Talk:South African Class GL 4-8-2+2-8-4

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Trains: Locomotives Mid‑importance

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Infobox[edit]

Many thanks for the infobox. I experimented with one in the preview, but it was getting towards 4am and the will to keep trying with Wiki's syntax left me. If anyone's listening, are there any specific recommendations for improvements?1966: End of an Era. 02:02, 3 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Move[edit]

I moved this page to its current title to achieve consistency. Here’s my reasoning:

I’ve just finished creating basic articles for all existing and virtually all old SA electric and diesel locomotives and got started on steam by revamping the Class 26 4-8-4 article. Since the articles are loco-specific, however, I soon ran into a problem with naming them.

The first SA locomotive article I started was for the new Class 15E, at present being commissioned by Transnet Freight Rail, so using "Transnet Freight Rail Class 15E" for the title seemed a good idea. Continuing with the Class 1E, 3E and 4E, I used "South African Railways Class xE" in the titles.

Then I reached the Class 5Es and 5E1s, commissioned by the South African Railways and still in use when SAR became Spoornet and still later TFR. Some are even now still in use with Rovos Rail while others were recently sold at auction to other operators. The multitude of liveries they wear tell the story. The same with the Class 6E, all eleven of the 6E1 series, 7E's and so on. All of them are still in use, but now running in SAR, Spoornet, Shosholoza Meyl and TFR liveries, until some new corporate chief gets a new bright idea next week and adds another new name.

With the SAR diesels one can add TransNamib, Spoornet Traction, Spoornet Tracao, FCA in Brazil, Kumba Iron Ore, Sheltam, RRL and BBR as owners. The same with steam, with ex SAR locos running at Sandstone Estates, at various mines, even in Wales and Switzerland. In addition, the new Class 15E electric also clashes with the old Class 15E steam.

The most sensible solution turned out to use "South African" for the lot, since that covers all, even South African locomotives that never saw SAR/Spoornet/TFR service, but started new in private service such as at Landau Colliery and with Sheltam Grindrod and RRL. With steam locomotives, adding the wheel arrangement will prevent clashes such as with the Class 15E electric, as in "South African Class 26 4-8-4”.

After all, the focus of all these articles is on locomotive type, not owner.

André Kritzinger 15:51, 28 October 2010 (UTC)