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

Class GE no. 2269, circa 1930

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Beyer, Peacock and Company
Builder	Beyer, Peacock and Company
Serial number	6193-6198, 6339-6348, 6716-6717
Model	Class GE
Build date	1924-1930
Total produced	18

Specifications
Configuration	2-8-2+2-8-2 "Double Mikado" Garratt
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia	28.5 in (724 mm)
Driver diameter	46 in (1,168 mm)
Trailing dia	28.5 in (724 mm)
Wheelbase	Total: 70 ft (21,336 mm) Engines: 12 ft 9 in (3,886 mm) coupled 22 ft 10.5 in (6,972 mm) total, 2260-2275 22 ft 11 in (6,985 mm) total, 2276-2277
Length	76 ft 8.75 in (23,387 mm) 2260-2275 76 ft 8.25 in (23,374 mm) 2276-2277
Height	12 ft 11.6875 in (3,954 mm)
Frame	Plate frame, 35 ft (10,668 mm) between pivot centres
Axle load	13.45 long tons (13.7 t) on 7th driver, 2260-2275 13.15 long tons (13.4 t) on 2nd driver, 2276-2277
Adhesive weight	103.5 long tons (105.2 t) 2260-2275 102.75 long tons (104.4 t) 2276-2277
Loco weight	240,800 lb (109.2 t) empty 148.4 long tons (150.8 t) w/o 2260-2275 147.9 long tons (150.3 t) w/o 2276-2277
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	9 long tons (9.1 t)
Water cap	3,300 imp gal (15,000 l) front 1,300 imp gal (5,900 l) rear
Firebox: • Firegrate area	52 sq ft (4.831 m²)
Boiler	6 ft 9 in (2,057 mm) inside diameter 11 ft 3 in (3,429 mm) inside length 7 ft 9.25 in (2,369 mm) pitch
Boiler pressure	180 psi (1,240 kPa)
Heating surface	2,589 sq ft (240.526 m²) 2260-2265 2,576 sq ft (239.318 m²) 2266-2275 2,603 sq ft (241.827 m²) 2276-2277
• Tubes	288 tubes 2 in (51 mm) diameter 36 tubes 5.5 in (140 mm) diameter 2,374 sq ft (220.552 m²)
• Flues	27 sq ft (2.508 m²) 2276-2277 only
• Firebox	215 sq ft (19.974 m²) 2260-2265 202 sq ft (18.766 m²) 2266-2277
Superheater: • Heating area	362 sq ft (33.631 m²) 2260-2265 349 sq ft (32.423 m²) 2266-2275 364 sq ft (33.817 m²) 2276-2277
Cylinders	Four
Cylinder size	18 in (457 mm) bore 2260-2275 19 in (483 mm) bore 2276-2277 24 in (610 mm) stroke
Valve gear	Walschaerts

Performance figures
Tractive effort	At 75% boiler pressure: 45,640 lbf (203.0 kN) 2260-2275 50,850 lbf (226.2 kN) 2276-2277

Career
Operators	South African Railways
Class	Class GE
Number in class	18
Numbers	2260-2277
Delivered	1925-1931
First run	1925
Withdrawn	1979

Error in template * unknown parameter name (Template:Infobox_locomotive): 'framesize'

The South African Railways Class GE 2-8-2+2-8-2 of 1925 is an articulated steam locomotive.

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]^[2]^[3]

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]^[2]^[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]^[2]^[3]

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.^[2]^[3]^[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.^[2]^[3]^[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.^[2]^[3]^[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]^[3]^[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.^[3]^[5]

Illustration

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

References

1 2 3 4 Holland, D.F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 43–45. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
1 2 3 4 5 6 South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2’0” & 3’6” Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 91. ISBN 0869772112.
↑ Hamilton, Gavin N., The Garratt Locomotive - Garratt Locomotives produced by Beyer, Peacock, retrieved 10 November 2012
1 2 3 4 5 Durrant, A E (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, London: David & Charles. p. 111. ISBN 0715386387.

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

Locomotives of South Africa

Steam

7' ¼" gauge	East London Harbour 0-4-0 Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0ST Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0T Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0WT

4' 8½" gauge	Cape 0-4-0T Blackie Cape 0-4-2 Cape 2-4-0T CGR 0-4-0ST Aid Natal 0-4-0ST Durban Natal 0-4-0WT Natal Natal 4-4-0T Perseverance

3' 6" gauge Tank engines	CGR 0-4-0ST 1873 CGR 0-4-0ST 1874 CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 Coffee Pot CGR 0-6-0ST 1902 CGR 0-6-0T 1876 Back-to-Back CGR 2-6-0ST 1900 CGR 2-6-0ST 1902 CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1875 CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1876 CGR 1st Class 2-6-0ST 1876 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0T 1875 CGR 2nd Class 4-4-0T 1882 CGR 3rd Class 2-6-0T CGR Railmotor CSAR Class C CSAR Class E CSAR Rack CSAR Railmotor DSWA Eight-Coupled Tank 2-8-0T Durban's Congella Durban's Edward Innes Durban's John Milne Durban's Sir Albert Port Elizabeth Harbour 0-4-0ST Kowie Railway 0-6-0T Kowie Railway 4-4-0T Metropolitan & Suburban 4-6-2T NGR 2-6-0T Durban & Pietermaritzburg NGR Class I 2-6-2T NGR Class K 0-4-0ST NGR Class K 0-6-0ST NGR Class K 2-6-0T NZASM 10 Tonner NZASM 14 Tonner NZASM 18 Tonner NZASM 19 Tonner NZASM 32 Tonner NZASM 40 Tonner PPR 26 Tonner PPR 35 Tonner Portuguese SAR 0-4-0ST 1903 SAR 0-4-0T no. 69 SAR Class A SAR Class B SAR Class C SAR Class C1 SAR Class C2 SAR Class D SAR Class E SAR Class F SAR Class G SAR Class H SAR Class H1 SAR Class H2 SAR Class J SAR Class K SAR Clayton Railmotor

3' 6" gauge Tender engines	CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Beyer, Peacock CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Kitson CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1879 CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1891 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0 1879 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0TT 1881 CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT 1875 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1883 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1884 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1889 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1898 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1901 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1903 CGR 4th Class 4-4-2 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1884 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1890 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891 DSWA Eight-Coupled Tender 2-8-0 NGR Havelock NGR Class I SAR Class Exp 1 SAR Class Exp 2 SAR Class Exp 3 SAR Class Exp 4 SAR Class Exp 5 SAR Class Exp 6 SAR Class S SAR Class S1 SAR Class S2 SAR Class 1 SAR Class 1A SAR Class 1B SAR Class 2 SAR Class 2C SAR Class 3 SAR Class 3A SAR Class 3B SAR Class 4 SAR Class 4A SAR Class 5 SAR Class 5A SAR Class 5B SAR Class 6 SAR Class 6A SAR Class 6B SAR Class 6C SAR Class 6D SAR Class 6E SAR Class 6F SAR Class 6G SAR Class 6H SAR Class 6J SAR Class 6K SAR Class 6L SAR Class 6Y SAR Class 6Z SAR Class 7 SAR Class 7A SAR Class 7B SAR Class 7C SAR Class 7D SAR Class 7E SAR Class 7F SAR Class 8 SAR Class 8A SAR Class 8B SAR Class 8C SAR Class 8D SAR Class 8E SAR Class 8F SAR Class 8R SAR Class 8X SAR Class 8Y SAR Class 8Z SAR Class 9 SAR Class 10 SAR Class 10A SAR Class 10B SAR Class 10C SAR Class 10D SAR Class 11 SAR Class 12 SAR Class 12A SAR Class 12B SAR Class 13 SAR Class 14 SAR Class 14A SAR Class 14B SAR Class 14C SAR Class 15 SAR Class 15A SAR Class 15B SAR Class 15C SAR Class 15CA SAR Class 15E SAR Class 15F SAR Class 16 SAR Class 16A SAR Class 16B SAR Class 16C SAR Class 16D SAR Class 16DA SAR Class 16E SAR Class 17 SAR Class 18 SAR Class 19 SAR Class 19A SAR Class 19B SAR Class 19C SAR Class 19D SAR Class 20 SAR Class 21 SAR Class 23 SAR Class 24 SAR Class 25 SAR Class 25NC SAR Class 26 Red Devil

3' 6" gauge Articulated engines	CGR Fairlie CGR Kitson-Meyer SAR Class FC SAR Class FD SAR Class GA SAR Class GB SAR Class GC SAR Class GCA SAR Class GD SAR Class GDA SAR Class GE SAR Class GEA SAR Class GF SAR Class GG SAR Class GH SAR Class GK SAR Class GL SAR Class GM SAR Class GMA SAR Class GO SAR Class HF SAR Class KM SAR Class MA SAR Class MB SAR Class MC SAR Class MC1 SAR Class MD SAR Class ME SAR Class MF SAR Class MG SAR Class MH SAR Class MJ SAR Class MJ1 SAR Class U

2' 6" gauge	Cape Copper 0-6-0T 1871 Cape Copper Britannia Cape Copper Caledonia Cape Copper Clara Class Cape Copper Condenser Cape Copper Scotia Class Namaqua Copper Pioneer

2' & 600mm gauges	ACR Class NG-G16A CGR NG 0-6-0T CGR NG 4-6-2T CGR Type A 2-6-4T CGR Type C 0-4-0T DSWA Class Ha DSWA Class Hb DSWA Class Hc DSWA Class Hd DSWA Jung DSWA Zwillinge NGR Class N 4-6-2T SAR NG 0-4-0T 1899 SAR Class NG1 SAR Class NG2 SAR Class NG3 SAR Class NG4 SAR Class NG5 SAR Class NG6 SAR Class NG7 SAR Class NG8 SAR Class NG9 SAR Class NG10 SAR Class NG-G11 SAR Class NG-G12 SAR Class NG-G13 SAR Class NG-G14 SAR Class NG15 SAR Class NG-G16

Electric

Amcoal Class E38

Diesel

3' 6" gauge Diesel-electric	PRASA Class Afro 4000 SAR Class DS SAR Class DS1 SAR Class 31-000 SAR Class 32-000 SAR Class 32-200 SAR Class 33-000 SAR Class 33-200 SAR Class 33-400 SAR Class 34-000 SAR Class 34-200 SAR Class 34-400 SAR Class 34-500 SAR Class 34-600 SAR Class 34-800 SAR Class 34-900 SAR Class 35-000 SAR Class 35-200 SAR Class 35-400 SAR Class 35-600 SAR Class 36-000 SAR Class 36-200 SAR Class 37-000 Spoornet Class 39-000 TFR Class 35-800 TFR Class 39-200 TFR Class 43-000 TFR Class 44-000

2' gauge Diesel-electric	SAR Class 91-000

3' 6" gauge Diesel-hydraulic	SAR Class 61-000

3' 6" gauge Electro-diesel	Spoornet Class 38-000

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, November 06, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.