In 1903 the Cape Government Railways

Cape 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:...

 placed two Class 9 steam locomotives 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. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and classified as Class Experimental 4.

Manufacturer

The Cape Class 9 locomotive was designed by H.M. Beatty, the Locomotive Superintendent of the Cape Government Railways (CGR) from 1896 to 1910. They were the first South African locomotives to have a 2-8-2 Mikado wheel arrangement and they were built with bar frames, had Stephenson’s link motion

Stephenson valve gear

The Stephenson valve gear or Stephenson link or shifting link is a simple design of valve gear that was widely used throughout the world for all kinds of steam engine. It is named after Robert Stephenson but was actually invented by his employees....

 valve gear and used saturated steam. Two locomotives were delivered by Kitson and Company in 1903, numbered 805 and 806.

Characteristics

With these locomotives, Beatty attempted to combine the best design features and good qualities of his Cape Class 8 2-8-0

South African Class 8X 2-8-0

Between 1901 and 1902 the Cape Government Railways placed sixteen Class 8 2-8-0 Consolidation type steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and reclassified to Class 8X...

 locomotive of 1901 with the improved steaming that was obtained from a wide firegrate. In many respects they were enlarged versions of the two Cape Class 6 2-6-2

South African Class 6Y 2-6-2

In 1903 the Cape Government Railways placed two Class 6 steam locomotives with a 2-6-2 Prairie wheel arrangement in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and reclassified to Class 6Y.-Manufacture:...

 locomotives that were delivered by Kitson in that same year, with many features in common.

Performance

In comparison with the Cape Class 8, however, it was found that their maintenance costs were much heavier, without any advantage in terms of efficiency. As a result, no more of the type were ordered.

Service

They were placed in service on the main line between De Aar and Kimberley. In 1912, when the two locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways (SAR), they were reclassified as Class Experimental 4 and renumbered to 910 and 911. They were withdrawn from service and scrapped in 1930.

See also

• South African Class 8X 2-8-0
  South African Class 8X 2-8-0
  Between 1901 and 1902 the Cape Government Railways placed sixteen Class 8 2-8-0 Consolidation type steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and reclassified to Class 8X...
  
  
• South African Class Exp 1 4-6-2
  South African Class Exp 1 4-6-2
  In 1907 the Cape Government Railways placed a single experimental three cylinder compound steam locomotive with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in service, based on the second series of the Karoo Class locomotives...
  
  
• South African Class Exp 2 2-8-0
  South African Class Exp 2 2-8-0
  In 1902 the Cape Government Railways placed a single experimental 2-8-0 Consolidation type tandem compound steam locomotive in service, based on its Schenectady built Class 8 of 1901. In 1912, when the locomotive was assimilated into the South African Railways, it was renumbered and classified as...
  
  
• South African Class Exp 3 2-8-0
  South African Class Exp 3 2-8-0
  In 1903 the Cape Government Railways placed a single experimental 2-8-0 Consolidation type tandem compound steam locomotive in service, based on its Schenectady built Class 8 of 1901. It was similar to the tandem compound delivered a year earlier, but with a larger firegrate and an increased...
  
  
• South African Class Exp 5 2-8-2
  South African Class Exp 5 2-8-2
  In 1906 the Cape Government Railways placed a single experimental steam locomotive with a 2-8-2 Mikado wheel arrangement in service. In 1912, when this locomotive was assimilated into the South African Railways, it was renumbered and classified as Class Experimental 5.-Manufacturer:The Cape Mikado...
  
  
• South African Class Exp 6 4-8-0
  South African Class Exp 6 4-8-0
  In 1906 the Cape Government Railways placed a single experimental Class 10 steam locomotive with a 4-8-0 Mastodon wheel arrangement in service on the Cape Eastern System. In 1912, when this locomotive was assimilated into the South African Railways, it was renumbered and classified as Class...
  
  
• The 2-8-2 "Mikado"
• List of South African locomotive classes