South African Class S2 0-8-0
Encyclopedia
In 1952 and 1953 the South African Railways placed one hundred Class S2 shunter steam locomotives with a 0-8-0 wheel arrangement in service.
of Essen in Germany undertook to build the locomotives to the required specifications.
When design work commenced after the signing of the contract, however, it was discovered that the other tendering firms had been correct and that the locomotives could not be built within the specified weight limit if the specifications were to be adhered to. It was eventually agreed that Krupp should design a suitable smaller boiler that would bring the locomotive’s weight down to a level that would be in line with the stipulated maximum. The end result was a locomotive that had the appearance of a Cape gauge
locomotive with a Narrow gauge
boiler, particularly when viewed from the front.
One hundred Class S2 locomotives were subsequently built by Krupp and delivered between 1952 and 1953, numbered 3701 to 3800. Even with the smaller Krupp designed boiler, the locomotive’s eventual working order weight of 104 long tons (105.7 t) was still 4 long tons (4.1 t) more than the desired maximum.
and the last batch of the Class 19D
, the Class S2 had Vanderbilt type "torpedo" tenders that rode on Buckeye three axle bogies to reduce the axle load. As was done with the tenders of the Class S and Class S1, the top sides of the coal bunker were scalloped out to improve the crew’s rearward vision.
One Class S2 locomotive, stationed at Capital Park in Pretoria, was painted in blue livery to be used for shunting Blue Train stock, until it was eventually replaced by a Class 19D locomotive that was also painted blue. During 1981 four Class S2 locomotives were hired to Mozambique for dock shunting in Maputo.
All but one were withdrawn from service in 1982. The last Class S2 in service was the shed pilot at Waterval Boven, which remained in service until 1985. In Cape Town and Durban they were replaced by Class 36-000
and Class 36-200
light general purpose diesel-electric locomotives, but in Port Elizabeth their initial replacements were older steam locomotives of larger capacity.
The particular locomotive depicted was number 3781. The outline of a traditional SAR locomotive number plate was used as a commemorative cancellation for De Aar on the date of issue.
Design specifications
By 1952 the need arose for shunting locomotives with a light axle load for harbour work, where most of the trackwork was laid with light rail. Under the direction of L.C. Grubb, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the South African Railways (SAR) from 1949 to 1954, specifications were prepared for a light locomotive with the 0-8-0 wheel arrangement that had already been proven successful with the Class S and Class S1 shunters. In order to keep the total weight of the engine and tender down to approximately 100 long tons (101.6 t), it was to be equipped with the Watson Standard no. 1 boiler, the smallest of the standard boilers.Manufacturer
When tenders were called for, a number of firms responded, but all except one stated that it would not be possible to construct the locomotive within the stipulated weight. Only the firm of Friedrich Krupp AGKrupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
of Essen in Germany undertook to build the locomotives to the required specifications.
When design work commenced after the signing of the contract, however, it was discovered that the other tendering firms had been correct and that the locomotives could not be built within the specified weight limit if the specifications were to be adhered to. It was eventually agreed that Krupp should design a suitable smaller boiler that would bring the locomotive’s weight down to a level that would be in line with the stipulated maximum. The end result was a locomotive that had the appearance of a 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 :...
locomotive with a 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 :...
boiler, particularly when viewed from the front.
One hundred Class S2 locomotives were subsequently built by Krupp and delivered between 1952 and 1953, numbered 3701 to 3800. Even with the smaller Krupp designed boiler, the locomotive’s eventual working order weight of 104 long tons (105.7 t) was still 4 long tons (4.1 t) more than the desired maximum.
Characteristics
The locomotives had Walschaerts valve gear and were superheated. Their cast steel frames were a single casting with separately attached cylinders. Like the Class 24South African Class 24 2-8-4
In 1949 and 1950 the South African Railways placed one hundred Class 24 branch line steam locomotives with a 2-8-4 Berkshire wheel arrangement in service.-Design:...
and the last batch of the Class 19D
South African Class 19D 4-8-2
Between 1937 and 1949 the South African Railways placed two hundred and thirty-five Class 19D steam locomotives wirh a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service...
, the Class S2 had Vanderbilt type "torpedo" tenders that rode on Buckeye three axle bogies to reduce the axle load. As was done with the tenders of the Class S and Class S1, the top sides of the coal bunker were scalloped out to improve the crew’s rearward vision.
Service
Most of the Class S2 locomotives were placed in shunting service in the Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth harbours, where they replaced a variety of aged 4–6-0, 4-8-0 and 4-8-2T locomotives. About twenty were also allocated to yards on the Witwatersrand and in the Eastern Transvaal, where they were employed in light general shunting.One Class S2 locomotive, stationed at Capital Park in Pretoria, was painted in blue livery to be used for shunting Blue Train stock, until it was eventually replaced by a Class 19D locomotive that was also painted blue. During 1981 four Class S2 locomotives were hired to Mozambique for dock shunting in Maputo.
All but one were withdrawn from service in 1982. The last Class S2 in service was the shed pilot at Waterval Boven, which remained in service until 1985. In Cape Town and Durban they were replaced by Class 36-000
South African Class 36-000
Between June 1975 and 1981 the South African Railways placed one hundred and twenty-four Class 36-000 GE SG10B diesel-electric locomotives in service.-Manufacturer:...
and Class 36-200
South African Class 36-200
Beginning in August 1980 the South African Railways placed one hundred and one Class 36-200 EMD SW1002 diesel-electric locomotives in service. In 1984 one Class 36-200 locomotive was also built for the Bophuthatswana National Development Corporation, for use at the Ga-Rankuwa Industrial Estate...
light general purpose diesel-electric locomotives, but in Port Elizabeth their initial replacements were older steam locomotives of larger capacity.
Commemoration
A 10c postage stamp depicting a Class S2 locomotive was one of a set of four commemorative postage stamps that were issued by the South African Post Office on 27 April 1983, to commemorate the steam locomotives of South Africa that were rapidly being withdrawn from service at the time. The artwork and stamp design was by the noted stamp designer and artist Hein Botha.The particular locomotive depicted was number 3781. The outline of a traditional SAR locomotive number plate was used as a commemorative cancellation for De Aar on the date of issue.
Gallery
The main picture shows 3728 in the Table Bay Harbour yard in Cape Town 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 S1 0-8-0South African Class S1 0-8-0In 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...
- Tender locomotive numbering and classification
- Watson Standard boilers
- The 0-8-0 "Eight-coupled"
- List of South African locomotive classes