South African Class GE 2-8-2+2-8-2

The South African Class GE 2-8-2+2-8-2 of 1925 is a South African steam locomotive from the South African Railways era.

Between 1925 and 1931 the South African Railways placed eighteen Class GE Garratt articulated locomotives with a 2-8-2+2-8-2 Double Mikado type wheel arrangement in service.^[1][3][4]

Manufacturer

In 1924 specifications were prepared by the South African Railways (SAR) for the Class GE 2-8-2+2-8-2 Double Mikado type Garratt locomotive and an order for six locomotives was placed with Beyer, Peacock and Company (BP). They were delivered and placed in service in 1925, numbered in the range from 2260 to 2265. The Class GE was the only Double Mikado Garratt type to see service on the SAR.^[1][3][4]

The locomotives proved to be most successful and a second order for ten was placed with BP in 1926. These were numbered in the range from 2266 to 2275 when they were delivered and placed in service in 1927. A third order for two locomotives, also from BP, followed in 1930, numbered 2276 and 2277 and placed in service in 1931.^[1][3][4]

Characteristics

The Class GE Garratt was designed as a heavy goods locomotive for use on light 60 pounds per yard (30 kilograms per metre) rail and was an enlargement of the Class GD 2-6-2+2-6-2. They were the first eight-coupled Garratts to be built for the SAR. At the time of their introduction they were, on a tractive effort basis, the most powerful locomotives operating on light track in Africa and the Southern Hemisphere.^[3][4][5]

The locomotives of the three orders were visually distinguishable from one another. The first two orders were mechanically identical, but the second batch had redesigned water tanks with rounded top corners, and inset tops on their coal bunkers to improve rearward vision for the crew. They also had slightly smaller firegrate and superheater areas than the first batch.^[3][4][5]

The two locomotives in the third batch were similar in general appearance to those in the second, but with arch tubes added, wider cabs and larger cylinders to make them more powerful. All of them had Belpaire fireboxes, plate frames, Walschaerts valve gear and were superheated.^[3][4][5]

Service

They were placed in service working goods traffic on the light rail sections from Zeerust to Mafeking and from Pretoria to Pietersburg. Some were later allocated to the Natal North Coast, and a few were still later also used for a brief period to work across the Montagu Pass between George and Oudtshoorn.^[1][4][5]

Their final duties were on the Nkwalini branch in Natal, where the last survivors of the original eighteen locomotives were finally replaced by Class GEA and Class GO Garratts. The last ten Class GE locomotives were withdrawn from service in April 1975.^[4][5]

Sides illustrated

The main picture shows no. 2269, one of the second batch of Class GE locomotives, c. 1930. This locomotive still has the old bell link-and-pin type couplers.

The locomotives depicted below have all been equipped with the AAR knuckle couplers that were introduced on the SAR in the late 1940s. The coupler on no. 2274 is one of the type that was used on locomotives during the coupler transition period, with a groove in the block of the coupler to enable the locomotive to couple to rolling stock that was still equipped with the older link-and-pin type couplers.

• 

  No. 2266, first of the second batch, c. November 1971

• 

  No. 2274 at Stanger Loco Depot, c. September 1966

• 

  No. 2276, first of the third batch, at Greyville, c. May 1971

See also

• Articulated locomotive numbering and classification
• List of South African locomotive classes
• South African locomotive history
• The 2-8-2+2-8-2 "Double Mikado"

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: South African Class GE (2-8-2+2-8-2)

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