South African Class 19 4-8-2

The South African Railways Class 19 4-8-2 of 1928 was a steam locomotive.

South African Class 19 & 19R 4-8-2
No. 1369 plinthed in Breyten, 11 June 2005
Type and origin
♠ Class 19 as built with a round-topped firebox
Class 19R rebuilt with a Watson Standard boiler
Power typeSteam
DesignerSouth African Railways
(Col F.R. Collins DSO)
BuilderBerliner Maschinenbau
Serial number9279-9282
ModelClass 19
Build date1928
Total produced4
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-8-2 (Mountain)
  UIC2'D1'h2
Driver2nd coupled axle
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.28 12 in (724 mm)
Coupled dia.54 in (1,372 mm)
Trailing dia.33 in (838 mm)
Tender wheels34 in (864 mm)
Wheelbase58 ft 7 34 in (17,875 mm)
  Engine32 ft 2 in (9,804 mm)
  Leading6 ft 2 in (1,880 mm)
  Coupled14 ft 5 in (4,394 mm)
  Tender16 ft 9 in (5,105 mm)
  Tender bogie4 ft 7 in (1,397 mm)
Wheel spacing
(Asymmetrical)
1-2: 4 ft 10 in (1,473 mm)
2-3: 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm)
3-4: 4 ft 10 in (1,473 mm)
Length:
  Over couplers67 ft 6 12 in (20,587 mm)
Height♠ 12 ft 10 in (3,912 mm)
12 ft 10 78 in (3,934 mm)
Frame typeBar
Axle load♠ 13 LT 9 cwt (13,670 kg)
12 LT 19 cwt (13,160 kg)
  Leading♠ 14 LT 7 cwt (14,580 kg)
13 LT 18 cwt (14,120 kg)
  1st coupled♠ 13 LT 3 cwt (13,360 kg)
12 LT 15 cwt (12,950 kg)
  2nd coupled♠ 13 LT 1 cwt (13,260 kg)
12 LT 12 cwt (12,800 kg)
  3rd coupled♠ 13 LT 9 cwt (13,670 kg)
12 LT 19 cwt (13,160 kg)
  4th coupled♠ 13 LT 8 cwt (13,620 kg)
12 LT 16 cwt (13,010 kg)
  Trailing♠ 12 LT 1 cwt (12,240 kg)
10 LT 18 cwt (11,070 kg)
  Tender bogieBogie 1: 28 LT 16 cwt (29,260 kg)
Bogie 2: 29 LT 8 cwt (29,870 kg)
  Tender axle14 LT 14 cwt (14,940 kg)
Adhesive weight♠ 53 LT 1 cwt (53,900 kg)
51 LT 2 cwt (51,920 kg)
Loco weight♠ 79 LT 9 cwt (80,720 kg)
75 LT 18 cwt (77,120 kg)
Tender weight58 LT 4 cwt (59,130 kg)
Total weight♠ 137 LT 13 cwt (139,900 kg)
134 LT 2 cwt (136,300 kg)
Tender typeMS (2-axle bogies)
MP, MP1, MR, MS, MX, MY, MY1 permitted
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity11 LT (11.2 t)
Water cap5,000 imp gal (22,700 l)
Firebox typeRound-top
  Firegrate area♠ 37 sq ft (3.4 m2)
36 sq ft (3.3 m2)
Boiler:
  ModelWatson Standard no. 1A
  Pitch8 ft (2,438 mm)
  Diameter5 ft (1,524 mm)
  Tube plates20 ft 2 in (6,147 mm)
  Small tubes120: 2 14 in (57 mm)
76: 2 12 in (64 mm)
  Large tubes21: 5 12 in (140 mm)
24: 5 12 in (140 mm)
Boiler pressure200 psi (1,379 kPa)
Safety valvePop
Heating surface♠ 2,176 sq ft (202.2 m2)
1,839 sq ft (170.8 m2)
  Tubes♠ 2,036 sq ft (189.2 m2)
1,700 sq ft (160 m2)
  Arch tubes♠ 13 sq ft (1.2 m2)
16 sq ft (1.5 m2)
  Firebox♠ 127 sq ft (11.8 m2)
123 sq ft (11.4 m2)
Superheater:
  Heating area♠ 506 sq ft (47.009 m2)
404 sq ft (37.533 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size21 in (533 mm) bore
26 in (660 mm) stroke
Valve gearHeusinger
Valve typePiston
CouplersAAR knuckle
Performance figures
Tractive effort 31,850 lbf (141.7 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
ClassClass 19, 19R
Number in class4
Numbers1366–1369
Delivered1928
First run1928
Withdrawn1977

In 1928, the South African Railways placed four Class 19 steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service. They were the forerunners of a family of light-rail branch line engines which would remain in service until the very end of the steam era. One of them was later reboilered with a Watson Standard boiler and reclassified to Class 19R.[1][2][3]

Manufacturer

Col F.R. Collins DSO

Until 1928, the bulk of light 60 pounds per yard (30 kilograms per metre) branch line traffic on the South African Railways (SAR) was hauled by Classes 6, 7 and 8 locomotives. Due to the increase in traffic during the late 1920s, the need arose for a new and heavier type of branch line locomotive.[2]

At the request and under the direction of Colonel F.R. Collins DSO, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the SAR from 1922 to 1929, the basic design of the new Class 19 4-8-2 steam locomotive was done by Research and Test Engineer M.M. Loubser, himself later to be appointed as CME from 1939 to 1949. In 1928, four locomotives were built in Germany by Berliner Maschinenbau AG (BMAG), the former L. Schwartzkopff. They were delivered and placed in service during that same year.[2][3][4]

Characteristics

The locomotives, numbered in the range from 1366 to 1369, were in essence a lighter branch line development of the earlier Classes 15CB and 15CA heavy 4-8-2 mainline locomotives and proved to be extremely successful. They were approximately 50% more powerful than the Class 8 family and also had better speed with their larger diameter coupled wheels. They were superheated, built on bar frames and their piston valves were actuated by Walschaerts valve gear.[2][3][5]

A feature which was to be followed for all subsequent SAR locomotives was their relatively large firegrate area of 37 square feet (3.4 square metres). The round-topped firebox had flexible stays fitted in the breaking zones. Three support brackets tied the boiler barrel to the main bar frames. As far as practicable, mountings were fixed to a steam stand on the firebox top and fitted with extensions to the spindles to carry the handles inside the cab, within easy reach of the enginemen.[2]

The cylinders drove on the second pair of coupled wheels. The locomotives were fitted with the single slide-bar type piston crossheads, popular in Europe but prone to rapid wear under South African conditions. The valve spindle crossheads were screwed to the ends of the valve spindles and secured with locknuts. Although this made adjustment easier, it was not satisfactory in service and was later replaced by the usual taper fit with cotter pin. With these two exceptions, the mechanical parts of the Class 19 gave very little trouble.[2]

As built, the Class 19 was delivered with Type MS tenders with an 11 long tons (11.2 tonnes) coal and a 5,000 imperial gallons (22,700 litres) water capacity and an axle load of 14 long tons 14 hundredweight (14,940 kilograms).[6][7]

Successors

Following the pilot project with only four Class 19 locomotives, four variants on the class were acquired over the next twenty-one years.[3][5]

The Class 19 family earned a reputation for reliability, easy handling, long periods between overhauls and economical operation. While preparing the specifications, Loubser gave considerable thought to the layout of this locomotive and the Research and Test Department was consulted on the most suitable wheel arrangement and other design details. The end result more than justified the amount of care and thought taken during the design process.[1][2]

Watson Standard boilers

From the 1930s, many serving locomotives were reboilered with a standard boiler type designed by then CME A.G. Watson as part of his standardisation policy. Such Watson Standard reboilered locomotives were reclassified by adding an "R" suffix to their classification.[3][6][7]

In 1966, when Class 19 no. 1367 was reboilered with a Watson Standard no. 1A boiler, it became the sole Class 19R. The Watson Standard no. 1A boiler was designed to the same basic dimensions as the Class 19 boiler, but with more superheater elements, a different tube arrangement and larger diameter small tubes. In the process of reboilering, no. 1367 was also equipped with a Watson cab with its distinctive inclined front compared to the conventional vertical front of the original cab.[5][3][6][7]

While an obvious visual difference between an original and a Watson Standard reboilered locomotive is usually a rectangular regulator cover just to the rear of the chimney on the reboilered locomotive, the slanted front of the new cab on no. 1367 served as an even more obvious identifying feature.[6][7]

Service

The four Class 19 locomotives were placed in service on the line between Kimberley and Vryburg, but they eventually spent their later working years at Empangeni and on the Bergville branch in Natal. In the 1950s, they were used especially on passenger trains between Machadodorp via Breyten to Vryheid. Some later exchanged their Type MS tenders for lighter modified Type MP1 tenders. By 1977, they were all withdrawn from service. No. 1369, with a Type MP1 tender, was plinthed in Breyten in Mpumalanga. One engine, the reboilered Class 19R no. 1367, was sold into industrial service in Natal and became the Platberg Colliery no. 2.[3][5]

Preservation

NumberWorks nmrTHF / PrivateLeaselend / OwnerCurrent LocationOutside South Africa?
1366BERLINER 9279THFKrugersdorp Locomotive Depot
1369BERLINER 9282PrivateMunicipalityBreyton (Main Street)

Illustration

The last picture below shows the reboilered Class 19R no. 1367. Note the regulator cover to the rear of the chimney and the inclined front of the cab.

References

  1. Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  2. 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, Jul 1946. pp. 541-543.
  3. Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 10–11, 69–70. ISBN 0869772112.
  4. Information supplied by R.S. Loubser, son of M.M. Loubser
  5. Durrant, A. E. (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, London: David & Charles. p. 97. ISBN 0715386387.
  6. 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. 45.
  7. 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, 26, 45.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.