The Natal Government Railways Class I 2-6-0 of 1902 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.

Zululand Railway 2-6-0
NGR Class I 2-6-0
Zululand Railway Company no. 2, c. 1902
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerBaldwin Locomotive Works
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number18566-18567
Build date1901
Total produced2
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-6-0 (Mogul)
 • UIC1'Cn2
Driver2nd coupled axle
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.26 in (660 mm)
Coupled dia.42 in (1,067 mm)
Tender wheels28+12 in (724 mm)
Wheelbase38 ft 2 in (11,633 mm) ​
 • Axle spacing
(Asymmetrical)
1-2: 5 ft 5 in (1,651 mm)
2-3: 5 ft 4 in (1,626 mm)
 • Engine18 ft (5,486 mm)
 • Coupled10 ft 9 in (3,277 mm)
 • Tender10 ft (3,048 mm)
 • Tender bogie4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
Length:
 • Over couplers46 ft 6 in (14,173 mm)
Height12 ft 3 in (3,734 mm)
Frame typeBar
Axle load9 LT 16 cwt 3 qtr (9,995 kg) ​
 • Leading2 LT 19 cwt (2,997 kg)
 • 1st coupled9 LT 2 cwt 3 qtr (9,284 kg)
 • 2nd coupled9 LT 16 cwt 3 qtr (9,995 kg)
 • 3rd coupled9 LT 6 cwt 3 qtr (9,487 kg)
Adhesive weight28 LT 6 cwt 1 qtr (28,770 kg)
Loco weight31 LT 5 cwt 1 qtr (31,760 kg)
Tender weight22 LT (22,350 kg)
Total weight53 LT 5 cwt 1 qtr (54,120 kg)
Tender type3-axle (1 leading, 1 bogie)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity6 LT (6.1 t)
Water cap.2,000 imp gal (9,090 L)
Firebox:
 • TypeRound-top
 • Grate area13.7 sq ft (1.27 m2)
Boiler:
 • Pitch5 ft 9 in (1,753 mm)
 • Tube plates9 ft 6 in (2,896 mm)
Boiler pressure160 psi (1,103 kPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox67 sq ft (6.2 m2)
 • Tubes675 sq ft (62.7 m2)
 • Total surface742 sq ft (68.9 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size15 in (381 mm) bore
18 in (457 mm) stroke
Valve gearStephenson
CouplersJohnston link-and-pin
Performance figures
Tractive effort11,570 lbf (51 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsZululand Railway Co.
Natal Government Railways
ClassNGR Class I
Number in class2
NumbersZRC 2-3, NGR 513-514 & 502-503
Delivered1902
First run1902
Withdrawn1930

In 1902, the Zululand Railway Company, contractors for the construction of the North Coast line from Verulam to the Tugela River, acquired two 2-6-0 tender locomotives as construction engines. Upon completion of the line, the locomotives were taken onto the roster of the Natal Government Railways in 1903 and later designated Class I.[1][2]

The Zululand Railway Co.

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In December 1895, an agreement was reached with the Natal sugar magnate James Liege Hulett, representing the Zululand Railway Company, for the construction of the North Coast line from Verulam to the Tugela River. The contract stipulated that the line was to be 3 feet 6 inches Cape gauge and laid with 45 pounds per yard (22 kilograms per metre) steel rail. The agreement further stipulated that, upon its completion, the line would be taken over as part of the Natal Government Railways (NGR) system.[1][2]

Manufacturer

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In 1901, the construction company acquired a single 2-6-2 tank locomotive from Baldwin Locomotive Works in the United States of America. In 1902, two 2-6-0 tender locomotives were added, designed and built by the same manufacturer. They were built to American specifications and narrow-gauge practice at the time and conformed to NGR practice only in respect of their Johnston link-and-pin couplers and brake gear. The two tender locomotives became the Zululand Railway engines numbers 2 and 3.[1][2][3]

The three-axle tenders had an unusual wheel arrangement, with the front axle mounted in a rigid frame and the other two axles in a bogie. A similar tender wheel arrangement had first been used in 1884 on the experimental 3rd Class 4-4-0 and 4th class 4-6-0TT locomotives of the Cape Government Railways (CGR). It was not used in South Africa again.[2][3]

Service

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The Tugela line was opened to traffic in 1903 and the two locomotives were taken onto the NGR roster, where they were allocated numbers 513 and 514.[1][2]

They were later renumbered to 502 and 503 and allocated to the Construction Department of the NGR. When a classification system was introduced at some stage between 1904 and 1908, they were designated NGR Class I.[4][5]

When the Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (Cape Government Railways, NGR and Central South African Railways) were united under a single administration to control and administer the railways, ports and harbours of the Union. Although the South African Railways and Harbours came into existence in 1910, the actual classification and renumbering of all the rolling stock of the three constituent railways were only implemented with effect from 1 January 1912.[5][6]

In 1912, the NGR Construction Department locomotives were considered obsolete and were excluded from the SAR classification and renumbering schedules. These two locomotives were renumbered to 0502 and 0503 and remained unclassified. In spite of being considered obsolete, the two engines remained in service for several more years and were only scrapped in March 1928 and June 1930 respectively.[5][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 36, 96–97. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1944). The Locomotive in South Africa – A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter III – Natal Government Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, September 1944. p. 671.
  3. ^ a b Dulez, Jean A. (2012). Railways of Southern Africa 150 Years (Commemorating One Hundred and Fifty Years of Railways on the Sub-Continent – Complete Motive Power Classifications and Famous Trains – 1860–2011) (1st ed.). Garden View, Johannesburg, South Africa: Vidrail Productions. pp. 22–23, 25–26. ISBN 9 780620 512282.
  4. ^ The Railway Report for year ending 31 Dec. 1908, Natal Government Railways, p. 39, par 14.
  5. ^ a b c Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, p. 2 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
  6. ^ The South African Railways – Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.
  7. ^ Ex Zululand locomotives in SAR service