South African Class C2 4-6-4T

NGR Class H 4-6-4T
South African Class C2 4-6-4T

NGR Class H 4-6-4T no. 39 arriving at Port Shepstone with the afternoon train from Durban, c. 1905

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Kitson and Company Builder Robert Stephenson and Company Natal Government Railways Serial number 2487 Model NGR Class H Build date 1896 Total produced 1

Specifications Configuration 4-6-4T (Baltic) Driver 2nd coupled axle Gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge Leading dia. 25 3⁄4 in (654 mm) Coupled dia. 39 in (991 mm) Trailing dia. 25 3⁄4 in (654 mm) Wheelbase 25 ft 7 1⁄4 in (7,804 mm)  • Leading 5 ft (1,524 mm)  • Coupled 7 ft 9 in (2,362 mm)  • Trailing 5 ft (1,524 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 31 ft 5 1⁄4 in (9,582 mm) Height 11 ft 7 1⁄2 in (3,543 mm) Frame type Plate Axle load 7 LT 18 cwt (8,027 kg)  • Leading 5 LT 10 cwt (5,588 kg)  • 1st coupled 7 LT (7,112 kg)  • 2nd coupled 7 LT 18 cwt (8,027 kg)  • 3rd coupled 7 LT 4 cwt (7,316 kg)  • Trailing 5 LT 10 cwt (5,588 kg) Adhesive weight 22 LT 2 cwt (22,450 kg) Loco weight 33 LT 2 cwt (33,630 kg) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 2 LT (2.0 t) Water cap 1,130 imp gal (5,140 l) Firebox type Round-top  • Firegrate area 11 sq ft (1.0 m2) Boiler: ​  • Pitch 5 ft 7 in (1,702 mm)  • Diameter 3 ft 2 7⁄8 in (987 mm)  • Tube plates 10 ft 3 1⁄2 in (3,137 mm)  • Small tubes 130: 1 3⁄4 in (44 mm) Boiler pressure 145 psi (1,000 kPa) Safety valve Ramsbottom Heating surface 669 sq ft (62.2 m2)  • Tubes 611 sq ft (56.8 m2)  • Firebox 58 sq ft (5.4 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 14 in (356 mm) bore 21 in (533 mm) stroke Valve gear Stephenson Couplers Johnston link-and-pin

Performance figures Tractive effort 11,480 lbf (51.1 kN) @ 75%

Career Operators Natal Government Railways South African Railways Class NGR Class H, SAR Class C2 Number in class 1 Numbers NGR 21, renumbered 39 SAR 86 Delivered 1896 First run 1896 Withdrawn 1931

The South African Railways Class C2 4-6-4T of 1896 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.

Between 1879 and 1885, the Natal Government Railways placed 37 4-6-0 tank steam locomotives in service, which were later designated Class G. In 1896, one of them was rebuilt to the first known 4-6-4T Baltic type locomotive, later designated Class H. In 1912, when this rebuilt engine was assimilated into the South African Railways, it was renumbered and became its only Class C2 locomotive.

The Natal Government Railways (NGR) Class G 4-6-0 tank locomotives, sometimes known as the K&S Class after their builders, Kitson and Stephenson, were delivered between 1879 and 1884. They had plate frames and used Stephenson valve gear.

On 1 July 1896, George William Reid succeeded William Milne as Locomotive Superintendent of the NGR. Later in that year, he rebuilt one of the Stephenson-built batch of locomotives of 1882, no. 21, to a 4-6-4T wheel arrangement. In the process, the frame had to be extended to accommodate the trailing bogie and the coal bunker could be enlarged.

The locomotive was rebuilt for use in shuttle service on the South Coast line where, at the time, no turntable or triangle was available at the terminus. The modification was done to enable the locomotive to run equally well chimney or bunker forward.

As rebuilt, the locomotive was still equipped with both Salter and Ramsbottom safety valves. Contemporary photographs show that the Salter safety valves were later removed.

This locomotive was the first known in the world to have a 4-6-4 Baltic type wheel arrangement. Photographs show the rebuilt locomotive bearing NGR no. 1. The NGR later renumbered it to no. 39, but it remained known as a K&S type in NGR service until a classification system was introduced at some stage between 1904 and 1908, when it was designated Class H.