South African Class 14C 4-8-2, 4th batch explained

South African Class 14C, 14CM, 14CR & 14CRM 4-8-2, 4th batch
Hatnote:♠ Class 14C, standard, as built with a Belpaire firebox
Class 14CM, rebalanced for mainline working
Class 14CR, standard, Watson Standard boiler
Class 14CRM, mainline, Watson Standard boiler
220NaN0 bore - NaN0NaN0 bore
Powertype:Steam
Designer:Montreal Locomotive Works
Builder:Montreal Locomotive Works
Serialnumber:63075-63087
Buildmodel:Class 14C
Builddate:1922
Totalproduction:13
Whytetype:4-8-2 (Mountain)
Uicclass:2′D1’h2
Driver:2nd coupled axle
Leadingdiameter:NaN0NaN0
Coupleddiameter:480NaN0
Trailingdiameter:330NaN0
Tenderdiameter:340NaN0
Wheelbase:59feet
Engine Total:30feet
Leading:6feet
Coupled:12feet
Tender Total:17feet
Tenderbogie:4feet
Over Couplers:66feet
Height:♠ 12feet
13feet
Frametype:Bar
Axleload:♠ 16lt
16lt
Leadingbogie/Pony:♠ 15lt
16lt
Coupled 1:♠ 15lt
16lt
Coupled 2:♠ 16sigfig=4NaNsigfig=4
15lt
Coupled 3:♠ 16lt
16lt
Coupled 4:♠ 16lt
16lt
Trail Bogie/Pony:♠ 10lt
9lt
Tenderaxle:12lt av.
Weightondrivers:♠ 65sigfig=4NaNsigfig=4
65lt
Locoweight:♠ 91lt
90lt
Tenderweight:50lt
Locotenderweight:♠ 142lt
141lt
Tendertype:LP (2-axle bogies)
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:101NaN1
Watercap:4250sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Fireboxtype:Belpaire - Round-top
Firearea:♠ 373NaN3
Boiler: Watson Standard no. 2
Pitch:♠ 7feet
8feet
Diameterinside:♠ 5feet
Lengthinside:♠ 19feet
19feet steel
19feet copper
Smalltubediameter:139: NaN0NaN0
87: NaN0NaN0
Largetubediameter:24: NaN0NaN0
30: NaN0NaN0
Boilerpressure:♠ 1900NaN0
♠ 1950NaN0
1930NaN0
Safetyvalvetype:♠ Ramsbottom- Pop
Totalsurface:♠ 2350square feet
2075square feet
Tubearea:♠ 2212square feet
1933square feet
Fireboxarea:♠ 138square feet
142square feet
Superheaterarea:♠ 526square feet
492square feet
Cylindercount:Two
Cylindersize:♠ 220NaN0 bore
♠ NaN0NaN0 bore
♠ 260NaN0 stroke
Valvegear:Walschaerts
Valvetype:Piston
Coupling:Johnston link-and-pin
AAR knuckle (1930s)
Tractiveeffort:♠ 373600NaN0 @ 75%
♠ 37480lbf @ 75%
370900NaN0 @ 75%
37950lbf @ 75%
Operator:South African Railways
Operatorclass:Class 14C, 14CM, 14CR, 14CRM
Numinclass:13
Fleetnumbers:2026-2038
Deliverydate:1922
Firstrundate:1922
Withdrawndate:1980s
Notes:The leading coupled axle had flangeless wheels

The South African Railways Class 14C 4-8-2 of 1922 was a steam locomotive.

In 1922, the South African Railways placed the fourth and last batch of thirteen steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service to bring the total in the class to 73. All four batches had different maximum axle loadings. Through reboilerings, rebalancings and cylinder bushings during its service life, this single class eventually ended up as six distinct locomotive classes with two boiler types and a multitude of axle loading and boiler pressure configurations.[1] [2] [3]

Manufacturer

In 1922, the last thirteen Class 14C locomotives were ordered from the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) in Canada. They were delivered in that same year and numbered in the range from 2026 to 2038. Of the four batches built which all differed in terms of maximum axle loading, weight on driving wheels and engine weight, the engines of 1922 were the heaviest.[1] [2] [3]

The Class 14C was ordered at a time when further orders of the earlier Class 14 models were unobtainable from manufacturers in the United Kingdom. The Canadian manufacturer undertook to supply engines of equivalent power, wheelbase and weight, but to their own design. As a result, bar frames substituted plate frames and several other important modifications were made.[1]

Characteristics

As built, the locomotives of the fourth batch were heavier than all three previous batches, 6lt heavier than the first, 7lt heavier than the second and 5lt heavier than the third. All four batches were delivered with Type LP tenders with a coal capacity of 101NaN1 and a water capacity of 4250sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3.[2] [3]

Modifications and reclassifications

Watson Standard boilers

During the 1930s, many serving locomotives were reboilered with a standard boiler type designed by A.G. Watson, CME of the SAR at the time, as part of his standardisation policy. Such Watson Standard reboilered locomotives were reclassified by adding an "R" suffix to their classification.[2] [3]

All thirteen locomotives were eventually reboilered with Watson Standard no. 2 boilers and reclassified to . Only slight alterations were necessary to the engine frames. With the new boilers, the side running boards and platforms were attached to the engine frames instead of to the boilers as in the original design. In the process, the boiler pitch was raised from 7feet to 8feet, which raised the chimney height from 12feet to 13feet. This exceeded the loading gauge height of 130NaN0 above the railhead.[1]

Their original Belpaire boilers were fitted with Ramsbottom safety valves, while the Watson Standard boilers were fitted with Pop safety valves. The reboilered engines were also equipped with Watson cabs with their distinctive slanted fronts, compared to the conventional vertical fronts of their original cabs, to allow easier access to the firebox stays. The footplate was also modified to conform to SAR standard practice. Early conversions were equipped with copper and later conversions with steel fireboxes.[1] [2] [3]

Rebalancing

Around 1930, the question of maximum axle loads for locomotives was thoroughly investigated by the Mechanical and Civil Engineering Departments of the SAR. It was found that, among some other locomotive classes, the Class 14C had a rather severe vertical hammer blow effect on the track when running at speed due to an undue proportion of the reciprocating parts being balanced. Modifications were accordingly made to the Class 14C.[1]

The locomotives had weights attached between the frames to increase adhesion. Over time, most of the Class 14C family of locomotives were "rebalanced" by having these weights increased or reduced to redistribute, increase or reduce the axle loading and adhesive weight, by altering the loads on the individual coupled wheels, leading bogies and trailing pony trucks. Coupled wheel axle loading adjustment was achieved by attaching steel boxes, filled with an appropriate amount of lead, over each axle between the frames.[2] [3]

Since they were too heavy for use on light track, the fourth batch version of the rebalanced locomotives was reclassified to Class 14CM, with the "M" indicating mainline service. Twelve of these locomotives, all except no. 2035, were rebalanced and reclassified to Class 14CM. The boiler pressure setting of rebalanced locomotives of the fourth batch was not altered and remained at 1900NaN0. It is not clear which of these reboilering and rebalancing modifications were carried out first, one, the other, either one or together, but in whichever order, all twelve rebalanced locomotives were eventually also reboilered with Watson Standard no. 2 boilers and reclassified to Class 14CRM.[1] [2] [3]

Cylinder bushing

Several of the locomotives had their cylinders bushed to reduce the bore from the as-built 22to. At the same time, the boiler pressure setting of the Classes 14C and 14CR locomotives was adjusted upwards from 190to to keep their tractive effort more or less unaffected by the reduction in piston diameter. The boiler pressure setting of the mainline Classes 14CM and 14CRM was adjusted upwards from 190to.[1] [2] [3]

Service

The Class 14C was placed in service on the Cape Eastern system, working on the mainline to Cookhouse. Some went to the Cape Western system, where they banked up the Hex River Pass from De Doorns.

Works numbers

The table lists their years built, manufacturer's works numbers, engine numbers and eventual classifications.[2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1945). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, September 1945. pp. 675-676, 704.
  2. South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. p. 43.
  3. South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte, Steam Locomotives/Stoomlokomotiewe. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. pp. 6a-7a, 41, 43.