Transnet placed an initial order for 100 of the 2.46MW ac traction six-axle units, which are designated class 43, in 2009 and subsequently exercised an initial option for 43 additional units in 2012. TFR placed an order for a further 91 units at the beginning of this year, taking the total number of locomotives on order to 234.
The first ten locomotives from the initial batch were assembled at GE's Erie facility in the United States while the remainder have been built at Koedoespoort using components supplied by GE.
In addition to the locomotives for TFR, Transnet Engineering has assembled 10 C30ACis for Mozambique Railways (CFM) and six similar locomotives for Kumba Iron Ore, which are used for heavy shunting operations at the company's Shishen mine in Northern Cape.
