Kevin WS
New Member
Many of these locos remain currently in service - this one was photographed last weekend pulling a freight train in the Johannesburg area.
The Class 6E1, Series 4 3 kV DC electric locomotive was designed and built in South Africa between 1973 and 1974.
They had sophisticated traction links between the bogies and the frames and were equipped even then (40 years ago) with electronic wheel slip detection. The complicated boogies that resulted (with various linkages etc) can clearly be seen in the photo.
The Series 4 locos are interesting, in that one was modified for higher speeds and given a streamlined nose cone. This loco then managed a speed of 245 kilometres per hour (152 miles per hour) on 31 October 1978 to set a world record on 3 feet 6 inches gauge track - this record on this gauge track remains unbeaten today.
European pantographs were being developed for high speed trains at this time - and a number were also sent to South Africa and tested on these units as they could achieve the high speeds required.
The 6E Series in total ran to 900+ units produced over 16 years - the largest single locomotive class in South Africa.
The Class 6E1, Series 4 3 kV DC electric locomotive was designed and built in South Africa between 1973 and 1974.
They had sophisticated traction links between the bogies and the frames and were equipped even then (40 years ago) with electronic wheel slip detection. The complicated boogies that resulted (with various linkages etc) can clearly be seen in the photo.
The Series 4 locos are interesting, in that one was modified for higher speeds and given a streamlined nose cone. This loco then managed a speed of 245 kilometres per hour (152 miles per hour) on 31 October 1978 to set a world record on 3 feet 6 inches gauge track - this record on this gauge track remains unbeaten today.
European pantographs were being developed for high speed trains at this time - and a number were also sent to South Africa and tested on these units as they could achieve the high speeds required.
The 6E Series in total ran to 900+ units produced over 16 years - the largest single locomotive class in South Africa.
