CGR Kitson-Meyer 0-6-0+0-6-0
CGR Kitson-Meyer 0-6-0+0-6-0 | |
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Builder’s picture of CGR Kitson-Meyer no. 800, with works number 4197 on the cab plate | |
Type and origin | |
Power type | Steam |
Designer | Kitson and Company |
Builder | Kitson and Company |
Serial number | 4197 [1] |
Build date | 1903 |
Total produced | 4 |
Specifications | |
Configuration | 0-6-0+0-6-0 "Kitson-Meyer" |
Gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge |
Driver diameter | 48 in (1,220 mm) |
Wheelbase |
Total: 58 ft 4 1⁄2 in (17.793 m) Engines: 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m) coupled 34 ft (10.363 m) total Tender: 4 ft 7 in (1.397 m) bogie 14 ft 7 in (4.445 m) total |
Length | 66 ft 5 1⁄4 in (20.250 m) |
Height | 12 ft 10 in (3.912 m) |
Axle load | 14 16⁄20 long tons (15.0 t) on 6th driver |
Weight on drivers | 83 3⁄20 long tons (84.5 t) |
Locomotive weight | 83 3⁄20 long tons (84.5 t) w/o |
Tender weight | 37 19⁄20 long tons (38.6 t) w/o |
Locomotive and tender combined weight | 121 2⁄20 long tons (123.0 t) w/o |
Tender type |
2 axle bogie 33 1⁄2 in (851 mm) wheels |
Fuel type | Coal |
Fuel capacity |
7 long tons (7.1 t) engine 6 long tons (6.1 t) tender |
Water capacity | 3,000 imp gal (14,000 l) |
Boiler |
5 ft (1.524 m) inside diameter 13 ft 9 5⁄8 in (4.207 m) inside length 7 ft 2 in (2.184 m) pitch |
Boiler pressure | 180 psi (1,240 kPa) |
Firegrate area | 34 sq ft (3.159 m2) |
Heating surface: – Tubes |
239 tubes 2 in (50.8 mm) diameter 1,727 sq ft (160.444 m2) |
– Firebox | 136 sq ft (12.635 m2) |
– Total | 1,863 sq ft (173.078 m2) |
Cylinders | Four |
Cylinder size |
16 in (406 mm) bore 24 in (610 mm) stroke |
Valve gear | Walschaerts [2] |
Performance figures | |
Tractive effort | 34,560 lbf (154 kN) at 75% pressure |
Career | |
Operator(s) | Cape Government Railways [1] |
Number in class | 1 |
Number(s) | 800 [3] |
Delivered | 1903 |
First run | 1903 |
Last run | 1908 |
The CGR Kitson-Meyer 0-6-0+0-6-0 of 1903 is a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape Colony.
In 1903 the Cape Government Railways placed a single experimental 0-6-0+0-6-0 Kitson-Meyer type articulated steam locomotive in service on the Cape Eastern System, working out of East London. The Kitson-Meyer was found to be a poor steamer and it was staged out of service by 1908 and scrapped in 1912.[1][2]
Manufacturer
In 1903 the English locomotive builders Kitson and Company persuaded the Cape Government Railways (CGR), the Beira and Mashonaland Railway (B&MR) and the Central South African Railways (CSAR) to try their new 0-6-0+0-6-0 Kitson-Meyer type articulated steam locomotive. One locomotive was delivered to the CGR in 1903 and numbered 800. Two went to the B&MR in that same year, numbered 51 and 52, and one to the CSAR in 1904, numbered 1000.[1][2]
Characteristics
The Kitson-Meyer design consisted of two sets of coupled driving wheels under the frame with both power units free to swivel in relation to the frame. Compared to the usual practice on steam locomotives, the engine units were both mounted back to front, with the driving wheels to the front of the cylinders. The rear engine unit discharged its exhaust steam up a chimney mounted in the coal bunker to the rear of the cab, while the front unit discharged in the usual manner up the chimney mounted on the smokebox in front of the boiler.[2]
Meyer locomotive
The Kitson-Meyer was a development of the Meyer locomotive. On a Meyer locomotive the two engine units were mounted close together, and usually with the cylinder ends of the engine units facing each other at the centre of the locomotive. One disadvantage of this design was that the rear engine unit's cylinders were directly beneath the firebox, thereby limiting it in size.[4]
Kitson-Meyer locomotive
On the Kitson-Meyer locomotive, on the other hand, the rear engine unit was located further back and reversed. This allowed the firebox to be between the two engine units, as would later be the practice on a Garratt locomotive, thereby making a much larger firebox possible. This also increased the length of the locomotive, making it possible to utilise the additional length behind the cab for a coal and water bunker. The auxiliary chimney at the rear avoided the need to have an exhaust steam pipe running the length of the locomotive to the smokebox at the front end.[4]
The Kitson-Meyer locomotives that were delivered to the three Southern African railways had Walschaerts valve gear and Belpaire fireboxes. They carried no water, but had a coal bunker to the rear of the cab with a capacity of 7 long tons (7 tonnes). All its water was carried in the tender, which had a capacity of 3,000 imperial gallons (14,000 litres) as well as an additional coal capacity of 6 long tons (6 tonnes).[2]
Performance and modifications
All three railways found their Kitson-Meyers to be poor steamers and, as built, none of these locomotives had a long service life. The CGR found that, while the Kitson-Meyer could handle a one-third heavier load than a Class 8 locomotive, the boiler could not supply sufficient steam for the four cylinders on longer runs. Modifications to the tender to increase its water capacity from 3,000 to 4,000 imperial gallons (14,000 to 18,000 litres) by decreasing the coal capacity did not prove to be a solution.[1]
Part of the problem could probably be ascribed to the fact that the exhaust steam from the rear power unit contributed nothing to the smokebox draught, the same phenomenon that would necessitate the installation of induced draught equipment on South Africa’s Class 25 condensing locomotives half a century later.[3]
Service
The CGR’s Kitson-Meyer locomotive was placed in service on the Cape Eastern System, working out of East London. By 1908, however, it was standing staged out of service and remained so until it was withdrawn from service in 1911 and scrapped in 1912. It therefore did not come onto the SAR roster during the 1912 renumbering and reclassification scheme. The two B&MR Kitson-Meyer locomotives were also found to be poor performers and were also withdrawn and scrapped in 1912.[1][2]
See also
- List of South African locomotive classes
- South African Class KM 0-6-0+0-6-0
- South African locomotive history
- The 0-6-0+0-6-0 wheel arrangement
References
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 1: 1859-1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 69–70, 130–132. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 84. ISBN 0869772112.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Holland, D.F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 110, 140. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Meyer and Kitson-Meyer locomotives