South African Class 11 2-8-2
Encyclopedia
In 1904 the Central South African Railways
placed thirty-six Class 11 steam locomotive
s with a 2-8-2
Mikado wheel arrangement in service. When these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways in 1912, they were renumbered but retained their Class 11 classification.
(NBL), the Class 11 was designed by P.A. Hyde, Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the Central South African Railways (CSAR) from 1902 to 1904, for goods train service on the Reef. One locomotive, CSAR number 700, was delivered early in 1904 for trial purposes. After successful trials, this locomotive was followed by a further thirty-five Class 11 locomotives that were delivered later that same year, numbered 701 to 735.
They were superheated, with Belpaire firebox
es, Walschaerts valve gear and plate frames. Upon delivery, however, the class was found to be too heavy for a large part of the existing track and bridges on the line between Witbank and Germiston where they were intended to work. It took nearly a year to carry out the programme of track and bridge strengthening required and some of the new locomotives ended up being held in staging for that time before the Chief Civil Engineer would allow them to run.
(CGR), Natal Government Railways
(NGR) and CSAR were amalgamated into one national carrier for the Union of South Africa
, the CSAR Class 11 locomotives were renumbered to 912 to 947, but their Class 11 classification was retained.
The 2-8-2 Mikado type was rare in SAR service, with the Class 11 and the narrow gauge Class NG15 Kalahari the only South African Mikado types built in quantity.
. They were powerful locomotives that gave good service at moderate speeds, but at higher speed the lightly loaded leading Bissel truck with its 6.05 long tons (6.1 t) axle load proved unsatisfactory on curves.
When more powerful locomotives arrived, they were therefore relegated to local workings and shunting duties. In the 1940s most of them were relocated to the Cape Northern system, shedded at Kimberley
, and the Cape Midlands system, shedded at Port Elizabeth, where they were employed on similar tasks until they were withdrawn from SAR service in 1975.
While most other SAR locomotives with Belpaire fireboxes were later reboilered with the Watson Standard boilers that were introduced in the 1930s, no Class 11 locomotive ever underwent this modification. They served in the SAR for seventy years, plus several more years in industrial service while retaining the distinctive appearance that comes with a Belpaire firebox.
Central South African Railways
From 1902 to 1904, the area of power of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Girouard later also included the lines of The Netherlands-South African Railway Company; together this dominion covered all lines in the Transvaal that belonged to NZASM ....
placed thirty-six Class 11 steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s with a 2-8-2
2-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
Mikado wheel arrangement in service. When these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways in 1912, they were renumbered but retained their Class 11 classification.
Manufacturer
Built by the North British Locomotive CompanyNorth British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
(NBL), the Class 11 was designed by P.A. Hyde, Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the Central South African Railways (CSAR) from 1902 to 1904, for goods train service on the Reef. One locomotive, CSAR number 700, was delivered early in 1904 for trial purposes. After successful trials, this locomotive was followed by a further thirty-five Class 11 locomotives that were delivered later that same year, numbered 701 to 735.
They were superheated, with Belpaire firebox
Belpaire firebox
The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...
es, Walschaerts valve gear and plate frames. Upon delivery, however, the class was found to be too heavy for a large part of the existing track and bridges on the line between Witbank and Germiston where they were intended to work. It took nearly a year to carry out the programme of track and bridge strengthening required and some of the new locomotives ended up being held in staging for that time before the Chief Civil Engineer would allow them to run.
Service
With the establishment of the South African Railways (SAR) in 1912, when the former Cape Government RailwaysCape Government Railways
The Cape Government Railways was the government-owned railway operator in the Cape Colony from 1874 until the creation of the South African Railways in 1910.-Private railways:...
(CGR), Natal Government Railways
Natal government railways
The Natal Government Railways was formed in January 1877 in the Colony of Natal.In 1877 the Natal Government Railways acquired the Natal Railway Company for the sum of £40,000, gaining the line from the Point to Durban and from Durban to Umgeni...
(NGR) and CSAR were amalgamated into one national carrier for the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
, the CSAR Class 11 locomotives were renumbered to 912 to 947, but their Class 11 classification was retained.
The 2-8-2 Mikado type was rare in SAR service, with the Class 11 and the narrow gauge Class NG15 Kalahari the only South African Mikado types built in quantity.
Railways service
The Class 11 was initially used on the Reef to haul coal between Germiston and WitbankWitbank
Witbank , also known as eMalahleni is a city situated on the Highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa, within the eMalahleni Local Municipality. The name Witbank is Afrikaans for White Ridge and is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wagon transport drivers rested...
. They were powerful locomotives that gave good service at moderate speeds, but at higher speed the lightly loaded leading Bissel truck with its 6.05 long tons (6.1 t) axle load proved unsatisfactory on curves.
When more powerful locomotives arrived, they were therefore relegated to local workings and shunting duties. In the 1940s most of them were relocated to the Cape Northern system, shedded at Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, and the Cape Midlands system, shedded at Port Elizabeth, where they were employed on similar tasks until they were withdrawn from SAR service in 1975.
Industrial service
Fifteen of the Class 11 locomotives were sold into industrial service, and sometimes resold. All are now retired.- SAR 918 became President Brand Gold Mine no. 7, later Freegold no. 8.
- SAR 921 went to Witbank Coal Mine and later became Tavistock Colliery no. 2.
- SAR 923 became Western Holdings no. 6.
- SAR 926 became President Brand Gold Mine no. 6.
- SAR 928 became President Steyn Gold Mine no. 8 and later Freegold no. 5.
- SAR 929 became President Steyn Gold Mine no. 6.
- SAR 932 became President Brand Gold Mine no. 8.
- SAR 933 became President Steyn Gold Mine no. 7 and later Freegold no. 7.
- SAR 936 went to ISCOR in Pretoria and later became Tavistock Colliery no. 1.
- SAR 938 went to President Brand Gold Mine for spare parts.
- SAR 940 went to ISCOR in PretoriaPretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, later became South Witbank Colliery no. 6 and then Umgala Colliery no. 1 at Utrecht. - SAR 943 went to South Witbank Coal Mine and later became Tavistock Colliery no. 3.
- SAR 944 became Free State Geduld Gold Mine no. 6 and later Freegold no. 6.
- SAR 945 became Free State Saaiplaas Gold Mine no. 2.
- SAR 946 went to Blue Circle CementBlue Circle IndustriesBlue Circle Industries was a British public company manufacturing cement. It was founded in 1900, and was bought out by the French company Lafarge in 2001.-History:...
in LichtenburgLichtenburgLichtenburg is a proper noun referring to:*Lichtenburg, a city in the North West Province of South Africa*Lichtenburg, a Nazi concentration camp in eastern Germany...
and is now part of a static display at the Andries Beyers Farming Museum in Lichtenburg.
Modification
As built, the Class 11 had a gap between the running boards and the walkway in front of the smokebox, with a stirrup type step attached to the front edge of each running board and without side steps at the locomotive’s front. Many were later modified by having slanted extensions added between the running boards and the front walkway to replace the stirrup, and with side steps added next to the leading wheels. Some were modified in this way while still in SAR service, while others were done in various styles by their post SAR industrial owners, as illustrated in the gallery.While most other SAR locomotives with Belpaire fireboxes were later reboilered with the Watson Standard boilers that were introduced in the 1930s, no Class 11 locomotive ever underwent this modification. They served in the SAR for seventy years, plus several more years in industrial service while retaining the distinctive appearance that comes with a Belpaire firebox.
Gallery
The main picture shows Class 11 933 (ex CSAR 721) at Sydenham Depot in Port Elizabeth on 16 August 1973.See also
- Tender locomotive numbering and classification
- The 2-8-2 "Mikado"
- List of South African locomotive classes