South African type JT tender explained

South African type JT tender
Locomotive:Class 15E, Class 15F, Class 16E
Designer:Allan Watson
Builder:Berliner Maschinenbau
Beyer, Peacock & Company
Henschel & Son
North British Locomotive Company
Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns
Date:1935-1946
Wheelarr:2-axle bogies
Length:30feet
Wheeldiameter:340NaN0
Wheelbase:20feet
Bogie:6feet
Axleload:17lt
Bogie 1:33lt
Bogie 2:35lt
Tenderempty:66416lb
Tenderworking:69lt
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:141NaN1
Watercap:6000sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Stoking:Manual
Coupling:Drawbar & AAR knuckle
Operator:South African Railways
Fleetnumbers:854-859, 2858-3056

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

Type JT tenders first entered service in 1935 as tenders to the Class 15E 4-8-2 Mountain and Class 16E 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotives which were placed in service by the South African Railways in that year. Until 1946, more entered service as tenders to more Class 15E and the Class 15F.[1] [2] [3]

Manufacturers

Type JT tenders were built between 1935 and 1945 by Berliner Maschinenbau, Beyer, Peacock & Company, Henschel & Son, North British Locomotive Company and Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns.

In 1935, the South African Railways (SAR) placed six Class 16E express passenger steam locomotives in service, numbered in the range from 854 to 859. The engines and tenders were built by Henschel to the design of Allan Watson Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the SAR at the time, and were initially placed in service at Kimberley to work named trains like the Union Limited and the Union Express southwards to Beaufort West and northwards to Johannesburg respectively.[1] [2] [3]

In the same year, the first twenty Class 15E locomotives entered service, built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns, numbered in the range from 2858 to 2877 and nicknamed Bongol.[4]

The Type JT first entered service as tenders to these two locomotive classes. Between 1935 and 1946, more entered service as tenders to the Classes 15E and 15F.

Characteristics

The original Type JT tenders were arranged for manual stoking. On tenders which were delivered between 1939 and 1945 with Class 15F numbers 2923 to 3056, provision was made in the design to convert them to mechanical stoking later. These were built by North British and Beyer, Peacock to the design and specifications of W Day, who succeeded AG Watson as CME in 1936. A mechanical stoker was later tested on no. 2923, before the remaining locomotives of this group were all equipped with mechanical stokers by the late 1940s.[1] [2]

The tender rode on four-wheeled bogies and was virtually identical to the subsequent Type ET tender which was built with a mechanical stoker. Like the Type ET, it also had a 141NaN1 coal capacity and a maximum axle load of 17lt, but a 380sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3 larger water capacity of 6000sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3. Its empty weight was 1232lb less due to the absence of mechanical stoking equipment. These appear to have been the only differences between the Types JT and ET tenders.[5]

Locomotives

Three locomotive classes, built by five manufacturers, were delivered new with Type JT tenders which were numbered for their engines in the number ranges as shown. An oval number plate, bearing the engine number and often also the tender type, was attached to the rear end of the tender.[1] [2]

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 "J_" tenders could be used with the locomotive classes as shown.[1] [2]

The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_T" tenders had a capacity of between 5587and.[2]

A number, when added after the letter code, indicates differences between similar tender types, such as function, wheelbase or coal bunker capacity.[2]

Notes and References

  1. 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.
  2. 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, 21A, 25, 45.
  3. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, August 1946. pp. 631-632.
  4. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, October 1946. pp. 803-804.
  5. Additional information received from Les Pivnic