_NGR_332.jpg)
Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
South African Class 3 4-8-2
The South African Railways Class 3 4-8-2 of 1909 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.
In 1909, the Natal Government Railways placed the world's first true Mountain type locomotive in service when five Class B 4-8-2 tender locomotives were commissioned. Another 25 were placed in service in 1911. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class 3. The Mountain wheel arrangement went on to become the most numerous steam locomotive wheel configuration in use in South Africa.
With increasing coal traffic in Natal, the demand arose for more powerful locomotives. The Class B of 1909, also known as the Hendrie D, was a heavy 4-8-2 locomotive, designed by Natal Government Railways (NGR) Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie. They entered service in October 1909 and were put to work to handle coal traffic on the upper Natal mainline.
The locomotive design was based on Hendrie's Class B 4-8-0 in its modified form of 1906 as the Altered Hendrie B 4-8-2. This time, however, Hendrie made full use of the potential of the pony truck under the cab to carry additional weight by positioning the firebox to the rear of the driving wheels, which made an improved grate and ashpan possible. To accomplish this, the plate frame was equipped with a bridle casting at the rear to accommodate the larger firebox. Five locomotives were built by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) and delivered in 1909, numbered in the range from 330 to 334.
The first five locomotives were delivered with the first Type TJ tenders, which had a 6 long tons (6.1 tonnes) coal and 3,500 imperial gallons (15,900 litres) water capacity. They were put to work between Estcourt and Charlestown on the Transvaal border, where they regularly hauled loads of 225 long tons (229 tonnes), as well as fast perishable goods traffic. They proved to be highly successful in use, which led to an order for another 25 locomotives from NBL in 1910. These were delivered in 1911 and numbered in the range from 345 to 369 on the NGR roster. They were identical to the first batch of engines in all respects, except that they had Type TM tenders, which had an 8 long tons 5 hundredweight (8.4 tonnes) coal and 4,000 imperial gallons (18,200 litres) water capacity.
The locomotives were equipped with Pyle National Electric headlights. They were the world's first true Mountain type tender locomotives, having been designed and built with a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement with the firebox positioned to the rear of the driving wheels. Earlier Natal 4-8-2 locomotives were modified from a different original wheel arrangement.
The boilers which were used on these locomotives were, at the time, the largest in South Africa. Like the altered NGR Class B of 1906 on which it was based, these locomotives used saturated steam and had plate frames. They used Walschaerts valve gear with flat "D" gunmetal type valves, which were arranged above the cylinders and controlled by the Hendrie-designed steam reversing gear. Since they were built without superheaters, the bore of their slide valves were 1⁄2 inch (12.7 millimetres) larger than those on the altered Class B of 1906 to compensate for the additional weight of the locomotive.
The boiler, of which the barrel was 11⁄16 inch (17 millimetres) thick, was fitted with four Ramsbottom safety valves, 3+1⁄2 inches (89 millimetres) in diameter. It was fed by two injectors, arranged on the underside of the footplate at the sides, with the combination valves placed on the back of the firebox. The Belpaire firebox was constructed with a forward "rake" of the throat and back plates to keep the distance between the boiler's tube plates reasonably short at 18 feet 6 inches (5,639 millimetres). It had a finger bar firegrate which was operated by hand lever from the cab.
Hub AI
South African Class 3 4-8-2 AI simulator
(@South African Class 3 4-8-2_simulator)
South African Class 3 4-8-2
The South African Railways Class 3 4-8-2 of 1909 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.
In 1909, the Natal Government Railways placed the world's first true Mountain type locomotive in service when five Class B 4-8-2 tender locomotives were commissioned. Another 25 were placed in service in 1911. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class 3. The Mountain wheel arrangement went on to become the most numerous steam locomotive wheel configuration in use in South Africa.
With increasing coal traffic in Natal, the demand arose for more powerful locomotives. The Class B of 1909, also known as the Hendrie D, was a heavy 4-8-2 locomotive, designed by Natal Government Railways (NGR) Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie. They entered service in October 1909 and were put to work to handle coal traffic on the upper Natal mainline.
The locomotive design was based on Hendrie's Class B 4-8-0 in its modified form of 1906 as the Altered Hendrie B 4-8-2. This time, however, Hendrie made full use of the potential of the pony truck under the cab to carry additional weight by positioning the firebox to the rear of the driving wheels, which made an improved grate and ashpan possible. To accomplish this, the plate frame was equipped with a bridle casting at the rear to accommodate the larger firebox. Five locomotives were built by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) and delivered in 1909, numbered in the range from 330 to 334.
The first five locomotives were delivered with the first Type TJ tenders, which had a 6 long tons (6.1 tonnes) coal and 3,500 imperial gallons (15,900 litres) water capacity. They were put to work between Estcourt and Charlestown on the Transvaal border, where they regularly hauled loads of 225 long tons (229 tonnes), as well as fast perishable goods traffic. They proved to be highly successful in use, which led to an order for another 25 locomotives from NBL in 1910. These were delivered in 1911 and numbered in the range from 345 to 369 on the NGR roster. They were identical to the first batch of engines in all respects, except that they had Type TM tenders, which had an 8 long tons 5 hundredweight (8.4 tonnes) coal and 4,000 imperial gallons (18,200 litres) water capacity.
The locomotives were equipped with Pyle National Electric headlights. They were the world's first true Mountain type tender locomotives, having been designed and built with a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement with the firebox positioned to the rear of the driving wheels. Earlier Natal 4-8-2 locomotives were modified from a different original wheel arrangement.
The boilers which were used on these locomotives were, at the time, the largest in South Africa. Like the altered NGR Class B of 1906 on which it was based, these locomotives used saturated steam and had plate frames. They used Walschaerts valve gear with flat "D" gunmetal type valves, which were arranged above the cylinders and controlled by the Hendrie-designed steam reversing gear. Since they were built without superheaters, the bore of their slide valves were 1⁄2 inch (12.7 millimetres) larger than those on the altered Class B of 1906 to compensate for the additional weight of the locomotive.
The boiler, of which the barrel was 11⁄16 inch (17 millimetres) thick, was fitted with four Ramsbottom safety valves, 3+1⁄2 inches (89 millimetres) in diameter. It was fed by two injectors, arranged on the underside of the footplate at the sides, with the combination valves placed on the back of the firebox. The Belpaire firebox was constructed with a forward "rake" of the throat and back plates to keep the distance between the boiler's tube plates reasonably short at 18 feet 6 inches (5,639 millimetres). It had a finger bar firegrate which was operated by hand lever from the cab.