South African Class S1 0-8-0
Encyclopedia
In 1947 the South African Railways placed twelve Class S1 shunter steam locomotives with a 0-8-0 wheel arrangement in service, built in the Salt River workshops in Cape Town. A further twenty-five, built in Scotland, were placed in service in 1954.
years led to the available dedicated shunting locomotives of the South African Railways (SAR) being very much over-taxed, to the extent that they had to be supplemented by main line locomotives. During 1943 the requirement for more specialised shunter locomotives was identified by the SAR, but since the war was still in progress, it was not viable to obtain locomotives from the usual overseas suppliers.
Dr M.M. Loubser, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the SAR from 1939 to 1949, therefore prepared designs for a larger version of the Class S locomotive that was introduced in 1929, that could be built in the SAR’s own workshops. The result was the Class S1 0-8-0 shunter locomotive, of which the first of twelve was delivered from the Salt River workshops in Cape Town in October 1947.
The first locomotive was formally handed over to the Operating Department by the senior member of the Railway Board, Mr F.T. Bates. In honour of the occasion it was named “Voortrekker”.
The twelve locomotives were numbered 374 to 385. The Class S1 was the first steam locomotive to be designed and built by the SAR in quantity, although not the first to be designed and built in South Africa. The Natal Government Railways
2-8-2T+T tank-tender locomotive “Havelock” had already taken that honour in 1888.
After the war a further twenty-five Class S1 locomotives were ordered from the North British Locomotive Company
(NBL) in Glasgow. They were built in 1952 and delivered in 1953 and 1954, numbered 3801 to 3825.
shunters, their boilers were much larger, being a shortened version of the specially designed boiler that was used on the Class 12AR
.
Since shunting locomotives are designed to operate at low speeds in tightly curved shunting yards, there was no need for the leading or trailing wheels that are necessary on main line locomotives to improve high speed stability. In addition it is desirable to have as large a proportion of the locomotive weight as possible carried on the coupled wheels to obtain the maximum adhesion. As on those of the Class S, the top sides of their Type JT1 tender’s coal bunker were set inwards to improve the crew’s rearward vision.
The Class S1 was noted for its efficient and economical working. They were the SAR’s largest and finest shunting locomotives with quite an enormous shifting and accelerating ability, and could cope with block loads of up to 2000 long tons (2,032.1 t).
By 1982 they were all stationed at Germiston and its sub-depot at Kaserne, after which they began to be withdrawn from service. The withdrawal was probably expedited by the closure of the Koedoespoort works in Pretoria to steam repairs, since it was impractical to let them do long distance running to the next nearest steam locomotive works at Bloemfontein.
None of them were sold into industrial service.
Manufacturers
A huge increase in traffic over the pre World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years led to the available dedicated shunting locomotives of the South African Railways (SAR) being very much over-taxed, to the extent that they had to be supplemented by main line locomotives. During 1943 the requirement for more specialised shunter locomotives was identified by the SAR, but since the war was still in progress, it was not viable to obtain locomotives from the usual overseas suppliers.
Dr M.M. Loubser, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the SAR from 1939 to 1949, therefore prepared designs for a larger version of the Class S locomotive that was introduced in 1929, that could be built in the SAR’s own workshops. The result was the Class S1 0-8-0 shunter locomotive, of which the first of twelve was delivered from the Salt River workshops in Cape Town in October 1947.
The first locomotive was formally handed over to the Operating Department by the senior member of the Railway Board, Mr F.T. Bates. In honour of the occasion it was named “Voortrekker”.
The twelve locomotives were numbered 374 to 385. The Class S1 was the first steam locomotive to be designed and built by the SAR in quantity, although not the first to be designed and built in South Africa. 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...
2-8-2T+T tank-tender locomotive “Havelock” had already taken that honour in 1888.
After the war a further twenty-five Class S1 locomotives were ordered from 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) in Glasgow. They were built in 1952 and delivered in 1953 and 1954, numbered 3801 to 3825.
Characteristics
The locomotives had bar frames, Walschaerts valve gear and were superheated. While their cylinders, driving wheel diameter, chassis and many other features were similar to that of the existing Class SSouth African Class S 0-8-0
In 1929 the South African Railways placed fourteen Class S shunter steam locomotives with a 0-8-0 wheel arrangement in service.-Background:Throughout the history of the South African Railways , shunting was traditionally performed by downgraded main line locomotives...
shunters, their boilers were much larger, being a shortened version of the specially designed boiler that was used on the Class 12AR
South African Class 12A 4-8-2
Between 1919 and 1929 the South African Railways placed sixty-seven Class 12A steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturers:...
.
Since shunting locomotives are designed to operate at low speeds in tightly curved shunting yards, there was no need for the leading or trailing wheels that are necessary on main line locomotives to improve high speed stability. In addition it is desirable to have as large a proportion of the locomotive weight as possible carried on the coupled wheels to obtain the maximum adhesion. As on those of the Class S, the top sides of their Type JT1 tender’s coal bunker were set inwards to improve the crew’s rearward vision.
The Class S1 was noted for its efficient and economical working. They were the SAR’s largest and finest shunting locomotives with quite an enormous shifting and accelerating ability, and could cope with block loads of up to 2000 long tons (2,032.1 t).
Service
The Class S1 was initially placed in service in the yards in Cape Town, but they ended up being used mainly in marshalling yards on the Transvaal Western System and on occasion also on the Cape Northern System, employed at Bloemfontein and Kimberley. By the 1970s they were distributed between Beaconsfield in Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Germiston, Kaserne, Springs and Witbank.By 1982 they were all stationed at Germiston and its sub-depot at Kaserne, after which they began to be withdrawn from service. The withdrawal was probably expedited by the closure of the Koedoespoort works in Pretoria to steam repairs, since it was impractical to let them do long distance running to the next nearest steam locomotive works at Bloemfontein.
None of them were sold into industrial service.
Gallery
The main picture shows NBL built Class S1 3814 in the Germiston yard in August 1973.See also
- South African Class S 0-8-0South African Class S 0-8-0In 1929 the South African Railways placed fourteen Class S shunter steam locomotives with a 0-8-0 wheel arrangement in service.-Background:Throughout the history of the South African Railways , shunting was traditionally performed by downgraded main line locomotives...
- South African Class S2 0-8-0South African Class S2 0-8-0In 1952 and 1953 the South African Railways placed one hundred Class S2 shunter steam locomotives with a 0-8-0 wheel arrangement in service.-Design specifications:...
- Tender locomotive numbering and classification
- The 0-8-0 "Eight-coupled"
- List of South African locomotive classes