Between 1992 and 1994 Spoornet placed fifty Class 38-000 locomotives in service. It was designed for Spoornet by a Consortium led by Siemens and built by Union Carriage and Wagon in Nigel, Transvaal. They are dual powered electro-diesel locomotives, capable of running either on 3 kV electricity off the catenary or on diesel alone. In 1992 three Class E38 locomotives were also built for Amcoal Mines for use at the Landau Colliery near Witbank, Mpumalanga. These are electric locomotives identical in appearance to the Class 38-000, but designed for 3 kV electric operation only.
See also the Wikipedia article on the South African Class 38-000. |