CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1903 explained

CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1903
South African Class 03 4-4-0 1903
Powertype:Steam
Designer:Cape Government Railways
(H.M. Beatty)
Builder:Sharp, Stewart and Company
Serialnumber:4969-4976
Builddate:1903
Totalproduction:8
Whytetype:4-4-0 (American)
Uicclass:2'Bn2
Driver:1st coupled axle
Leadingdiameter:NaN0NaN0
Coupleddiameter:600NaN0
Tenderdiameter:370NaN0
Wheelbase:41feet
Engine Total:20feet
Leading:5feet
Coupled:7feet
Tender Total:100NaN0
Over Couplers:50feet
Height:12feet
Axleload:14lt
Leadingbogie/Pony:12lt
Coupled 1:14lt
Coupled 2:14lt
Tenderaxle:Axle 1: 10lt
Axle 2: 10lt
Axle 3: 11lt
Weightondrivers:29lt
Locoweight:41lt
Tenderweight:31lt
Locotenderweight:72lt
Tendertype:3-axle
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:51NaN1
Watercap:2470sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Fireboxtype:Round-top
Firearea:18square feet
Pitch:70NaN0
Diameterinside:4feet
Lengthinside:10feet
Boilerpressure:1800NaN0
Safetyvalvetype:Ramsbottom
Totalsurface:1019square feet
Tubearea:910square feet
Fireboxarea:109square feet
Cylindercount:Two
Cylindersize:NaN0NaN0 bore
240NaN0 stroke
Valvegear:Stephenson
Coupling:Johnston link-and-pin
Tractiveeffort:16540lbf @ 75%
Operator:Cape Government Railways
South African Railways
Operatorclass:CGR 3rd Class, SAR Class 03
Numinclass:8
Fleetnumbers:1, 21, 29-30, 45, 48-49, 56
Nicknames:Wynberg Tender
Deliverydate:1903
Firstrundate:1903
Withdrawndate:c. 1932

The Cape Government Railways 3rd Class 4-4-0 of 1903 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

In 1903, the Cape Government Railways placed the last eight 3rd Class Wynberg Tender locomotives with a 4-4-0 American type wheel arrangement in suburban service in Cape Town. While they appeared to be virtually identical to the locomotives of 1901 at first glance, they were heavier and more powerful.[1]

Manufacturer

The last eight Wynberg Tender passenger locomotives for suburban service in Cape Town were introduced on the Cape Government Railways (CGR) in 1903. Like the Wynberg Tenders of 1901, they were built by Sharp, Stewart and Company. It would appear that their numbering was used as an opportunity to perform some gap-filling on the CGR engine number roster.

These locomotives were very similar in design and appearance to the six CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 engines of 1901, but Cape Government Railways Chief Locomotive Superintendent H.M. Beatty had revisited his earlier designs which resulted in a larger and more powerful locomotive. The main differences were:

Service

Cape Government Railways

These locomotives were also known as Wynberg Tenders. They were fast and reliable and performed well on the Simon's Town line. Some were later transferred to Port Elizabeth, where they were employed on the inter-urban passenger trains to Uitenhage.[1]

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.[2]

In 1912, even though they were less than ten years old, these locomotives were also considered obsolete by the South African Railways (SAR), designated Class 03 and renumbered by having the numeral "0" prefixed to their existing numbers. In SAR service, they continued to work suburban trains in Cape Town. Some were later transferred to Germiston, where they were adapted to work the push-pull railmotor trains which ran between Germiston and Wattles until that line was electrified.

Despite being considered obsolete, all eight engines survived until c. 1918. Two were withdrawn from service between 1918 and 1931, while the rest survived in service until after 1931.[3]

Works numbers

The works numbers, original numbers and renumbering of the Cape 3rd Class of 1903 are shown in the table.[3]

Notes and References

  1. 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, January 1944. pp. 9-12.
  2. The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.
  3. Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, p. 26. (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)