♠ NGR Class D1, SAR Class A ♥ NGR Class D2, SAR Class A Belpaire
Number in class
102
Numbers
NGR 49-148 SAR 97-196, 332-333
Delivered
1888-1915
First run
1888
Withdrawn
1962
Disposition
5 preserved, remainder scrapped
The leading coupled axle had flangeless wheels
The South African Railways Class A 4-8-2T of 1888 is a steam locomotive class from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.
In 1888, the Natal Government Railways placed the first five of its eventual one hundred Class D 4-8-2T steam locomotives in service. The last was delivered in 1899. They were the first locomotives in the world to be built with a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement, later to become known as the Mountain type. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class A. In 1915, another two Class A locomotives were built from spare parts.[1][2]
Manufacturers
The Natal Government Railways (NGR) Class D 4-8-2 tank locomotive was designed by William Milne, the Locomotive Superintendent of the NGR from 1877 to 1896, and was built by Dübs and Company. The first 46 locomotives, with an operating boiler pressure of 140 pounds per square inch (965 kilopascals) and numbered in the range from 49 to 94, were placed in service during Milne's term. They proved to be such good engines that, when G.W. Reid took over as Locomotive Superintendent in 1896, he continued to place further orders for another 58, numbered in the range from 91 to 148, but with the boiler pressure increased to 160 pounds per square inch (1,103 kilopascals). These 100 locomotives, initially known on the NGR as the Dübs A, were delivered in ten batches by Dübs between 1888 and 1899.[1][3][4]
As far as is known, the Dübs A locomotives were the first in the world to be designed and built with a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement, later to become known as the Mountain type.[1]
Modifications
The performance in service of the Dübs A was gradually improved by various modifications. New boilers were fitted as and when the originals needed replacement, with a working pressure of 160 pounds per square inch (1,103 kilopascals) instead of the as-delivered 140 pounds per square inch (965 kilopascals) of the first few batches. This increased their tractive effort at 75% boiler pressure from 16,340 pounds-force (72.7 kilonewtons) to 18,670 pounds-force (83.0 kilonewtons). The coal bunkers were also enlarged and the connecting rod big-ends were changed to the marine type to increase ground clearance.[1][3]
Another modification was an extended smokebox on most locomotives, such as on NGR no. 87 depicted below. In the 1890s, some improvements to smokebox design took place. Extending the smokebox forward increased its volume. The increased amount of exhaust gases present in the smokebox had the effect of stabilising and improving the draught. The date of this improvement can be pinned to 1891 when the second batch of Michael Stephens’ Cape Government Railways (CGR) 5th Class 4-6-0 locomotives with their lengthened smokeboxes entered service. This had such a profound effect on the boiler’s steaming ability that virtually every locomotive on the CGR and NGR had their smokeboxes extended.[5]
Beginning in 1905, after D.A. Hendrie took over from Reid as Locomotive Superintendent, these locomotives were gradually fitted with Belpaire fireboxes with wider firegrates. The flat-topped Belpaire firebox had the advantage of an increased area of the water-line at the hottest part of the boiler, together with increased steam space over the firebox. In order to accomplish this, Hendrie raised the boiler's pitch by 4+1⁄2 inches (114 millimetres) and cut away the frame under the firebox to accommodate the wider grates. The wider firebox required that the water tanks also had to be moved out and the opportunity was taken to enlarge the tanks. The cabs were also improved to offer the engine crew better protection, and new brass-capped chimneys replaced the original straight flared chimneys. These modified locomotives were known as the Improved Dübs A.[1][3]
When a locomotive classification system was introduced on the NGR, the Dübs A locomotive family was designated Class D. The unmodified locomotives became the Class D1 while the modified locomotives with Belpaire fireboxes became the Class D2.[1][6][7]
South African Railways
When the Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (CGR, 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 was only implemented with effect from 1 January 1912.[8][9]
In 1912, these engines were designated Class A and were renumbered in the range from 97 to 196, with the unmodified Class D1 locomotives receiving the numbers in the range from 97 to 186 and the ten, at the time, already reboilered Class D2 locomotives receiving the numbers in the range from 187 to 196. In South African Railways (SAR) service, the Improved Dübs A locomotives became known as the Class A Belpaire.[8][10]
In 1915, to help counter wartime motive power shortages brought about by the diminished ability to order new locomotives from European builders due to hostilities, another two Class A locomotives were built from spare parts by the SAR in their Durban shops. These two locomotives were numbered 332 and 333.[10]
Service
In the NGR era, the Class D fleet remained in service on the Natal mainline until they were eventually displaced by more modern locomotives. They continued to serve well into the SAR era on the Dundee-Hlobane branchline, the Harrismith-Ladysmith section and on the north coast line to Empangeni.[10]
In 1915, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, the German South West Africa colony was occupied by the Union Defence Forces. Since a large part of the territory's railway infrastructure and rolling stock was destroyed or damaged by retreating German forces, an urgent need arose for locomotives for use on the Cape gauge lines in that territory. In 1917, numbers 98 and 183 were transferred to the Defence Department for service in South West Africa. Both locomotives are believed to have returned to South Africa after the war.[11]
The last of the Class A was withdrawn from service in 1962. Several locomotives continued to serve in industrial use for many years.[10]
Preservation
Five members of the class survive in preservation.[1][10]
Ex NGR No. 84, SAR No. 130 named Patrys, is plinthed at the Reefsteamers Depot in Germiston.[12]
Ex NGR No. 90, SAR No. 136 named Umbilo, is in the care of the Umgeni Steam Railway.[13]
Ex NGR No. 55, SAR No. 103, was moved from Witbank to the Outeniqua Transport Museum in George in August 2014.
Ex NGR No 133, SAR Class A Belpaire no. 196, was plinthed at Masons Mill in Pietermaritzburg until it was repatriated to the United Kingdom in 2011. It is now displayed at the entrance to the Mizens Railway near Woking.[5][14]
Ex NGR No. ?, SAR No. 176, on display at Brikor Limited, Olifantsfontein.
Rebuilding to Class 17 4-8-0TT
When a shortage of suitable shunting locomotives developed in 1926, the SAR modified 21 Class A and Class A Belpaire 4-8-2T locomotives by removing the trailing bissel bogie and coal bunker, shortening the main frame and adding a tender to increase their coal and water capacity. Tenders from various scrapped locomotive types were used.[2][3][10]
These 21 rebuilt locomotives became the SAR Class 17 4-8-0 tank-and-tender locomotives, numbered in the range from 1415 to 1435. They were used as shunting locomotives around Durban and Port Elizabeth, until they were withdrawn from service by 1961.[3][10]
Works numbers
The builder's works numbers, years built, NGR and SAR numbers, firebox type and Class 17 numbers are listed in the table.
Class A modification & renumbering & Class 17 4-8-0TT rebuilding
Builder
Works No.
Year
NGR No.
SAR No.
Model
Class 17 No.
Dübs
2446
1888
49
97
Dübs A
Dübs
2447
1888
50
98
Dübs A
Dübs
2448
1888
51
99
Dübs A
Dübs
2449
1888
52
100
Dübs A
Dübs
2450
1888
53
101
Dübs A
Dübs
2451
1888
54
102
Dübs A
Dübs
2499
1889
55
103
Dübs A
Dübs
2500
1889
56
104
Dübs A
Dübs
2501
1889
57
105
Dübs A
Dübs
2502
1889
58
106
Dübs A
Dübs
2503
1889
59
107
Dübs A
Dübs
2504
1889
60
108
Dübs A
Dübs
2604
1890
61
109
Dübs A
1421
Dübs
2605
1890
62
110
Dübs A
Dübs
2606
1890
63
111
Dübs A
Dübs
2607
1890
64
112
Dübs A
Dübs
2608
1890
65
113
Dübs A
Dübs
2609
1890
66
114
Dübs A
Dübs
2610
1890
67
115
Dübs A
Dübs
2611
1890
68
116
Dübs A
1417
Dübs
2612
1890
69
117
Dübs A
1427
Dübs
2613
1890
70
118
Dübs A
1428
Dübs
2614
1890
71
119
Dübs A
1425
Dübs
2615
1890
72
192
Belpaire
Dübs
2616
1890
73
120
Dübs A
Dübs
2617
1890
74
121
Dübs A
Dübs
2618
1890
75
122
Dübs A
1420
Dübs
2619
1890
76
123
Dübs A
Dübs
2620
1890
77
124
Dübs A
Dübs
2621
1890
78
125
Dübs A
Dübs
2622
1890
79
126
Dübs A
Dübs
2623
1890
80
193
Belpaire
1423
Dübs
2624
1890
81
127
Dübs A
Dübs
2625
1890
82
128
Dübs A
1419
Dübs
2626
1890
83
129
Dübs A
1433
Dübs
2627
1890
84
130
Dübs A
Dübs
2628
1890
85
131
Dübs A
Dübs
2965
1892
86
132
Dübs A
Dübs
2966
1892
87
133
Dübs A
Dübs
2967
1892
88
134
Dübs A
Dübs
3317
1895
89
135
Dübs A
1422
Dübs
3318
1895
90
136
Dübs A
1426
Dübs
3319
1895
91
137
Dübs A
Dübs
3320
1895
92
138
Dübs A
Dübs
3321
1895
93
139
Dübs A
Dübs
3322
1895
94
140
Dübs A
Dübs
3363
1896
95
141
Dübs A
Dübs
3364
1896
96
142
Dübs A
Dübs
3365
1896
97
143
Dübs A
Dübs
3366
1896
98
144
Dübs A
Dübs
3367
1896
99
145
Dübs A
Dübs
3368
1896
100
146
Dübs A
Dübs
3477
1897
101
147
Dübs A
1434
Dübs
3478
1897
102
148
Dübs A
Dübs
3479
1897
103
149
Dübs A
Dübs
3480
1897
104
150
Dübs A
Dübs
3481
1897
105
151
Dübs A
1431
Dübs
3482
1897
106
152
Dübs A
Dübs
3483
1897
107
153
Dübs A
Dübs
3484
1897
108
154
Dübs A
1416
Dübs
3485
1897
109
194
Belpaire
Dübs
3486
1897
110
155
Dübs A
Dübs
3604
1898
111
156
Dübs A
Dübs
3605
1898
112
157
Dübs A
1432
Dübs
3556
1898
113
158
Dübs A
1415
Dübs
3557
1898
114
187
Belpaire
Dübs
3558
1898
115
159
Dübs A
Dübs
3559
1898
116
160
Dübs A
Dübs
3560
1898
117
161
Dübs A
Dübs
3561
1898
118
165
Dübs A
Dübs
3562
1898
119
162
Dübs A
Dübs
3563
1898
120
166
Dübs A
1424
Dübs
3564
1898
121
163
Dübs A
1435
Dübs
3565
1898
122
164
Dübs A
Dübs
3566
1898
123
188
Belpaire
Dübs
3567
1898
124
195
Belpaire
Dübs
3811
1899
125
167
Dübs A
Dübs
3812
1899
126
168
Dübs A
Dübs
3813
1899
127
169
Dübs A
Dübs
3814
1899
128
170
Dübs A
Dübs
3815
1899
129
171
Dübs A
Dübs
3816
1899
130
172
Dübs A
Dübs
3817
1899
131
173
Dübs A
Dübs
3818
1899
132
189
Belpaire
Dübs
3819
1899
133
196
Belpaire
Dübs
3820
1899
134
190
Belpaire
1418
Dübs
3821
1899
135
174
Dübs A
Dübs
3822
1899
136
175
Dübs A
Dübs
3823
1899
137
176
Dübs A
Dübs
3824
1899
138
177
Dübs A
Dübs
3825
1899
139
178
Dübs A
Dübs
3826
1899
140
179
Dübs A
Dübs
3827
1899
141
191
Belpaire
1430
Dübs
3828
1899
142
180
Dübs A
Dübs
3829
1899
143
181
Dübs A
1429
Dübs
3830
1899
144
182
Dübs A
Dübs
3831
1899
145
183
Dübs A
Dübs
3832
1899
146
184
Dübs A
Dübs
3833
1899
147
185
Dübs A
Dübs
3834
1899
148
186
Dübs A
SAR
1915
332
Belpaire
SAR
1915
333
Belpaire
Illustration
The main picture shows SAR Class A Belpaire no. 196 at Masons Mill on 10 December 2010. Those following illustrate the short and long smokebox versions of the locomotive and some of the post-delivery changes which were made, such as the altered cab for better crew protection.
NGR Class D1 no. 72 with short smokebox, c. 1900
NGR Class D1 no. 87 with extended smokebox, c. 1898
^ abcdefgHolland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 90–93. ISBN978-0-7153-5382-0.
^ abSouth African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
^ abcdeEspitalier, 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, June 1944. pp. 422-423.
^Pattison, R.G. (1997). The Cape Seventh Class Locomotives (1st ed.). Kenilworth, Cape Town: The Railway History Group. p. 6. ISBN0958400946.
^The Railway Report for year ending 31 Dec. 1908, Natal Government Railways, p. 39, par 14.
^ abClassification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 7, 13, 20-22 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
^The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.
^ abcdefgPaxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 10–11, 26–27, 68. ISBN0869772112.
^Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1947). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, December 1947. p. 1033.