South African Class 18E, Series 2

The Transnet Freight Rail Class 18E, Series 2 of 2009 is a South African electric locomotive.
In 2000, Spoornet embarked on a program to rebuild Class 6E1, Series 6 to 11 locomotives to Class 18E, Series 1 locomotives. Most of the Class 6E1s which had previously been reclassified or modified to Class 16E or Class 17E respectively were rebuilt to Class 18E as well. Rebuilding to Series 1 locomotives ceased in 2009, with 446 units rebuilt.
Commencing in late 2009, all further rebuilt Class 6E1 locomotives for Transnet Freight Rail and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa were designated Class 18E, Series 2. These were rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 8 locomotives and from one Class 18E, Series 1.

Manufacturer

The 3 kV DC Class 6E1 electric locomotive was built for the South African Railways by Union Carriage & Wagon in Nigel, Transvaal, with the electrical equipment supplied by the General Electric Company. Eleven series of Class 6E1 were delivered between 1969 and 1984, with altogether 960 units built.

Rebuilding

Rebuilding to Class 18E, Series 1 locomotives ceased in 2009 with 446 units rebuilt, the last Series 1 locomotive being no. 18-525. The rebuilding to Class 18E, Series 2 locomotives commenced in late 2009 and was done by Transnet Rail Engineering, now Transnet Engineering, at its Koedoespoort shops in Pretoria. For Transnet Freight Rail locomotives, the Series 2 number range begins with no..
In 2012 and 2013, fifteen Series 2 locomotives were also rebuilt for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. These were numbered in the range from to and were delivered in a new light blue and charcoal livery designed by Peter Stow.
By the time the rebuilding to Class 18E, Series 1 ceased, all available Class 6E1, Series 9 to 11, nearly all Series 8 and several Series 6 and 7 locomotives had been rebuilt. Most of the Class 18E, Series 2 locomotives were therefore rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 7 locomotives and two Series 8 locomotives.

Batteries

Beginning in 2009, before rebuilding to Series 2 commenced and in an attempt to reduce theft, the 110 V battery bank was relocated from the locomotive sides below the frame and between the bogies to cab 1, where the toilet occupies less than half of the available space. On the Series 1 locomotives, this appears to have been done only with numbers 18-510 and later. Identifying features are a small grille to the left of the cab 1 side door and, in most cases, the remaining battery box frames without side covers.

Appearance

Identifying features

The most obvious visual feature to distinguish the Class 18E from the Class 6E1, is the filled in driver’s windows at the rear end where the toilet is installed. The remaining rear windscreen still has the slanted upper edge of the Class 6E1 windscreens, but the new front windscreens on the Class 18E are rectangular.
On the sides, obvious visual distinctions from the Class 6E1 are the left one of the two large grilles, which was removed and the opening filled in, two new large grilles which are installed in the centre lower sides to serve as air intakes for the rheostatic braking resistance blowers, and a large access door to one of the high-tension compartments, which was installed in place of the rightmost small window which was in the upper sides of the Class 6E1, to the rear of the driver's window. On the left side, the air intakes for the air conditioner in the cab are installed between the top three steps of the roof access ladder.
Locomotives rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 7, have part of the compressed air piping sunk into a recess which runs along the left half of the lower edge of the body on the locomotive’s right side, the side opposite the roof access ladder side. This pipe was not rerouted on locomotives rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 8.

Lineage identification

All features which distinguished Class 6E1, Series 8 or older locomotives from each other are still present on the Class 18E rebuilds, in many instances making it possible to visually determine the Class 6E1 origin of a Class 18E locomotive. Examples are shown in the pictures below. Some of these spotting features are:

The side doors with:
* mid-door mounted door handles on ex Series 2 to early Series 7 locomotives; and
* low mounted handles with a mid-door drawer pull type handle at mid-door level on ex late Series 7 and Series 8 locomotives.
On ex Series 8 locomotives, the large hatch door on each side, below the second small window to the right of the side door on the roof access ladder side, and below the first window immediately to the right of the side door on the opposite side.
On ex Series 6 and 7 locomotives, the smooth sides without hatch doors and the rainwater beading above the small grilles on the sides, just to the right of the side doors. On some ex Series 6 or later locomotives which have been observed, however, this beading is absent, possibly because it had been removed for some reason.
On locomotives rebuilt from series 2 to 7, the recessed pipe on the right side.
On ex Series 2 to 5 locomotives, the absence of the rainwater beading above the small grilles on the sides just to the right of the side doors.
On locomotives rebuilt from Series 2, and series 3 in the number range from E1296 to E1345, the narrower stirrup middle step below the side doors.
Project termination

The rebuilding project was abruptly terminated in January 2015, with 31 locomotives still on the Class 18E rebuilding line at Koedoespoort, possibly to vacate the assembly line for the construction of the new Classes 21E and 22E locomotives. Of these uncompleted locomotives, three were dispatched to Transwerk's Durban shops for their rebuilding to be completed, while those Class 6E1s which were still on the stripping, shell rewiring and equipment installation production lines were to be removed and scrapped. The last Class 18E to be completed at Koedoespoort was no. 18-863.

Table of rebuilds

With one exception, all the Class 18E, Series 2 locomotives were rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 8 locomotives. No. 18-862 was rebuilt from the scrapped Class 18E, Series 1 no., which had originally been rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 10 no. E2131 in 2002.
Since TFR, PRASA and TE are separate corporate entities, serviceable Class 6E1 locomotives for rebuilding are sold to TE and rebuilt Class 18E locomotives are then sold back to TFR or PRASA. Profit-wise, it is to TE's benefit to also use the shells of wrecked or burnt locomotives to rebuild, depending on the condition of the shell. Since 2003, when Series 1 numbers 18-066 and 18-075 were built from burnt Class 6E1 shells, several locomotives had therefore been rebuilt from wrecked or burnt and scrapped shells.
No. 18-040 had been left parked on a siding in the veld. When a crew went back to start it, they found virtually an empty shell, completely stripped by metal thieves. Since TFR considered the locomotive not economically repairable, it was scrapped. The shell, with the bogies, was bought by TE since it was already modified to the Class 18E specifications, and was used to build no. 18-862. Since it had been scrapped, the 18-040 number could not be used again.
The table shows the original Class 6E1 number, series and year built for each Class 18E, Series 2 locomotive, as well as the year it was rebuilt to Class 18E. All the table columns are sortable.

Count	6E1 no.	6E1 ser.	Year built	18E no.	Year rebuilt	Notes
1	E1452	4	1973	18-421	2012	PRASA
2	E1437	3	1973	18-422	2012	PRASA
3	E1414	3	1973	18-423	2012	PRASA
4	E1490	4	1973-74	18-424	2012	PRASA
5	E1460	4	1973	18-425	2012	PRASA
6	E1259	2	1971	18-426	2013	PRASA
7	E1385	3	1972	18-427	2013	PRASA
8	E1481	4	1973-74	18-428	2012	PRASA
9	E1459	4	1973	18-429	2013	PRASA
10	E1397	3	1972-73	18-430	2013	PRASA
11	E1834	7	1978	18-431	2013	PRASA
12	E1434	3	1973	18-432	2013	PRASA
13	E1467	4	1973	18-433	2013	PRASA
14	E1379	3	1972	18-434	2013	PRASA
15	E1300	3	1971-72	18-435	2013	PRASA
16	E1703	6	1976-77	18-600	2009
17	E1791	7	1977-78	18-601	2009
18	E1715	6	1977	18-602	2009
19	E1767	7	1977	18-603	2009
20	E1741	6	1977	18-604	2009
21	E1768	7	1977	18-605	2010
22	E1877	7	1979	18-606	2009
23	E1762	7	1977	18-607	2009
24	E1896	8	1979	18-608	2010
25	E1882	7	1979	18-609	2009
26	E1823	7	1977-78	18-610	2010
27	E1677	6	1976	18-611	2010
28	E1809	7	1977-78	18-612	2009
29	E1820	7	1977-78	18-613	2010
30	E1680	6	1976	18-614	2010
31	E1824	7	1977-78	18-615	2009
32	E1884	7	1979	18-616	2010
33	E1739	6	1977	18-617	2010
34	E1806	7	1977-78	18-618	2010
35	E1719	6	1977	18-619	2010
36	E1737	6	1977	18-620	2010
37	E1660	6	1976	18-621	2010
38	E1727	6	1977	18-622	2010
39	E1662	6	1976	18-623	2010
40	E1887	7	1979	18-624	2010
41	E1839	7	1978	18-625	2010
42	E1845	7	1978	18-626	2010
43	E1681	6	1976	18-627	2010
44	E1717	6	1977	18-628	2010
45	E1729	6	1977	18-629	2010
46	E1672	6	1976	18-630	2010
47	E1890	7	1979	18-631	2010
48	E1674	6	1976	18-632	2010
49	E1793	7	1977-78	18-633	2010
50	E1728	6	1977	18-634	2010
51	E1676	6	1976	18-635	2010
52	E1535	4	1974	18-636	2010
53	E1632	5	1976	18-637	2010
54	E1508	4	1974	18-638	2010
55	E1626	5	1976	18-639	2010
56	E1493	4	1973-74	18-640	2011
57	E1578	5	1975	18-641	2010
58	E1573	5	1975	18-642	2010
59	E1521	4	1974	18-643	2010
60	E1723	6	1977	18-644	2010
61	E1736	6	1977	18-645	2010
62	E1399	3	1973	18-646	2010
63	E1628	5	1976	18-647	2010
64	E1661	6	1976	18-648	2010
65	E1812	7	1977-78	18-649	2011
66	E1519	4	1974	18-650	2010
67	E1303	3	1971-72	18-651	2011
68	E1428	3	1973	18-652	2011
69	E1400	3	1973	18-653	2011
70	E1807	7	1977-78	18-654	2011
71	E1422	3	1973	18-655	2011
72	E1530	4	1974	18-656	2011
73	E1458	4	1973	18-657	2011
74	E1463	4	1973	18-658	2011
75	E1487	4	1973-74	18-659	2011
76	E1480	4	1973-74	18-660	2011
77	E1566	5	1975	18-661	2011
78	E1644	5	1976	18-662	2011
79	E1609	5	1975	18-663	2011
80	E1635	5	1976	18-664	2011
81	E1494	4	1974	18-665	2011
82	E1479	4	1973-74	18-666	2011
83	E1663	6	1976	18-667	2011
84	E1561	5	1975	18-668	2011
85	E1503	4	1974	18-669	2011
86	E1571	5	1975	18-670	2012
87	E1470	4	1973-74	18-671	2011
88	E1313	3	1971-72	18-672	2011
89	E1442	3	1973	18-673	2011
90	E1524	4	1974	18-674	2011
91	E1502	4	1974	18-675	2011
92	E1337	3	1972	18-676	2011
93	E1322	3	1971-72	18-677	2012
94	E1336	3	1972	18-678	2011
95	E1325	3	1971-72	18-679	2012
96	E1371	3	1972	18-680	2011
97	E1315	3	1971-72	18-681	2011
98	E1323	3	1971-72	18-682	2012
99	E1375	3	1972	18-683	2011
100	E1363	3	1972	18-684	2012
101	E1386	3	1972	18-685	2011
102	E1581	5	1975	18-686	2012
103	E1671	6	1976	18-687	2011
104	E1512	4	1974	18-688	2011
105	E1390	3	1972-73	18-689	2011
106	E1733	6	1977	18-690	2012
107	E1866	7	1978-79	18-691	2012
108	E1862	7	1978	18-692	2012
109	E1576	5	1975	18-693	2012
110	E1538	4	1974	18-694	2012
111	E1311	3	1971-72	18-695	2012
112	E1501	4	1974	18-696	2012
113	E1634	5	1976	18-697	2012
114	E1553	5	1974-75	18-698	2012
115	E1800	7	1977-78	18-699	2012
116	E1641	5	1976	18-700	2012
117	E1869	7	1978-79	18-701	2012
118	E1421	3	1973	18-702	2012
119	E1630	5	1976	18-703	2012
120	E1316	3	1971-72	18-704	2012
121	E1567	5	1975	18-705	2012
122	E1331	3	1972	18-706	2012
123	E1319	3	1971-72	18-707	2012
124	E1447	4	1973	18-708	2012
125	E1639	5	1976	18-709	2012
126	E1622	5	1976	18-710	2012
127	E1610	5	1975	18-711	2012
128	E1702	6	1976-77	18-712	2012
129	E1638	5	1976	18-713	2012
130	E1516	4	1974	18-714	2012
131	E1614	5	1975-76	18-715	2012
132	E1625	5	1976	18-716	2012
133	E1536	4	1974	18-717	2012
134	E1531	4	1974	18-718	2012
135	E1492	4	1973-74	18-719	2012
136	E1664	6	1976	18-720	2012
137	E1358	3	1972	18-721	2012
138	E1624	5	1976	18-722	2012
139	E1568	5	1975	18-723	2013
140	E1369	3	1972	18-724	2013
141	E1844	7	1978	18-725	2013
142	E1546	5	1974-75	18-726	2013
143	E1564	5	1975	18-727	2013
144	E1726	6	1977	18-728	2013
145	E1637	5	1976	18-729	2013
146	E1867	7	1978-79	18-730	2013
147	E1620	5	1975-76	18-731	2013
148	E1367	3	1972	18-732	2013
149	E1594	5	1975	18-733	2013
150	E1570	5	1975	18-734	2013
151	E1408	3	1973	18-735	2013
152	E1713	6	1976-77	18-736	2013
153	E1640	5	1976	18-737	2013
154	E1518	4	1974	18-738	2013
155	E1532	4	1974	18-739	2013
156	E1526	4	1974	18-740	2013
157	E1951	8	1980	18-741	2013
158	E1453	4	1973	18-742	2013
159	E1326	3	1971-72	18-743	2013
160	E1416	3	1973	18-744	2013
161	E1372	3	1972	18-745	2013
162	E1540	4	1974	18-746	2013
163	E1406	3	1973	18-747	2013
164	E1346	3	1972	18-748	2013
165	E1544	4	1974	18-749	2013
166	E1616	5	1975-76	18-750	2013
167	E1268	2	1971	18-751	2013
168	E1265	2	1971	18-752	2013
169	E1537	4	1974	18-753	2013
170	E1572	5	1975	18-754	2013
171	E1562	5	1975	18-755	2013
172	E1584	5	1975	18-756	2013
173	E1708	6	1976-77	18-757	2013
174	E1527	4	1974	18-758	2013
175	E1343	3	1972	18-759	2013
176	E1415	3	1973	18-760	2013
177	E1297	3	1971-72	18-761	2013
178	E1430	3	1973	18-762	2013
179	E1495	4	1974	18-763	2013
180	E1310	3	1971-72	18-764	2013
181	E1488	4	1973-74	18-765	2013
182	E1361	3	1972	18-766	2013
183	E1533	4	1974	18-767	2013
184	E1688	6	1976	18-768	2013
185	E1589	5	1975	18-769	2013
186	E1575	5	1975	18-770	2013
187	E1353	3	1972	18-771	2013
188	E1783	7	1977	18-772	2013
189	E1407	3	1973	18-773	2013
190	E1517	4	1974	18-774	2013	circa 2013
191	E1402	3	1973	18-775	2013	circa 2013
192	E1298	3	1971-72	18-776	2013	circa 2013
193	E1557	5	1975	18-777	2013	circa 2013
194	E1569	5	1975	18-778	2013	circa 2013
195	E1855	7	1978	18-779	2013	circa 2013
196	E1542	4	1974	18-780	2013	circa 2013
197	E1545	4	1974	18-781	2014	circa 2014
198	E1433	3	1973	18-782	2014	circa 2014
199	E1413	3	1973	18-783	2014	circa 2014
200	E1511	4	1974	18-784	2014	circa 2014
201	E1446	4	1973	18-785	2014	circa 2014
202	E1668	6	1976	18-786	2014	circa 2014
203	E1498	4	1974	18-787	2014	circa 2014
204	E1320	3	1971-72	18-788	2014	circa 2014
205	E1613	5	1975	18-789	2014	circa 2014
206	E1419	3	1973	18-790	2014	circa 2014
207	E1327	3	1971-72	18-791	2014	circa 2014
208	E1590	5	1975	18-792	2014	circa 2014
209	E1370	3	1972	18-793	2014	circa 2014
210	E1588	5	1975	18-794	2014	circa 2014
211	E1621	5	1976	18-795	2014	circa 2014
212	E1410	3	1973	18-796	2014	circa 2014
213	E1476	4	1973-74	18-797	2014	circa 2014
214	E1602	5	1975	18-798	2014	circa 2014
215	E1653	6	1976	18-799	2014	circa 2014
216	E1563	5	1975	18-800	2014	circa 2014
217	E1277	2	1971	18-801	2014	circa 2014
218	E1473	4	1973-74	18-802	2014	circa 2014
219	E1670	6	1976	18-803	2014	circa 2014
220	E1471	4	1973-74	18-804	2014	circa 2014
221	E1547	5	1974-75	18-805	2014
222	E1330	3	1972	18-806	2014
223	E1329	3	1972	18-807	2014
224	E1441	3	1973	18-808	2014
225	E1615	5	1975-76	18-809	2014
226	E1627	5	1976	18-810	2014
227	E1633	5	1976	18-811	2014
228	E1380	3	1972	18-812	2014
229	E1617	5	1975-76	18-813	2014
230	E1606	5	1975	18-814	2014
231	E1608	5	1975	18-815	2014
232	E1623	5	1976	18-816	2014
233	E1591	5	1975	18-817	2014
234	E1586	5	1975	18-818	2014
235	E1592	5	1975	18-819	2014
236	E1580	5	1975	18-820	2014
237	E1583	5	1975	18-821	2014
238	E1560	5	1975	18-822	2014
239	E1577	5	1975	18-823	2014
240	E1261	2	1971	18-824	2015
241	E1585	5	1975	18-825	2014
242	E1651	6	1976	18-826	2014
243	E1579	5	1975	18-827	2014
244	E1558	5	1975	18-828	2014
245	E1461	4	1973	18-829	2015
246	E1604	5	1975	18-830	2015
247	E1506	4	1974	18-831	2015
248	E1744	6	1977	18-832	2015
249	E1529	4	1974	18-833	2015
250	E1534	4	1974	18-834	2015
251	E1556	5	1974-75	18-835	2015
252	E1514	4	1974	18-836	2015
253	E1551	5	1974-75	18-837	2015
254	E1507	4	1974	18-838	2015
255	E1522	4	1974	18-839	2015
256	E1505	4	1974	18-840	2015
257	E1509	4	1974	18-841	2015
258	E1596	5	1975	18-842	2015
259	E1513	4	1974	18-843	2015
260	E1631	5	1976	18-844	2015
261	E1510	4	1974	18-845	2015
262	E1477	4	1973-74	18-846	2015
263	E1504	4	1974	18-847	2015
264	E1478	4	1973-74	18-848	2015
265	E1554	5	1974-75	18-849	2015
266	E1429	3	1973	18-850	2015
267				18-851	2015
268	E1484	4	1973-74	18-852	2015
269	E1520	4	1974	18-853	2015
270	E1486	4	1973-74	18-854	2015
271	E1451	4	1973-74	18-855	2015
272	E1483	4	1973-74	18-856	2015
273	E1469	4	1973-74	18-857	2015
274	E1423	3	1973	18-858	2015
275	E1444	3	1973	18-859	2015
276	E1405	3	1973	18-860	2015
277	E1305	3	1971-72	18-861	2015
278	18-040	10	1984	18-862	2015	ex E2131
279	E1440	3	1973	18-863	2015

Illustration

The Class 6E1 series lineage identification features are illustrated in the following pictures. Note the external compressed air pipe on the right side of locomotives rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2 to 7.
;Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 2
;Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 3
;Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 4
;Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 5
;Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 6
;Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 7
;Rebuilt from Class 6E1, Series 8

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