Class 39-200

[Craig Duckham]

Can somebody get to Transwerk in Pretoria and get some photographs????

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Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. & Transnet Rail Engineering Unveil the First of 50 New GT26CU-3/Class 39-200 Locomotives Being Assembled in South Africa

KOEDOESPORT, South Africa, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD) and Transnet Rail Engineering (TRE) has rolled out the first GT26CU-3/Class 39-200 3,000 THP locomotive at the Transnet Rail Engineering facility in Koedoespoort, South Africa. The balance of the order for 50 units is scheduled for delivery by the end of the third quarter of 2009. This marks the first new diesel locomotive to be delivered for service to Transnet Freight Rail in 20 years. With over 40% of the parts to build the locomotive sourced in South Africa, EMD believes this is just the beginning of a long-term relationship between EMD and TRE in building or rebuilding locomotives and locomotive subassemblies. EMD has delivered to Transnet Freight Rail in the last 40 years over 600 diesel electric locomotives, which do form the backbone of Transnet Freight Rail's diesel fleet.

[Justin Miles]

Searched Google - no photos online of this model and no image on the EMD Diesels website
and Transnet Rail Engineering
Maybe we should install a Webcam to see what comes in and out of Koedoespoort

Google Maps position of TRE in Koedoespoort, Pretoria

These units were assembled, painted and tested at TRE by a joint labor force of EMD and TRE employees. The EMD GT26CU-3 is equipped with a 3,000 THP 16-645E3 16 cylinder engine. The GT26CU-3 is also equipped with an AR10-CA5 alternator, high voltage cabinet and EM2000 microprocessor locomotive control system with FIRE(TM) display system. TRE has the role as the main subcontractor on the project. Some of the major components being fabricated and supplied from South Africa include the fuel tanks, cab structures, engine hoods, cooling hoods, underframe structures, bogie frames, sand boxes and equipment racks.

What the FIRE "glass cockpit" system could like installed on the Class 39-200 (ex EMD India website)

[Craig Duckham]

http://railwaysafrica.com/index.php?opt ... 1&Itemid=0

now if only somebody would get there and take better pics.

[Rob Stanier]

What the FIRE "glass cockpit" system could like installed on the Class 39-200 (ex EMD India website)

We have the Functionally Integrated Railroad Electronics (FIRE) system installed in our EMD built 3000hp GT42CU-AC PN class locomotives here in Queensland. It's a great system to use. My only issue with it, is that it's not touch screen enabled. But then again, that would take all the fun out of train driving! :)

(Picture 1): PN class locomotives PN004 + PN012, with 6CP1 Express Freight, at Aloomba, in Far North Queensland. We were waiting for a cross with a south bound express freight, while threatening skies loomed over-head.

click for image

(Picture 2): FIRE screen on the right hand side, with the PACE screen to the left. PACE screen controls all on-board communication systems (GPS, Satellite phones, Train Control radio systems, Wayside radio systems, etc). To the far right is the KNORR CCB II (red handle - automatic / black handle - independent) brake valve.

click for image

Sorry for the links to the pictures. This site wouldn't allow me to upload pictures directly.

[Dylan Knott]

Are these the rebuilt type GT26MC and GT26M2C locos? I think there is a class 39-000 and a 39-200 class.

[Steve Appleton]

Rob, won't be long before loco drivers become ground-based versions of airline pilots. Does the system dispense juice at requisite intervals from that bottle too?

[Rob Stanier]

Rob, won't be long before loco drivers become ground-based versions of airline pilots. Does the system dispense juice at requisite intervals from that bottle too?

Not up to the dispensing juice stage as yet! As for train drivers becoming a ground-based versions of airline pilots ... I'd be more worried that they may well do away with the humble train driver all together, in the not to distant future!

These day's, most faults that fail a locomotive in service, are due to glitches in the computer software and not of a mechanical nature! With a mechanical fault, the train driver at least has a chance to clear a section, or even effect a repair that will get them home. I'd rather be moving slowly, than not at all!

If there's a fault in a computer controlled systems, it's all over! No clearing a sections; no passing go; and no collecting $200!

[Justin Miles]

Video clip of the inside of the Class 39-200
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fd0IGKu ... re=related