South African Class 2C 4-6-2

The South African Railways Class 2C 4-6-2 of 1910 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.

NGR Class A 4-6-2 1910
South African Class 2C 4-6-2
NGR Class A, c. 1910
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerNatal Government Railways
(D.A. Hendrie)
BuilderNatal Government Railways
ModelNGR Hendrie C
Build date1910
Total produced2
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-6-2 (Pacific)
 • UIC2'C1'n2
Driver2nd coupled axle
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.28+12 in (724 mm)
Coupled dia.52+12 in (1,334 mm)
Trailing dia.30 in (762 mm)
Tender wheels30 in (762 mm)
Wheelbase52 ft 7+12 in (16,040 mm) ​
 • Engine28 ft (8,534 mm)
 • Leading6 ft (1,829 mm)
 • Coupled9 ft 6 in (2,896 mm)
 • Tender16 ft 6 in (5,029 mm)
 • Tender bogie4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
Length:
 • Over couplers60 ft 2+14 in (18,345 mm)
Height12 ft 6 in (3,810 mm)
Frame typePlate
Axle load15 LT 7 cwt (15,600 kg) ​
 • Leading13 LT 6 cwt 2 qtr (13,540 kg)
 • 1st coupled15 LT 6 cwt (15,550 kg)
 • 2nd coupled15 LT 7 cwt (15,600 kg)
 • 3rd coupled14 LT 7 cwt (14,580 kg)
 • Trailing10 LT 13 cwt (10,820 kg)
 • Tender bogieBogie 1: 20 LT 1 cwt (20,370 kg)
Bogie 2: 20 LT 10 cwt (20,830 kg)
 • Tender axle10 LT 5 cwt (10,410 kg)
Adhesive weight45 LT (45,720 kg)
Loco weight69 LT 9 cwt 2 qtr (70,590 kg)
Tender weight40 LT 11 cwt (41,200 kg)
Total weight110 LT 0 cwt 2 qtr (111,800 kg)
Tender typeTJ (2-axle bogies)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity6 LT (6.1 t)
Water cap.3,500 imp gal (15,900 L)
Firebox:
 • TypeBelpaire
 • Grate area29 sq ft (2.7 m2)
Boiler:
 • Pitch7 ft 4 in (2,235 mm)
 • Diameter5 ft 58 in (1,540 mm)
 • Tube plates16 ft 11+12 in (5,169 mm)
 • Small tubes248: 2 in (51 mm)
Boiler pressure185 psi (1,276 kPa)
Safety valveRamsbottom
Heating surface:
 • Firebox121 sq ft (11.2 m2)
 • Tubes2,201 sq ft (204.5 m2)
 • Total surface2,322 sq ft (215.7 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size19 in (483 mm) bore
24 in (610 mm) stroke
Valve gearWalschaerts
CouplersJohnston link-and-pin
AAR knuckle (1930s)
Performance figures
Tractive effort22,910 lbf (101.9 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsNatal Government Railways
South African Railways
ClassNGR Class A
SAR Class 2C
Number in class2
NumbersNGR 11-12
SAR 765-766
NicknamesHendrie C
Delivered1910
First run1910
Withdrawn1936
The 2nd coupled axle had flangeless wheels

In 1910, the Natal Government Railways placed two Class A steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in service, built in their Durban workshops. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class 2C. The 2A and 2B classifications were never used.[1][2][3][4][5]

The Class 2C was the second locomotive type to be designed and built in South Africa, after the Natal Government Railways 4-6-2TT Havelock of 1888.[3]

Manufacturer

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When more locomotives were required for passenger traffic on the Natal Government Railways (NGR) mainline on the section between Estcourt and Charlestown on the Transvaal border, where gradients were less severe than in the coastal region, two 4-6-2 Pacific type locomotives were built in the Durban workshops of the NGR and equipped with Type TJ tenders. The locomotive was designed during 1907 by NGR Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie as a redesigned version of his NGR Class A Hendrie A of 1905.[1][2][3][5]

Characteristics

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D.A. Hendrie

The Hendrie C, as it was popularly known, was similar to the Class A Hendrie A in general proportions, but with Walschaerts valve gear, 1+12 inches (38 millimetres) larger diameter coupled wheels, a larger boiler with a higher boiler pressure and a more enclosed cab which offered better protection to the crew. They were equipped with Hendrie's steam reversing gear and had wide Belpaire fireboxes, carried down between the rear frames which had been widened by using a bridle casting.[1][2][3][5]

The cylinders were mounted horizontally since the Walschaerts valve gear did not require inclined cylinders like those on the Class A Hendrie A with its Stephenson valve gear. The coupled wheels were later retyred to a larger diameter, from 52+12 to 54 inches (1,334 to 1,372 millimetres).[2]

Service

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Natal Government Railways

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When they were placed in service in 1910, they were also designated NGR Class A, with engine numbers 11 and 12. The two locomotives joined the two Class A Hendrie A Pacifics of 1905 on the section from Estcourt to Charlestown.[1][2][3][5]

South African Railways

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When the Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (Cape Government Railways, NGR and Central South African Railways) were united under a single administration to control and administer the railways, ports and harbours of the Union. Although the South African Railways and Harbours came into existence in 1910, the actual classification and renumbering of all the rolling stock of the three constituent railways were only implemented with effect from 1 January 1912.[4][6]

In 1912, the two locomotives were renumbered 765 and 766 and designated Class 2C on the South African Railways (SAR), after their popular Hendrie C nickname. The 2A and 2B classifications were never used by the SAR.[1][2][3][4][5][7]

After serving on the Estcourt to Charlestown section for many years, they were transferred to the Witwatersrand for a short period, after which they were transferred to the section between Komatipoort and Waterval Boven in the Eastern Transvaal. Here they worked passenger and fast perishables trains until they were withdrawn and scrapped in 1936.[1][3][5]

Illustration

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The pictures illustrate two of the NGR liveries which were applied to these locomotives.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1944). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter III - Natal Government Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, August 1944. p. 599.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Espitalier, T.J. (1947). Locomotives Designed and Built in South Africa - The S1, in service this month, is not the first locally-built engine. South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, October 1947. pp. 841-843.
  4. ^ a b c Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 7, 12, 15, 35 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
  5. ^ a b c d e f Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 36. ISBN 0869772112.
  6. ^ The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.
  7. ^ Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.