South African type EW1 tender explained

South African type EW1 tender
Locomotive:Class 25NC
Designer:South African Railways
(L.C. Grubb)
Builder:North British Locomotive Company
Henschel and Son
Worksnumber:NBL 27287-27296, 27311
Henschel 28731-28769
Date:1953
Wheelarr:3-axle bogies
Wheeldiameter:340NaN0
Wheelbase:320NaN0
Bogie:100NaN0
Axleload:18lt
Bogie 1:51lt
Bogie 2:54lt
Tenderempty:97300lb
Tenderworking:105lt
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:181NaN1
Watercap:10500sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Stoking:Mechanical
Coupling:Drawbar & AAR knuckle
Operator:South African Railways
Fleetnumbers:SAR 3401-3450

See main article: South African steam locomotive tenders.

The South African type EW1 tender was a steam locomotive tender.

Type EW1 tenders entered service between 1953 and 1955 as tenders to the Class 25NC Northern type steam locomotives which entered service on the South African Railways in those years.[1]

Manufacturers

Type EW1 tenders were built in 1953, eleven by North British Locomotive Company and 39 by Henschel and Son.

The South African Railways (SAR) placed fifty Class 25NC locomotives in service between 1953 and 1955. The locomotive and tender were designed by L.C. Grubb, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the SAR from 1949 to 1954. It was the non-condensing version of the Class 25 condensing locomotive, of which ninety were placed in service at the same time.[2] [3]

Characteristics

The tender rode on six-wheeled bogies, each with a 100NaN0 wheelbase and fitted with Timken roller bearings. It was equipped with a mechanical stoker, of which the engine was mounted on the tender. The tank had a water capacity of 10500sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3 and the coal bunker a capacity of 181NaN1. The tender had a one-piece steel casting water-bottom frame, with the frame itself forming the bottom of the tank instead of being a separate tank and frame as in previous designs. The casting was done by Commonwealth Steel Castings Corporation in the United States of America.[1]

Locomotive

Only Class 25NC locomotives were delivered new with Type EW1 tenders, which were numbered in the range from 3401 to 3450 for their engines. An oval number plate, bearing the engine number and often also the locomotive class and tender type, was attached to the rear end of the tender.

Classification letters

Since many tender types are interchangeable between different locomotive classes and types, a tender classification system was adopted by the SAR. The first letter of the tender type indicates the classes of engines to which it could be coupled. The "E_" tenders were arranged with mechanical stokers and could be used with the locomotive classes as shown.[1]

The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_W1" tenders had a capacity of 10500impgal.[1]

Modification

Between 1979 and 1981, the last one of the Class 25NC locomotives, no. 3450, was rebuilt to the sole Class 26 Red Devil. The coal capacity of this locomotive's Type EW1 tender was increased from 181NaN1 to approximately 201NaN1 by raising the bunker sides. Since the water capacity remained unchanged, the tender was not reclassified.[4]

A number, when added after the letter code, indicates differences between similar tender types, such as function, wheelbase or coal bunker capacity.[1]

Notes and References

  1. 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. VIII, 6a-7a, 20-21, 28-28A.
  2. North British Locomotive Company works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser
  3. Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow
  4. http://www.martynbane.co.uk/modernsteam/dw/rooinek/rooinek.html South Africa's 'Red Devil'