#4413

South African Class 36-200

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by General Motors South Africa· from 1980· class of South African diesel-electric locomotives

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. SAR Class 36-200 36-201: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Class 36-200 36-256: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
3. Class 36-200 36-297: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
4. Class 36-251 - Blue Spoornet Livery (Outlined Numbers): SAR Connecta· CC BY-SA 3.0
5. SAR Class 36-200 36-217: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
6. SAR Class 36-200 36-205: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
7. SAR Class 36-200 36-214: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
8. SAR Class 36-200 36-220: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
9. SAR Class 36-200 36-225: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
10. SAR Class 36-200 36-230: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 36-200 of 1980 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Beginning in August 1980, the South African Railways placed 101 Class 36-200 General Motors Electro-Motive Division type SW1002 diesel-electric locomotives in service. In 1984, one Class 36-200 locomotive was also built for the Bophuthatswana National Development Corporation for use at the Ga-Rankuwa Industrial Estate.

who runs it

Mittal Steel South Africa Transnet Freight Rail Surtees Rail Group South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

speed 90 km/htop speed
weight 73 tin working order
built 107made 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 46 years ago, in 1980.
Weighs about as much as 12 African elephants (~6 t each).

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

spec sheet

built: 1980–1991
in service from: 1980
number built: 107
kind: Diesel-electric
traction: diesel
origin: 🇿🇦 South Africa
builders: General Motors South Africa, Astarsa
designer: General Motors Electro-Motive Division
operators: Mittal Steel South Africa, Transnet Freight Rail, Surtees Rail Group, South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: 90 km/h
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: Bo'Bo'
weight: 73 t

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565521, Wikipedia: South African Class 36-200 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.