REVIEW OF RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

The progress of railway electrification in South Africa from its inception in 1925 up to 1947 was comparatively slow, but from the latter date onwards, expansion of electrification has taken place at an accelerated rate, ultimately reaching an average rate of conversion of 286 track miles per annum. This development has been due to the necessity to provide improved facilities for handling a greater volume of railway traffic, brought about by the considerable increase in industrial activity which has taken place during the last two decades. South Africa is not an oil producing country, but possesses vast reserves of coal, consequently it is in the interests of the national economy to utilize, as far as possible, the available fuel resources in the form of electric energy for the operation of trains when a change from steam traction becomes necessary.

• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Electrical Engineers

  Savoy Place
  London WC2R 0BL, NY  England  10016-5997
• Authors:
  • Gosling, AJG
• Publication Date: 1968

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 32 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Railroad electrification; Technology
• Geographic Terms: South Africa
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00054360
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institution of Electrical Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: #50 Conf Pub
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 10 1974 12:00AM