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Four Class 44 locos pulling a full platinum consist.
These locos are still being delivered (delivery started in 2015) and are pretty sophisticated. The drivers use a laptop and operation is more or less automated. The system used is interesting.
This is South Africa's largest single order of any loco ever.
But the manufacture and delivery arrangements are just plain weird!
The locos are actually General Electric and the first 6 came from the USA.
The remaining locos are being manufactured as follows:
227 - General Electric - South Africa.
359 - CSR - China
232 - CNR - China again.
240 - Bombardier - South Africa.
So although General Electric has the capacity here, the lions share is being manufactured by Chinese companies, with the French also getting a chunk.
Hmmmmmm.................
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The SD40 is 55 now!
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