South African Class Experimental 5 2-8-2 Explained

CGR 9th Class 2-8-2 1906
Powertype:Steam
Designer:Cape Government Railways
(H.M. Beatty)
Builder:Kitson and Company
Serialnumber:4341
Buildmodel:CGR 9th Class
Builddate:1906
Totalproduction:1
Whytetype:2-8-2 (Mikado)
Uicclass:1'D1'n2
Driver:3rd coupled axle
Leadingdiameter:NaN0NaN0
Coupleddiameter:540NaN0
Trailingdiameter:330NaN0
Tenderdiameter:NaN0NaN0 as built
340NaN0 retyred
Wheelbase:55feet
Engine Total:29feet
Coupled:14feet
Tender Total:16feet
Tenderbogie:4feet
Wheelspacing:1-2: 5feet
2-3: 4feet
3-4: 4feet
Over Couplers:63feet
Height:12feet
Frametype:Bar
Axleload:14lt
Leadingbogie/Pony:6lt
Coupled 1:14lt
Coupled 2:13lt
Coupled 3:13lt
Coupled 4:13lt
Trail Bogie/Pony:11lt
Tenderbogieload:Bogie 1: 19lt
Bogie 2: 20lt
Tenderaxle:9lt
Weightondrivers:54lt
Locoweight:72lt
Tenderweight:39lt
Locotenderweight:112lt
Tendertype:XF2 (2-axle bogies)
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:7lt
Watercap:3000sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Fireboxtype:Round-top
Firearea:33.1square feet
Pitch:7feet
Diameterinside:5feet
Lengthinside:170NaN0
Smalltubediameter:203: NaN0NaN0
Boilerpressure:1800NaN0
Safetyvalvetype:Ramsbottom
Totalsurface:2162.5square feet
Tubearea:2032.8square feet
Fireboxarea:129.7square feet
Cylindercount:Two
Cylindersize:200NaN0 bore
280NaN0 stroke
Valvegear:Stephenson
Coupling:Johnston link-and-pin
Tractiveeffort:28000lbf @ 75%
Operator:Cape Government Railways
South African Railways
Operatorclass:CGR 9th Class Mikado
SAR Class Experimental 5
Numinclass:1
Fleetnumbers:CGR 840, SAR 948
Deliverydate:1906
Firstrundate:1906
Withdrawndate:1929
Notes:The 2nd & 3rd coupled axles had flangeless wheels

The South African Railways Class Experimental 5 2-8-2 of 1906 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

In 1906, the Cape Government Railways placed a single experimental steam locomotive with a Mikado type wheel arrangement in service. In 1912, when this locomotive was assimilated into the South African Railways, it was renumbered and designated Class Experimental 5. The design was never repeated.[1] [2]

Manufacturer

The Cape 9th Class Mikado type steam locomotive was designed by H.M. Beatty, the Locomotive Superintendent of the Cape Government Railways (CGR) from 1896 to 1910. It was a larger version of his 9th Class of 1903, which was also built with a bar frame and Stephenson’s Link valve gear and which also used saturated steam. The locomotive was delivered with a Type XF2 tender by Kitson and Company in 1906 and was numbered 840.[1] [2]

Characteristics

At the time, the locomotive was considered as a big advance in motive power. It was a large engine and on the CGR it was exceeded in size only by the experimental Kitson-Meyer 0-6-0+0-6-0 locomotive which had entered service in 1903.[1]

With this locomotive, Beatty overcame his aversion to boiler centre lines which exceeded twice the Cape gauge width of 3feet above the railhead, by raising the boiler pitch to 7feet. The locomotive was larger than its predecessor 9th Class of 1903 in all respects, with a longer boiler which had a bigger girth, larger diameter pistons with a longer stroke, larger diameter driving wheels, a larger firebox, and a tender with a larger fuel and water capacity. The design was, however, never repeated and the Cape 9th Class Mikado remained unique.

Service

Cape Government Railways

The locomotive was placed in service on the Western System, working on the mainline between Touws River and Prince Albert Road in the Karoo. When it was determined by the Civil Department of the CGR that the engine was too heavy for the rails and bridges on this section, it was transferred to the section between Beaufort West and De Aar where heavier rail was in use.[1] [2]

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] [3]

In 1912, the locomotive was designated Class Experimental 5 and renumbered to 948 on the South African Railways. It was later transferred to Braamfontein, where it remained until it was withdrawn from service and scrapped in 1929.[1]

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, March 1944. pp. 169-173.
  2. Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 9, 12, 15, 37 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
  3. The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.