South African Class DS1

The locomotive was powered by a Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg (MAN) 265 horsepower (198 kilowatts) eight-cylinder diesel engine prime mover. An AEG 110 kilowatts (150 horsepower) main generator and an AEG 12 kilowatts (16 horsepower) auxiliary generator were mounted directly in line between the engine and the cab. The engine was water-cooled with a fan that was belt-driven by the engine and that drew air through a conventional radiator.^[1][3]

This three-axle locomotive was essentially half a Class DS locomotive. Each axle was driven by a force-ventitated axle-suspended DC traction motor and sanding was arranged at the back and front of all wheels. Its single engine compartment was identical to either one of the two engine compartments of the Class DS. The cab was also identical to that of the Class DS, equipped with mechanically interlocked dual controls to enable operation in either direction.^[1][2][3]

The SAR Class DS1 was withdrawn from yard service in July 1956 and transferred to the SAR's Civil Engineering department, who continued to use it for shunting at the Braamfontein Electric Running Shed (ERS) in Johannesburg into the early 1960s.^[1] Since it was used to move trolleys with heavy traction motors around the workshop, the original AAR knuckle coupler was replaced by a low-mounted Johnston link-and-pin coupler and the original coupler pockets were blanked off.

When it was finally retired from service and replaced by a Class S2 shunting steam locomotive, it was plinthed on a short piece of track on the western side of the Braamfontein ERS. The picture alongside shows the locomotive at Braamfontein, with the bell coupler mounted barely above track level and with the original coupler pocket blanked off.^[4]

The ESKOM locomotive was initially employed by the City of Cape Town at the Table Bay Power Station. It was painted in a maroon livery and was named Citelek. It was later transferred to the Athlone Power Station in Cape Town, where it was scrapped in about 1966.^[1]