A locomotive to suit Africa’s conditions

BY NICKY SMITH, 08 MAY 2013, 06:51

Transnet Engineering (TE), a unit of the state-owned freight and logistics group Transnet, is developing a prototype Trans-African locomotive designed to suit the rugged conditions of the continent’s railways and also suited for use in the narrow-gauge railway markets of Latin America.

TE, which manufactures and refurbishes locomotives, has been investing in its capacity since being commissioned by General Electric to manufacture 143 locomotives for Transnet Freight Rail. TE is targeting revenue of R6bn from outside South Africa by 2019, from about R865m currently, TE GM for strategy and marketing Thoba Majoka said recently.

A prototype for the Trans-African locomotive, designed by TE, is meant to be completed by March next year, GM for business development Sugen Govender said on Tuesday, but he was reluctant to comment further on project as it was “sensitive”.

TE is investing about R160m in the development of the locomotive, Mr Majoka said.

TE CEO Richard Vallihu first mentioned the project to Engineering News last month.

The design of the locomotive means that TE is able to use a different kind of traction system, one better able to withstand the jarring and bumping that comes from travelling over variations in the railway lines. This will suit African rail conditions where much of the rail infrastructure has deteriorated due to a lack investment.

Typically, traction motors are fixed to each axle of a locomotive. The traction motors provide propulsion power and can also be used to slow locomotives when a dynamic braking system is being used.

The positioning of the traction motor beneath the locomotive and its fixed attachment to the axles exposes the motor to wear and tear from the vehicle’s movements — side to side and forwards and backwards — that come from a locomotive travelling along railway lines that are never perfectly even.

Moving the traction system could allow TE to deliver a more robust locomotive where the traction motor does not “take a hammering”, which can lead to “warranty and credibility issues” with locomotive manufacturers, Mr Majoka said.

You need something that is rugged and strong …

For African rail conditions, “you need something that is rugged and strong”, Mr Majoka said. A similar type of train had been used in Uganda for the past 28 years, he said.

The Trans-African locomotive will not use the traditional axle-mounted motors. Instead, it will fit a “hydro-dynamic box” manufactured by German engineering and technology firm Voith to provide the hauling power, Mr Majoka said.

TE is eyeing markets beyond Africa and has recently explored possible business opportunities to supply wagons to Chile and Colombia, which also operate narrow-gauge railways, Mr Majoka said.

Clients in both countries have expressed interest.

Locomotives with hydrodynamic traction systems will likely offer greater pulling power on the narrow gauge than those fitted with axle traction motors, which would cut the number of locomotives needed to pull a train.

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