South African Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2

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The South African Railways Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1937 is a narrow gauge steam locomotive.

Between 1937 and 1968 the South African Railways placed thirty-four Class NG G16 Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in service on the Avontuur Railway and on the Natal narrow gauge lines.^[1][2]

Manufacturers

The success of the Class NG G13 narrow gauge Garratts that were introduced by the South African Railways (SAR) in 1927 led to a decision that any additional narrow gauge articulated locomotives would be of the same design. Altogether thirty-four more 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type narrow gauge locomotives were built, spread over five orders from three manufacturers over a span of thirty-one years.^[2][3][4][5]

Cockerill

In 1937 Société Anonyme John Cockerill of Seraing in Belgium delivered four new 2-6-2+2-6-2 locomotives, numbered in the range from NG85 to NG88, which were so similar to the older locomotives that they were initially classified as Class NG G13 as well. However, in view of the fact that all the carrying wheels were fitted with roller bearing axle boxes and arranged as pony trucks, compared to the Class NG G13 whose inner carrying wheels were built to the Gölsdorf system that allowed the axle some lateral movement, it was soon decided to reclassify them to Class NG G16.^[2][4]

These pre-war locomotives, like the earlier Class NG G13 locomotives, were built with riveted coal and water bunkers and with large radius tops on the water tanks.^[1]

Beyer, Peacock

The second order of eight locomotives was delivered from Beyer, Peacock and Company in 1939. They were numbered in the range from NG109 to NG116.^[1][2][3]

The third order was for a further seven locomotives in 1951, numbered in the range from NG125 to NG131, once again from Beyer, Peacock. These and the subsequent locomotives had welded water and coal bunkers and flat top water tanks with rounded top side edges.^[1][2][3]

The fourth batch of seven locomotives, numbered in the range from NG137 to NG143, were the last steam locomotives to be built by Beyer, Peacock and were ordered and built to the specifications of the Tsumeb Copper Corporation in South West Africa (SWA). They were mechanically similar to the earlier and subsequent Class NG G16 locomotives, but with a revised coal and water carrying arrangement. These locomotives had an enlarged front water tank capacity, but carried no water in their rear bunkers, which consequently had an enlarged coal capacity. It was planned to attach a water tanker to the locomotive for use across the Namib desert in SWA, as was the practice with the Cape gauge Class GM and Class GMA Garratts in South Africa.^[2][3]

However, while the locomotives were being built, the decision was made to convert all the SWA narrow gauge lines to Cape gauge. In terms of a prior agreement between the SAR and the Tsumeb Copper Corporation, the SAR would purchase any narrow gauge locomotives that would become redundant should the re-gauging of the SWA system take place. The new locomotives were therefore delivered directly to the SAR in 1958.^[2]

With the shorter distances between watering points in South Africa, an auxiliary water tanker was never required on the Avontuur and Natal narrow gauge lines where they were placed in service.^[2]

Hunslet-Taylor

The final order for eight locomotives in 1967, numbered in the range from NG149 to NG156, turned out to be the last new steam locomotives to be ordered by the SAR. Since no overseas manufacturers were available to supply them, they were built by Hunslet-Taylor in Germiston, Transvaal, using boilers supplied by their overseas principals, the Hunslet Engine Company. Built between 1967 and 1968, these locomotives had the same enlarged capacity front water tank as that of the Tsumeb group, but their rear bunkers were identical to those of the 1951 batch of locomotives, carrying both coal and water.^[2][4]

Service

The Cockerill locomotives, numbers NG85 to NG88, remained in Natal for most of their service lives.^[1][2]

The Beyer, Peacock locomotives ordered by the SAR, numbers NG109 to NG116 and NG125 to NG131, were shared more or less equally between the Natal and Avontuur lines.^[1][2]

The seven Beyer, Peacock locomotives ordered by the Tsumeb Copper Corporation, numbers NG137 to NG143, were initially distributed between the Umzinto, Port Shepstone and Avontuur lines, but the three that went to the Langkloof were soon transferred to Natal as well.^[1][2]

The Hunslet-Taylor locomotives, numbers NG149 to NG156, were placed in service on the Harding and Donnybrook branches in Natal in 1968.^[1][2]

The end of SAR steam

When the lower section of the Avontuur line was dieselised with the arrival of the Class 91-000 diesel-electric locomotive in 1973, all the Class NG G16 locomotives that were still in service were transferred to various branches in Natal, where they remained until they were withdrawn from service. The Class 91-000 diesels and the remaining Class NG15 Kalaharis served the Langkloof together for some years, but by the mid-1980s road transport had triumphed over rail transport on the apple route as well and the SAR narrow gauge steam fleet was retired.^[2]

Class NG G16A modification

When the four Natal narrow gauge systems were closed down by the SAR, the Weenen and Mid Illovo lines were lifted, but the Harding line was privatised as the Alfred County Railway (ACR), operating out of Port Shepstone.^[1]

As part of their strategy to keep the railway competitive, two of the ACR’s Class NG G16 locomotives were rebuilt using technology similar to that used in the Class 26 Red Devil. The rebuilding incorporated a gas producing combustion system (GPCS), Lempor exhausts, an improved spark arrester, lightweight multi-ring articulated piston valves, improved valve events and improved mechanical lubrication. The two locomotives that received this treatment, number NG141 in 1989 and number NG155 in 1990, were reclassified to Class NG G16A.^[6][7]

In comparative testing, number NG141 achieved a fuel saving of 25% compared to a standard Class NG G16 Garratt, a performance that was easily maintained in regular service. The cost of the work paid off financially within twelve months and led to a proposal to develop a Class NG G17, but that never materialised since the line’s farming produce traffic was gradually lost to road transport on the improving road network.^[6][7][8]

Preservation

Since withdrawal from SAR service, some locomotives were sold into private hands and kept in operational condition, while others ended up in various degrees of preservation ranging across the spectrum from running order to staging to total abandonment. By 2012 at least three establishments still operated or were restoring ex SAR class NG G16 Garratts.^[8]

Welsh Highland Railway

The Welsh Highland Railway in the United Kingdom owns four Class NG G16 locomotives, of which one has been used for spares to keep the other three running. These three locomotives, Cockerill-built number NG87 and Beyer, Peacock-built numbers NG138 and NG143, are kept in excellent condition by an establishment that exhibits great pride in its heritage.^[8]

Sandstone Estates

The Sandstone Estates near Ficksburg in the Free State was home to a large number of Class NG G16 locomotives, either as the owners or as the custodian for locomotives belonging to individuals or other establishments. Three of their Class NG G16 locomotives are still being kept in pristine condition and are regularly run during the Estate’s annual events like the Cosmos Festival, Cherry Festival and others. These are Cockerill-built no. NG88, Beyer, Peacock-built no. NG113 and Hunslet-Taylor-built no. NG153.^[8]

Puffing Billy Railway

The Puffing Billy Railway (PBR), located in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne, Australia, began restoring Class NG G16 no. NG129 and regauging it to 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) as a backup for their Victorian Railways G class Garratt no. G42. Completion of no. NG129's restoration was planned to coincide with the next time that no. G42 was expected to be withdrawn for major maintenance. Faced with the need to manufacture a number of missing parts for no. NG129, the PBR also purchased no. NG127 and a container of spare parts in early 2012. It was expected that this would greatly simplify the restoration project and also give them a second almost-complete Class NG G16 which may also be restored in future.^[9]

Distribution

The last known fate of all the Class NG G16 locomotives, as at January 2015, are shown in the table.^[8]

No.	Builder	Country	Location	Notes
NG85	Cockerill	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Purchased from the liquidator of the Alfred County Railway, unrestored.[10]
NG86	Cockerill	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Purchased from the liquidator of the Alfred County Railway, unrestored.[10]
NG87	Cockerill	Wales	Welsh Highland Railway	Purchased from the Exmoor Steam Railway, currently in service on WHR.
NG88	Cockerill	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Operational.
NG109	Beyer, Peacock	Wales	Welsh Highland Railway	Purchased by Waterman Heritage Railway Trust in 2009 for future use on the WHR.[11] After failure of UK Government to back apprenticeship programme, Pete Waterman sold LNWR Engineering to Jeremy Hosking in May 2014, and has moved all parts to Dinas.
NG110	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Unrestored.[10]
NG111	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Gold Reef City, Johannesburg
NG112	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Century City, Cape Town	On loan from Sandstone Estates.[10]
NG113	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Operational.[12]
NG114	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal	Transnet Heritage Foundation, in storage.
NG115	Beyer, Peacock	England	Exmoor Steam Railway[13]	In Storage.
NG116	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Paton's Country Railway, Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal	Owned by American resident, John Middleton and others, under restoration.
NG125	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal	Transnet Heritage Foundation, in storage.
NG126	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal	Transnet Heritage Foundation, in storage.
NG127	Beyer, Peacock	Australia	Puffing Billy Railway	Previously used on the Banana Express, transported to Australia by Puffing Billy Railway in 2012.[9]
NG128	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Unrestored.[10]
NG129	Beyer, Peacock	Australia	Puffing Billy Railway	Overhaul and conversion to 2'6" gauge proceeding.
NG130	Beyer, Peacock	England	For Welsh Highland Railway	Purchased from the Exmoor Steam Railway by Steam Powered Services (Peter Best) for restoration, initially for service on WHR.
NG131	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Avontuur Railway	Operational.
NG137	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Purchased from the liquidator of the Alfred County Railway, unrestored.[10]
NG138	Beyer, Peacock	Wales	Welsh Highland Railway	Operational on the Welsh Highland Railway.
NG139	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal	Under restoration.
NG140	Beyer, Peacock	Wales	Welsh Highland Railway	Previously used for spares to support continuing operation of 138 and 143 on the WHR, now being overhauled for future use on the WHR.[10]
NG141	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Rebuilt to Class NG G16A, undergoing cosmetic restoration for private owner.[7]
NG142	Beyer, Peacock	South Africa	Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal	In storage.
NG143	Beyer, Peacock	Wales	Welsh Highland Railway	Operational, overhauled 2010-2011. The last Garratt built by Beyer, Peacock.
NG149	Hunslet-Taylor	South Africa	Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal	In storage.
NG150	Hunslet-Taylor	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Purchased from the liquidator of the Alfred County Railway, unrestored.[10]
NG151	Hunslet-Taylor	South Africa	Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal	In storage.
NG152	Hunslet-Taylor	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Purchased from the liquidator of the Alfred County Railway, unrestored.[10]
NG153	Hunslet-Taylor	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Operational.[12]
NG154	Hunslet-Taylor	South Africa	Humewood Station, Port Elizabeth	Dismantled by Transnet Heritage Foundation, scrapped in August 2011.[10]
NG155	Hunslet-Taylor	South Africa	Sandstone Estates	Rebuilt to Class NG G16A, unrestored.[10]
NG156	Hunslet-Taylor	South Africa	Paddock, KwaZulu-Natal	In storage.

Illustration

The main picture and the following photographs offer views of the various models of the Class NG G16 locomotive.

• 

  Cockerill-built no. NG87, Beddgelert on the WHR, 31 August 2009

• 

  Cockerill-built no. NG87, Caernarfon on the WHR, 10 April 2010

• 

  Beyer, Peacock-built no. NG138, Pont Croesor on the WHR, 29 April 2011

• 

  Beyer, Peacock-built no. NG143, Rhyd Ddu on the WHR, 31 August 2004

• 

  Hunslet-Taylor-built no. NG151 on the Banana Express, 16 June 2005

• 

  Hunslet-Taylor-built no. NG153, Sandstone Estates, 9 April 2006

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class NG G16 (2-6-2+2-6-2).

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 SAR Class ES SAR Class ES1 SAR Class Exp-AC SAR Class 1E SAR Class 2E SAR Class 3E SAR Class 4E SAR Class 5E s1 SAR Class 5E s2 SAR Class 5E s3 SAR Class 5E1 s1 SAR Class 5E1 s2 SAR Class 5E1 s3 SAR Class 5E1 s4 SAR Class 5E1 s5 SAR Class 6E SAR Class 6E1 s1 SAR Class 6E1 s2 SAR Class 6E1 s3 SAR Class 6E1 s4 SAR Class 6E1 s5 SAR Class 6E1 s6 SAR Class 6E1 s7 SAR Class 6E1 s8 SAR Class 6E1 s9 SAR Class 6E1 s10 SAR Class 6E1 s11 SAR Class 7E SAR Class 7E1 SAR Class 7E2 s1 SAR Class 7E2 s2 SAR Class 7E3 s1 SAR Class 7E3 s2 SAR Class 8E SAR Class 9E s1 SAR Class 9E s2 SAR Class 10E SAR Class 10E1 s1 SAR Class 10E2 SAR Class 11E SAR Class 12E Spoornet Class 7E4 Spoornet Class 10E1 s2 Spoornet Class 14E Spoornet Class 14E1 Spoornet Class 16E Spoornet Class 17E Spoornet Class 18E s1 TFR Class 15E TFR Class 18E s2 TFR Class 19E TFR Class 20E TFR Class 21E TFR Class 22E 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 List of South African locomotive classes Rail transport in South 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