South African Railways class 5.E.1 electric locomotive from 1959

A works photo by Metropolitan Cammell of Birmingham, England, the builder of 135 of these Bo-Bo type for South Africa's cape gauge network.

The first series of the 3 kV DC Class 5E1 electric locomotive was designed and built for SAR by Metropolitan-Vickers (Metrovick) at its Bowesfield Works. Metrovick was one of the companies owned by the Associated Electrical Industries holding group (AEI) who supplied the electrical equipment.  The 135 locomotives were delivered between 1959 and 1961, road numbers from E364 to E498. These were the last electric locomotives to be imported by SA from the United Kingdom.

Their power output was 485 kW (650 hp) at the one hour rating.  None are still in use.

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