South African Class 15 4-8-2
Encyclopedia
In 1914 the South African Railways placed ten Class 15 steam locomotive
s with a 4-8-2
Mountain wheel arrangement in service.
where grades and curvature were less severe than on the coastal sections. Designs were prepared in 1913 for this locomotive, similar in general layout to the Class 12
and Class 14
, but with larger 57 inches (1,447.8 mm) coupled wheels. Ten locomotives were built by the North British Locomotive Company
(NBL) and delivered in 1914, numbered 1561 to 1570.
They had plate frames, Walschaerts valve gear, Belpaire firebox
es without combustion chambers and were superheated. In order to reduce the weight on the trailing wheels, steel fireboxes were used. This last feature became standard on large locomotives, but necessitated the introduction of water treatment plants in some parts of the country to prevent corrosion.
The locomotive’s one flaw was excessively long fire tubes. On later models like the Class 15A
Hendrie improved the boiler by adding a combustion chamber and shortening the distance between tube plates from 21 in 9 in (6.63 m) to 19 feet (5.791 m) in the process.
When all ten Class 15 locomotives were reboilered with Watson Standard no. 2A boilers, they were reclassified to Class 15AR since the only differences between the as delivered Class 15 and the Class 15A lay in the length of their boilers and whether they were built with or without combustion chambers. In the process they were also equipped with Watson cabs, with their distinctive slanted fronts, compared to the conventional vertical fronts of their original cabs. Some were equipped with steel and others with copper fireboxes.
An obvious visual difference between an original and a Watson Standard reboilered locomotive is usually a rectangular regulator cover just to the rear of the chimney on the reboilered locomotive. In the case of the Class 15 and Class 15AR two even more obvious visual differences are the Watson cab and the absence of the Belpaire firebox hump between the cab and boiler on the reboilered locomotives.
. After reboilering and reclassification they became part of the much larger Class 15AR fleet and saw service widely throughout the country, getting used in every kind of role from dock shunting to mainline passenger work.
The Cape Northern examples were scattered between De Aar, Kimberley
and Klerksdorp. The Cape Midland was a major user of the class, with locomotives shedded at Sydenham in Port Elizabeth, Klipplaat, Graaff Reinet
and Noupoort
. The Class 15AR also handled the suburban services between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage
until they were replaced by diesel power.
Near the end of their service lives in the early 1980s they were all relegated to shunting work at centres all around the country, except for some that were hired out to Swaziland
and that were still employed in main line service on the Swaziland Railway
, until they were also eventually replaced by diesel traction and retired.
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 4-8-2
4-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
Mountain wheel arrangement in service.
Manufacturer
The Class 15 was introduced by D.A. Hendrie, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the South African Railways (SAR) from 1910 to 1922, as a large mixed traffic locomotive for use in the Orange Free StateOrange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
where grades and curvature were less severe than on the coastal sections. Designs were prepared in 1913 for this locomotive, similar in general layout to the Class 12
South African Class 12 4-8-2
Between April 1912 and 1922 the South African Railways placed altogether forty-six Class 12 steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in goods train service.-Manufacturers:...
and Class 14
South African Class 14 4-8-2
Between 1913 and 1915 the South African Railways placed forty-five Class 14 steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...
, but with larger 57 inches (1,447.8 mm) coupled wheels. Ten locomotives were built by the North British Locomotive Company
North 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) and delivered in 1914, numbered 1561 to 1570.
They had plate frames, Walschaerts valve gear, 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 without combustion chambers and were superheated. In order to reduce the weight on the trailing wheels, steel fireboxes were used. This last feature became standard on large locomotives, but necessitated the introduction of water treatment plants in some parts of the country to prevent corrosion.
The locomotive’s one flaw was excessively long fire tubes. On later models like the Class 15A
South African Class 15A 4-8-2
Between 1914 and 1925 the South African Railways placed one hundred and nineteen Class 15A steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service, delivered in ten batches from three manufacturers.-Manufacturers:...
Hendrie improved the boiler by adding a combustion chamber and shortening the distance between tube plates from 21 in 9 in (6.63 m) to 19 feet (5.791 m) in the process.
Watson Standard boilers
During the 1930s many serving locomotives were reboilered with a standard boiler type designed by A.G. Watson, CME of the SAR from 1929 to 1936, as part of his standardisation policy. Such Watson Standard reboilered locomotives were reclassified by adding an "R" suffix to their classification.When all ten Class 15 locomotives were reboilered with Watson Standard no. 2A boilers, they were reclassified to Class 15AR since the only differences between the as delivered Class 15 and the Class 15A lay in the length of their boilers and whether they were built with or without combustion chambers. In the process they were also equipped with Watson cabs, with their distinctive slanted fronts, compared to the conventional vertical fronts of their original cabs. Some were equipped with steel and others with copper fireboxes.
An obvious visual difference between an original and a Watson Standard reboilered locomotive is usually a rectangular regulator cover just to the rear of the chimney on the reboilered locomotive. In the case of the Class 15 and Class 15AR two even more obvious visual differences are the Watson cab and the absence of the Belpaire firebox hump between the cab and boiler on the reboilered locomotives.
Service
The Class 15 was placed in service in the Orange Free State, stationed at BloemfonteinBloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
. After reboilering and reclassification they became part of the much larger Class 15AR fleet and saw service widely throughout the country, getting used in every kind of role from dock shunting to mainline passenger work.
The Cape Northern examples were scattered between De Aar, 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 Klerksdorp. The Cape Midland was a major user of the class, with locomotives shedded at Sydenham in Port Elizabeth, Klipplaat, Graaff Reinet
Graaff Reinet
Graaff-Reinet is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the fourth oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Swellendam.-History:...
and Noupoort
Noupoort
Noupoort is a town in the eastern Karoo region of South Africa which revolved principally around the railways and is still used as traction change-over facility from diesel to electric locomotives on the Noupoort-Bloemfontein line. It was serviced by Midlandia, a locomotive complex a few kilometers...
. The Class 15AR also handled the suburban services between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage
Uitenhage
Uitenhage is a South African town with 275,185 inhabitants in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. The town's name is pronounced by English speakers and in Afrikaans...
until they were replaced by diesel power.
Near the end of their service lives in the early 1980s they were all relegated to shunting work at centres all around the country, except for some that were hired out to Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
and that were still employed in main line service on the Swaziland Railway
Swazi Rail
Swazi Rail ', also Swaziland Rail, is the official railway corporation of Swaziland.- Overview :Like the neighboring countries, its 301 km rail system uses the narrow Cape gauge of . SR provides only service for transportation of goods, not passengers...
, until they were also eventually replaced by diesel traction and retired.
Gallery
The main picture shows number 1566, reboilered and reclassified to Class 15AR, at Port Elizabeth on 3 April 1978.See also
- South African Class 15A 4-8-2South African Class 15A 4-8-2Between 1914 and 1925 the South African Railways placed one hundred and nineteen Class 15A steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service, delivered in ten batches from three manufacturers.-Manufacturers:...
- South African Class 15B 4-8-2South African Class 15B 4-8-2Between 1918 and 1922 the South African Railways placed ten Class 15B steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...
- South African Class 15C 4-8-2
- South African Class 15CA 4-8-2South African Class 15CA 4-8-2In 1926 the South African Railways placed twenty-three Class 15CA steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service. Another sixty-one were ordered and delivered in 1929 and 1930.-Class 15C redesign:...
- South African Class 15E 4-8-2South African Class 15E 4-8-2Between 1935 and 1937 the South African Railways placed forty-four Class 15E steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service. -Manufacturers:...
- South African Class 15F 4-8-2South African Class 15F 4-8-2The Class 15F was the most numerous steam locomotive class in South African Railways service. Between 1938 and 1946 two hundred and fifty-five of these steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement were placed in service.-Manufacturers:...
- Tender locomotive numbering and classification
- Watson Standard boilers
- The 4-8-2 "Mountain"
- List of South African locomotive classes