South African Class 16E 4-6-2 | |
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858 at Vetrivier, 5 November 1979 | |
Power type | Steam |
Designer | South African Railways |
Builder | Henschel and Son |
Serial number | 22583-22588[1][2] |
Model | Class 16E |
Build date | 1935 |
Total produced | 6 |
Configuration | 4-6-2 "Pacific" |
Gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge |
Leading wheel diameter |
34 in (864 mm) |
Driver diameter | 72 in (1,830 mm) |
Trailing wheel diameter |
34 in (864 mm) |
Wheelbase | Total: 63 ft 5.1875 in (19.334 m) Engine: 7 ft 2 in (2.184 m) pilot 12 ft 3.5 in (3.747 m) coupled 33 ft 7 in (10.236 m) total Tender: 6 ft 2 in (1.880 m) bogie 20 ft 5 in (6.223 m) total |
Length | 71 ft 8.1875 in (21.849 m) total |
Height | 13 ft (3.962 m) |
Axle load | 20.65 long tons (21.0 t) on 2nd driver |
Weight on drivers | 59.4 long tons (60.4 t) |
Locomotive weight | 97.75 long tons (99.3 t) |
Tender weight | 66,416 lb (30.1 t) empty 69.4 long tons (70.5 t) w/o |
Locomotive & tender combined weight |
192,500 lb (87.3 t) empty 167.15 long tons (169.8 t) w/o |
Tender type | JT - JT, JV permitted * 2 axle bogies * Wheels 34 in (864 mm) dia * Length 30 ft 9.0625 in (9.374 m) |
Fuel type | Coal |
Fuel capacity | 14 long tons (14.2 t) |
Water capacity | 6,000 imp gal (27,000 l) |
Boiler | 6 ft 2.25 in (1.886 m) int dia 19 ft 0.5 in (5.804 m) int length 9 ft 3 in (2.819 m) pitch |
Boiler pressure | 210 psi (1,450 kPa) |
Firegrate area | 63 sq ft (5.853 m2) |
Heating surface: Tubes |
136 tubes 2.5 in (63.5 mm) ext dia 36 tubes 5.5 in (140 mm) ext dia 2,682 sq ft (249.166 m2) |
Heating surface: Flues |
26 sq ft (2.415 m2) |
Heating surface: Firebox |
206 sq ft (19.138 m2) |
Heating surface: Total |
2,914 sq ft (270.719 m2) |
Superheater area | 592 sq ft (54.999 m2) |
Cylinders | Two |
Cylinder size | 24 in (610 mm) bore 28 in (711 mm) stroke |
Valve gear | RC Poppet |
Tractive effort | 35,280 lbf (156.9 kN) at 75% boiler pressure[3] |
Career | South African Railways |
Class | Class 16E |
Number in class | 6 |
Number | 854–859 |
Delivered | 1935 |
First run | 1935 |
Withdrawn | 1972[4] |
Disposition | Retired |
In 1935 the South African Railways placed six Class 16E steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service.[3]
Contents |
The Class 16E 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive was designed by A.G. Watson, the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the South African Railways (SAR) from 1929 to 1936, and built by Henschel and Son in Kassel, Germany. Six locomotives were delivered in 1935, numbered 854 to 859.[2][5]
With their 72 inches (1,830 millimetres) diameter driving wheels the Class 16E was considered to be the most remarkable Cape gauge express passenger locomotive ever built. The driving wheels were the largest ever used on any less than 4 feet 8.5 inches (1,440 millimetres) standard gauge locomotive, and it had an all-up weight and tractive effort equal to or exceeding most Pacifics outside North America. It used rotary cam poppet valve gear, driven by outside rotary shafts, which resulted in extremely free-running characteristics. It also boasted the largest fire grate on any Pacific outside North America.[1][4]
At 9 feet 3 inches (2.819 metres) above rail level, their boiler centre-line was the highest-pitched on the SAR. Because of this and the limitations of the loading gauge, it was impossible to install a normal steam dome and its place was taken by an inspection man-hole. Steam was collected through numerous small feeder pipes fixed into two collector pipes, which were arranged as high as possible above the water surface. The collector pipes then joined together to form a main steam pipe, 7 inches (178 millimetres) in diameter, which led to the superheater header and multiple valve regulator, situated in the smokebox.[1]
The Class 16E was delivered with a Watson Standard no. 3A boiler, one of the range of a standard boiler type designed by Watson as part of his standardisation policy. It was also equipped with the altered cab with the slanted front design that, like the Watson Standard boiler, was to become standard on later SAR steam locomotive classes.[3]
Many serving locomotives were reboilered with these Watson Standard boilers and Watson cabs, and new locomotives that were acquired in the Watson era and later were built with such boilers. An obvious visual identifying feature of a Watson Standard boilered locomotive is usually a rectangular regulator cover just to the rear of the chimney.[3]
The Class 16E Pacifics were placed in service at Kimberley and regularly worked trains like the Union Express, that was to become the Blue Train after World War II, and the Union Limited south to Beaufort West and north to Johannesburg. Although they were never stationed at Braamfontein Loco in Johannesburg, they were serviced there in the process of working between Kimberley and Johannesburg.[6]
They proved to be very successful, efficient and economical in service. When the original wooden bodied coaches of the Union Express were replaced with heavier steel bodied air conditioned coaches in 1939, however, the Class 16E was considered to be inadequate to the task and was relocated to Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State.[1][5][6]
From here they hauled regular passenger trains, including the Orange Express, working north to Johannesburg and south to De Aar as well as across to Kimberley. When air conditioned lounge cars were added to trains like the Orange Express and Trans-Karoo, they were again considered as not powerful enough for the additional load and were eventually withdrawn from service in 1972.[5][6]
Two locomotives survive and were still relatively intact by 2010. Number 858, "Betty", was stored in the open at Beaconsfield, Kimberley, while number 857 was in storage at Bloemfontein, parked under cover at the locomotive depot.[7]
A 20c postage stamp depicting a Class 16E locomotive was one of a set of four commemorative postage stamps that were issued by the South African Post Office on 27 April 1983, to commemorate the steam locomotives of South Africa that were rapidly being withdrawn from service at the time. The artwork and stamp design was by the noted stamp designer and artist Hein Botha.[8]
The particular locomotive depicted was Class 16E 858. The outline of a traditional SAR locomotive number plate was used as a commemorative cancellation for De Aar on the date of issue.[8]
Class 16E locomotives were equipped with smoke deflectors in later years. The main picture shows Class 16E 858 without smoke deflectors.
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