum speed	90 km/h (56 mph)
Power output:
• Starting	850 kW (1,140 hp)
• Continuous	755 kW (1,012 hp)
Tractive effort:
• Starting	176 kN (40,000 lbf) @ 25% adh.
• Continuous	141 kN (32,000 lbf) @ 13.92 km/h (8.65 mph)
Factor of adh.:
• Starting	25%
• Continuous	20%
Brakeforce	65% ratio @ 340 kPa (49 psi)

Career
Operators	South African Railways Columbus Stainless Iscor Ithala Development Finance Corp. Spoornet Transnet Freight Rail African Rail & Traction Services
Class	Class 36-200
Number in class	107
Numbers	SAR 36-201 to 36-301 Columbus 1 Iscor 661-45 to 661-47 ARTS 21-23 Ithala 1 & 2
Delivered	1980-1984 (SAR) 1984 (Columbus) 1986-1991 (Iscor) 1987 (Ithala)
First run	1980

The South African Railways Class 36-200 of 1980 is a diesel-electric locomotive.

Beginning in August 1980, the South African Railways placed 101 Class 36-200 General Motors Electro-Motive Division type SW1002 diesel-electric locomotives in service. In 1984, one Class 36-200 locomotive was also built for the Bophuthatswana National Development Corporation for use at the Ga-Rankuwa Industrial Estate. Three more were placed in service by Iscor in Pretoria between 1986 and 1991, and another two by the Ithala Development Finance Corporation in KwaZulu-Natal in 1987.^[1]^[2]

Manufacturers

The Class 36-200 type SW1002 diesel-electric locomotive was designed for the South African Railways (SAR) by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (GM-EMD) and all but one were built by General Motors South Africa (GMSA) in Port Elizabeth. The exception was the third type SW1002 locomotive to be built for Iscor in Pretoria which was delivered from GM-Astarsa in Argentina.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The 101 locomotives for the SAR were built in two batches on two orders. The first 50 were built between 1980 and 1982 and numbered in the range from 36-201 to 36-250. Another 51 were built between 1982 and 1984 and numbered in the range from 36-251 to 36-301. It is unclear why such an odd number of locomotives were ordered.^[1]^[2]

Apart from the SAR locomotives, several were also built for industry.^[1]

A single locomotive was built for the Bophuthatswana National Development Corporation (BNDC) in Ga-Rankuwa and delivered in 1984.
Two locomotives, which had been ordered by Iscor in Pretoria, were delivered in 1986, numbered 661-45 and 661-46.
Two locomotives, which had been ordered by the Ithala Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) in KwaZulu-Natal, were delivered in 1987 and numbered 1 and 2.
The Argentinian-built locomotive was delivered to Iscor by GM-Astarsa in 1991 and numbered 661-47.

Class 36 series

The Class 36 locomotive group consists of two series, the General Electric (GE) Class 36-000 and the GM-EMD Class 36-200. Both manufacturers also produced locomotives for the South African Classes 33, 34 and 35.^[2]

Service

South African Railways

Class 36-200 locomotives are general purpose locomotives, equipped with two-station controls for bi-directional operation, which are used mainly for yard shunting and pickup work to service industrial customers. When placed in service, the SAR locomotives were initially distributed for service between the Western and Eastern Cape and the Eastern Transvaal Lowveld, but the Cape locomotives were later relocated to Natal, Gauteng, the North West Province and Limpopo.^[1]^[3]

On the Natal South Coast they were at one time employed in road work between Durban and Port Shepstone, working in pairs or in trios.

Industry

The three Iscor locomotives were later hired out to African Rail & Traction Services (ARTS), based in a workshop at the Iscor Pretoria works, and renumbered in the range from 21 to 23. ARTS has a fleet of about twenty locomotives which are used on hire contracts. By early 2002, ARTS locomotives were employed at the Rustenburg Platinum Mine in the North West Province, at Iscor in Pretoria where it took over the entire railway operation, and at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal in KwaZulu-Natal.^[1]

The BNDC locomotive did not remain in service in Bophuthatwana very long before it went to Columbus Stainless in Middelburg, Transvaal.^[1]

The IDFC locomotives were later sold to Sheltam, where they were numbered 24 and 25 and later renumbered to 1003 and 1004.^[1]

Works numbers

Apart from on their works plates, the builder’s works number was also stamped on their frames, but instead of the builder’s serial they used the last three digits of the unit’s number. No. 36-209 was therefore stamped 115-209 instead of 115-9. Some of these numbers were reverse stamped, for example as 234-115. Units so noted were numbers 234, 235, 240, 241 and 245-115 and numbers 251, 257 and 270-118.

The Class 36-200 builder’s works numbers, dates or years built and the distribution of the non-SAR industrial locomotives are listed in the table. The dates, as shown, were recorded off the respective locomotive works plates.^[1]^[4]

**Class 36-200, GM-EMD type SW1002**
Loco no.	Builder	Date	Works no.	Hired or sold to	New no.
36-201	GMSA	1980	115-1
36-202	GMSA	1980	115-2 (115-202)
36-203	GMSA	1980	115-3
36-204	GMSA	1980	115-4
36-205	GMSA	30 Sep 1980	115-5
36-206	GMSA	1980	115-6
36-207	GMSA	1980	115-7
36-208	GMSA	1980	115-8
36-209	GMSA	13 Nov 1980	115-9 (115-209)
36-210	GMSA	1980	115-10
36-211	GMSA	28 Nov 1980	115-11
36-212	GMSA	26 Nov 1980	115-12
36-213	GMSA	11 Dec 1980	115-13
36-214	GMSA	28 Jan 1981	115-14
36-215	GMSA	1981	115-15
36-216	GMSA	1981	115-16
36-217	GMSA	1981	115-17
36-218	GMSA	2 Mar 1981	115-18
36-219	GMSA	2 Mar 1981	115-19
36-220	GMSA	16 Mar 1981	115-20
36-221	GMSA	8 Apr 1981	115-21
36-222	GMSA	28 Mar 1981	115-22
36-223	GMSA	1981	115-23
36-224	GMSA	1981	115-24
36-225	GMSA	22 May 1981	115-25
36-226	GMSA	25 May 1981	115-26
36-227	GMSA	1981	115-27
36-228	GMSA	30 Jun 1981	115-28
36-229	GMSA	30 Jun 1981	115-29
36-230	GMSA	20 Jul 1981	115-30
36-231	GMSA	31 Jul 1981	115-31
36-232	GMSA	31 Aug 1981	115-32
36-233	GMSA	11 Sep 1981	115-33
36-234	GMSA	21 Sep 1981	115-34 (234-115)
36-235	GMSA	23 Sep 1981	115-35 (235-115)
36-236	GMSA	5 Oct 1981	115-36
36-237	GMSA	1981	115-37
36-238	GMSA	15 Oct 1981	115-38
36-239	GMSA	27 Oct 1981	115-39
36-240	GMSA	1981	115-40 (240-115)
36-241	GMSA	10 Nov 1981	115-41 (241-115)
36-242	GMSA	18 Nov 1981	115-42
36-243	GMSA	30 Nov 1981	115-43
36-244	GMSA	10 Dec 1981	115-44
36-245	GMSA	22 Dec 1981	115-45 (245-115)
36-246	GMSA	21 Jan 1982	115-46
36-247	GMSA	1982	115-47
36-248	GMSA	1982	115-48
36-249	GMSA	1982	115-49
36-250	GMSA	1982	115-50
36-251	GMSA	22 Sep 1982	118-1 (251-118)
36-252	GMSA	1982-83	118-2
36-253	GMSA	1982-83	118-3
36-254	GMSA	1982-83	118-4
36-255	GMSA	1982-83	118-5
36-256	GMSA	1982-83	118-6
36-257	GMSA	1982-83	118-7 (257-118)
36-258	GMSA	1982-83	118-8
36-259	GMSA	1982-83	118-9
36-260	GMSA	1982-83	118-10
36-261	GMSA	1982-83	118-11
36-262	GMSA	1982-83	118-12
36-263	GMSA	1982-83	118-13
36-264	GMSA	1982-83	118-14
36-265	GMSA	1982-83	118-15
36-266	GMSA	1982-83	118-16
36-267	GMSA	1982-83	118-17
36-268	GMSA	1982-83	118-18
36-269	GMSA	1982-83	118-19
36-270	GMSA	18 Apr 1983	118-20 (270-118)
36-271	GMSA	25 Apr 1983	118-21
36-272	GMSA	1983-84	118-22
36-273	GMSA	1983-84	118-23
36-274	GMSA	1983-84	118-24
36-275	GMSA	1983-84	118-25
36-276	GMSA	1983-84	118-26
36-277	GMSA	1983-84	118-27
36-278	GMSA	1983-84	118-28
36-279	GMSA	1983-84	118-29
36-280	GMSA	1983-84	118-30
36-281	GMSA	1983-84	118-31
36-282	GMSA	1983-84	118-32
36-283	GMSA	1983-84	118-33
36-284	GMSA	1983-84	118-34
36-285	GMSA	1983-84	118-35
36-286	GMSA	1983-84	118-36
36-287	GMSA	1983-84	118-37
36-288	GMSA	1983-84	118-38
36-289	GMSA	28 Oct 1983	118-39 (118-289)
36-290	GMSA	1983-84	118-40
36-291	GMSA	1983-84	118-41
36-292	GMSA	1983-84	118-42
36-293	GMSA	1983-84	118-43
36-294	GMSA	1983-84	118-44
36-295	GMSA	1983-84	118-45
36-296	GMSA	1983-84	118-46
36-297	GMSA	14 Feb 1984	118-47
36-298	GMSA	1984	118-48
36-299	GMSA	1984	118-49
36-300	GMSA	1984	118-50
36-301	GMSA	30 Mar 1984	118-51
BNDC	GMSA	1984	120-1	Columbus	1
661-45	GMSA	1986	122-1	ARTS	21
661-46	GMSA	1986	122-2	ARTS	22
661-47	Astarsa	1991	91F1AA001	ARTS	23
IDFC 1	GMSA	1987	123-1	Sheltam	1003
IDFC 2	GMSA	1987	123-2	Sheltam	1004

Liveries

All the Class 36-200 locomotives were delivered in the SAR Gulf Red livery with signal red buffer beams, yellow side stripes on the long hood sides and a yellow V on each end. In the 1990s many of them began to be repainted in the Spoornet orange livery with a yellow and blue chevron pattern on the buffer beams. Several later received the Spoornet maroon livery. In the 2000s at least one was repainted in the Spoornet blue livery with outline numbers on the sides. After 2008 in the Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) era, some began to appear in the TFR red, green and yellow livery.^[5]

Illustration

No. 36-217 in Spoornet orange livery at Capital Park, Pretoria, 29 September 2006
No. 36-297 in Spoornet maroon livery at Beaufort West, 27 March 2013
No. 36-251 in Spoornet blue and outline numbers at Wentworth, 26 May 2010
No. 36-256 in Transnet Freight Rail livery at Bloemfontein Depot, 29 April 2013

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class 36-200.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ 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, 44, 46.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 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
^ ^a ^b Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0869772112.
^ Actual dates recorded off locomotive works plates by Peter Bagshawe^{[better source needed]}
^ Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 9. South-Eastwards as far as Volksrust (2nd part) by Les Pivnic. Caption 4. Archived 24 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed on 11 April 2017)

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

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

v t e Locomotives built by GM-EMD (EMD)
Switchers	SC NC NC1 NC2 T NW2 NW3 NW4 NW5 TR1 SW1 SW7 SW8 SW9 SW600 SW900 SW1000 SW1001 SW1200 SW1500 SW1504 MP15DC MP15AC MP15T RS1325 GMD1
Four axle road switchers	BL2 GP7 GP9 GP15-1 GP15AC GP15T GP18 GP20 GP28 GP30 GP35 GP38 GP38AC GP38-2 GP39 GP39DC GP39X GP39-2 GP40 GP40P GP40P-2 GP40TC GP40X GP40-2 GP49 GP50 GP59 GP60
Six axle road switchers	SD7 SD9 SD18 SD24 SD28 SD35 SDP35 SD38 SD38AC SD38-2 SD39 SDL39 SD40 SD40A SD40-2 SD40-2W SD40T-2 SD40-2S SDP40 SD45 SD45X SD45-2 SD45T-2 SDP45 SD50 SD60 SD70 SD80MAC SD89MAC SD90MAC
Eight axle road switchers	DD35 DD35A DDA40X
Cab units (E- & F-units)	FT F2 F3 F7 FP7 F9 FP9 FL9 TA EA/EB E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 AA AB6
Cowl units	DE30AC/DM30AC F45 FP45 F40C F40PH F40PH-2 F40PH-2C F40PH-2M SDP40F SD40-2F SD50F F59PH F59PHI SD60F
Electrics	SW1200MG AEM-7 GM5FC GM6C GM10B GF6C
Industrial, military, export and narrow gauge	Model 40 DH1 DDM45 GM6W GMDH-1 GMDH-3 MRS-1 GA8 G8 G12 G16 NF110 NF210 JT42CWR (Series 66) JT42HW-HS GL26C-2 GL26MC GT18MC GT26MC GT26M2C GT26CU-3 GT-16 GA-12 GA-12b GT46MAC GT46PAC DDM45 GL8 JL8 JL18 JT22CW JT42HCW JT56ACe SDP28 SDP38
Streamliners	M-10000 M-10001 M-10002 M-10003 to M-10006 Pioneer Zephyr General Pershing Zephyr Green Diamond Flying Yankee Aerotrain (LWT12)
Experimentals and rebuilds	EMC 1800 hp B-B Beep (SWBLW) CF7 GP8 GP10 GP11 GP16 GP15D GP20D GP22ECO GP39X GP40X BL1 BL20-2 SD20 SD20-2 SD22ECO SD26 SD40X SD45X
List of EMD locomotives

This page was last edited on 5 October 2023, at 11:34