| South African Class K 4-6-4T | |
|---|---|
| Class K 352, circa 1920, as depicted on a SAR Museum playing card | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Designer | Manila Railway Company North British Locomotive Company |
| Builder | North British Locomotive Company |
| Serial number | 20854-20860[1][2] |
| Model | Class K |
| Build date | 1914 |
| Total produced | 7 |
| Configuration | 4-6-4T "Hudson" |
| Gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge |
| Leading wheel diameter |
31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 48 in (1,220 mm) |
| Trailing wheel diameter |
31.5 in (800 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 32 ft 10.5 in (10.020 m) total 5 ft (1.524 m) pilot 12 ft 3 in (3.734 m) coupled 5 ft (1.524 m) trailing |
| Length | 41 ft 7.5 in (12.687 m) |
| Height | 12 ft 6 in (3.810 m) |
| Axle load | 12 long tons (12.2 t) per driver |
| Weight on drivers | 36 long tons (36.6 t) |
| Locomotive weight | 70.9 long tons (72.0 t) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 4 long tons (4.1 t) |
| Water capacity | 2,350 imp gal (10,700 l) |
| Boiler | 4 ft 1.5 in (1.257 m) int dia 12 ft (3.658 m) int length 7 ft 3 in (2.210 m) pitch |
| Boiler pressure | 160 psi (1,100 kPa) |
| Firegrate area | 18.4 sq ft (1.709 m2) |
| Heating surface: Tubes |
85 tubes 1.875 in (47.6 mm) dia 844 sq ft (78.410 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
118 sq ft (10.963 m2) |
| Heating surface: Total |
962 sq ft (89.373 m2) |
| Superheater area | 257 sq ft (23.876 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two |
| Cylinder size | 17 in (432 mm) bore 24 in (610 mm) stroke |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts |
| Tractive effort | 17,340 lbf (77.1 kN) at 75% boiler pressure[1] |
| Career | South African Railways |
| Class | Class K |
| Number in class | 7 |
| Number | 347-353 |
| Nicknames | Manila |
| Delivered | 1917 |
| First run | 1917 |
| Withdrawn | 1938 |
| Disposition | Retired |
In 1917 the South African Railways placed seven Class K tank steam locomotives with a 4-6-4T wheel arrangement in service that had been built for the Philippines, but could not be delivered.[1]
Contents |
The Class K 4-6-4T tank steam locomotive was built for the Manila Railway Company in the Philippine Islands by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) in 1914. Because of difficulties experienced in delivering them to the Philippines during World War I as well as a critical wartime shortage of locomotives on the South African Railways (SAR), the NBL eventually offered the seven locomotives for sale to the SAR. They were purchased and delivered in 1917 and numbered 347 to 353.[1][3]
The locomotives were superheated, had Walschaerts valve gear and proved to be extremely useful. The Class K was the first locomotive in South Africa to be equipped with exhaust steam injectors, which were of the Davies and Metcalfe pattern.[1][3]
The only modifications needed to these locomotives for them to be put to work on the SAR were to the buffers and drawgear. As built, they had acetylene headlamps and were equipped with bells, but these were removed and SAR headlamps were installed.[1]
The Class K was placed in service on the Reef’s suburban services, shedded at Braamfontein and working between Randfontein and Springs. They were well suited for suburban service since they were free-steaming, had rapid acceleration and were capable of relatively high speeds. They remained in this service until they were eventually withdrawn in 1938.[1][3]
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