South African Class 14C 4-8-2, 3rd batch

The South African Railways Class 14C 4-8-2 of 1919 was a steam locomotive.

This article is about the third batch of South African "Class 14C" locomotives. For others, see South African Class 14C.

South African Class 14C, 14CB, 14CR & 14CRB 4-8-2, 3rd batch
Class 14CRB no. 2004, Robertson, 1979
Type and origin
♠ Class 14C, standard, as built with a Belpaire firebox
♥ Class 14CB, rebalanced for branchline working
♣ Class 14CR, standard, Watson Standard boiler
♦ Class 14CRB, branchline, Watson Standard boiler
ʘ 22 in (559 mm) bore - ʘ 21 3⁄4 in (552 mm) bore
Power typeSteam
DesignerMontreal Locomotive Works
BuilderMontreal Locomotive Works
Serial number60546-60565
ModelClass 14C
Build date1919
Total produced20
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-2 (Mountain)
 • UIC2'D1'h2
Driver2nd coupled axle
Gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.28 1⁄2 in (724 mm)
Coupled dia.48 in (1,219 mm)
Trailing dia.33 in (838 mm)
Tender wheels34 in (864 mm)
Wheelbase59 ft 1⁄4 in (17,990 mm)
 • Engine30 ft 8 in (9,347 mm)
 • Leading6 ft 2 in (1,880 mm)
 • Coupled12 ft 9 in (3,886 mm)
 • Tender17 ft 11 in (5,461 mm)
 • Tender bogie4 ft 7 in (1,397 mm)
Length:
​
 • Over couplers66 ft 10 1⁄8 in (20,374 mm)
Height♠♥ 12 ft 9 3⁄8 in (3,896 mm)
♣♦ 13 ft 3⁄4 in (3,981 mm)
Frame typeBar
Axle load♠ 15 LT 19 cwt (16,210 kg)
♥ 14 LT 18 cwt (15,140 kg)
♣ 16 LT 15 cwt (17,020 kg)
♦ 14 LT 19 cwt (15,190 kg)
 • Leading♠ 14 LT 8 cwt (14,630 kg)
♥ 14 LT 6 cwt (14,530 kg)
♣ 16 LT 2 cwt (16,360 kg)
♦ 14 LT 8 cwt (14,630 kg)
 • 1st coupled♠ 15 LT 12 cwt (15,850 kg)
♥ 14 LT 18 cwt (15,140 kg)
♣ 16 LT 8 cwt (16,660 kg)
♦ 14 LT 19 cwt (15,190 kg)
 • 2nd coupled♠ 15 LT 1 cwt (15,290 kg)
♥ 14 LT 6 cwt (14,530 kg)
♣ 15 LT 15 cwt (16,000 kg)
♦ 14 LT 16 cwt (15,040 kg)
 • 3rd coupled♠ 15 LT 14 cwt (15,950 kg)
♥ 14 LT 17 cwt (15,090 kg)
♣ 16 LT 10 cwt (16,760 kg)
♦ 14 LT 17 cwt (15,090 kg)
 • 4th coupled♠ 15 LT 19 cwt (16,210 kg)
♥ 14 LT 18 cwt (15,140 kg)
♣ 16 LT 15 cwt (17,020 kg)
♦ 14 LT 19 cwt (15,190 kg)
 • Trailing♠ 8 LT 13 cwt (8,789 kg)
♥ 10 LT 2 cwt (10,260 kg)
♣ 9 LT 1 cwt (9,195 kg)
♦ 10 LT 3 cwt (10,310 kg)
 • Tender axle12 LT 14 cwt 2 qtr (12,930 kg) av.
Adhesive weight♠ 62 LT 6 cwt (63,300 kg)
♥ 58 LT 19 cwt (59,900 kg)
♣ 65 LT 8 cwt (66,450 kg)
♦ 59 LT 11 cwt (60,510 kg)
Loco weight♠ 85 LT 7 cwt (86,720 kg)
♥ 83 LT 7 cwt (84,690 kg)
♣ 90 LT 11 cwt (92,000 kg)
♦ 84 LT 2 cwt (85,450 kg)
Tender weight50 LT 18 cwt (51,720 kg)
Total weight♠ 136 LT 5 cwt (138,400 kg)
♥ 134 LT 5 cwt (136,400 kg)
♣ 141 LT 9 cwt (143,700 kg)
♦ 135 LT (137,200 kg)
Tender typeLP (2-axle bogies)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity10 LT (10.2 t)
Water cap4,250 imp gal (19,300 l)
Firebox type♠♥ Belpaire - ♣♦ Round-top
 • Firegrate area♠♥♣♦ 37 sq ft (3.437 m2)
Boiler:
​
 • Model♣♦ Watson Standard no. 2
 • Pitch♠♥ 7 ft 7 in (2,311 mm)
♣♦ 8 ft 1 1⁄2 in (2,476 mm)
 • Diameter♠♥♣♦ 5 ft 7 1⁄2 in (1,714 mm)
 • Tube plates♠♥ 19 ft 3⁄8 in (5,801 mm)
♣♦ 19 ft 4 in (5,893 mm) steel
♣♦ 19 ft 3 5⁄8 in (5,883 mm) copper
 • Small tubes♠♥ 139: 2 1⁄4 in (57 mm)
♣♦ 87: 2 1⁄2 in (64 mm)
 • Large tubes♠♥ 24: 5 1⁄2 in (140 mm)
♣♦ 30: 5 1⁄2 in (140 mm)
Boiler pressure♠♣ʘ 190 psi (1,310 kPa)
♠♣ʘ 195 psi (1,344 kPa)
♥♦ʘ 180 psi (1,241 kPa)
♦ʘ 183 psi (1,262 kPa)
Safety valve♠♥ Ramsbottom - ♣♦ Pop
Heating surface♠♥ 2,350 sq ft (218 m2)
♣♦ 2,075 sq ft (192.8 m2)
 • Tubes♠♥ 2,212 sq ft (205.5 m2)
♣♦ 1,933 sq ft (179.6 m2)
 • Firebox♠♥ 138 sq ft (12.8 m2)
♣♦ 142 sq ft (13.2 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area♠♥ 526 sq ft (48.9 m2)
♣♦ 492 sq ft (45.7 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size♠♥♣♦ 22 in (559 mm) bore
♠♣♦ 21 3⁄4 in (552 mm) bore
♠♥♣♦ 26 in (660 mm) stroke
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve typePiston
CouplersJohnston link-and-pin
AAR knuckle (1930s)
Performance figures
Tractive effort♠♣ʘ 37,360 lbf (166.2 kN) @ 75%
♠♣ʘ 37,480 lbf (166.7 kN) @ 75%
♥ʘ 35,400 lbf (157 kN) @ 75%
♦ʘ 35,980 lbf (160.0 kN) @ 75%
♦ʘ 35,170 lbf (156.4 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
ClassClass 14C, 14CB, 14CR, 14CRB
Number in class20
Numbers1991-2010
Delivered1919
First run1919
Withdrawn1980s
The leading coupled axle had flangeless wheels

In late 1919, the South African Railways placed a third batch of twenty Class 14C steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service. In addition to the first three batches, one more batch would be acquired in 1922, all four with different maximum axle loadings, to bring the total in the class to 73. Through reboilerings, rebalancings and cylinder bushings during its service life, this single class eventually ended up as six distinct locomotive classes with two boiler types and a multitude of axle loading and boiler pressure configurations.[1][2][3][4][5]

Manufacturer

In 1919, a third batch of twenty Class 14C locomotives was ordered from the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) in Canada. It was delivered late in that same year and numbered in the range from 1991 to 2010. In 1922, one more batch of Class 14C locomotives would follow from the same manufacturer. All four batches differed in terms of maximum axle loading, adhesive weight and engine weight.[1][2][3][4]

Characteristics

As built, the locomotives of the third batch were heavier than both previous batches, 10 long hundredweight (508 kilograms) heavier than the first and 1 long ton 14 hundredweight (1,727 kilograms) heavier than the second. All four batches were delivered with Type LP tenders with a coal capacity of 10 long tons (10.2 tonnes) and a water capacity of 4,250 imperial gallons (19,300 litres).[3][4][6]

Modifications and reclassifications

During 1920, it was found necessary to restay most of the fireboxes on the early orders of the Class 14C. Their reversing gear was of the single cylinder type and tended to creep. D.A. Hendrie, at the time the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the South African Railways (SAR), therefore fitted oil cylinders and installed his Hendrie reversing gear, which was manufactured in the Pretoria workshops during 1922. Modifications were also made to the finger bars and rocking grate cylinders of the firebox and to the sanding gear. Approximately 2 long tons (2.0 tonnes) of lead were run into the smokebox saddle casting to provide additional weight on the leading bogie.[1][2][5]

Watson Standard boilers

During the 1930s, many serving locomotives were reboilered with a standard boiler type designed by A.G. Watson, CME of the SAR at the time, as part of his standardisation policy. Such Watson Standard reboilered locomotives were reclassified by adding an "R" suffix to their classification.[3][4][5]

All twenty locomotives were eventually reboilered with Watson Standard no. 2 boilers and reclassified to Class 14CR. Only slight alterations were necessary to the engine frames. In the process, the boiler pitch was raised from 7 feet 7 inches (2,311 millimetres) to 8 feet 1 1⁄2 inches (2,476 millimetres), which raised the chimney height from 12 feet 9 3⁄8 inches (3,896 millimetres) to 13 feet 3⁄4 inch (3,981 millimetres). This exceeded the loading gauge height of 13 feet (3,962 millimetres) above the railhead.[2]

Their original Belpaire boilers were fitted with Ramsbottom safety valves, while the Watson Standard boiler was fitted with Pop safety valves. The reboilered engines were also equipped with Watson cabs with their distinctive slanted fronts, compared to the conventional vertical fronts of their original cabs. Early conversions were equipped with copper and later conversions with steel fireboxes.[2][3][4]

Rebalancing

Around 1930, the question of maximum axle loads for locomotives was thoroughly investigated by the Mechanical and Civil Engineering Departments of the SAR. It was found that, along with some other locomotives, the Class 14C had a rather severe vertical hammer blow effect on the track when running at speed due to an undue proportion of the reciprocating parts being balanced. Modifications were accordingly made to the Class 14C to allow some of them to run on 60 pounds per yard (30 kilograms per metre) track.[2]

The locomotives had weights attached between the frames to increase adhesion. Over time, most of the Class 14C family of locomotives were "rebalanced" by having these weights increased or reduced to redistribute, increase or reduce the axle loading and adhesive weight by altering the loads on the individual coupled wheels, leading bogies and trailing pony trucks. Coupled wheel axle loading adjustment was achieved by attaching steel boxes, filled with an appropriate amount of lead, over each axle between the frames. The boiler pressure setting of rebalanced locomotives was reduced from 190 to 180 pounds per square inch (1,310 to 1,241 kilopascals).[3][4][6]

The lighter version of the rebalanced locomotives was reclassified to Class 14CB, with the "B" indicating branchline service. It is not clear which of these reboilering and rebalancing modifications were carried out first, one, the other, either one or together, but in whichever order, all twenty locomotives were eventually also reboilered with Watson Standard no. 2 boilers and reclassified to Class 14CRB. Reclassified Class 14C locomotives often did not receive new number plates. Instead, the previous Class number was milled out and a separate small plate, inscribed with the new Class number and "RB" suffix, was attached to the number plate.[3][4][6]

Cylinder bushing

Several of the locomotives had their cylinders bushed to reduce the bore from the as-built 22 to 21 3⁄4 inches (559 to 552 millimetres). At the same time, the boiler pressure setting of the Classes 14C and 14CR locomotives was adjusted upwards from 190 to 195 pounds per square inch (1,310 to 1,344 kilopascals) to keep their tractive effort more or less unaffected by the reduction in piston diameter. The boiler pressure setting of the branchline Classes 14CB and 14CRB was adjusted upwards from 180 to 183 pounds per square inch (1,241 to 1,262 kilopascals).[2][3][4]

Service

The third batch of the Class 14C was placed in service on the Cape Western system, where they banked up the Hex River railpass from De Doorns and later worked with Class 19C locomotives across Sir Lowry's Pass to Caledon and Bredasdorp in the Overberg. After the New Cape Central Railway was incorporated into the SAR in 1925, they were also employed on that line between Worcester and Mossel Bay.[5]

Some served on the Umtata branch until it was dieselised early in 1973, after which they were also allocated to Cape Town. In their later years, most of these locomotives remained on the Cape Western system, shedded at Paardeneiland in Cape Town and at Beaufort West, and one at De Aar, mostly being used as shunting engines and on short local pick-ups.[6][7]

Works numbers

The table lists their years built, manufacturer's works numbers, engine numbers and eventual classifications.[3][4]

Illustration

The main picture shows Class 14CRB no. 2004 Purdey taking water at Robertson, Western Cape, on 10 November 1979.

  • Class 14C no. 2001, as built with a Belpaire firebox, De Doorns, c. 1945
  • Class 14CR no. 1995, reboilered with a Watson boiler, De Doorns, c. 1945
  • Class 14CRB no. 1991, Paardeneiland, 1 April 1978
  • Class 14CRB no. 2010 plinted in Ashton, 22 October 2006
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References
  1. Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 34–36, 83–84. 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, September 1945. pp. 675-676.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 10–11, 58–59. ISBN 0869772112.
  6. Durrant, A. E. (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, London: David & Charles. pp. 81–82. ISBN 0715386387.
  7. Soul of A Railway, System 1, Part 16: Table Bay Harbour © Les Pivnic. Caption 110. (Accessed on 30 June 2017)
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