Friends of the Rail Forum

I want to know, if there are books on these subjects. I have just received "Tracks acroos the Veldt" from Boon Bonnzaier. But I have found little on the modern locomotives of South Africa.

David, welcome to the FOTR forum.

Locomotives of the South African Railways by Leith Paxton and David Bourne, 1985, ISBN 0 86977 211 2, contains details of diesel and electric locos as well as steam.

David, have you already found a copy of that book?

It is unbelievably what you have to pay for an used book at Amazo.com.
From 138$ to almost 258 $.

Luckily I purchased one when I saw it in a book store in South Africa long ago. But I will not
sell it.

@John:

Is it really the only one book about locos in South Africa?
There are no new edition with some updates aviable?

Kevin and others may be able to answer about other loco books, Andreas. I think there's a reference somewhere on the forum to John Middleton's book(s?) on industrial locos, and of course there is the 2-volume steam classic Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways by D F Holland (ISBN 0 7153 5382 9), but I don't think there are too many books specifically about locos as opposed to more general railway stuff.

Thank you for the answer John.
So it seems there are not yet a new version of the book.

I found this booklist:
http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/re ... thors.html

Thanks, Andreas. That list looks like a very useful resource.

Jean Dulez is publishing a new book covering all forms of motive power, which will be launched at the end of the Month. See Train Books on his website www.vidrail.co.za


Cheers Tony

Tony, Thank you for the link.
That is an interesting site. Maybe I will find some day a copy of that book.
Also the video list is interesting and I can say I've got some of the videos. Most of them I purchased
when I was in South Africa.

Thank you also for the link; I have already written an email to VidRail.

Dont forget that there is an excellent Wikipedia page on Locos in South Africa. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categ ... uth_Africa

Here is a preview of the content of the new book from Jean Dulez of http://www.vidrail.co.za:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abbreviations Employed in Text...................................................................... iv
Foreword............................................................................................................... v
Acknowledgements and Credits....................................................................... vi
Introduction, a Brief History of Railways in Southern Africa................. 1
Significant South African Railway Completion Dates................................ 11
Locomotive Development in South Africa 1860-2011.............................. 12
South African Railways and Transnet Locomotive Classifications.......... 14
The Beginings- Standard Gauge Locomotives............................................... 16
The Cape Government Railways...................................................................... 20
The Natal Government Railways..................................................................... 24
The Nederlandsche Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorweg-Maatschappij............. 27
Locomotives from Other Railway Administrations ................................... 31
Unclassed Cape Gauge Locomotives................................................................ 34
Obsolete Cape Gauge Locomotives.................................................................. 36
Experimental Classes......................................................................................... 45
South African Railways Tank Steam Locomotives ...................................... 48
Class A........................................................................................................................................................................ 48
Class B........................................................................................................................................................................ 50
Classes C to C2....................................................................................................................................................... 52
Class D........................................................................................................................................................................ 54
Class E......................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Class F......................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Class G........................................................................................................................................................................ 56
Classes H to H2...................................................................................................................................................... 57
Class J......................................................................................................................................................................... 59
Class K........................................................................................................................................................................ 60
Industrial Tank Locomotives ......................................................................................................................... 60
South African Railways Tender Steam Locomotives................................... 62
Classes 1 to 1B...................................................................................................................................................... 62
Classes 2 / 2C........................................................................................................................................................ 65
Classes 3 to 3B...................................................................................................................................................... 66
Classes 4 /4A......................................................................................................................................................... 69
Classes 5 to 5B...................................................................................................................................................... 71
Classes 6 to 6Z....................................................................................................................................................... 74
Classes 7 to 7F....................................................................................................................................................... 85
Classes 8 to 8Z....................................................................................................................................................... 91
Class 9........................................................................................................................................................................ 98
Classes 10 to 10D................................................................................................................................................ 98
Class 11..................................................................................................................................................................... 104
Classes 12 to 12B................................................................................................................................................ 105
Class 13..................................................................................................................................................................... 109
Classes 14 to 14C................................................................................................................................................ 110
Classes 15 to 15F................................................................................................................................................ 115
Classes 16 to 16E................................................................................................................................................ 129
Class 17..................................................................................................................................................................... 138
Class 18..................................................................................................................................................................... 138
Classes 19 to 19D................................................................................................................................................ 140
Class 20..................................................................................................................................................................... 149
Class 21..................................................................................................................................................................... 150
Class 22 (Proposed) and Large Steam Locomotives ................................................................... 151
Class 23..................................................................................................................................................................... 153
Class 24..................................................................................................................................................................... 156
Classes 25 / 25NC.............................................................................................................................................. 158
Class 26 ................................................................................................................................................................... 166
Shunting Locomotives, Classes S to S2.................................................................................................... 168
South African Railways Articulated Steam Locomotives........................... 172
Kitson Meyer Class KM...................................................................................................................................... 172
Mallet Designs....................................................................................................................................................... 173
Class MA............................................................................................................................................................ 173
Class MB............................................................................................................................................................ 174
Class MC / MC1............................................................................................................................................. 174
Class MD............................................................................................................................................................ 175
Class ME............................................................................................................................................................ 176
Class MF............................................................................................................................................................ 177
Class MG............................................................................................................................................................ 178
Class MH............................................................................................................................................................ 178
Class MJ / MJ1............................................................................................................................................. 179
Large Mallet Designs ................................................................................................................................. 181
Modified Fairlie Designs................................................................................................................................. 183
Class FC.............................................................................................................................................................. 183
Class FD ........................................................................................................................................................... 184
Class HF ............................................................................................................................................................ 184
Garratt Designs (Including Union Garratt Types)............................................................................ 185
Class GA ........................................................................................................................................................... 185
Class GB ........................................................................................................................................................... 186
Classes GC / GCA.......................................................................................................................................... 187
Classes GD / GDA ....................................................................................................................................... 190
Class GE............................................................................................................................................................. 192
Class GF............................................................................................................................................................. 193
Class GG ........................................................................................................................................................... 195
Class U .............................................................................................................................................................. 196
Class GH ........................................................................................................................................................... 197
Class GK ........................................................................................................................................................... 197
Class GL ........................................................................................................................................................... 198
Class GM .......................................................................................................................................................... 200
Class GEA ........................................................................................................................................................ 202
Class GMA/M ................................................................................................................................................ 205
Class GO ........................................................................................................................................................... 209
Miscellaneous Garratt Types .......................................................................................................................... 210
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
South African Railways Narrow Gauge Steam Locomotives..................... 214
Class NG1 ................................................................................................................................................................ 214
Class NG2 ................................................................................................................................................................ 215
Class NG3 ................................................................................................................................................................ 215
Class NG4 ................................................................................................................................................................ 216
Class NG5 ................................................................................................................................................................ 217
Class NG6 ................................................................................................................................................................ 217
Classes NG7 and NG8(Obsolete)............................................................................................................... 219
Class NG9 ................................................................................................................................................................ 220
Class NG10.............................................................................................................................................................. 220
Class NGG11 .......................................................................................................................................................... 221
Class NGG12 .......................................................................................................................................................... 223
Class NGG13 .......................................................................................................................................................... 224
Class NGG14 .......................................................................................................................................................... 225
Class NG15 ............................................................................................................................................................. 225
Classes NGG16 / NGG16A ............................................................................................................................ 227
Unclassed Narrow Gauge locomotives .................................................................................................... 231
Miscellaneous Narrow Guage Locomotives ........................................................................................... 233
South West African Narrow Gauge Locomotives ............................................................................... 235
Archive Steam Picture Gallery ........................................................................ 238
Named South African Steam Locomotives ................................................... 249
SAR Reboilering Table ...................................................................................... 249
South African Steam Locomotive Principal Specifications ...................... 250
SAR Steam Numbering List ............................................................................. 250
South African Railways and Transnet Diesel Locomotives........................ 252
Class DS/DS1.......................................................................................................................................................... 252
Class 31 ................................................................................................................................................................... 253
Class 32 Series ..................................................................................................................................................... 255
Class 33 Series ..................................................................................................................................................... 257
Class 34 Series ..................................................................................................................................................... 259
Class 35 Series ..................................................................................................................................................... 264
Class 36 Series ..................................................................................................................................................... 267
Class 37 ................................................................................................................................................................... 269
Class 38 ................................................................................................................................................................... 270
Class 39 Series ..................................................................................................................................................... 272
Class 40/41/42 Proposed............................................................................................................................ 275
Class 43 ................................................................................................................................................................... 275
Class 61 ................................................................................................................................................................... 277
Class 91 ................................................................................................................................................................... 278
Diesel Locomotive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 279
Transnet Diesel Numbering List .................................................................................................................. 280
Miscellaneous Diesel Locomotives.................................................................. 280
South African Railways and Transnet Electric Locomotives .................... 284
Class 1E Series ...................................................................................................................................................... 285
Class ES .................................................................................................................................................................... 287
Class 2E .................................................................................................................................................................... 288
Class 3E .................................................................................................................................................................... 289
Class 4E .................................................................................................................................................................... 291
Class 5E / 5E1 Series ...................................................................................................................................... 292
Class 6E / 6E1 Series ...................................................................................................................................... 295
Class Exp AC ........................................................................................................................................................... 299
Class 7E Series ...................................................................................................................................................... 300
Class 8E .................................................................................................................................................................... 306
Class 9E .................................................................................................................................................................... 307
Class 10E Series ................................................................................................................................................... 309
Class 11E.................................................................................................................................................................. 312
Class 12E ................................................................................................................................................................. 313
Class 14E ................................................................................................................................................................. 314
Class 15E ................................................................................................................................................................. 316
Class 16E ................................................................................................................................................................. 318
Class 17E ................................................................................................................................................................. 318
Class 18E ................................................................................................................................................................. 319
Class 19E ................................................................................................................................................................. 321
Electric Locomotive Summary ..................................................................................................................... 323
Transnet Electric Numbering List ............................................................................................................... 323
Electric Multiple Units ...................................................................................... 324
1M Series ................................................................................................................................................................ 326
2M Series ................................................................................................................................................................ 329
3M Proposed ......................................................................................................................................................... 332
4M Series ................................................................................................................................................................ 332
5M Series ................................................................................................................................................................ 334
6M ............................................................................................................................................................................... 339
7M ............................................................................................................................................................................... 340
8M ............................................................................................................................................................................... 340
9M Proposed ......................................................................................................................................................... 341
10M Series ............................................................................................................................................................. 342
Picture Gallery - South African Trains .......................................................... 346
Kei Rail ................................................................................................................ 358
Gautrain ............................................................................................................... 360
Swaziland ............................................................................................................ 369
Lesotho ................................................................................................................. 376
Namibia ............................................................................................................... 378
Botswana ............................................................................................................. 396
Conversion Table ................................................................................................ 406
References ........................................................................................................... 40

I see that this quite an old thread,

But I have the book called : Diesel and Electric Locomotives of South Africa.
It looks self-published, and I bought it new about 6 months back for around 70 bucks from the Model Railroad shop in Plumstead, CT.

Fidel, is there any indication who the author is?

Bernard Zurnamer wrote and published a couple of books on Diesel and Electirc locos.

The latest updated one is 1987 and is called

"Electric and Diesel Locomotives of South Africa".

It is an excellent book, even if it not up to date, chock a block full of technical details. Copies can still be found at specialist shops - I saw some new copies not so long ago (they are now all sold out - I phoned) at R 75.00.

That's 25 years ago now, and I see that my edition of Paxton and Bourne is from 1985. Has anyone written (or updated) a more recent book?