CGR 2-6-0ST 1900 explained

Port Elizabeth Harbour 2-6-0ST 1900
CGR 2-6-0ST 1900
South African 2-6-0ST 1900
Powertype:Steam
Designer:Kitson and Company
Builder:Kitson and Company
Serialnumber:4245 (3rd locomotive)
Builddate:1900, 1903
Totalproduction:3
Whytetype:2-6-0ST (Mogul)
Uicclass:1Cn2t
Driver:2nd coupled axle
Leadingdiameter:240NaN0
Coupleddiameter:390NaN0
Wheelbase:11feet
Coupled:7feet
Wheelspacing:1-2: 3feet
2-3: 4feet
Length:23feet
Height:11feet
Axleload:7lt
Leadingbogie/Pony:5lt
Coupled 1:6lt
Coupled 2:7lt
Coupled 3:6lt
Weightondrivers:20lt
Locoweight:25lt
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:101NaN1
Watercap:600sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Pitch:5feet
Diameterinside:3feet
Lengthinside:9feet
Smalltubediameter:116: NaN0NaN0
Fireboxtype:Round-top
Boilerpressure:1600NaN0
Safetyvalvetype:Salter
Firearea:10square feet
Totalsurface:544square feet
Tubearea:494square feet
Fireboxarea:50square feet
Cylindercount:Two
Cylindersize:130NaN0 bore
200NaN0 stroke
Valvegear:Stephenson
Coupling:Johnston link-and-pin
Tractiveeffort:10400lbf @ 75%
Operator:Port Elizabeth Harbour Board
Cape Government Railways
South African Railways
Numinclass:3
Fleetnumbers:PEHB I, J & O
CGR 1024-1026
SAR 01024-01026
Deliverydate:1900-1904
Firstrundate:1900
Withdrawndate:1931

The Cape Government Railways 2-6-0ST of 1900 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

In 1900, two 2-6-0 Mogul type saddle-tank locomotives entered service on the Port Elizabeth Harbour works, followed by one more in 1904. They were later taken onto the Cape Government Railways roster and were all still in service when the South African Railways was established in 1912.[1]

Manufacturer

In 1900, two 2-6-0 saddle-tank locomotives were delivered to the Port Elizabeth Harbour Board (PEHB) from Kitson and Company. In 1904, they were followed by one more from the same manufacturer.[1] [2]

The builder’s works numbers of the first two locomotives are not known, but are probably two of Kitson numbers 4079 to 4083 in respect of which no trial date or owner are given in the Kitson Works Trial Book. The third locomotive, Kitson no. 4245, is listed with trial date 8 December 1903 and customer H Chaplin P.E.H.B. From the trial date, it would follow that the locomotive could only have entered service in Port Elizabeth early in 1904.[3]

The locomotives were similar in appearance and general dimensions to the 1st Class 2-6-0ST of 1876 which had been delivered as a pair of Stephenson's Patent back-to-back side-tank locomotives, before being rebuilt to saddle-tank locomotives by the Cape Government Railways (CGR) in the 1880s. The new locomotives were slightly larger, with an increased heating surface and tractive effort.[1]

Service

Port Elizabeth Harbour Board

The locomotives were acquired as construction locomotives for use on the Port Elizabeth harbour works. The PEHB used letters to number its locomotives at the time, and the first two of these engines were lettered I and J, while the one which was delivered in 1904 was lettered O.[1] [4]

Cape Government Railways

In terms of Cape Act 38 of 1908, the Cape Government Railways (CGR) became responsible for the administration of the three major harbours in the Cape of Good Hope with effect from 1 January 1909. The locomotives were therefore all taken onto the CGR roster and renumbered in the range from 1024 to 1026. They spent their entire service lives as dock shunting engines in the Port Elizabeth Harbour.[2] [5]

South African Railways

When the Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (CGR, Natal Government Railways 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.[6]

In 1912, the locomotives were considered obsolete by the SAR and renumbered by having the numeral "0" prefixed to their existing engine numbers. Even though obsolete, they remained in service until 1931.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1943). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter II - The Cape Government Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, September 1943. p. 658.
  2. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1944). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter II - The Cape Government Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, April 1944. pp. 253-257.
  3. Carter, Reg (November 1997). Kitson Works List. (Carter was assistant Librarian for the Stephenson Locomotive Society (SLS) who holds the original Kitson records.)
  4. [:Talk:CGR 1st Class 2-6-0ST 1876#Updated information on the 1st Class Kitsons|Updated information on the 1st Class Kitsons]
  5. [:Talk:CGR 1st Class 2-6-0ST 1876#Updated information on the 1st Class Kitsons|Updated information on the 1st Class Kitsons]
  6. The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.
  7. Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 13, 17. (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)