NZASM 10 Tonner 0-4-0T
NZASM 10 Tonner 0-4-0T | |
---|---|
NZASM 10 Tonner tram locomotive, c. 1890 | |
Type and origin | |
Power type | Steam |
Designer | Machinefabriek Breda v/h Backer & Rueb |
Builder | Louis Smulders & Co., Utrecht |
Serial number | 68, 69, 72 |
Build date | 1889-1890 |
Total produced | 3 |
Specifications | |
Configuration | 0-4-0T |
Gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge |
Driver diameter | 29 1⁄2 in (749 mm) |
Wheelbase | 4 ft 11 1⁄16 in (1.500 m) |
Length | 15 ft (4.572 m) over buffers |
Height | 10 ft 6 in (3.200 m) |
Locomotive weight | 10 long tons 4 1⁄2 cwt (10.39 t) w/o |
Fuel type | Coal |
Boiler |
2 ft 10 12⁄16 in (0.883 m) inside diameter 4 ft 3 3⁄16 in (1.300 m) inside length 5 ft 6 1⁄2 in (1.689 m) pitch |
Firegrate area | 2.53 sq ft (0.235 m2) |
Heating surface: – Tubes | 73 tubes |
Cylinders | Two |
Cylinder size |
7.08 in (180 mm) bore 11.8 in (300 mm) stroke |
Career | |
Operator(s) |
Delagoa Bay Railway NZASM |
Class | NZASM 10 Tonner |
Number in class | 3 |
Number(s) |
Delagoa 50-52 NZASM 6-8 |
Official name | 10 Tonner |
Delivered | 1889-1890 |
First run | 1890[1] |
The NZASM 10 Tonner 0-4-0T of 1889 is a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Transvaal.
In 1889 and 1890 the Nederlandsche-Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorweg-Maatschappij obtained three tramway steam locomotives with an 0-4-0 wheel arrangement for use on the new line from Johannesburg to Boksburg that became known as the Randtram line. Since the railway classified its locomotives according to their weight, these tank locomotives were known as the 10 Tonners.[1]
The Randtram line
As a result of the rapid development of the goldfields on the Witwatersrand in the 1880s and the demand for coal by the growing industry, a concession was granted to the Nederlandsche-Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorweg-Maatschappij (Netherlands-South African Railway Company, NZASM) on 20 July 1888 to construct a 16 miles (26 kilometres) railway line from Johannesburg to Boksburg. The line, which was opened on 17 March 1890 with the first train being hauled by a 14 Tonner locomotive, became known as the "Randtram" even though it was actually a railway in every aspect and not singularly dedicated to tram traffic. This was the first working railway line in the Transvaal.[1][2][3]
The concession was extended the following year to continue the line eastward to Springs, where coal was known to exist, and westward via Roodepoort to Krugersdorp. The entire 49 miles (79 kilometres) line was opened to traffic on 10 February 1891.[1]
Manufacturer
In 1889 and 1890 motive power for the tramway service on the line was obtained from the Machinefabriek Breda voorheen Backer & Rueb (Breda machine factory, formerly Backer & Rueb). It consisted of three 0-4-0T tramway steam locomotives that were built by Louis Smulders & Co. in Utrecht in the Netherlands. Since the NZASM classified its locomotives according to their weight, these tramway locomotives were known as 10 Tonners.[1][4][5]
Appearance
The locomotive was a smaller and less ornate version of the range of rectangular steam tram locomotives that were produced by Machinefabriek Breda from the later 1800s into the first decades of the 20th century. They were nicknamed "backertjes" in the Netherlands.[5][6]
Numbering conundrum
Instead of the NZASM 10 Tonner engine numbers in the range from 6 to 8, the Machinefabriek Breda works list recorded them as Delagoa Bay Railway numbers 50 to 52.[4] While D.F. Holland described these locomotives as having begun their service life on the "Randtram" line and having later been transferred to the Delagoa Bay Railway in Mozambique,[1] the manufacturer's works list suggests that it was probably the other way around.
A similar anomaly exists in respect of the six NZASM 18 Tonner locomotives that were acquired from Manning Wardle and Company, also in 1890. They were rostered on the NZASM in the number range from 9 to 14, following on from the 10 Tonner engine numbers.[1] However, the Manning Wardle works records list the 18 Tonners as being numbered in the Delagoa Bay Railway number range from 53 to 58, following on from the Delagoa engine numbers for the 10 Tonners. Furthermore, a Manning Wardle builder’s picture of an 18 Tonner shows it with Delagoa Bay Railway engine number 57.[7][8]
At the time the first 10 Tonners and 18 Tonners entered service in March and April 1890, the Randtram line where the 10 Tonners were to be placed in service had just been opened, with the first train being hauled by a 14 Tonner locomotive. The extensions of the Randtram line towards the east to Springs and towards the west via Roodepoort to Krugersdorp were still in progress.[2]
The question is, therefore, whether or not the 10 Tonners and 18 Tonners initially entered service on the Delagoa Bay Railway and were only rostered on the NZASM at a later stage.[8]
Service
All railway operations in the two Boer Republics, the ZAR and the Orange Free State, were taken over by the Imperial Military Railways (IMR) during the South African War. The 10 Tonners do not appear in the renumbering lists of the IMR or its successor, the Central South African Railways (CSAR).[9]
Works numbers
The NZASM 10 Tonner works numbers and renumberings are shown in the table.[1]
Works no. |
Delagoa no. |
NZASM no. |
---|---|---|
68 | 50 | 6 |
69 | 51 | 7 |
72 | 52 | 8 |
See also
- List of South African locomotive classes
- NZASM 18 Tonner 0-6-0ST
- South African locomotive history
- The 0-4-0T wheel arrangement
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 1: 1859-1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 109–112. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The South African Railways - Historical Survey (Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd, Circa 1978)
- ↑ A South African Railway History
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 De Pater, A.D. (1970). The locomotives built by ‘Machinefabriek "Breda" voorheen Backer & Rueb’. Brill Archive. p. 54.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Google books extract from The locomotives built by ‘Machinefabriek "Breda" voorheen Backer & Rueb’
- ↑ Machinefabriek Breda - Activiteiten
- ↑ Harman, Fred W. (1999). The Locomotives Built by Manning Wardle & Company – Volume 1 Narrow Gauge, (1st ed.). Toddington, Beds: Century Locoprints. p. 51. ISBN 978-0953531301.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 18 Tonner Information supplied by John Nicholas Middleton
- ↑ 10, 14 and 18 Tonner Information supplied by John Nicholas Middleton