South African Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2

South African Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2

300px Class NG G14 no. NG84, c. 1931

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG Builder Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG Serial number 10747 Model Class NG G14 Build date 1930 Total produced 1

Specifications Configuration 2-6-2+2-6-2 (Double Prairie) Driver axle 3rd & 4th coupled axles Gauge 2 ft (610 mm) narrow Leading dia 21 in (533 mm) Coupled dia 30 in (762 mm) Trailing dia 21 in (533 mm) Wheelbase 40 ft 6 in (12,344 mm)  • Engine 13 ft 3 in (4,039 mm) each  • Coupled 5 ft 9 in (1,753 mm) each Length:  • Over couplers  • Pivot centres 21 ft (6,401 mm) Height 10 ft (3,048 mm) Frame type Plate Axle load  • Leading front rear  • 1st coupled  • 2nd coupled  • 3rd coupled  • 4th coupled  • 5th coupled  • 6th coupled  • Trailing front rear Adhesive weight Loco weight Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 2 LT (2.0 t) Water cap front rear Boiler:  • Pitch 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)  • Diameter  • Tube plates  • Small tubes 73:  • large tubes 10:  • Firebox type Round-top Boiler pressure 180 psi (1,241 kPa) Safety valve Pop Firegrate area 10.5 sq ft (0.98 m2) Heating surface 423.5 sq ft (39.34 m2)  • Tubes 378.5 sq ft (35.16 m2)  • Firebox 45 sq ft (4.2 m2) Superheater:  • Heating area 97.5 sq ft (9.06 m2) Cylinders Four Cylinder size 9 in (229 mm) bore 16 in (406 mm) stroke Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type Piston Couplers Bell link-and-pin

Performance figures Tractive effort 11,664 lbf (51.88 kN) @ 75%

Career Operators South African Railways Class Class NG G14 Number in class 1 Numbers 84 Delivered 1931 First run 1931 Withdrawn 1952

The South African Railways Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1931 was an articulated narrow gauge steam locomotive.

In 1931, the South African Railways placed a single lightweight Class NG G14 Garratt articulated steam locomotive with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in service.

Manufacturer

A single narrow gauge Garratt locomotive was built for the South African Railways (SAR) by Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG (Hanomag) in 1930. It was very similar to, but slightly larger and heavier than the Class NG G12 of 1927, the smallest Garratt to ever enter service on the SAR. Upon delivery, it was designated Class NG G14 and numbered NG84.

Characteristics

The Class NG G14 locomotive had a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement, like all the previous and subsequent narrow gauge SAR Garratts except the first, the 2-6-0+0-6-2 Double Mogul type Class NG G11. It was very similar in dimensions to the earlier Class NG G12, but it had cylinders with a larger bore, which not only resulted in more power, but also an increase in axle loading. Like the Class NG G12, it also had an outside plate frame, a round-topped firebox and was superheated. Its piston valves were actuated by Walschaerts valve gear.

Service

The Class NG G14 was placed in service on the narrow gauge line from Fort Beaufort to Seymour, where it became stable mate to Class NG G12 no. NG57. Its service life was similar to that of no. NG57, both being occasionally temporarily assigned to narrow gauge branchlines in other areas of the country, to meet seasonal demands on those lines.

In 1940, when the Seymour branch was regauged to Cape gauge, the Class NG G14 and Class NG G12 no. NG57 were both transferred to the Kakamas branch, where they joined Class NG G12 no. NG56, working out of Upington. All three remained there until 1949, when the Kakamas line was also widened to Cape Gauge and they were transferred to South West Africa for a brief period.

From there, the Class NG G14 was allocated to Humewood Road in Port Elizabeth, where it remained until it was withdrawn from service in 1952.