South African type EW tender explained

South African type EW tender
Hatnote:♠ Tender numbers 2552-2271
Tender numbers 3201-3316
Locomotive:Class 23
Designer:South African Railways
(W.A.J. Day)
Builder:Berliner Maschinenbau
Henschel and Son
Date:1938-1939
Rebuilder:South African Railways
Rebuiltto:Water only tender
Wheelarr:3-axle bogies
Length:42feet
Wheeldiameter:340NaN0
Wheelbase:30feet
Bogie:8feet
Axleload:♠ 18sigfig=4NaNsigfig=4
17lt
Bogie 1:♠ 54lt
53lt
Bogie 2:♠ 54sigfig=4NaNsigfig=4
53lt
Tenderempty:105928lb
Tenderworking:♠ 104lt
107lt
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:181NaN1
Watercap:♠ 9200sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
9500sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Stoking:Mechanical
Coupling:Drawbar & AAR knuckle
Operator:South African Railways
Fleetnumbers:SAR 2552-2271, 3201-3316

See main article: South African steam locomotive tenders.

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

Type EW tenders entered service in 1938, as tenders to the Class 23 Mountain type steam locomotives which entered service on the South African Railways in that year.[1] [2] [3]

Manufacturers

Type EW tenders were built in 1938 by Berliner Maschinenbau and Henschel and Son.[1]

The South African Railways (SAR) placed 136 Class 23 locomotives in service in 1938 and 1939. The locomotive and tender was designed by W.A.J. Day, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the South African Railways (SAR) from 1936 to 1939, as a general utility locomotive capable of operating on 80lb/yd rail.[1]

Characteristics

The tender rode on six-wheeled bogies. To enable longer runs to be undertaken between watering stops in the Karoo and to skip bad watering places, they were the largest tenders to have been used in South Africa up to that time and, as originally designed, would have had a water capacity of 10000sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3 and a coal capacity of 181NaN1. Owing to axle load restrictions, however, it was necessary to reduce the water capacity to 9200sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3. The first batch of twenty locomotives were delivered with such tenders.[1] [2] [3]

The second batch of 116 locomotives were delivered with tenders of which the underframe was modified. To improve the weight distribution, both bogie pivot centres were relocated 60NaN0 towards the rear. This enabled the water capacity to be increased to 9500sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3 on these 116 tenders.[1] [2] [3]

Four vacuum cylinders operated clasp brakes on all tender wheels and a hand brake was included. Since experience showed that a firegrate of 63square feet cannot be served effectively under all conditions by manual stoking, particularly on long runs, a mechanical stoker was fitted. The mechanical stoker's engine was mounted on the tender.[1]

Locomotives

Only Class 23 locomotives were delivered new with Type EW tenders, which were numbered in the ranges from 2552 to 2271 and 3201 to 3316 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 tenders.

When the Class 23 were withdrawn, many of their Type EW tenders were coupled to Class 15F locomotives to increase their range.

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 can be coupled. The "E_" tenders were arranged with mechanical stokers and could be used with the locomotive classes as shown.[2] [3]

The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_W" tenders had a capacity of between 9200and.[2] [3]

Modification

At least one of the tenders, no. 3209, was later rebuilt to a water-only tender.

Notes and References

  1. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1947). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, January 1947. pp. 29-31.
  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. pp. VIII, 45-46.
  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. VIII, 6a-7a, 20-21, 28-28A, 45-46.