CGR 4th Class 4-4-2

The Cape Government Railways 4th Class 4-4-2 of 1897 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

This article is about one of several different Cape Government Railways locomotive types to be designated "4th Class". For the others, see Cape Government Railways 4th Class locomotives.

CGR 4th Class 4-4-2
South African Class 04 4-4-2
CGR 4th Class 4-4-2 no. 297, c. 1910
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerBaldwin Locomotive Works
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number15338-15343
ModelJNR 6600-Class
Build date1897
Total produced30
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-2 (Atlantic)
 • UIC2'B1'n2
Driver2nd coupled axle
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.28 in (711 mm)
Coupled dia.56 in (1,422 mm)
Trailing dia.33 in (838 mm)
Tender wheels32+1⁄2 in (826 mm)
Wheelbase45 ft 11+1⁄2 in (14,008 mm)
 • Engine22 ft 6 in (6,858 mm)
 • Leading6 ft (1,829 mm)
 • Coupled6 ft (1,829 mm)
 • Tender13 ft 3 in (4,039 mm)
 • Tender bogie4 ft 8 in (1,422 mm)
Length:
​
 • Over couplers53 ft 5+1⁄2 in (16,294 mm)
Height12 ft 3 in (3,734 mm)
Frame typeBar
Axle load12 LT 3 cwt (12,340 kg)
 • Leading10 LT 18 cwt (11,070 kg)
 • 1st coupled11 LT 12 cwt (11,790 kg)
 • 2nd coupled12 LT 3 cwt (12,340 kg)
Adhesive weight23 LT 15 cwt (24,130 kg)
Loco weight44 LT 16 cwt (45,520 kg)
Tender weight30 LT 2 cwt (30,580 kg)
Total weight74 LT 18 cwt (76,100 kg)
Tender type2-axle bogies
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity5 LT 15 cwt (5.8 t)
Water cap.2,400 imp gal (10,900 L)
Firebox typeRound-top
 • Firegrate area30 sq ft (2.8 m2)
Boiler:
​
 • Pitch6 ft 11 in (2,108 mm)
 • Diameter4 ft 8+7⁄8 in (1,445 mm)
 • Tube plates14 ft 9+3⁄8 in (4,505 mm)
 • Small tubes189: 2 in (51 mm)
Boiler pressure180 psi (1,241 kPa)
Safety valveRamsbottom
Heating surface1,559.85 sq ft (144.915 m2)
 • Tubes1,461.7 sq ft (135.80 m2)
 • Firebox98.15 sq ft (9.118 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size16 in (406 mm) bore
22 in (559 mm) stroke
Valve gearStephenson
CouplersJohnston link-and-pin
Performance figures
Tractive effort13,580 lbf (60.4 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsJapanese National Railways
Cape Government Railways
South African Railways
ClassJNR 6600-Class, CGR 4th Class, SAR Class 04
Number in class6
Numbers295-300
NicknamesHatrack
Delivered1897
First run1897
Withdrawn1931

In 1897, the Cape Government Railways placed six 4th Class tender locomotives with a 4-4-2 Atlantic type wheel arrangement in service on the section from Kimberley southwards.[1][2]

Manufacturer

In 1896, at the time that an urgent requirement arose on the Cape Government Railways (CGR) for more locomotives for the section of the Western System from Kimberley to the south, locomotive production by the usual British suppliers was being disrupted by strikes which made delivery time uncertain. At the same time, the steamship companies had suddenly doubled all freight charges to the Cape. The CGR therefore approached locomotive builders in the United States of America.[1][2][3]

Baldwin Locomotive Works, it turned out, had just completed an order for 24 6600-Class 4-4-2 Atlantic type tender locomotives, numbered in the range from 6600 to 6623, for the 3 feet 6 inches (1,067 millimetres) gauge Japanese State Railways. Baldwin offered to produce another six of the same type for the CGR. Since the Japanese locomotive met the requirements of the CGR, the offer was accepted.[1][2][3]

Construction of the six locomotives was completed within sixty days of confirmation of the order. The new doubled freight rates of the steamship companies were circumvented by shipping the locomotives by sailing vessel, which convinced the steamship companies to promptly revert to their previous rates.[1]

Characteristics

The locomotives were designated 4th Class, in spite of being completely unlike any other in this Class on the CGR, and were numbered in the range from 295 to 300. They were the only Atlantic types to see service in South Africa.[4]

They were of typical American design at the time, with bar frames, spacious cabs and high running boards. They had large boilers and large grates which had been designed to burn very poor quality coal. In service, they were found to be free steaming, excellent and smooth runners and low on maintenance costs. These qualities, with their roomy cabs and general handiness, made them popular with the enginemen, who nicknamed them Hatracks.[1][2]

CGR Chief Locomotive Superintendent H.M. Beatty was equally impressed by the sturdy and simple construction and the good steaming qualities of these locomotives. The bar frame allowed the firebox to be placed on top of it and to make it 2 inches (51 millimetres) wider than what would have been possible with a plate frame on Cape gauge. Beatty became a firm believer in bar frames, to the extent that practically all his subsequent locomotive designs had such frames. Plate frames were only used again on locomotives which were acquired on repeat orders for existing locomotive types.[1][2]

Service

When the Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (CGR, Natal Government Railways 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]

The six locomotives spent their entire service lives working in the Kimberley region. In 1912, the Baldwin-built Atlantics were considered obsolete by the SAR, designated Class 04 and renumbered by having the numeral "0" prefixed to their existing numbers. In spite of being considered obsolete, they were only scrapped in 1931.[1][2][3][6]

Works numbers

The locomotives were numbered in reverse order of their builder's works numbers. The works numbers, original numbers and renumbering of the CGR 4th Class Atlantics are listed in the table.[1][6]

Illustration

At left below is a Baldwin works photograph of the CGR locomotive, as built, while at right is the Baldwin works picture of the Japanese locomotive. Apart from the headlights, spring buffers and some other minor details, the locomotives are virtually identical.

The main picture of no. 297 in the CGR era and the following picture of no 0298 in the SAR era show both locomotives with tenders which were enlarged after they entered service.

  • Class 04 no 0298 in SAR service, c. 1930
    Class 04 no 0298 in SAR service, c. 1930

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to CGR 4th Class 4-4-2.
  1. Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 57–59. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
  2. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1944). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter II - The Cape Government Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, January 1944. pp. 9-12.
  3. Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 19. ISBN 0869772112.
  4. 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. p. 43. ISBN 9 780620 512282.
  5. The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.
  6. Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, p. 26. (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)


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