South African Class GC 2-6-2+2-6-2
28+1⁄2 in (724 mm)
8 LT 9 cwt (8,586 kg) rear
7 LT 2 cwt (7,214 kg) rear
1,000 imp gal (4,550 L) rear
23 in (584 mm) stroke
AAR knuckle (1930s)
Performance figures | |
---|---|
Tractive effort | 28,470 lbf (126.6 kN) @ 75% |
Career | |
---|---|
Operators | South African Railways |
Class | Class GC |
Number in class | 6 |
Numbers | 2180-2185 |
Delivered | 1924-1925 |
First run | 1924 |
Withdrawn | 1962 |
The South African Railways Class GC 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1924 was an articulated steam locomotive.
In 1924 and 1925, the South African Railways placed six Class GC Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in branch line service.[1][2][3]
Manufacturer
Following the good performance of the Class GB branch line Garratts, the first locomotive to be built to the specifications of Colonel F.R. Collins DSO after he was appointed as the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the South African Railways in 1922 was a heavier 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type Garratt, also intended for branch line work. It was designed and built to his specifications by Beyer, Peacock and Company in 1924.[1][2][3][4]
Characteristics
Six locomotives were delivered in 1924 and were erected in the Durban shops of the SAR. They were placed in service in 1924 and 1925, designated Class GC and numbered in the range from 2180 to 2185. The locomotives were superheated, with Belpaire fireboxes, plate frames, Walschaerts valve gear and piston valves.[1][2][3][5][6]
Like its predecessor Class GB, the heavier Class GC was also a branch line locomotive and its maximum axle load of 11 long tons 16 hundredweight (11,990 kilograms) made it suitable for light rail. It was a more powerful development of the Class GB and was very similar to the Class GK Garratts which had been acquired by the New Cape Central Railway (NCCR) in 1923, but 2 long tons (2,032 kilograms) heavier and with 1 inch (25 millimetres) smaller diameter cylinders with a 1 inch (25 millimetres) longer stroke.[3]
Service
The locomotives were initially placed in service on the Natal South Coast line. Although they later also worked on other branch lines, they spent their entire working lives in Natal until they were withdrawn from service in 1962.[1][3]
Illustration
- Class GC in Durban station on the Port Shepstone train, with Station Inspector James Grossert on the platform at right, c. 1924
References
- ^ a b c d Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
- ^ a b c Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1945). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, November 1945. p. 867.
- ^ a b c d e Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 89. ISBN 0869772112.
- ^ Hamilton, Gavin N., The Garratt Locomotive - Garratt Locomotives produced by Beyer, Peacock, retrieved 10 November 2012
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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, 41, 43.
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