South African type XE1 tender

The South African type XE1 tender was a steam locomotive tender from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

South African type XE1 tender
Type XE1 tender on CGR 8th Class 2-8-0 of 1904
Type and origin
♠ 6 long tons coal capacity
9 long tons coal capacity
10 long tons coal capacity
Locomotive GGR 8th Class of 1902 (2nd)
CGR 8th Class of 1903
CGR 8th Class Experimental
CGR 8th Class 2-8-0 of 1903
CGR 8th Class 2-8-0 of 1904
CGR 9th Class of 1903
DesignerCape Government Railways
(H.M. Beatty)
Builder Kitson and Company
Neilson, Reid and Company
North British Locomotive Co.
In service1902-1904
RebuilderSouth African Railways
Rebuild datec. 1925
Rebuilt toType XF
Specifications
Configuration2-axle bogies
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Length22 ft 1+58 in (6,747 mm)
Wheel dia.33+12 in (851 mm) as built
34 in (864 mm) retyred
Wheelbase14 ft 7 in (4,445 mm)
 • Bogie4 ft 7 in (1,397 mm)
Axle load♠ 9 LT 4 cwt 1 qtr (9,360 kg) av.
9 LT 8 cwt (9,551 kg)
 • Front bogie 17 LT 13 cwt (17,930 kg)
 • Rear bogie 18 LT 16 cwt (19,100 kg)
Weight empty 42,234 lb (19,157 kg)
Weight w/o♠ 36 LT 18 cwt (37,490 kg)
37.49 t; 41.33 short tons
36 LT 9 cwt (37,030 kg)
37.03 t; 40.82 short tons
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel cap.♠ 6 LT (6.1 t; 6.7 short tons)
9 LT (9.1 t; 10.1 short tons)
10 LT (10.2 t; 11.2 short tons)
Water cap. 2,855 imp gal (13,000 L)
StokingManual
CouplersDrawbar & Johnston link-and-pin
Drawbar & AAR knuckle (1930s)
Career
OperatorsCape Government Railways
South African Railways
Numbers♠ SAR 910-911
SAR 896-899
SAR 900-907, 1072-1081, 1192-1233

The Type XE1 tender first entered service in 1902, as tenders to the second batch of ten 8th Class 4-8-0 Mastodon type steam locomotives which were acquired by the Cape Government Railways in that year. These locomotives were designated Class 8 on the South African Railways in 1912.[1][2][3]

Manufacturers

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Type XE1 tenders were built between 1901 and 1904 by Kitson and Company, Neilson, Reid and Company and North British Locomotive Company.[1][2][3]

The 8th Class locomotive and tender were designed in 1901 by H.M. Beatty, Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the Cape Government Railways (CGR), at the Salt River works in Cape Town. The Type XE1 first entered service in 1902, as tender to the second batch of ten out of altogether 23 8th Class 4-8-0 Mastodon type locomotives which were built for the CGR by Neilson, Reid and Company. These locomotives were designated Class 8 on the South African Railways (SAR) in 1912.[1][2][3]

Until 1904, more were delivered as tenders to five more locomotive types of the CGR, two more 8th Class Mastodon types in 1903 of which one was experimental, the 9th Class 2-8-2 Mikado type in 1903 and two 8th Class 2-8-0 Consolidation types in 1903 and 1904.[1][2][3]

Characteristics

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Three versions of the Type XE1 tender saw service, all with a water capacity of 2,855 imperial gallons (13,000 litres), but with different coal bunker capacities and different axle loads.

  • The four tenders which were delivered with the CGR 8th Class 2-8-0 of 1903, later the SAR Class 8Y, had a coal capacity of 9 long tons (9.1 tonnes).[2][3]
  • The two tenders which were delivered with the CGR 9th Class of 1903, later the SAR Class Experimental 4, had a coal capacity of 6 long tons (6.1 tonnes) and an average maximum axle load of 9 long tons 4 hundredweight 1 quarter (9,360 kilograms).[2][3]
  • All others had a coal capacity of 10 long tons (10.2 tonnes) and a maximum axle load of 9 long tons 8 hundredweight (9,551 kilograms).[2][3]

Locomotives

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Type XE1 number plate

In the SAR years, tenders were numbered for the engines they were delivered with. In most cases, an oval number plate, bearing the engine number and often also the tender type, would be attached to the rear end of the tender. During the classification and renumbering of locomotives onto the SAR roster in 1912, no separate classification and renumbering list was published for tenders, which should have been renumbered according to the locomotive renumbering list.[3][4]

Six locomotive classes were delivered new with Type XE1 tenders, built by three manufacturers. Bearing in mind that tenders could and did migrate between engines, the tenders should have been numbered in the SAR number ranges as shown.[2][3][4]

Classification letters

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Since many tender types are interchangeable between different locomotive classes and types, a tender classification system was adopted by the SAR. The first letter of the tender type indicates the classes of engines to which it can be coupled. The "X_" tenders could be used with the locomotive classes as shown.[3]

The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_E" tenders had a capacity of between 2,800 and 2,855 imperial gallons (12,700 and 13,000 litres; 3,360 and 3,430 US gallons).[3]

A number, when added after the letter code, indicates differences between similar tender types, such as function, wheelbase or coal bunker capacity.[3]

Modifications and rebuilding

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The official SAR diagram book contains an annotation with the Type XE1 drawing to the effect that tender no. 552, a three-axle Type YC tender off a SAR Class 6C locomotive, was added to the type in 1956. While the reason is not apparent from the document, it could only have been as a result of a modification of the tender's engine drawgear which would place it in the "X_" tender group and of the tender being fitted with a larger water tank which would place it in the "_E" tender group.[2][3]

Modifications

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Pictures of most of these locomotives in service show them with tenders with built-up sides to the coal bunker, to increase the coal capacity. Early versions of the built-up coal bunker sides were in the form of a slatted open-top cage, made of rectangular steel rods. Later versions were constructed of sheet-metal. In the second example depicted, a Type XE1 tender with a sheet-metal extended coal bunker is plinthed with CGR 6th Class no. 356, an engine which is suited for Type "Y_", not Type "X_" tenders.[2][3]

Rebuilding

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From c. 1925, some Type Type XE1 tenders from Classes 6H, 6J and 8 were completely rebuilt by the SAR by mounting a new upper structure on the existing underframe. Since their new tanks increased their water capacity from 2,855 to 3,000 imperial gallons (13,000 to 13,600 litres), these tenders were reclassified to Type XF. They had a coal capacity of 10 long tons (10.2 tonnes) and a maximum axle load of 11 long tons 3 hundredweight 2 quarters (11,350 kilograms). These rebuilt tenders had a more modern appearance, with flush sides all the way to the top of the coal bunker.[2][3][5]

The program to rebuild several older tender types with new upper structures was begun by Col F.R. Collins DSO, who approved several of the detailed drawings for the work during his term in office as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the SAR from 1922 to 1929. It was continued by his successor, A.G. Watson.[6]

Illustration

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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. 61–69. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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. 43.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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. pp. 6a-7a, 43.
  4. ^ a b Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Office, Pretoria, January 1912 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
  5. ^ SAR Mechanical Department. New Tender Tank - Class 6H, 6J, 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 8Y, 8Z, 10C old tenders, Exp 4, 20. SAR Mechanical Department Drawing Office, Drawing L-5076/12, 1925.
  6. ^ SAR Mechanical Department. New Tender Tank - Class 6B, 6E (XE), 7A, 7B, 7C (ZE). SAR Mechanical Department Drawing Office, Drawing L-5618, 1925.