South African Class NG4 4-6-2T
Encyclopedia
In 1911, shortly before being amalgamated into the South African Railways, the Natal Government Railways
placed the first two of seven 4-6-2T Pacific narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when these two locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they retained their running numbers but with an "NG" prefix added.
Five more of these locomotives were delivered to the South African Railways in 1913 and 1914. When a system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced somewhere between 1928 and 1930, they were all classified as Class NG4.
Side Tank and the Hawthorn Leslie Side Tank
4-6-2T locomotives, the third batch of narrow gauge
4-6-2T Pacific tank locomotives of the Natal Government Railways (NGR) were also built to the design of NGR Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie, but using the Hawthorn Leslie drawings for the Class NG3
Between 1911 and 1913 the High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa placed three orders for altogether seven of these locomotives with Kerr, Stuart and Company.
es and used Walschaerts valve gear.
The most obvious visual differences from the Hawthorn Leslie locomotives were the higher side tanks and the less ornate sand boxes on top of the boiler. As built they had no headlamps, but some were later equipped with the large oil headlamps that were in use on the SAR at the time.
The system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was only adopted somewhere between 1928 and 1930 and at that point these seven locomotives were classified as Class NG4.
. All but one remained working on the Natal narrow gauge branches for their entire service lives. The one exception, number NG12, was sent to South West Africa
(SWA) in 1914 as part of the war effort during World War I
, but it was returned to Natal in 1916.
acquired it on 31 January 2003.
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 the first two of seven 4-6-2T Pacific narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when these two locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they retained their running numbers but with an "NG" prefix added.
Five more of these locomotives were delivered to the South African Railways in 1913 and 1914. When a system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced somewhere between 1928 and 1930, they were all classified as Class NG4.
Manufacturers
Like their two predecessors, the HunsletHunslet Engine Company
The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
Side Tank and the Hawthorn Leslie Side Tank
South African Class NG3 4-6-2T
In 1907 the Natal Government Railways placed six 4-6-2T narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they retained their running numbers, but with an "NG" prefix added...
4-6-2T locomotives, the third batch of narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
4-6-2T Pacific tank locomotives of the Natal Government Railways (NGR) were also built to the design of NGR Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie, but using the Hawthorn Leslie drawings for the Class NG3
Between 1911 and 1913 the High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa placed three orders for altogether seven of these locomotives with Kerr, Stuart and Company.
- Two locomotives were ordered on 10 January 1911, delivered to the NGR with Kerr, Stuart works numbers 1207 and 1208 and numbered NGR 10 and 11.
- Two were ordered on 28 September 1912 and delivered to the South African Railways (SAR) in 1913, with works numbers 1294 and 1295 and numbered SAR NG12 and NG13.
- Three were ordered on 10 June 1913 and delivered in 1914, with works numbers 1342 to 1344 and numbered SAR NG14 to NG16. This last order also included the final two of the Class NG8 4-6-0South African Class NG8 4-6-0In 1903 the Cape Government Railways placed six "Type B" 4-6-0 steam locomotives in service on the Avontuur narrow gauge line in the Langkloof. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered with an "NG" prefix to their numbers.A further three...
tender locomotives that were delivered with Kerr, Stuart works numbers 1345 and 1346.
Characteristics
These locomotives were virtually identical to the Hawthorn Leslie Side Tanks, except for their boiler design. The boiler pitch had been raised from 4 in 6 in (1.37 m) to 4 in 9 in (1.45 m) to make a larger firebox possible. They had outside plate frames, Belpaire fireboxBelpaire 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 and used Walschaerts valve gear.
The most obvious visual differences from the Hawthorn Leslie locomotives were the higher side tanks and the less ornate sand boxes on top of the boiler. As built they had no headlamps, but some were later equipped with the large oil headlamps that were in use on the SAR at the time.
Classification
In 1912, when the three colonial railways were amalgamated into the SAR, narrow gauge locomotives were included in the SAR’s narrow gauge numbering scheme and were allocated running numbers with an "NG" prefix. The two locomotives delivered in 1911, listed as "Late Administration S.A.R. numbers 10 and 11" in the renumbering lists, were therefore renumbered NG10 and NG11.The system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was only adopted somewhere between 1928 and 1930 and at that point these seven locomotives were classified as Class NG4.
Railways
The Class NG4 was placed in service on the Alfred County Railway, of which the first section was opened on 8 November 1911, to work from Port Shepstone on the Natal South Coast to HardingHarding, KwaZulu-Natal
Harding is a town situated in the Mzimkulwana River valley, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Harding was established as a military outpost following the United Kingdom's annexation of East Griqualand in 1874 and was named after the first chief of justice for Natal, Sir Walter Harding.Timber and dairy...
. All but one remained working on the Natal narrow gauge branches for their entire service lives. The one exception, number NG12, was sent to South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
(SWA) in 1914 as part of the war effort during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but it was returned to Natal in 1916.
Industrial
Number NG11 was sold to the Savane Sawmills of Rhodesian Timber Concessions in 1942. The last one to remain in service, number NG16, was sold to the Rustenburg Platinum Mines (RPM) in 1948, where it was renumbered to RPM 8.Preservation
Number NG16 is the only known survivor. RPM returned it to the SAR for preservation in 1969 or 1970, but it was only restored back to working order after Sandstone EstatesSandstone Estates
Sandstone Estates are an extensive farming complex located in Free State, South Africa, close to Bloemfontein. Owned by entrepreneur Wilf Mole, they are also a global-scale hub of transport preservation.-Farm:...
acquired it on 31 January 2003.
Gallery
See also
- South African Class NG3 4-6-2TSouth African Class NG3 4-6-2TIn 1907 the Natal Government Railways placed six 4-6-2T narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they retained their running numbers, but with an "NG" prefix added...
- The 4-6-2 "Pacific"
- 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...