South African Class NG3 4-6-2T

NGR Class N 4-6-2T 1907 South African Class NG3 4-6-2T
NGR Hawthorn Leslie no. 4 SAR Class NG3 no. NG4
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Natal Government Railways (D.A. Hendrie) Builder Hawthorn Leslie and Company Serial number 2687-2692 Build date 1907 Total produced 6
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. 21 in (533 mm) Wheelbase 17 ft 9 in (5,410 mm)  • Leading 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)  • Coupled 5 ft 9 in (1,753 mm) Length: ​  • Over couplers 24 ft 11 in (7,595 mm) Height 9 ft 4 1⁄2 in (2,858 mm) Frame type Plate Axle load 5 LT 16 cwt (5,893 kg)  • Leading 3 LT 14 cwt (3,759 kg)  • 1st coupled 5 LT 16 cwt (5,893 kg)  • 2nd coupled 5 LT 16 cwt (5,893 kg)  • 3rd coupled 5 LT 15 cwt (5,842 kg)  • Trailing 4 LT 8 cwt (4,471 kg) Adhesive weight 17 LT 7 cwt (17,630 kg) Loco weight 25 LT 9 cwt (25,860 kg) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 21 long hundredweight (1.1 t) Water cap 784 imp gal (3,560 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 3 1⁄2 in (1,003 mm)  • Tube plates 11 ft 2 1⁄8 in (3,407 mm)  • Small tubes 124: 1 3⁄4 in (44 mm) Boiler pressure 165 psi (1,138 kPa) Safety valve Ramsbottom Heating surface 675.9 sq ft (62.79 m2)  • Tubes 634.9 sq ft (58.98 m2)  • Firebox 41 sq ft (3.8 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 11 1⁄2 in (292 mm) bore 15 in (381 mm) stroke Valve gear Walschaerts Couplers Johnston link-and-pin (Natal) Bell-and-hook (Cape)
Performance figures Tractive effort 8,183 lbf (36.40 kN) @ 75%
Career Operators Natal Government Railways South African Railways Class NGR Class N, SAR Class NG3 Number in class 6 Numbers NGR 4-9, SAR NG4-NG9 Delivered 1907 First run 1907 Withdrawn 1946

The South African Railways Class NG3 4-6-2T of 1907 was a narrow-gauge steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.

In 1907, the Natal Government Railways placed six 4-6-2 Pacific type 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. When a system of grouping narrow-gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced somewhere between 1928 and 1930, they were designated Class NG3.

By 1906, the Natal Government 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 second narrow-gauge railway in Natal was constructed from Esperanza at Umzinto on the South Coast via Ixopo to Donnybrook.

The residents of Alexandra County and the Ixopo Division had been pressing for a railway for years. These counties were only tapped by the Railways at their extreme edges. The eastern edge of Alexandra County was served by the South Coast line, which had reached Umzinto in 1900, while the extreme western border of the Ixopo Division was served by the Underberg and Kokstad lines which had reached Donnybrook in 1905. Between these two lines for a distance of 100 miles (160 kilometres) with the upper end of the district at 4,700 feet (1,400 metres) above sea level, means of communication were very difficult. Since the cost of a Cape gauge line across this terrain was considered prohibitive, the farmers accepted the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway which was offered.

The line was officially opened to traffic on 3 June 1908 by his excellency the Governor of Natal, Sir Matthew Nathan. It was 158 kilometres (98 miles) long from Esperanza where it met the South Coast line at Umzinto, to Donnybrook where it met the Underberg branch. A 28-kilometre long (17-mile) branchline from Ixopo to Madonela was added and completed on 2 February 1914.