CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT

CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT

CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT no. M26, with tender and "front porch railings", Fish River Bridge, c. 1881

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Robert Stephenson and Company Builder Robert Stephenson and Company Avonside Engine Company Kitson and Company Serial number RS 2205-2210, 2332-2339, 2353 (engines), RS 2215-2217, 2221-2223 (tenders) Avonside 1110-1113, 1157-1158, 1193-1194, 1209-1210 Kitson 2038-2041 Build date 1875-1879 Total produced 29 (2 lost at sea)

Specifications Configuration 2-6-2TT (Prairie) Driver 2nd coupled axle Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge Leading dia. 24 in (610 mm) Coupled dia. 38 in (965 mm) Trailing dia. 24 in (610 mm) Wheelbase:  • Engine 20 ft 3 in (6,172 mm)  • Coupled 8 ft (2,438 mm) Wheel spacing (Asymmetrical) 1-2: 4 ft 8 in (1,422 mm) 2-3: 3 ft 4 in (1,016 mm) Length: ​  • Over couplers 27 ft (8,230 mm) Height 12 ft (3,658 mm) Frame type Plate Axle load 9 LT 6 cwt 3 qtr (9,487 kg)  • Leading 2 LT 9 cwt (2,489 kg)  • 1st coupled 7 LT 13 cwt (7,773 kg)  • 2nd coupled 9 LT 6 cwt 3 qtr (9,487 kg)  • 3rd coupled 6 LT 17 cwt 1 qtr (6,973 kg)  • Trailing 2 LT 9 cwt (2,489 kg) Adhesive weight 23 LT 17 cwt (24,230 kg) Loco weight 28 LT 14 cwt 4 qtr (29,210 kg) Tender type 2-axle Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity Engine: 0 LT 15 cwt (0.8 t) Tender: 2 LT (2.0 t) Water cap Engine: 650 imp gal (2,950 l) Tender: 900 imp gal (4,090 l) Firebox type Round-top  • Firegrate area 11 sq ft (1.0 m2) Boiler: ​  • Pitch 5 ft 10 1⁄2 in (1,791 mm)  • Tube plates 10 ft (3,048 mm) Boiler pressure 130 psi (896 kPa) Safety valve Salter Heating surface 750 sq ft (70 m2)  • Tubes 692 sq ft (64.3 m2)  • Firebox 58 sq ft (5.4 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 15 in (381 mm) bore 20 in (508 mm) stroke Valve gear Stephenson Train brakes Clarke's chain brakes Couplers Johnston link-and-pin

Performance figures Tractive effort 11,546 lbf (51.36 kN) @ 75%

Career Operators Cape Government Railways Class 2nd Class Number in class 27 Numbers E17-E26, M5-M10, M25-M33, W1-W2 Delivered 1875-1879 First run 1875

The Cape Government Railways 2nd Class 2-6-2TT of 1875 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

The first mixed traffic locomotives to enter service on the new 3 feet 6 inches Cape gauge mainlines of the Cape Government Railways were 2-6-2 Prairie type side-tank engines which were delivered between 1875 and 1879. Four-wheeled tenders were also acquired and the locomotives could be operated in either a tank or tank-and-tender engine configuration, as circumstances demanded. These locomotives were later designated the Cape 2nd Class.

In 1872, the Cape Government took over the operation of all railways in the Cape of Good Hope and established the Cape Government Railways (CGR). Shortly before, it had been decided to adopt the narrower 3 feet 6 inches gauge instead of the existing 4 feet 8½ inches broad gauge for all further railway expansions, since it would decrease the cost of construction through the difficult terrain which lay inland from the three major ports of the Cape of Good Hope at Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London. This narrower gauge is still known as Cape gauge.

Since the operational area within the Colony was so vast, the CGR was divided into three semi-autonomous systems. The Eastern System was headquartered in East London, with A.E. Schmid as Chief Resident Engineer and J.D. Tilney as Locomotive Superintendent. The Midland System was headquartered in Port Elizabeth, with D. Jackson Scott as Chief Resident Engineer and Mr. Edwards as Locomotive Superintendent. The Western System was headquartered in Cape Town, with W.G. Brounger as Chief Resident Engineer as well as Consulting Engineer for the whole CGR, and Michael Stephens as Locomotive Superintendent.

The first Cape gauge mainline locomotives to enter service on the CGR were delivered in 1875. An order for six 2-6-2T Prairie type locomotives was placed with Robert Stephenson and Company, followed by a separate order for six four-wheeled tenders. The Stephenson locomotives were numbered W1 and W2 for the Western system and M7 to M10 for the Midland System.