NGR 4-6-2TT Havelock

NGR 4-6-2TT "Havelock"
Ex NGR 2-8-2TT "Havelock"

Havelock as a Mikado type, as built, circa 1888
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer Natal Government Railways
Builder Natal Government Railways
Model NGR 2-8-2TT
Build date 1888
Total produced 1
Rebuilder Natal Government Railways
Number rebuilt 1
Specifications
Configuration 2-8-2TT "Mikado" as built
4-6-2TT "Pacific" as rebuilt
Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading wheel
diameter
25 12 in (648 mm)
Driver diameter 39 in (991 mm)
Trailing wheel
diameter
25 12 in (648 mm)
Wheelbase As 2-8-2TT:
34 ft 11 12 in (10.655 m) total
22 ft 11 12 in (6.998 m) engine
11 ft 5 12 in (3.493 m) coupled
7 ft 6 in (2.286 m) tender
As 4-6-2TT:
7 ft 9 12 in (2.375 m) coupled
Length 41 ft 1 in (12.522 m) over couplers
Height 12 ft (3.658 m)
Frame Plate frame
Locomotive weight 38 long tons (38.6 t) w/o
Tender weight 12 long tons (12.2 t) w/o
Locomotive and tender
combined weight
50 long tons (50.8 t) w/o
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 3 12 long tons (3.6 t)
Water capacity 880 imp gal (4,000 l; 1,060 US gal) engine
900 imp gal (4,100 l; 1,100 US gal) tender
Boiler 3 ft 10 18 in (1.172 m) inside diameter
11 ft (3.353 m) length inside
6 ft (1.829 m) pitch
Boiler pressure 140 psi (965 kPa)
Firegrate area 14 sq ft (1.301 m2)
Heating surface:
– Tubes
174 tubes 1 58 in (41.3 mm) diameter
877 sq ft (81.476 m2)
– Firebox 77 sq ft (7.154 m2)
– Total 954 sq ft (88.630 m2)
Cylinders Two
Cylinder size 16 in (406 mm) bore
21 in (533 mm) stroke
Valve gear Stephenson
Performance figures
Tractive effort 14,473 lbf (64 kN) at 75% pressure
Safety systems Salter & Ramsbottom valves
Career
Operator(s) Natal Government Railways
Number in class 1
Number(s) 48
Official name Havelock
Nicknames Hairy Mary
Delivered 1888
First run 1888
Scrapped 1905 [1]

The NGR 4-6-2TT "Havelock" of 1888 is a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Natal Colony.

During 1887 designs for a 2-8-2 Mikado type tank-and-tender locomotive was prepared by the Natal Government Railways. The locomotive was built in the Durban workshops and entered service in 1888, named Havelock, but was later rebuilt to a 4-6-2 Pacific type wheel arrangement. The engine Havelock was the first locomotive to be designed and built in South Africa.[1]

Design and construction

The designs for a 2-8-2 Mikado type tank-and-tender locomotive was drawn up in 1887 by William Milne, the Locomotive Superintendent of the Natal Government Railways (NGR). It was built in the Durban workshops of the NGR and was not only the first locomotive to be designed and built in South Africa, but also the first in South Africa to have eight-coupled wheels. Only the wheels and axles were obtained from England. Construction began on 26 January 1888 and the locomotive went on its first trial trip during August of that year. It was allocated number 48 and was named Havelock after Sir Arthur Havelock, the Governor of the Colony of Natal from 1886 to 1889.[1][2]

Characteristics

The engine Havelock was the first tender locomotive in NGR service, a tank-and-tender engine that carried its water in the tender as well as in the side-tanks. It had two boiler-mounted sandboxes and was equipped with both Salter and Ramsbottom safety valves. The leading and trailing carrying wheels were fitted in Webb-type radial axleboxes.[1]

Service

The first official trip was made from Durban to Pinetown on 7 January 1889, after which the engine Havelock was placed in service on the Durban-Cato Ridge section. Being the pride and joy of the NGR, the engine Havelock was present at several official functions, such as the opening of the line from Ladysmith to Biggarsberg Junction on 12 September 1889 and the turning of the first sod for the Orange Free State branchline at Ladysmith on 7 November 1889.[2]

"Havelock" as "Hairy Mary", c. 1898

During the South African War the engine Havelock was prepared to see action while serving on armoured trains. Unlike usual practice in such cases, the engine was not equipped with armour plate protection, but was draped in strands of thick hemp rope that covered it from front to back. This earned the locomotive the apt nickname "Hairy Mary" amongst the troops.[1][2]

Modification

With the introduction of more powerful locomotives, the engine Havelock was relegated to branchline working, for which it was converted to a 4-6-2 Pacific type wheel arrangement since the shorter coupled wheelbase would enable it to negotiate sharper curves. It remained in service on the North Coast line between Durban and Verulam until it was scrapped in 1905.[1][2]

Configurations illustrated

The main picture shows the engine Havelock in its original Mikado type configuration while the one below shows it in its subsequent Pacific type configuration.

See also

References

 
 

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  1. 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. 90–91. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 SAR-L Yahoogroup message 46036 of 27 September 2013, from Bruno Martin - Re: NGR Hairy Mary