South African Class GC 2-6-2+2-6-2

Class GC no. 2182, c. 1924

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Beyer, Peacock and Company
Builder	Beyer, Peacock and Company
Serial number	6187-6192
Model	Class GC
Build date	1924
Total produced	6

Specifications
Configuration:
• Whyte	2-6-2+2-6-2 (Double Prairie)
• UIC	1'C1'+1'C1'h4
Driver	3rd & 4th coupled axles
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.	28 ¹⁄₂ in (724 mm)
Coupled dia.	42 ³⁄₄ in (1,086 mm)
Trailing dia.	28 ¹⁄₂ in (724 mm)
Wheelbase	56 ft 8 in (17,272 mm)
• Engine	17 ft 8 ¹⁄₄ in (5,391 mm) each
• Coupled	8 ft (2,438 mm) each
Pivot centres	29 ft 8 in (9,042 mm)
Length:
• Over couplers	63 ft 3 ³⁄₄ in (19,298 mm)
Height	12 ft 3 in (3,734 mm)
Frame type	Plate
Axle load	11 LT 16 cwt (11,990 kg)
• Leading	8 LT 13 cwt (8,789 kg) front 8 LT 9 cwt (8,586 kg) rear
• 1st coupled	10 LT 16 cwt (10,970 kg)
• 2nd coupled	10 LT 14 cwt (10,870 kg)
• 3rd coupled	10 LT 14 cwt (10,870 kg)
• 4th coupled	11 LT 15 cwt (11,940 kg)
• 5th coupled	11 LT 16 cwt (11,990 kg)
• 6th coupled	10 LT 11 cwt (10,720 kg)
• Trailing	6 LT 8 cwt (6,503 kg) front 7 LT 2 cwt (7,214 kg) rear
Adhesive weight	66 LT 6 cwt (67,360 kg)
Loco weight	96 LT 18 cwt (98,450 kg)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	7 LT (7.1 t)
Water cap	2,000 imp gal (9,090 l) front 1,000 imp gal (4,550 l) rear
Firebox type	Belpaire
• Firegrate area	34 sq ft (3.2 m²)
Boiler:
• Pitch	7 ft 4 ³⁄₈ in (2,245 mm)
• Diameter	5 ft 2 in (1,575 mm)
• Tube plates	11 ft 3 ⁵⁄₈ in (3,445 mm)
• Small tubes	149: 2 in (51 mm)
• Large tubes	24: 5 ¹⁄₂ in (140 mm)
Boiler pressure	180 psi (1,241 kPa)
Safety valve	Ramsbottom
Heating surface	1,423 sq ft (132.2 m²)
• Tubes	1,266.2 sq ft (117.63 m²)
• Firebox	156.8 sq ft (14.57 m²)
Superheater:
• Heating area	247 sq ft (22.9 m²)
Cylinders	Four
Cylinder size	14 in (356 mm) bore 23 in (584 mm) stroke
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Valve type	Piston
Couplers	Johnston link-and-pin AAR knuckle (1930s)

Performance figures
Tractive effort	28,470 lbf (126.6 kN) @ 75%

Career
Operators	South African Railways
Class	Class GC
Number in class	6
Numbers	2180-2185
Delivered	1924-1925
First run	1924
Withdrawn	1962

The South African Railways Class GC 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1924 was an articulated steam locomotive.

In 1924 and 1925, the South African Railways placed six Class GC Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in branch line service.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Manufacturer

Following the good performance of the Class GB branch line Garratts, the first locomotive to be built to the specifications of Colonel F.R. Collins DSO after he was appointed as the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the South African Railways in 1922 was a heavier 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type Garratt, also intended for branch line work. It was designed and built to his specifications by Beyer, Peacock and Company in 1924.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Characteristics

Six locomotives were delivered in 1924 and were erected in the Durban shops of the SAR. They were placed in service in 1924 and 1925, designated Class GC and numbered in the range from 2180 to 2185. The locomotives were superheated, with Belpaire fireboxes, plate frames, Walschaerts valve gear and piston valves.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[5]^[6]

Like its predecessor Class GB, the heavier Class GC was also a branch line locomotive and its maximum axle load of 11 long tons 16 hundredweight (11,990 kilograms) made it suitable for light rail. It was a more powerful development of the Class GB and was very similar to the Class GK Garratts which had been acquired by the New Cape Central Railway (NCCR) in 1923, but 2 long tons (2,032 kilograms) heavier and with 1 inch (25 millimetres) smaller diameter cylinders with a 1 inch (25 millimetres) longer stroke.^[3]

Service

The locomotives were initially placed in service on the Natal South Coast line. Although they later also worked on other branch lines, they spent their entire working lives in Natal until they were withdrawn from service in 1962.^[1]^[3]

Illustration

Class GC in Durban station on the Port Shepstone train, with Station Inspector James Grossert on the platform at right, c. 1924

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class GC 2-6-2+2-6-2.

1 2 3 4 Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
1 2 3 Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1945). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, November 1945. p. 867.
1 2 3 4 5 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 89. ISBN 0869772112.
↑ Hamilton, Gavin N., The Garratt Locomotive - Garratt Locomotives produced by Beyer, Peacock, retrieved 10 November 2012
↑ South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. p. 43.
↑ South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte, Steam Locomotives/Stoomlokomotiewe. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. pp. 6a-7a, 41, 43.

Locomotives of South Africa

Steam

7' ¼" gauge	East London 0-4-0VB Table Bay 0-4-0ST Table Bay 0-4-0T Table Bay 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 CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 Coffee Pot CGR 0-6-0ST CGR 0-6-0T 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 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0T CGR 2nd Class 4-4-0T CGR 3rd Class 2-6-0T CGR Railmotor CSAR Class C CSAR Class E CSAR Rack 4-6-4RT CSAR Railmotor Durban's Congella Durban's Edward Innes Durban's John Milne Durban's Sir Albert Port Elizabeth 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 13 Tonner NZASM 14 Tonner NZASM 18 Tonner NZASM 19 Tonner NZASM 32 Tonner NZASM 40 Tonner PPR 26 Tonner PPR 35 Tonner Portuguese 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 Railmotor SAR Dock 0-4-0ST SAR Dock 0-4-0T SWA 2-8-0T
3' 6" gauge Tender engines	CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 BP 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 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0TT CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT 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 1882 Joy CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1884 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1890 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891 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 1st SAR Class 14C 2nd SAR Class 14C 3rd SAR Class 14C 4th 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 1928 SAR Class 16DA 1930 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 SAR Katanga SWA 2-8-0
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 John King & Miner Cape Copper Britannia Cape Copper Caledonia Cape Copper Clara Cape Copper Condenser Cape Copper Scotia Namaqua Copper Pioneer Walvis Bay 2-4-2T Hope
2' & 600mm gauges	ACR Class NG-G16A CGR NG 0-4-0T CGR NG 0-6-0T CGR NG 4-6-2T CGR Type A 2-6-4T CGR Type C 0-4-0T NGR Class N 4-6-2T SAR Dutton SAR NG 0-4-0T 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 SWA Class Ha SWA Class Hb SWA Class Hc SWA Class Hd SWA Jung SWA Zwillinge

Electric

Amcoal Class E38

Gas-electric

SAR Gas-electric

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 TFR Class 35-800 SAR Class 36-000 SAR Class 36-200 SAR Class 37-000 Spoornet Class 39-000 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

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