NGR Class N 4-6-2T 1906

NGR Class N 4-6-2T 1906
South African NG 4-6-2T 1906

NGR Class N 4-6-2T no. 2

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Natal Government Railways (D.A. Hendrie) Builder Hunslet Engine Company Serial number 892-893 Build date 1906 Total produced 2

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2T (Pacific)  • UIC 2'C1'n2t Driver 2nd coupled axle Gauge 2 ft (610 mm) narrow Leading dia. 18 in (457 mm) Coupled dia. 30 in (762 mm) Trailing dia. 20 in (508 mm) Wheelbase 17 ft (5,182 mm)  • Leading 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)  • Coupled 5 ft 9 in (1,753 mm) Length: ​  • Over couplers 24 ft 1⁄2 in (7,328 mm) Height 9 ft 4 1⁄2 in (2,858 mm) Frame type Plate Axle load 5 LT 9 cwt 1 qtr (5,550 kg) Loco weight 23 LT 19 cwt (24,330 kg) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 22 long hundredweight 2 qtr (1.1 t) Water cap 750 imp gal (3,410 l) Firebox type Round-top  • Firegrate area 11 sq ft (1.0 m2) Boiler: ​  • Pitch 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)  • Diameter 3 ft 4 1⁄2 in (1,029 mm) outside  • Tube plates 10 ft 2 in (3,099 mm)  • Small tubes 124: 1 3⁄4 in (44 mm) Boiler pressure 165 psi (1,138 kPa) Safety valve Ramsbottom Heating surface 132 sq ft (12.3 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 11 1⁄2 in (292 mm) bore 15 in (381 mm) stroke Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type Murdoch's D slide Couplers Johnston link-and-pin

Performance figures Tractive effort 8,183 lbf (36 kN) @ 75% Factor of adh. 4.39:1

Career Operators Natal Government Railways South African Railways Moçâmedes Railway Class Class N Number in class 2 Numbers NGR 1-2, SAR NG1-NG2 Delivered 1906 First run 1906 Withdrawn 1915

The Natal Government Railways Class N 4-6-2T of 1906 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Natal Colony.

In April 1906, the Natal Government Railways placed its first two 4-6-2T narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they retained their engine numbers, but with an "NG" prefix added. They were sold to the Moçâmedes Railway in Portuguese West Africa in 1915.

By 1906, the Natal Government had realised that light railways were essential as feeders to open up fertile districts which were distant from the existing main- and branch lines, particularly when the intervening stretches of country were difficult from an engineering point of view. The construction of the first narrow gauge railway line in Natal was therefore approved.

The line was 28 ³⁄₄ miles (46.3 kilometres) long and stretched from Estcourt to the irrigation settlement of Weenen, an alluvial flat of about 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) adjoining the Bushman's River. The maximum gradient on this line was 1 in 33 (3⅓%) compensated, with a minimum curvature of 175 feet (53 metres) radius. It was laid with 35 pounds per yard (17 kilograms per metre) rail.

The Class N 4-6-2T tank locomotive was designed by D.A. Hendrie, Locomotive Superintendent of the Natal Government Railways (NGR) from 1902 to 1910. It was the first narrow gauge locomotive of the NGR.

An order for the construction of two of these locomotives was placed with Hunslet Engine Company in 1906. They were delivered in April 1906, numbered 1 and 2, and were placed in construction service on the new narrow gauge line to Weenen.

Commonly known as the Hunslet Side Tanks, the locomotives had outside plate frames and used Walschaerts valve gear. The firebox was 3 feet 4 ¹⁄₂ inches (1,029 millimetres) long and, to obtain the required grate area, the width was extended to 4 ft 4 ¹⁄₂ in (1,334 mm) at the foundation ring. To obtain a liberal firebox depth, the frames were opened out for some length at the rear end, with each frame constructed in two pieces which were connected by a cross strether in front of the firebox throat plate.