Vossloh to supply Euro Dual locomotives to PRASA

[Malcolm Wilton-Jones]

Another update, the second loco is numbered AFRO4002. Strange numbering system?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater
Again, please do not publish these photos anywhere.

[Craig Duckham]

Malcolm, The last link does not work.

[John Ashworth]

I was on Premier Classe today and they told me they hope to be using the new locos by March.

[Mel Turner]

The "Golden Karoo" that is carrying the first of Swifambo Rail Leasing's Vossloh Euro 4000 for PRASA berthed at Saldanah a couple of hours ago
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/detail ... LDEN_KAROO

[Steve Appleton]

Existing PRASA-liveried, ex-TFR locos use the original TFR class designations and serial numbers. So, an interesting number on the cabside: AFRI 4001. Where does the AFRI designation come from? And is that really to be class 4? I wonder whether PRASA has planned to create its own class numbers for these new locos or will sequence them into the TFR class series of numbers? If the former, one would expect a low class number headed up by a PRASA identifier, something like PRASA 01-001. If it is the latter, then the loco number shown would need to be replaced.

[Malcolm Wilton-Jones]

Malcolm, The last link does not work.

Sorry, I have been rather busy lately. All the photos are in a private file as Vossloh does not permit publication.
Craig I have PM'd another link to you with instructions on viewing. If anyone else has problems viewing the original links I posted please PM me and I can PM another link.
I have pictures of AFRI4001, AFRO4002, AFRO4003, AFRO4004, and AFRO4005 all complete, No 7 painted but without transfers and several unpainted ones. The Prasa locos have two upper headlights, all the European 4000s only have 1 so easy to tell which is which.
Before assembly the bodyshells are blue and the cab ends are white, while the European models have beige bodies.
I expect another batch may be shipped imminently as since last week several have disappeared.
This link should work for everyone https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... a7fb48dbd4

[Steve Appleton]

First loco (AFR 04001) in Cape Town. See: http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... 72&t=12832

[Malcolm Wilton-Jones]

AFRO4004 and AFRO4005 were loaded onto transporters today and will set of for Porto in Portugal by road next Tuesday where they will be put on a ship for South Africa. From 2pm today until next Tuesday Spain is on holiday, or as they say here, Fiesta time. AFRO4002 and AFRO4003 have not been seen for a while so are probably already on the way. Another 3 are nearing completion.

[John Ashworth]

NEW PRASA LOCOS

[Malcolm Wilton-Jones]

68010 & ETF2 -1450673.gif

On the other hand, they reportedly exceed the maximum height laid down in the South African loading gauge. Exhaust equipment fitments may account for this. - See more at: http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2015 ... cxB1w.dpuf

I have to admit that I was surprised to see that the Euro 4000 had been ordered as I always thought that South African Railways was built to the British loading gauge while the Euro 4000 is built to the European UIC gauge which is considerably higher. One only has to look at the current locomotives being built at the same factory for use in the UK to see how small they are compared to the Euro 4000. Until they appeared I had assumed that they would be similar to the UK locos.

[Aidan McCarthy]

Hi,

South African loading gauge is bigger than the UK loading gauge with a max height of 13 foot and max width 10 ft. If the loco is indeed out of gauge I think the RSR needs to have word about their new equipment development procedure :-)

[John Ashworth]

I'm not 100% sure but I think the South African loading gauge is bigger than the British. Look at a GMAM Garratt, for example. Wikipedia says it is, anyway.

Edited to add: My post crossed with Aidan's.

[Malcolm Wilton-Jones]

I just added the picture of the two side by side, there is quite a difference in height. I'll check the specs of the Euro 4000.
Euro 4000 conforms to UIC 505-1 which states 5300mm above rail level - that's around 16' or more!

Edited to add the data.

[Malcolm Wilton-Jones]

It seems I got the wrong data, here is the Correct 505-1 diagram.

5051_tsi.jpg

But 4310mm is still over 14'.
I cannot find anything other than the 505-1 statement regarding the actual height of the locomotive.

UK loading gauges are still extremely variable, a legacy of the multitudes of different companies at start-up.
Formerly the average height in England was 12' 10" while in Scotland it was 13' 6".
It is now standardised at 13' 6" height (so more than South Africa) but only 9' width (less than South Africa).
These are all static figures and take no account of cant, tilt, or displacement due to length.
Some lines are still below these figures so have restrictions placed on them.

001LoadingGauge.jpg

[Mel Turner]

Related topic re loco height

4 of these standard gauge locos are in the shipment on the Fairlift, currently heading for Durban, due around the 20th
https://www.flickr.com/photos/53191724@N02/15570519104/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/53191724@ ... otostream/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_ ... locomotive

9'9" wide and 13'11" high on 40" wheels. I guess that if they are gauge converted for use north of the border, they will be road transferred

http://www.locomotivesforafrica.com/upl ... _class.pdf