South African Class 11 2-8-2

In 1904 the Central South African Railways placed thirty-six Class 11 steam locomotives with a 2-8-2 Mikado wheel arrangement in service. When these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways in 1912, they were renumbered but retained their Class 11 classification.^[4][5]

Manufacturer

Built by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL), the Class 11 was designed by P.A. Hyde, Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the Central South African Railways (CSAR) from 1902 to 1904, for goods train service on the Reef. One locomotive, CSAR number 700, was delivered early in 1904 for trial purposes. After successful trials, this locomotive was followed by a further thirty-five Class 11 locomotives that were delivered later that same year, numbered 701 to 735.^[1][5]

They were superheated, with Belpaire fireboxes, Walschaerts valve gear and plate frames. Upon delivery, however, the class was found to be too heavy for a large part of the existing track and bridges on the line between Witbank and Germiston where they were intended to work. It took nearly a year to carry out the programme of track and bridge strengthening required and some of the new locomotives ended up being held in staging for that time before the Chief Civil Engineer would allow them to run.^[1][5][6]

Service

With the establishment of the South African Railways (SAR) in 1912, when the former Cape Government Railways (CGR), Natal Government Railways (NGR) and CSAR were amalgamated into one national carrier for the Union of South Africa, the CSAR Class 11 locomotives were renumbered to 912 to 947, but their Class 11 classification was retained.^[4][7]

The 2-8-2 Mikado type was rare in SAR service, with the Class 11 and the narrow gauge Class NG15 Kalahari the only South African Mikado types built in quantity.^[6]

Railways service

The Class 11 was initially used on the Reef to haul coal between Germiston and Witbank. They were powerful locomotives that gave good service at moderate speeds, but at higher speed the lightly loaded leading Bissel truck with its 6.05 long tons (6.1 tonnes) axle load proved unsatisfactory on curves.^[1]

When more powerful locomotives arrived, they were therefore relegated to local workings and shunting duties. In the 1940s most of them were relocated to the Cape Northern system, shedded at Kimberley, and the Cape Midlands system, shedded at Port Elizabeth, where they were employed on similar tasks until they were withdrawn from SAR service in 1975.^[1][5][6]

Industrial service

Fifteen of the Class 11 locomotives were sold into industrial service, and sometimes resold. All are now retired.

• SAR 918 became President Brand Gold Mine no. 7, later Freegold no. 8.
• SAR 921 went to Witbank Coal Mine and later became Tavistock Colliery no. 2.
• SAR 923 became Western Holdings no. 6.
• SAR 926 became President Brand Gold Mine no. 6.
• SAR 928 became President Steyn Gold Mine no. 8 and later Freegold no. 5.
• SAR 929 became President Steyn Gold Mine no. 6.
• SAR 932 became President Brand Gold Mine no. 8.
• SAR 933 became President Steyn Gold Mine no. 7 and later Freegold no. 7.
• SAR 936 went to ISCOR in Pretoria and later became Tavistock Colliery no. 1.
• SAR 938 went to President Brand Gold Mine for spare parts.
• SAR 940 went to ISCOR in Pretoria, later became South Witbank Colliery no. 6 and then Umgala Colliery no. 1 at Utrecht.
• SAR 943 went to South Witbank Coal Mine and later became Tavistock Colliery no. 3.
• SAR 944 became Free State Geduld Gold Mine no. 6 and later Freegold no. 6.
• SAR 945 became Free State Saaiplaas Gold Mine no. 2.
• SAR 946 went to Blue Circle Cement in Lichtenburg and is now part of a static display at the Andries Beyers Farming Museum in Lichtenburg.^[6][8]

Modification

As built, the Class 11 had a gap between the running boards and the walkway in front of the smokebox, with a stirrup type step attached to the front edge of each running board and without side steps at the locomotive’s front. Many were later modified by having slanted extensions added between the running boards and the front walkway to replace the stirrup, and with side steps added next to the leading wheels. Some were modified in this way while still in SAR service, while others were done in various styles by their post SAR industrial owners, as illustrated in the gallery.^[9]

While most other SAR locomotives with Belpaire fireboxes were later reboilered with the Watson Standard boilers that were introduced in the 1930s, no Class 11 locomotive ever underwent this modification. They served in the SAR for seventy years, plus several more years in industrial service while retaining the distinctive appearance that comes with a Belpaire firebox.^[3]

Gallery

The main picture shows Class 11 933 (ex CSAR 721) at Sydenham Depot in Port Elizabeth on 16 August 1973.

See also

• Tender locomotive numbering and classification
• The 2-8-2 "Mikado"
• List of South African locomotive classes

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 1: 1859-1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 130-131. ISBN 0715353829. 
2. ^ North British Locomotive Company works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser
3. ^ ^{a b} South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2’0” & 3’6” Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
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. 9, 12, 15, 36-37 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 10-11, 54. ISBN 0869772112. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Durrant, A E (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, London: David & Charles. p. 58. ISBN 0715386387. 
7. ^ Holland, D.F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. p. 47. ISBN 0715354272. 
8. ^ Middleton, John N. (2002). Railways of Southern Africa Locomotive Guide - 2002 (as amended by Combined Amendment List 4, January 2009) (2nd, Dec 2002 ed.). Herts, England: Beyer-Garratt Publications. p. 18. 
9. ^ SAR Class 11 946 (2-8-2)