During 1990 and 1991, Spoornet semi-permanently coupled several pairs of otherwise largely unmodified Class 6E1 units, reclassified them to Class 16E and allocated a single locomotive number to each pair, with the individual units in the pairs inscribed "A" or "B".
The aim was to accomplish savings on cab maintenance by coupling the units at their no.
1 ends, abandoning the no.
1 end cabs in terms of maintenance and using only the no.
2 end cabs.
Most pairs were later either disbanded with the units reverting to Class 6E1 and regaining their original numbers or getting rebuilt to Class 18E.
Twelve known Series 7 locomotives were part of such Class 16E pairs.

E1790 became 16-407B.
E1840 and E1841 became 16-409 A and B.
E1846 and E1847 became 16-404 A and B.
E1848 and E1849 became 16-405 A and B.
E1850 and E1851 became 16-410 A and B.
E1858 and E1859 became 16-411 A and B.
E1870 became 16-406B.
During 1990 and 1991, Spoornet semi-permanently coupled several pairs of otherwise largely unmodified Class 6E1 units, reclassified them to Class 16E and allocated a single locomotive number to each pair, with the individual units in the pairs inscribed "A" or "B". The aim was to accomplish savings on cab maintenance by coupling the units at their no. 1 ends, abandoning the no. 1 end cabs in terms of maintenance and using only the no. 2 end cabs. Most pairs were later either disbanded with the units reverting to Class 6E1 and regaining their original numbers or getting rebuilt to Class 18E.
Twelve known Series 7 locomotives were part of such Class 16E pairs.
E1790 became 16-407B.
E1840 and E1841 became 16-409 A and B.
E1846 and E1847 became 16-404 A and B.
E1848 and E1849 became 16-405 A and B.
E1850 and E1851 became 16-410 A and B.
E1858 and E1859 became 16-411 A and B.
E1870 became 16-406B.
South African Class 6E1, Series 7