South African Class GDA 2-6-2+2-6-2

The South African Railways Class GDA 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1929 was an articulated steam locomotive.

South African Class GDA 2-6-2+2-6-2
No. 2255, Stanger Depot, 8 September 1966
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerBeyer, Peacock and Company
BuilderLinke-Hofmann Werke AG
Serial number3115-3119
ModelClass GDA
Build date1929
Total produced5
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-6-2+2-6-2 (Double Prairie)
 • UIC1'C1'+1'C1'h4t
Driver3rd & 4th coupled axles
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.28+12 in (724 mm)
Coupled dia.46 in (1,168 mm)
Trailing dia.28+12 in (724 mm)
Wheelbase58 ft 4 in (17,780 mm) ​
 • Engine18 ft 9 in (5,715 mm) each
 • Coupled8 ft 6 in (2,591 mm) each
Pivot centres30 ft 6 in (9,296 mm)
Length:
 • Over couplers65 ft 11 in (20,091 mm)
Height12 ft 10+14 in (3,918 mm)
Frame typeBar
Axle load13 LT 14 cwt (13,920 kg) ​
 • Leading12 LT 1 cwt (12,240 kg) front
11 LT 7 cwt (11,530 kg) rear
 • 1st coupled13 LT 1 cwt (13,260 kg)
 • 2nd coupled13 LT 8 cwt (13,620 kg)
 • 3rd coupled13 LT 8 cwt (13,620 kg)
 • 4th coupled13 LT 14 cwt (13,920 kg)
 • 5th coupled13 LT 13 cwt (13,870 kg)
 • 6th coupled12 LT 7 cwt (12,550 kg)
 • Trailing8 LT 7 cwt (8,484 kg) front
8 LT 11 cwt (8,687 kg) rear
Adhesive weight79 LT 11 cwt (80,830 kg)
Loco weight119 LT 17 cwt (121,800 kg)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity5 LT (5.1 t)
Water cap.2,300 imp gal (10,500 L) front
1,500 imp gal (6,820 L) rear
Firebox:
 • TypeRound-top
 • Grate area40 sq ft (3.7 m2)
Boiler:
 • Pitch7 ft 9+14 in (2,369 mm)
 • Diameter5 ft 11+34 in (1,822 mm)
 • Tube plates10 ft 7+78 in (3,248 mm)
 • Small tubes193: 2 in (51 mm)
 • Large tubes32: 5+12 in (140 mm)
Boiler pressure180 psi (1,241 kPa)
Safety valvePop
Heating surface:
 • Firebox181 sq ft (16.8 m2)
 • Tubes1,569 sq ft (145.8 m2)
 • Total surface1,750 sq ft (163 m2)
Superheater:
 • Heating area370 sq ft (34 m2)
CylindersFour
Cylinder size15 in (381 mm) bore
24 in (610 mm) stroke
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston
CouplersAAR knuckle
Performance figures
Tractive effort31,690 lbf (141.0 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
ClassClass GDA
Number in class5
Numbers2255-2259
Delivered1929
First run1929
Withdrawnc. 1972

In December 1929, the South African Railways placed five Class GDA Garratt articulated locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in branch line service on the Natal North Coast line.[1][2][3]

Manufacturer

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The Class GDA 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type Garratt locomotive was built to the same specifications and was for all intents and purposes identical to the Class GD in its main dimensions. They were ordered from Linke-Hofmann Werke AG in Breslau, Germany in 1929 and numbered 2255 to 2259 upon delivery in December of that same year.[1][2][3][4][5]

Characteristics

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The locomotive had the same tractive effort as the Class GD, was also superheated and also had Walschaerts valve gear to actuate its piston valves. The main differences were the use of bar frames instead of plate frames, differently shaped coal and water bunkers, and a round-topped firebox instead of a Belpaire firebox.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Service

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The five locomotives were placed in service working out of Cape Town where they were to join the Class GD on the Overberg branch across Sir Lowry's Pass to Caledon and Bredasdorp, but they were found to be not satisfactory in service and ended up being staged on a siding near the Cape Town sheds for a considerable time. When a question was raised in the local press, enquiring the reason why these brand new locomotives were not being used, they were first moved to a less conspicuous location and shortly afterwards transferred to Natal.[1]

The Natal shops managed to get the locomotives to perform satisfactorily and they were placed in branch line service on the North Coast line in Natal, working around Stanger. This line contains long gradients of 1 in 40 (2½%) and severe curvature with curves of 300 feet (91 metres) radius. Some locomotives later ended up working on the Port Alfred branch. In 1970 a pair was sent to Port Elizabeth where they worked local goods trains until they were all withdrawn by 1972.[1][2][3]

SAR locomotive policy

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During the term of office of Colonel F.R. Collins DSO as SAR Chief Mechanical Engineer from 1922 to 1929 articulated locomotives were in great favour in South Africa, to the extent that the Railway Board of the day instructed that non-articulated engines should only be ordered in exceptional circumstances. His retirement in 1929 brought about a change in policy, however, and there would be an interval of nearly a decade before another articulated Cape gauge Garratt would be acquired.[7]

Preservation

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Two locomotives were "preserved". No. 2257 was plinthed at Grahamstown Station. After the branch line via Grahamstown to Port Alfred fell into disuse, however, an apathetic local government allowed Grahamstown's historic station buildings and especially the plinthed locomotive to be vandalised to an eyesore state by 2013. Another engine, no. 2259, was staged at the South African National Railway And Steam Museum in Krugersdorp.

Illustration

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  2. ^ a b c d Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, February 1946. p. 134.
  3. ^ a b c d Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 90–91. ISBN 0869772112.
  4. ^ a b South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. p. 31.
  5. ^ a b South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte, Steam Locomotives/Stoomlokomotiewe. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. p. 31.
  6. ^ Hamilton, Gavin N., The Garratt Locomotive - Garratt Locomotives from Other Builders, retrieved 10 November 2012
  7. ^ Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, January 1946. p. 13.