South African Class 33-400

South African Class 33-400
TransNamib Class 33
Rebuilt TransNamib no. 504, ex no. 33-475, near Keetmanshoop, 2 September 2004
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
DesignerGeneral Electric
BuilderSA GE-DL Locomotive Group
Serial number36530-36644
ModelGE U20C
Build date1968-1970
Total produced115
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo'Co'
 • CommonwealthCo+Co
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Wheel diameter915 mm (36.0 in)
Wheelbase12,243 mm (40 ft 2.0 in) ​
 • Axle spacing
(Asymmetrical)
1-2: 1,594 mm (5 ft 2.8 in)
2-3: 1,911 mm (6 ft 3.2 in)
 • Bogie3,505 mm (11 ft 6.0 in)
Pivot centres9,017 mm (29 ft 7.0 in)
Length:
 • Over couplers16,866 mm (55 ft 4.0 in)
Width2,756 mm (9 ft 0.5 in)
Height3,931 mm (12 ft 10.8 in)
Axle load15,749 kg (34,721 lb)
Adhesive weight94,494 kg (208,324 lb)
Loco weight94,494 kg (208,324 lb) max
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity3,600 litres (790 imp gal)
Prime moverGE 7FDL-12
RPM range400-1,000 ​
 • RPM idle400
 • Maximum RPM1,000
Engine type4 stroke diesel
AspirationElliott H-584 turbocharger
GeneratorDC 10 pole GE 5GT-581C9
Traction motorsSix GE 5GE-761A6 DC 4 pole ​
 • Rating 1 hour635A
 • Continuous620A @ 20 km/h (12 mph)
CylindersV12
Gear ratio92:19
MU working6 maximum
Loco brake28L-AV-1 with vigilance control
Train brakesWestinghouse 6CDX4UC compressor/exhauster
Air tank cap.825 litres (181 imp gal)
Compressor0.029 m3/s (1.0 cu ft/s)
Exhauster0.116 m3/s (4.1 cu ft/s)
CouplersAAR knuckle (SASKOP DS)
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output:
 • Starting1,605 kW (2,152 hp)
 • Continuous1,490 kW (2,000 hp)
Tractive effort:
 • Starting223 kN (50,000 lbf) @ 25% adhesion
 • Continuous178 kN (40,000 lbf) @ 24 km/h (15 mph)
Factor of adh.:
 • Starting25%
 • Continuous20%
Brakeforce70% ratio @ 345 kPa (50.0 psi)
Dynamic brake peak effort173 kN (39,000 lbf) @ 26 km/h (16 mph)
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
Spoornet
TransNamib
Transnet Freight Rail
Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica (Brazil)
América Latina Logística (Brazil)
Ferroviaria Oriental (Bolivia)
Sociedad Química y Minera (Chile)
Kumba Iron Ore
Sudan Railways
Zambia Railways
ClassClass 33-400
Number in class115
Numbers33-401 to 33-515
NicknamesBosvark
Delivered1968-1970
First run1968

The South African Railways Class 33-400 of 1968 was a South African and Namibian diesel-electric locomotive.

Between 1968 and 1970, the South African Railways placed 115 Class 33-400 General Electric type U20C diesel-electric locomotives in service. Many of them were transferred to TransNamib, the Namibian Railways, upon South West Africa’s independence on 21 March 1990.[1]

  1. ^ 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