South West African 0-10-0 Explained

GSWA Ten-Coupled Tender 0-10-0
South West African 0-10-0
Powertype:Steam
Designer:Henschel & Son
Builder:Henschel & Son
Serialnumber:D10159-D10164
Builddate:1910
Totalproduction:6
Whytetype:0-10-0 (Decapod)
Uicclass:En2
Coupleddiameter:480NaN0
Frametype:Plate
Locotenderweight:74sigfig=4NaNsigfig=4
Fueltype:Coal
Fireboxtype:Round-top
Firearea:20.5square feet
Smalltubediameter:223: NaN0NaN0
Boilerpressure:1710NaN0
Totalsurface:1206square feet
Cylindercount:Two
Cylindersize:NaN0NaN0 bore
NaN0NaN0 stroke
Valvegear:Heusinger
Valvetype:Murdoch's D slide
Coupling:Buffer-and-chains
Tractiveeffort:16220lbf @ 75%
Operator:Lüderitzbucht Eisenbahn
Numinclass:6
Fleetnumbers:LE 101-106
Deliverydate:1911
Firstrundate:1911

The South West African 0-10-0 of 1911 was a steam locomotive from the German South West Africa era.

In 1911, the Lüderitzbucht Eisenbahn (Lüderitzbucht Railway) in German South West Africa placed six locomotives with a Decapod type wheel arrangement in service. They were no longer in service when all railways in the territory came under the administration of the South African Railways in 1922.[1]

Manufacturer

Six locomotives with a Decapod type wheel arrangement were built in 1910 by Henschel & Son of Kassel in Germany for a French Colony in Africa. The engines were rejected by French inspectors, however, and they were purchased by the German government for £2,000 each in 1911, on behalf of the Lüderitzbucht-Gesellschaft company who leased the Lüderitzbucht Eisenbahn and shared the profits with the government.[1] [2]

Characteristics

The locomotive had flat "D" type sliding valves which were actuated by Heusinger valve gear, with Laird type crossheads with single slide bars. To protect the motion from wind-blown sand in the Namib Desert, it had plate shields arranged along the full length of the engine, hinged on the running board to allow access to the motion.[1]

The engine was built on a NaN0NaN0 thick plate frame, strengthened with NaN0NaN0 stretchers. It had coupled wheels of 480NaN0 diameter and cylinders of NaN0NaN0 bore and NaN0NaN0 stroke. The total weight of the engine and tender in full working order was 74sigfig=4NaNsigfig=4 and it had a tractive effort of 16220lbf at 75% of boiler pressure.[1]

To allow side-play in curves, the axle boxes of the leading and trailing coupled wheels had no inside flanges. Their wheel arrangement, without leading or trailing wheels to lend stability at speed, was more suitable for yard work at slow speeds than for mainline working. According to one report, their utilisation as mainline engines rapidly resulted in the development of excessive side-play to the extent that the tyres eventually cut into the spring hangers.[1]

Service

The locomotives were numbered in the range from 101 to 106 and were placed in service on the Südbahn line from Lüderitzbucht via Seeheim to Kalkfontein, where they formed the mainstay of motive power. Even though the engines were popular with the enginemen, they were not economical in operation. Owing to their light construction, they were allowed to take only three-quarters of their full load.[1]

None of these engines survived the First World War.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1948). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, January 1948. pp. 31-32.
  2. Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow.