South African type WE tender explained

South African type WE tender
Locomotive:CGR 6th Class of 1901 (Schenectady)
Designer:Cape Government Railways
Schenectady Locomotive Works
Builder:Schenectady Locomotive Works
Date:1901
Wheelarr:2-axle bogies
Length:20feet
Wheeldiameter:NaN0NaN0 as built
340NaN0 retyred
Wheelbase:14feet
Bogie:50NaN0
Axleload:8lt
Bogie 1:15lt
Bogie 2:17lt
Tenderempty:34944lb
Tenderworking:33lt
Fueltype:Coal
Fuelcap:51NaN1
Watercap:2800sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3
Stoking:Manual
Coupling:Drawbar & Johnston link-and-pin
Operator:Cape Government Railways
South African Railways
Fleetnumbers:SAR 606-613

See main article: South African steam locomotive tenders.

The South African type WE tender was a steam locomotive tender from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

Type WE tenders entered service in 1901, as tenders to the 6th Class Tenwheeler type steam locomotives which were acquired by the Cape Government Railways from Schenectady Locomotive Works in that year. These locomotives were designated Class 6G on the South African Railways in 1912.[1] [2]

Manufacturer

Type WE tenders were built by Schenectady Locomotive Works in 1901.[1] [2] [3]

The Cape Government Railways (CGR) placed eight redesigned Tenwheeler type steam locomotives in service in 1901, designed and built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works to the specifications of the CGR locomotive department. These locomotives were designated Class 6G on the South African Railways (SAR) in 1912. The Type WE entered service as tenders to these engines.[1] [2]

Characteristics

The tender had a coal capacity of 51NaN1, a water capacity of 2800impgal and a maximum axle load of 8lt.[1] [2]

Locomotive

In the SAR years, tenders were numbered for the engines they were delivered with. In most cases, an oval number plate, bearing the engine number and often also the tender type, would be attached to the rear end of the tender. During the classification and renumbering of locomotives onto the SAR roster in 1912, no separate classification and renumbering list was published for tenders, which should have been renumbered according to the locomotive renumbering list.[2] [4]

Only the Schenectady-built Class 6G locomotives were delivered new with Type WE tenders, renumbered in the SAR number range from 606 to 613.[1] [2] [4]

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 "W_" tenders could be used with the locomotive classes as shown, although in some cases, such as with Class 6G locomotives, the drawbar and safety chains had to be altered to suit the target engine.[2]

The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_E" tenders had a capacity of between 2800and.[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. p. 42.
  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. 6a-7a, 42.
  3. Schenectady Ten Wheel Locomotives for Cape Government Railways. Railway and Locomotive Engineering – A Practical Journal of Railway Motive Power and Rolling Stock. March 1901. 13. 3. 131–132. 23 December 2012.
  4. Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Office, Pretoria, January 1912 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)