South African Class K 4-6-4T

South African Class K 4-6-4T

Class K no. 352, circa 1920, as depicted on a SAR Museum playing card
Type and origin
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
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-4T "Baltic"
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) inside diameter
12 ft (3.658 m) inside 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) diameter
844 sq ft (78.410 m2)
– Firebox 118 sq ft (10.963 m2)
– 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
Performance figures
Tractive effort 17,340 lbf (77 kN) at 75% pressure
Career
Operator(s) South African Railways [1]
Class Class K
Number in class 7
Number(s) 347-353
Nicknames Manila
Delivered 1917
First run 1917
Withdrawn 1938

The South African Class K 4-6-4T of 1917 is a South African steam locomotive from the South African Railways era.

In 1917 the South African Railways placed seven Class K tank steam locomotives with a 4-6-4T Baltic type wheel arrangement in service that had been built for the Philippines, but could not be delivered.[1]

Manufacturer

The Class K 4-6-4 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 in the range from 347 to 353.[1][3]

Characteristics

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]

Service

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]

Service illustrated

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Holland, D.F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. p. 33-34. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  2. ↑ North British Locomotive Company works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 33. ISBN 0869772112.