South African Class E 4-6-4T
Encyclopedia
In 1902 the Natal Government Railways
placed ten 4-6-4T tank steam locomotive
s in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and classified as Class E.
The Neilson Reid class was a larger version of the rebuilt NGR Class K&S 4-6-4T locomotive that later became the Class C2
on the South African Railways (SAR), and many of the main dimensions were identical. They had plate frames, Stephenson valve gear and used saturated steam.
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...
placed ten 4-6-4T tank 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 in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and classified as Class E.
Manufacturer
The last locomotive to be designed for the Natal Government Railways (NGR) by Locomotive Superintendent G.W. Reid before he relinquished his appointment in 1902 was a 4-6-4T tank locomotive. It was built for the NGR by Neilson, Reid and Company, who delivered ten of them in 1902, numbered 1 to 10. In NGR service they were known as the “Neilson Reid” locomotives.The Neilson Reid class was a larger version of the rebuilt NGR Class K&S 4-6-4T locomotive that later became the Class C2
South African Class C2 4-6-4T
Between 1879 and 1885 the Natal Government Railways placed thirty-seven 4-6-0T tank steam locomotives in service. In 1896 one of them was rebuilt to a 4-6-4T locomotive and in 1912, when it was assimilated into the South African Railways, this locomotive was renumbered and reclassified to the sole...
on the South African Railways (SAR), and many of the main dimensions were identical. They had plate frames, Stephenson valve gear and used saturated steam.
South African Railways
When the three colonial railroads were amalgamated into the South African Railways (SAR) in 1912, these locomotives became the SAR’s Class E and were renumbered 87 to 96.Service
The locomotives were built specifically for use on the Natal South Coast and the Richmond branch. In SAR service the Class E was mainly used for shunting. They were later transferred to the Cape Midlands, where they remained until they were withdrawn from service in 1937.See also
- Tank locomotive numbering and classification
- The 4-6-4 "Hudson"
- List of South African locomotive classes