#4153

South African Class 35-000

🇺🇸 United States ·built by General Electric· from 1972· class of 70 South African diesel-electric locomotives

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Class 35-000 35-020: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Class 35-000 35-059: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
3. Class 35-000 35-065: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
4. Class 35-000 35-066 U: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
5. Class 35-000 no. 35-041: User:Peter Bagshawe· CC BY-SA 3.0
6. Class 35 GE U15C 35-033 (7888265656): Bob Adams from George, South Africa· CC BY-SA 2.0
7. SAR Class 35-000 35-001: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
8. SAR Class 35-000 35-003: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
9. SAR Class 35-000 35-004: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
10. SAR Class 35-000 35-005: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 35-000 of 1972 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Between March 1972 and May 1973, the South African Railways placed seventy Class 35-000 General Electric type U15C diesel-electric locomotives in branch line service.

who runs it

Transnet Freight Rail Zambia Railways South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

speed 100 km/htop speed
weight 82.3 tin working order
built 70made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 54 years ago, in 1972.
Weighs about as much as 14 African elephants (~6 t each).

diesel locomotive: A diesel engine on board drives the wheels, usually through a generator (diesel-electric).

spec sheet

built: 1972–1973
in service from: 1972
number built: 70
kind: Diesel-electric
traction: diesel
origin: 🇺🇸 United States
builders: General Electric
designer: General Electric
operators: Transnet Freight Rail, Zambia Railways, South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: 100 km/h
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: Co'Co'
weight: 82.3 t

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q17111302, Wikipedia: South African Class 35-000 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.