South African Class 6G 4-6-0

CGR 6th Class 4-6-0 1901 Schenectady
South African Class 6G 4-6-0

Ex CGR 6th Class no. 263, SAR Class 6G no. 607

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Cape Government Railways Schenectady Locomotive Works Builder Schenectady Locomotive Works Serial number 5646-5653 Model CGR 6th Class Build date 1901 Total produced 8

Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-0 (Tenwheeler) Driver 2nd coupled axle Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge Leading dia. 28 1⁄2 in (724 mm) Coupled dia. 54 in (1,372 mm) Tender wheels 33 1⁄2 in (851 mm) as built 34 in (864 mm) retyred Wheelbase 44 ft 11 3⁄4 in (13,710 mm)  • Engine 21 ft 2 in (6,452 mm)  • Leading 6 ft (1,829 mm)  • Coupled 11 ft 4 in (3,454 mm)  • Tender 14 ft 5 in (4,394 mm)  • Tender bogie 5 ft (1,524 mm) Wheel spacing (Asymmetrical) 1-2: 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm) 2-3: 6 ft 7 in (2,007 mm) Length: ​  • Over couplers 51 ft 5 3⁄4 in (15,691 mm) Height 12 ft 8 in (3,861 mm) Frame type Bar Axle load 12 LT 15 cwt (12,950 kg)  • Leading 12 LT (12,190 kg)  • 1st coupled 11 LT 9 cwt 2 qtr (11,660 kg)  • 2nd coupled 12 LT 15 cwt (12,950 kg)  • 3rd coupled 12 LT 6 cwt (12,500 kg)  • Tender bogie Bogie 1: 15 LT 16 cwt (16,050 kg) Bogie 2: 17 LT 6 cwt (17,580 kg)  • Tender axle 8 LT 13 cwt (8,789 kg) Adhesive weight 36 LT 10 cwt 2 qtr (37,110 kg) Loco weight 48 LT 10 cwt 2 qtr (49,300 kg) Tender weight 33 LT 2 cwt (33,630 kg) Total weight 81 LT 12 cwt 2 qtr (82,930 kg) Tender type WE (2-axle bogies) WE, WG permitted Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 5 LT (5.1 t) Water cap 2,800 imp gal (12,700 l) Firebox type Round-top  • Firegrate area 18.6 sq ft (1.73 m2) Boiler: ​  • Pitch 6 ft 11 in (2,108 mm)  • Diameter 4 ft 11 in (1,499 mm)  • Tube plates 11 ft 4 3⁄4 in (3,473 mm)  • Small tubes 195: 2 in (51 mm) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1,241 kPa) Safety valve Ramsbottom 3 in (76 mm) Heating surface 1,266.5 sq ft (117.66 m2)  • Tubes 1,155 sq ft (107.3 m2)  • Firebox 111.5 sq ft (10.36 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 17 1⁄2 in (444 mm) bore 26 in (660 mm) stroke Valve gear Stephenson Valve type Richardson balanced slide Valve travel 5 in (127 mm) Valve lap 1 in (25 mm) Loco brake Steam Train brakes Vacuum Couplers Johnston link-and-pin AAR knuckle (1930s)

Performance figures Tractive effort 19,910 lbf (88.6 kN) @ 75%

Career Operators Cape Government Railways South African Railways Class CGR 6th Class, SAR Class 6G Number in class 8 Numbers CGR 262-269 SAR 606-613 Delivered 1901 First run 1901 Withdrawn 1961

The 2nd coupled axle had flangeless wheels

The South African Railways Class 6G 4-6-0 of 1901 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

In 1901, eight redesigned 6th Class 4-6-0 steam locomotives were placed in service by the Cape Government Railways. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class 6G.

The original Cape 6th Class locomotive was designed at the Salt River works of the Cape Government Railways (CGR) in 1893, at the same time as the 7th Class.

Three new versions of the 6th Class locomotive entered service on the CGR in 1901, two American-built and one British-built. Of the two American-built versions, one was designed and built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works to the specifications of the CGR locomotive department. They were consequently somewhat different in appearance from the earlier Cape 6th Class locomotives. Eight locomotives were built and delivered, numbered in the range from 262 to 269 and allocated to the Western System.

While these engines were also built on bar frames like the previous two 6th Class versions, they were slightly larger, with larger boilers and with 17 ¹⁄₂ inches (444 millimetres) diameter cylinders compared to the 17 inches (432 millimetres) diameter cylinders of all earlier 6th Class locomotives. Like the two Class 6F locomotives, a visually obvious distinguishing feature was their higher mounted running boards without the need for coupled wheel fairings.

The locomotive was equipped with Richardson balanced slide valves. The boiler barrel and the outside of the firebox were of Coatesville steel. The boiler feed was by two Cape pattern Gresham & Craven's no. 8 injectors, while the engine used Gresham & Craven's patent sanding gear and a Nathan no. 8 double sight feed cylinder lubricator. It had steam brakes on two pairs of coupled wheels, while the Type WE tender was equipped with a vacuum brake for itself and the train. The whistles were one 3 inches (76 millimetres) and one 4 inches (102 millimetres) Star Chime no. 3 types.