South African Class DS1

South African Railways Class DS1

Company type	Diesel-electric locomotive
Industry	Railway
Founded	1939
Headquarters	South Africa
Products	Diesel-electric shunting locomotive

South African Railways Class DS1

The South African Railways Class DS1 was introduced in 1939 as a diesel-electric locomotive.

This model represented the second diesel-electric engine to enter service on the South African Railways network. Manufactured by Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG), the Class DS1 was a solitary shunting locomotive commissioned in 1939. A total of two units were brought into South Africa: one operated by the South African Railways and the other by the Electricity Supply Commission (ESKOM).

Manufacturer

Due to the challenges faced in securing sufficient water resources in the dry areas of South Africa and South West Africa, especially along the route from De Aar in the Karoo through Upington to Keetmanshoop, the South African Railways (SAR) opted to trial diesel-powered locomotives. This led to the introduction of their first two diesel-electric shunting engines in 1939.

The second locomotive was a single six-wheeled unit, with two ordered simultaneously from Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG) in Berlin, alongside the single Class DS engine.

Only one of these units was commissioned into SAR service and was classified as Class DS1. Initially assigned the number D138, it was soon renumbered to D514, both numbers falling within the range typically reserved for electric locomotives.

The other locomotive was delivered to the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM), South Africa’s national power utility, which put it into operation in Cape Town.

Characteristics

This locomotive utilized a Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg (MAN) eight-cylinder diesel engine delivering 265 horsepower (198 kilowatts) as its prime mover. Directly aligned between the engine and the cab were an AEG 110 kilowatts (150 horsepower) main generator and an auxiliary generator rated at 12 kilowatts (16 horsepower). The engine was cooled by water, with a fan driven by a belt connected to the engine, which drew air through a standard radiator setup.

This three-axle machine was effectively half of a Class DS locomotive. Each axle was powered by a force-ventilated, axle-suspended DC traction motor, and sanding equipment was installed at both ends of every wheel. The single engine compartment mirrored one of the two compartments found on the Class DS. The cab design was identical to that of the Class DS and featured mechanically interlocked dual controls that allowed operation in either direction.

South African Railways

The SAR Class DS1 was withdrawn from yard duties in July 1956 and reassigned to the SAR Civil Engineering department. It continued to perform shunting tasks at the Braamfontein Electric Running Shed (ERS) in Johannesburg through the early 1960s. Since it was primarily used for moving trolleys carrying heavy traction motors within the workshop, its original AAR knuckle coupler was replaced by a lower-mounted Johnston link-and-pin coupler, with the initial coupler pockets being sealed off.

No. D514 positioned at Braamfontein Electric Running Shed

Upon final retirement and replacement by a Class S2 steam shunter, this locomotive was preserved on a short section of track located on the western side of Braamfontein ERS. The accompanying image depicts the locomotive at Braamfontein, showing the bell coupler installed just above track level and its original coupler pocket covered.

ESKOM

Originally, the ESKOM locomotive served at the Table Bay Power Station under the administration of the City of Cape Town. It featured a maroon paint scheme and bore the name Citelek. Subsequently, the locomotive was relocated to Cape Town's Athlone Power Station, where it remained until it was dismantled around 1966.