The sterling silver R2 Crown and 2 ½ c Tickey were re-introduced as a combined commemorative coin series in 1997. The latest theme in this series is called “TRAINS OF SOUTH AFRICA”. In 2012, the first of the trains to be portrayed was The Gautrain. Diesel Electric Locomotives is the next train theme to be featured.
The diesel electric locomotives featured on the coins represent different eras in South Africa’s rail history. The Class 35-200 features on the 2 ½ c Tickey and the Class 43-000 on the R2 Crown.
South African Railways (SAR) contracted both General Motors (GM) and General Electric (GE) to supply their respective standard Class 35 models that were modified for SAR service. The main objective was to replace the steam locomotives working on the branch lines in the 1970s.
The Class 35-200 type GT18MC diesel electric locomotive was designed for SAR by Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD). EMD supplied 25 five from the United States (US) in 1974 and 1975. The remaining 125 were built locally at the GM Port Elizabeth plant between 1975 and 1976. These units were based predominantly at Beaconsfield, Durban, Nelspruit and Bloemfontein, and were used for shunting or for heavy haul on steeply graded branch lines built over difficult terrain.
The Class 43 model GE C30-ACi, featured on the R2 Crown, were the first alternating current, diesel electric locomotives to be introduced in sub-Saharan Africa and the first to comply with UIC2 emission standards. The initial 10 locomotives delivered to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), between January and April 2011, were manufactured in the US, the rest were manufactured at the Transnet Rail Engineering plant in Koedoespoort, Pretoria in a joint venture with General Electric South Africa Technologies (Pty) Ltd. These locomotives were designed to improve hauling capabilities while reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
