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South African Class E 4-6-4T

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NGR Class F 4-6-4T
South African Class E 4-6-4T
NGR Class F no. 1, SAR Class E no. 87
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerNatal Government Railways
(G.W. Reid)
BuilderNeilson, Reid and Company
Serial number6158-6167
Build date1902
Total produced10
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-6-4T (Baltic)
 • UIC2'C2'n2t
Driver2nd coupled axle
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.25+34 in (654 mm)
Coupled dia.39 in (991 mm)
Trailing dia.25+34 in (654 mm)
Wheelbase25 ft 7+14 in (7,804 mm) ​
 • Axle spacing
(Asymmetrical)
1-2: 3 ft 7+12 in (1,105 mm)
2-3: 4 ft 1+12 in (1,257 mm)
 • Leading5 ft (1,524 mm)
 • Coupled7 ft 9 in (2,362 mm)
 • Trailing5 ft (1,524 mm)
Length:
 • Over couplers32 ft 3+14 in (9,836 mm)
Height11 ft 6 in (3,505 mm)
Frame typePlate
Axle load9 LT (9,144 kg) ​
 • Leading6 LT 15 cwt 2 qtr (6,884 kg)
 • 1st coupled8 LT 7 cwt (8,484 kg)
 • 2nd coupled9 LT (9,144 kg)
 • 3rd coupled8 LT 5 cwt (8,382 kg)
 • Trailing6 LT 15 cwt 2 qtr (6,884 kg)
Adhesive weight25 LT 12 cwt (26,010 kg)
Loco weight39 LT 3 cwt (39,780 kg)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity2 LT 5 cwt (2.3 t)
Water cap.1,080 imp gal (4,900 L)
Firebox:
 • TypeRound-top
 • Grate area12.7 sq ft (1.18 m2)
Boiler:
 • Pitch6 ft 3 in (1,905 mm)
 • Diameter3 ft 8+18 in (1,121 mm)
 • Tube plates10 ft 3 in (3,124 mm)
 • Small tubes171: 1+34 in (44 mm)
Boiler pressure175 psi (1,207 kPa)
Safety valveRamsbottom
Heating surface:
 • Firebox70 sq ft (6.5 m2)
 • Tubes803 sq ft (74.6 m2)
 • Total surface873 sq ft (81.1 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size15 in (381 mm) bore
22 in (559 mm) stroke
Valve gearStephenson
Valve typeSlide
CouplersJohnston link-and-pin
Performance figures
Tractive effort16,650 lbf (74.1 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsNatal Government Railways
South African Railways
ClassNGR Class F
SAR Class E
Number in class10
NumbersNGR 1-10, SAR 87-96
Delivered1902
First run1902
Withdrawn1937

The South African Railways Class E 4-6-4T of 1902 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.

In 1902, the Natal Government Railways placed ten Class F 4-6-4 Baltic type tank steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and reclassified as Class E.[1][2][3]

Manufacturer

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The last locomotive to be designed for the Natal Government Railways (NGR) by Locomotive Superintendent G.W. Reid before he relinquished his appointment in 1902, was a 4-6-4T locomotive, the first known locomotive in the world to be designed and built as a 4-6-4 Baltic type.[1][2][4]

G.W. Reid

It was built for the NGR by Neilson, Reid and Company who delivered ten of them in 1902, numbered in the range from 1 to 10. In NGR service, they were known as the Neilson, Reid locomotives until a classification system was introduced at some stage between 1904 and 1908 and they were designated the NGR Class F.[1][2][4][5]

The NGR Class F was a larger version of the NGR Class H Stephenson-built 4-6-4T loco­mo­tive, which Reid had rebuilt from a Class G 4-6-0T locomotive in 1896 and which later became the sole Class C2 on the South African Railways (SAR). Many of the main dimensions were identical. They had plate frames, Stephenson valve gear and used saturated steam.[1][4][5]

South African Railways

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When the Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (Cape Government Railways, NGR and Central South African Railways) were united under a single administration to control and administer the railways, ports and harbours of the Union. Although the South African Railways and Harbours came into existence in 1910, the actual classification and renumbering of all the rolling stock of the three constituent railways were only implemented with effect from 1 January 1912.[3][6]

In 1912, these locomotives were designated Class E on the SAR roster and renumbered in the range from 87 to 96. During 1926, their boiler pressure setting was reduced to 160 pounds per square inch (1,103 kilopascals), which reduced their tractive effort to 15,230 pounds-force (67.7 kilonewtons) at 75% of boiler pressure.[2][3][4][7]

Service

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South Africa

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The locomotives were built specifically for use on the Natal South Coast and the Richmond branch, where reverse running was required due to the absence of turning facilities such as turntables or triangles. In SAR service, the Class E was mainly used for shunting work.[2][4]

First World War

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In 1915, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, the German South West Africa colony was occupied by the Union Defence Forces. Since a large part of the territory's railway infrastructure and rolling stock was destroyed or damaged by retreating German forces, an urgent need arose for locomotives for use on the Cape gauge lines in that territory. In 1917, numbers 87 and 92 were transferred to the Defence Department for service in South West Africa. Both locomotives are believed to have returned to South Africa after the war.[8]

The locomotives were later transferred to the Cape Midland System, where they remained for the rest of their service lives. They were withdrawn from service and scrapped in 1937.[2][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 96–98. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1944). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter III - Natal Government Railways. (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, June 1944. p. 425.
  3. ^ a b c Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 7, 11, 13, 20 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
  4. ^ a b c d e f Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 30. ISBN 0869772112.
  5. ^ a b The Railway Report for year ending 31 Dec. 1908, Natal Government Railways, p. 39, par 14.
  6. ^ The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.
  7. ^ Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  8. ^ Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1947). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, December 1947. p. 1033.