South Africa - Class 91 - UM6B - 2 foot gauge.

does anyone have any dimensions for this loco?
overall length, width and height?

they operate in South Africa with Spoornet.
were built new as 2-foot gauge locos.

and..are these the largest 2-foot gauge diesels ever built?
thanks,
Scot


http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/grel ... train.html

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/na ... iesel.html

scottychaos wrote:does anyone have any dimensions for this loco?
overall length, width and height?

they operate in South Africa with Spoornet.
were built new as 2-foot gauge locos.

and..are these the largest 2-foot gauge diesels ever built?
thanks,
Scot


http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/grel ... train.html

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/na ... iesel.html

One of them is in use on the Welsh Highland Railway - Caernarfon end. Try googling, there are web sites.
Here's one site.
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ml/whr/

THis shows the Garrat in operation
http://www.sharpos-world.co.uk/mainindx ... action.htm

george matthews wrote: One of them is in use on the Welsh Highland Railway - Caernarfon end. Try googling, there are web sites.
Here's one site.
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ml/whr/

THis shows the Garrat in operation
http://www.sharpos-world.co.uk/mainindx ... action.htm

Sorry George, the Spoornet Class 91 is a GE UM6B.

The WHR locos are ex-private owner locos, manufactured by Funkey.

"Locomotives of the South African Railways" by Paxton and Bourne gives the following statistics for the class 91:

Wheel diameter: 838 mm
Power - Gross engine: 520 kW
Power - Net for traction: 480 kW
Overall length: 10 580 mm
Average total mass: 44 000 kg
Max axle load: 12 000 kg
Starting tractive effort (25% adhesion): 108 kN

It doesn't give width and height.

Incidentally Spoornet has just been renamed Transnet Freight Rail.

Cheers!
John

love the humor of the writer of the first link .
looks like a typical ge export model , similar to our 3ft 6inch models here , but smaller .
I presume theres apple orchards somewhere along the line???

David Benton wrote:love the humor of the writer of the first link .
looks like a typical ge export model , similar to our 3ft 6inch models here , but smaller .
I presume theres apple orchards somewhere along the line???

I am aware of two of these lines in South Africa. One was the line that started in George in the former Cape Province. I think it runs to Avontuur. That is an apple growing area. I once stayed the night in George but can't remember if I saw the train.

The other ran from Harding to Post Shepstone in the former Natal province. When I travelled that way on the bus I caught a glimpse of the track but never saw anything moving. That was in early 1969.

David Benton wrote:love the humor of the writer of the first link .
looks like a typical ge export model , similar to our 3ft 6inch models here , but smaller .
I presume theres apple orchards somewhere along the line???

Hi David

I often see what looks like a U6B or U10B (DH Class) working the container flats at Auckland Harbour. The Class 91 is exactly the same size as these, and if you have a look at the photos here of the DH, you will see that the only real difference between the DH and the Class 91 is the cab front (Incl. nose) and bogies.......However, when the Class 91s are moved from system to system (The Cape and Natal 2ft systems are not connected), the Class 91s are placed on 3'6" B bogies, and trundle off over the Spoornet "standard" gauge (3'6", just like NZ) lines under their own power, towing their 2' gauge bogies behind them in gondolas. Here is a photo of one passing an EMD Class 34 (Similar to the NZ DF(GM)) while doing just this, and it shows that the class 91 is a full size loco.Here is a photo of one from the front, showing how much they overhang on 2' track.

Anyone wanting to model the Class 91 in HO scale, Worsley Works in the UK make a brass kit. They also make brass kits of the Funkey diesels that George mistook for the 91 in an earlier post, in both original and rebuilt form (Note that the rebuilding was done in Wales - the rebuilt Funkey never operated in SA)

BTW, were you aware that there are some expat SAR steam locos in Auckland?

ah yes , i thought they were similair to the Dh class , but for some reason thought the Dh were co -co . probably cos they look to be all bogies so to speak .
im not that into steam , but do know there is a garrat and another south african steam loco at the parnell depot . i think Ian welch owns them .

Yup, they have a GMAM and two class 25s - I went to visit them the other day, they are pretty impressive.

The GMAM is indeed impressive. Here in South Africa Rovos Rail was operating Sandstone's GMAM until a few months ago and I had the opportunity to fire it a few times - a great experience. Rovos Rail is currently operating two 25NCs, one a traditional coal burner, the other converted to burn diesel. They can be seen out and about around Pretoria almost daily, often double heading with each other or a smaller 19D, hauling trains of up to 22 vehicles..

Cheers!
John

johnthefireman wrote:Rovos Rail is currently operating two 25NCs, one a traditional coal burner, the other converted to burn diesel.

Nathan B would have a heart attack at that one...a DIESEL 25!

fcollingwood wrote:

johnthefireman wrote:Rovos Rail is currently operating two 25NCs, one a traditional coal burner, the other converted to burn diesel.

Nathan B would have a heart attack at that one...a DIESEL 25!

I like the Ffestiniog railway, but all its steam locos use old sumpoil - collected free from all over Wales. The smell always makes me feel slightly ill.

used vegie oil would be better . though the chances of picking it up free now are pretty slim .
The local nautical musuem uses sump oil too . at least they were taking it , the local council wouldnt take it at the recycling centre cos of health and safety and hazardous goods reasons . dont know what they thought people would do with it .

David Benton wrote:used vegie oil would be better . though the chances of picking it up free now are pretty slim .
The local nautical musuem uses sump oil too . at least they were taking it , the local council wouldnt take it at the recycling centre cos of health and safety and hazardous goods reasons . dont know what they thought people would do with it .

http://www.festrail.co.uk/
Ffestiniog railway.

fcollingwood - None of us are very impressed with the 25NC diesel burner - but a certain Nathan B was still extremely jealous that I got to fire it before he did!