South African Class K 4-6-4T

The South African Railways Class K 4-6-4T of 1917 was a steam locomotive.

South African Class K 4-6-4T
Manila Railroad Company no. 161,
possibly Class K no. 347, c. 1914
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerNorth British Locomotive Company
BuilderNorth British Locomotive Company
Serial number20854-20860
ModelManila Railroad Company 4-6-4T
Build date1914
Total produced7
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-4T (Baltic)
 • UIC2'C2'h2t
Driver2nd coupled axle
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.31 1⁄2 in (800 mm)
Coupled dia.48 in (1,219 mm)
Trailing dia.31 1⁄2 in (800 mm)
Wheelbase32 ft 10 1⁄2 in (10,020 mm)
 • Leading5 ft (1,524 mm)
 • Coupled12 ft 3 in (3,734 mm)
 • Trailing5 ft (1,524 mm)
Wheel spacing
(Asymmetrical)		1-2: 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
2-3: 7 ft (2,134 mm)
Length:
​
 • Over couplers41 ft 7 1⁄2 in (12,687 mm)
Height12 ft 6 in (3,810 mm)
Frame typePlate
Axle load12 LT (12,190 kg)
 • Leading15 LT 14 cwt (15,950 kg)
 • Coupled12 LT (12,190 kg)
 • Trailing19 LT 4 cwt (19,510 kg)
Adhesive weight36 LT (36,580 kg)
Loco weight70 LT 18 cwt (72,040 kg)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity4 LT (4.1 t)
Water cap2,350 imp gal (10,700 l)
Firebox typeRound-top
 • Firegrate area18.4 sq ft (1.71 m2)
Boiler:
​
 • Pitch7 ft 3 in (2,210 mm)
 • Diameter4 ft 1 1⁄2 in (1,257 mm)
 • Tube plates12 ft (3,658 mm)
 • Small tubes85: 1 7⁄8 in (48 mm)
 • Large tubes21: 5 1⁄4 in (133 mm)
Boiler pressure160 psi (1,103 kPa)
Safety valvePop
Heating surface962 sq ft (89.4 m2)
 • Tubes844 sq ft (78.4 m2)
 • Firebox118 sq ft (11.0 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area257 sq ft (23.9 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size17 in (432 mm) bore
24 in (610 mm) stroke
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston
CouplersJohnston link-and-pin
Performance figures
Tractive effort17,340 lbf (77.1 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
ClassClass K
Number in class7
Numbers347-353
NicknamesManila
Delivered1917
First run1917
Withdrawn1938

In 1917, the South African Railways placed seven Class K tank steam locomotives with a 4-6-4 Baltic type wheel arrangement in service. They had been built for the Philippines but could not be delivered due to wartime disruption.[1][2]

Manufacturer

Seven 4-6-4 side-tank steam locomotives were built for the Manila Railroad Company in the Philippine Islands by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) in 1914. Because of difficulties experienced in delivering them to the Philippines during the First World War as well as a critical wartime shortage of locomotives on the South African Railways (SAR), NBL eventually offered the seven locomotives for sale to the SAR. They were purchased and delivered in 1917, designated Class K and numbered in the range from 347 to 353.[1][2][3][4]

Characteristics

The locomotives had inclined cylinders, arranged outside the plate frames. The piston valves were actuated by Walschaerts valve gear, while the reversing gear was controlled by a combination of hand and steam mechanism. The locomotives were superheated and their smokeboxes were equipped with Stone's Patent louvre spark arrestors. Their coupled wheel axleboxes were provided with mechanical force-feed lubrication. They were the first locomotives in South Africa to be equipped with exhaust steam injectors, which were of the Davies and Metcalfe pattern.[1][2][3]

The only modifications required to these locomotives for them to be put to work on the SAR were to the buffing and drawgear. As built, they had 12 inches (305 millimetres) diameter "bull's eyes" acetylene gas headlamps, powered from a generator affixed to the running board on the right hand side adjoining the smokebox. The same medium was used for the cab lighting, but these lights were removed and smaller headlamps were installed.[1][2]

The original works photographs showed a hand-operated bell on top of the boiler, but there is no record that the bells were still on the engines when they reached South Africa.[1][2]

Service

The locomotives proved to be extremely useful. They were placed in service on the Reef's suburban services, shedded at Braamfontein and working between Randfontein and Springs. They were well suited for suburban service since they were free-steaming, had rapid acceleration and were capable of relatively high speeds, even though they lacked power and speed compared with the Class 16. They remained in this service until the last of them were withdrawn and scrapped in 1938.[1][2][3]

Illustration
  • A Class K on the up suburban between Maraisburg and Florida, c. 1930

References
  1. Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. p. 33-34. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  2. 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, August 1945. p. 596.
  3. Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 33. ISBN 0869772112.
  4. North British Locomotive Company works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.