NGR 2-6-0T Durban & Pietermaritzburg

Wythes & Jackson 2-6-0T
NGR 2-6-0T Durban & Pietermaritzburg
Selati Railway 2-6-0T

Works picture of Wythes & Jackson's Durban, c. 1876

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Kitson and Company Builder Kitson and Company Serial number 2097 (Durban) 2098 (Pietermaritzburg) Build date 1876 Total produced 2

Specifications Configuration 2-6-0T (Mogul) Driver 2nd coupled axle Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge Leading dia. 30 in (762 mm) Coupled dia. 39 in (991 mm) Wheelbase 12 ft 1 in (3,683 mm)  • Coupled 7 ft 9 in (2,362 mm) Wheel spacing (Asymmetrical) 1-2: 3 ft 7 1⁄2 in (1,105 mm) 2-3: 4 ft 1 1⁄2 in (1,257 mm) Length: ​  • Over couplers 23 ft 1 in (7,036 mm) Height 12 ft (3,658 mm) Frame type Plate Axle load 6 LT 12 cwt (6,706 kg)  • Leading 6 LT 4 cwt (6,299 kg)  • 1st coupled 6 LT 10 cwt (6,604 kg)  • 2nd coupled 6 LT 12 cwt (6,706 kg)  • 3rd coupled 6 LT 2 cwt (6,198 kg) Adhesive weight 19 LT 4 cwt (19,510 kg) Loco weight 25 LT 8 cwt (25,810 kg) Fuel type Wood Fuel capacity 1 LT (1.0 t) (Coal) Water cap 600 imp gal (2,730 l) Firebox type Round-top  • Firegrate area 9.79 sq ft (0.910 m2) Boiler: ​  • Pitch 5 ft 3 1⁄8 in (1,603 mm)  • Diameter 3 ft 3 in (991 mm)  • Tube plates 9 ft 6 in (2,896 mm)  • Small tubes 116: 1 3⁄4 in (44 mm) Boiler pressure 130 psi (896 kPa) Safety valve Salter Heating surface 639.5 sq ft (59.41 m2)  • Tubes 590 sq ft (55 m2)  • Firebox 49.5 sq ft (4.60 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 14 in (356 mm) bore 20 in (508 mm) stroke Valve gear Stephenson Couplers Johnston link-and-pin

Performance figures Tractive effort 9,800 lbf (44 kN) @ 75%

Career Operators Wythes & Jackson Natal Government Railways Selati Railway Number in class 2 Numbers NGR 27-28 Official name Durban & Pietermaritzburg Delivered 1877 First run 1877

The Natal Government Railways 2-6-0T Durban and Pietermaritzburg of 1877 were two South African steam locomotives from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.

In 1875, the Natal Government Railways was established and, in 1877, all the assets of the Natal Railway Company were taken over by the colonial government in Natal. The government decided to adopt the 3 feet 6 inches Cape gauge in conformance with the railways in the Cape of Good Hope and to extend the existing short broad gauge line in Durban inland to Pietermaritzburg, up the north coast to Verulam and down the south coast to Isipingo. The contractors who were tasked with the construction of the line to Pietermaritzburg acquired two 2-6-0 tank locomotives early in 1877, for use during construction. They named them Durban and Pietermaritzburg. These were the first Cape gauge locomotives to enter service in Natal.

In 1876, Whythes & Jackson Limited, who was contracted by the Natal government for the construction of the railway from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, placed an order with Kitson and Company for two 2-6-0T tank locomotives for use during construction. The locomotives were not numbered, but were appropriately named Durban and Pietermaritzburg after the two towns which were to be connected by the new railway. They underwent their trial steaming at the builders on 31 August 1876 and were landed at the Point in Durban in early 1877, the Pietermaritzburg on 1 February off the ship Basotho and the Durban on 22 March.

The locomotives, the first Cape gauge engines to enter service in Natal, were designed for wood-burning and were therefore equipped with American style balloon smokestacks which incorporated spark arresters. They used Salter safety valves and had axle-driven boiler feed-water pumps, placed between the frames.

The 73 miles (117 kilometres) route for the Pietermaritzburg line had already been surveyed in 1873. The contract stipulated that the line had to be Cape gauge, the rails used had to be of a 40 pounds per yard (20 kilograms per metre) mass, the minimum curve allowed would be of 300 feet (91 metres) radius and the steepest gradient was not to exceed 1 in 30 (3⅓%).