South African type EW tender

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

South African type EW tender
Type EW tender on Class 23, 8 January 2010
Type and origin
♠ Tender numbers 2552-2271
Tender numbers 3201-3316
LocomotiveClass 23
DesignerSouth African Railways
(W.A.J. Day)
BuilderBerliner Maschinenbau
Henschel and Son
In service1938-1939
RebuilderSouth African Railways
Rebuilt toWater only tender
Specifications
Configuration3-axle bogies
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Length42 ft 9+34 in (13,049 mm)
Wheel dia.34 in (864 mm)
Wheelbase30 ft 8 in (9,347 mm)
 • Bogie8 ft 8 in (2,642 mm)
Axle load♠ 18 LT (18,290 kg)
17 LT 19 cwt (18,240 kg)
 • Front bogie♠ 54 LT 14 cwt (55,580 kg)
53 LT 17 cwt (54,710 kg)
 • Rear bogie♠ 54 LT (54,870 kg)
53 LT 17 cwt (54,710 kg)
Weight empty105,928 lb (48,048 kg)
Weight w/o♠ 104 LT 5 cwt (105,900 kg)
107 LT 14 cwt (109,400 kg)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel cap.18 LT (18.3 t)
Water cap.♠ 9,200 imp gal (41,800 L)
9,500 imp gal (43,200 L)
StokingMechanical
CouplersDrawbar & AAR knuckle
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
NumbersSAR 2552-2271, 3201-3316

Type EW tenders entered service in 1938, as tenders to the Class 23 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotives which entered service on the South African Railways in that year.[1][2][3][4][5]

Manufacturers edit

Type EW tenders were built in 1938 by Berliner Maschinenbau and Henschel and Son.[1][2]

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 80 pounds per yard (40 kilograms per metre) rail.[1][2][3]

Characteristics edit

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 10,000 imperial gallons (45,500 litres) and a coal capacity of 18 long tons (18.3 tonnes). Owing to axle load restrictions, however, it was necessary to reduce the water capacity to 9,200 imperial gallons (41,800 litres). The first batch of twenty locomotives were delivered with such tenders.[1][2][3][4][5]

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 6 inches (152 millimetres) towards the rear. This enabled the water capacity to be increased to 9,500 imperial gallons (43,200 litres) on these 116 tenders.[1][2][4][5]

Four vacuum cylinders operated clasp brakes on all tender wheels and a hand brake was included. Since experience showed that a firegrate of 63 square feet (5.9 square metres) 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][2][3]

Locomotives edit

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.[1][3]

When the Class 23 were withdrawn, many of their Type EW tenders were coupled to Class 15F locomotives to increase their range.[3][6]

Classification letters edit

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.[4][5]

The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_W" tenders had a capacity of between 9,200 and 10,000 imperial gallons (41,800 and 45,500 litres; 11,000 and 12,000 US gallons).[4][5]

Modification edit

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

Illustration edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 98–100. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 75–76. ISBN 0869772112.
  4. ^ a b c d e 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.
  5. ^ a b c d e 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.
  6. ^ Durrant, AE (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott: David & Charles. p. 105. ISBN 0715386387.