Blue Train 14 E

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

14E 110 leads the Blue Train north just outside Cape Town.

[John Ashworth]

I like the 14E. That asymmetric front is quite charming really. There's often one sitting in Pretoria Station when we go through on a steam engine.

[Dylan Knott]

Why not paint them blue?

Quite a few at Bellville incl the prototype.

[M. Hardy-Randall]

The last memory that I have of the Blue Train was that the locomotives were all painted blue, has that policy changed?

Malcolm

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

They used various blue loco's From Cape Town 6E1's, Beaufort 7E's, De aar sometimes Class 34 Diesels and from Kimberley the12E's (Ex Metro Blits I think it was called.) . Now its straight through with these 14E's . None to my knowledge have been sprayed blue.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Here is some history for you. Blue train pulled by three 5E's. This must date back to the 1970's or early 1980's

[M. Hardy-Randall]

My last visit was in 1965 and as far as I can remember the electrics only hauled from Cape Town to Worcester and then those beautiful Class 25s' took over. I have forgotten where they handed back to electrics for the run into Jo'burg. Also, if my two little grey cells are working, the fare was of the order of R60.00 which at that time was equal to about GBP30.00.

Malcolm

[Luca Lategan]

What happened to the 12E's (ex MetroBlitz)?

[Gabor Kovacs]

Luca,

The 12E's do get used on the Blue Train, out of Pretoria.
I not sure if the 12E's get driven with the “Blue" en-tow all the way through to Cape Town, but if not, I won’t be surprised if the 12E’s get as far as Kimberley and wait for the return working of the “Blue”!!

[Luca Lategan]

If I'm not mistaken 14E's is dual voltage, so they can go straight through. 12E's are only 3kV so they can only go as far as Kimberly. 12E's designed to pull trains at 160km/h plus, not 80k's like the Blue train is towed at!

What about using them on the new Business Expresses?

[Jez Smith]

I last heard that the 12Es were derilict somewhere, but a conversion to Class 18Es was on the cards. The 14Es do indeed take the blue all the way from Gauteng to WC.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

You are right Jez.The 14E now pulls the Blue Train straight through from Pretoria to Cape Town. The 12E's are not used at present. It would be nice to see them run as they were made for on the Metro Blitz.

[Marc Russell]

The 14E 100 has a very 'Swiss' look to it!!

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Yes you are right Marc. In fact it is Swiss made in conjunction with UCW in Nigel. Engine made by Siemens and the body by Swiss Locomotive and Machine works.