Jump to content

South African Class S 0-8-0

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

South African Class S 0-8-0
No. 355 at Millsite, 8 April 1966
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerSouth African Railways
(Col F.R. Collins DSO)
BuilderHenschel and Son
Serial number21071-21084
ModelClass S
Build date1928
Total produced14
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-8-0 (Eight-coupled)
 • UICDh2
Driver3rd coupled axle
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Coupled dia.48 in (1,219 mm)
Tender wheels34 in (864 mm)
Wheelbase48 ft 2+116 in (14,683 mm) ​
 • Engine14 ft 9 in (4,496 mm)
 • Coupled14 ft 9 in (4,496 mm)
 • Tender20 ft 5 in (6,223 mm)
 • Tender bogie6 ft 2 in (1,880 mm)
Length:
 • Over couplers64 ft 10+516 in (19,769 mm)
Height13 ft (3,962 mm)
Frame typeBar
Axle load18 LT (18,290 kg) ​
 • Coupled18 LT (18,290 kg)
 • Tender bogieBogie 1: 29 LT 4 cwt (29,670 kg)
Bogie 2: 31 LT 19 cwt (32,460 kg)
 • Tender axle15 LT 19 cwt 2 qtr (16,230 kg)
Adhesive weight72 LT (73,160 kg)
Loco weight72 LT (73,160 kg)
Tender weight61 LT 3 cwt (62,130 kg)
Total weight133 LT 3 cwt (135,300 kg)
Tender typeGT (2-axle bogies)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity8 LT (8.1 t)
Water cap.6,000 imp gal (27,300 L)
Firebox:
 • TypeRound-top
 • Grate area41 sq ft (3.8 m2)
Boiler:
 • Pitch8 ft 6 in (2,591 mm)
 • Diameter5 ft 6+18 in (1,680 mm)
 • Tube plates14 ft (4,267 mm)
 • Small tubes135: 2 in (51 mm)
 • Large tubes28: tubes 5+12 in (140 mm)
Boiler pressure170 psi (1,172 kPa)
Safety valvePop
Heating surface:
 • Firebox125 sq ft (11.6 m2)
 • Tubes1,554 sq ft (144.4 m2)
 • Arch tubes20 sq ft (1.9 m2)
 • Total surface1,699 sq ft (157.8 m2)
Superheater:
 • Heating area450 sq ft (42 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size23+14 in (591 mm) bore
25 in (635 mm) stroke
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston
CouplersAAR knuckle
Performance figures
Tractive effort35,890 lbf (159.6 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
ClassClass S
Number in class14
Numbers360-373
Delivered1929
First run1929
Withdrawn1976
The 3rd coupled axle had flangeless wheels

The South African Railways Class S 0-8-0 of 1929 was a steam locomotive.

In 1929, the South African Railways placed fourteen purpose-built Class S steam shunting locomotives with a 0-8-0 wheel arrangement in service.[1][2][3]

Background

[edit]

Throughout the history of railways in South Africa, shunting was traditionally performed by downgraded mainline locomotives. Considering the enormous amount of shunting performed, the number of dedicated shunting locomotives on the South African Railways (SAR) roster in the steam era was remarkably low, amounting to only 151 locomotives on a railway whose steam stock at one stage reached a maximum of nearly 2,800 locomotives.[4]

When it did eventually introduce purpose-built shunting locomotives, the SAR preferred to adhere to the American practice of using tender locomotives for shunting rather than the European practice of using tank engines.[4]

Manufacturer

[edit]
Col F.R. Collins DSO

In spite of the conversion of Class A tank locomotives to Class 17 tank-and-tender shunting locomotives, increasing rail traffic throughout the country and particularly on the Witwatersrand in the 1920s still made it necessary to use heavy mainline locomotives for shunting work. Specifications for the Class S 0-8-0 tender type steam shunting locomotive were therefore prepared by Colonel F.R. Collins DSO, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the SAR.[1][3]

In 1928, fourteen locomotives were built to the SAR specifications by Henschel and Son in Germany. They were delivered in 1929 and numbered in the range from 360 to 373. Since they were designed to operate at low speeds in tightly curved shunting yards, there was no need for the leading or trailing wheels which are necessary on mainline locomotives to improve high speed stability. In addition, it was desirable to have as large a proportion of the engine weight as possible carried on the coupled wheels to obtain the maximum adhesion possible.[1][2][3][5][6][7]

Characteristics

[edit]

The Class S locomotives were superheated, were built on bar frames and used Walschaerts valve gear with piston valves. They were delivered with Type GT tenders with a fuel capacity of 8 long tons (8.1 tonnes), a water capacity of 6,000 imperial gallons (27,300 litres) and a maximum axle load of 15 long tons 19 hundredweight 2 quarters (16,230 kilograms). To improve the crew's rearward vision, the top sides of the tender's coal bunker were set inwards and the water tank top was rounded.[1][2][3]

When they were first introduced, their boiler pressure was set at 216 pounds per square inch (1,489 kilopascals), giving a tractive effort of 45,500 pounds-force (202 kilonewtons) at 75% boiler pressure. Since they tended to be slippery, however, the operating boiler pressure was reduced to 170 pounds per square inch (1,172 kilopascals) in 1933, resulting in a corresponding reduction in tractive effort to 35,890 pounds-force (159.6 kilonewtons) at 75% boiler pressure.[1][2][6][7]

Service

[edit]

South African Railways

[edit]

The Class S was initially placed in service in the Orange Free State and Natal, but they were soon transferred to Transvaal where they spent most of the rest of their working lives, rendering good service in yards at several centres. The Class ended up being mainly a Western Transvaal locomotive, stationed at Germiston, Kaserne, Krugersdorp, Springs and at Beaconsfield in Kimberley, with a solitary locomotive at Volksrust. The bulk of them spent all their working lives in Braamfontein.[3][4][8]

Industrial

[edit]

They were withdrawn from SAR service in 1976. Four were sold to Dunn's in 1977, from where they eventually ended up at several locations.[3][4]

  • No. 362 went to Apex Mines at Greenside as no. 6.
  • No. 365 went to Tweefontein United Colliery and later to Enyati Colliery.
  • No. 367 went to Apex Mines as no. 5 and later to Grootvlei Proprietary Mines at Springs, first as no. 3 Big Mac and later renumbered to 2.
  • No. 369 went to Grootvlei Proprietary Mines (GVPM), first as no. 2 King Kong and later renumbered to 1.

Preservation

[edit]
Number Works nmr THF / Private Leaselend / Owner Current Location Outside South Africa ?
360 HENSC 21071 THF Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot

Illustration

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 63–65. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  2. ^ a b c d Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, Jun 1946. p. 455.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 80. ISBN 0869772112.
  4. ^ a b c d Durrant, AE (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott: David & Charles. p. 120. ISBN 0715386387.
  5. ^ Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow
  6. ^ a b 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. 46.
  7. ^ a b 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, 37, 46.
  8. ^ Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 22: Braamfontein by Les Pivnic: Braamfontein Yard, Loco, ERS and Old Kazerne Goods Yard, Part 1. Caption 62. (Accessed on 4 May 2017)