South African Class NG1 0-4-0T
Encyclopedia
In 1900 the British War Office placed two Sirdar class 0-4-0T narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service near Germiston. At the end of the Second Freedom War the locomotives were sold to a farmer, who used it on a firewood line out of Pienaarsrivier until the line and locomotives were taken over by the Central South African Railways
.
In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered with an "NG" prefix to their numbers. When a system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced somewhere between 1928 and 1930, they were classified as Class NG1.
for use during the Nile Barrage construction in Egypt
. In November 1899 the Director of Army Contracts of the British War Office ordered two narrow gauge steam locomotives from Kerr, Stuart and Company, for delivery within ten days since the locomotives were urgently needed by the Royal Engineers for use in a siege park in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. A siege park was a depot for holding engineer’s stores that could be required during a siege.
By diverting two of the three locomotives that were being built for the Nile Barrage construction works in Egypt at the time, the locomotive builders were actually able to supply the locomotives within four days.
. Although they were eventually classified as two foot narrow gauge locomotives along with the rest of the South African 2 feet (609.6 mm) gauge locomotive fleet, they were actually constructed to a 600 millimetres (23.62 in) gauge.
) were therefore 600 millimetres (23.62 in) gauge, while those in South Africa, built to Imperial standards, were 610 millimetres (24 in) gauge.
In practice, however, the two gauges are still treated as one and the same by the British Military. The same applied in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek that was being invaded by the British Military at the time. The 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) difference was considered as insignificant and in subsequent years narrow gauge locomotives regularly migrated between the lines laid to German standards in South West Africa (SWA) and those laid to Imperial standards in South Africa.
and the Natal Government Railways
, narrow gauge locomotives were included in the SAR’s narrow gauge numbering scheme and were allocated running numbers with an "NG" prefix. A system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was only adopted at some time between 1928 and 1930 and at that point the two Sirdar locomotives were classified as Class NG1.
When the Settlers branch line was converted to Cape gauge
in 1923, the locomotives were transferred to work on the line under construction between Elandshoek and Mount Carmel. When this line was closed in 1931, the Class NG1 locomotives were withdrawn from service.
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 ....
.
In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered with an "NG" prefix to their numbers. When a system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced somewhere between 1928 and 1930, they were classified as Class NG1.
Manufacturers
The two Sirdar class 0-4-0T narrow gauge tank steam locomotives were built for Allan Alderson and Company of CairoCairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
for use during the Nile Barrage construction in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. In November 1899 the Director of Army Contracts of the British War Office ordered two narrow gauge steam locomotives from Kerr, Stuart and Company, for delivery within ten days since the locomotives were urgently needed by the Royal Engineers for use in a siege park in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. A siege park was a depot for holding engineer’s stores that could be required during a siege.
By diverting two of the three locomotives that were being built for the Nile Barrage construction works in Egypt at the time, the locomotive builders were actually able to supply the locomotives within four days.
Locomotive characteristics
The locomotives had plate frames and used Stephenson valve gearStephenson 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....
. Although they were eventually classified as two foot narrow gauge locomotives along with the rest of the South African 2 feet (609.6 mm) gauge locomotive fleet, they were actually constructed to a 600 millimetres (23.62 in) gauge.
600 and 610 millimetre gauges
Historically, the actual two feet narrow gauge rail spacing depended on whether or not the track was laid by a metricised country. German built narrow gauge lines in Deutsch-Südwest-Afrika (DSWA, now NamibiaNamibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
) were therefore 600 millimetres (23.62 in) gauge, while those in South Africa, built to Imperial standards, were 610 millimetres (24 in) gauge.
In practice, however, the two gauges are still treated as one and the same by the British Military. The same applied in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek that was being invaded by the British Military at the time. The 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) difference was considered as insignificant and in subsequent years narrow gauge locomotives regularly migrated between the lines laid to German standards in South West Africa (SWA) and those laid to Imperial standards in South Africa.
British Military
During 1900 these two locomotives were used by the 47th Field Company Royal Engineers during the construction of the Bezuidenhout Light Railway, a light narrow gauge railway line from Simmer and Jack’s siding near Germiston in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek to a siege camp 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) away along the Bezuidenhout Valley.Pankop firewood line
At the end of the Second Freedom War the two locomotives and rolling stock were sold to a farmer as army surplus stock. He used it to haul firewood on a 15 kilometres (9 mi) line from Pankop to Pienaarsrivier on the main line between Pretoria and Pietersburg.Central South African Railways
The Pankop line and rolling stock was later taken over by the Central South African Railways (CSAR), who extended the line and opened it to traffic in 1906 with the intention of, on the one hand, serving the immigrant farming community at Settlers in Transvaal and, on the other hand, to determine exactly how much a light railway of this nature could achieve. In CSAR service the locomotives became known as the Pankop engines and were numbered 676 and 677.South African Railways
In 1912, when the South African Railways (SAR) came into existence through the amalgamation of the three colonial railways, the CSAR, the 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:...
and the 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...
, narrow gauge locomotives were included in the SAR’s narrow gauge numbering scheme and were allocated running numbers with an "NG" prefix. A system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was only adopted at some time between 1928 and 1930 and at that point the two Sirdar locomotives were classified as Class NG1.
When the Settlers branch line was converted to Cape gauge
Cape gauge
Cape gauge is a track gauge of between the inside of the rail heads and is classified as narrow gauge. It has installations of around .The gauge was first used by Norwegian engineer Carl Abraham Pihl and the first line was opened in 1862.- Nomenclature :...
in 1923, the locomotives were transferred to work on the line under construction between Elandshoek and Mount Carmel. When this line was closed in 1931, the Class NG1 locomotives were withdrawn from service.
See also
- The 0-4-0T wheel arrangement
- Narrow Gauge locomotive numbering and classification
- List of South African locomotive classes
- Two foot gauge railways in South AfricaTwo foot gauge railways in South AfricaAt the beginning of the twentieth century, two foot narrow gauge railway lines started playing a significant role in transporting various agricultural and mineral produce from locations hardly accessible by road...