South African Class 15CB 4-8-2
Encyclopedia
In 1925 the South African Railways placed two American built Class 15C steam locomotive
s with a 4-8-2
Mountain wheel arrangement in service. Another ten locomotives were ordered and delivered a year later.
(BLW) in 1925 and 1926, conforming to South African Railways (SAR) requirements as far as practicable, but also incorporating the latest American railway engineering practices. These locomotives introduced several features which were new to the SAR at the time, such as top feeds to the boiler, self cleaning smokeboxes, Sellar’s drifting valves and grease lubrication. Their fireboxes were equipped with siphon tubes to support the brick arch and to improve circulation.
Its boiler was larger in proportion than that of any existing SAR locomotive and was also raised 10 inches (254 mm) higher than that of anything else in service at that time. The locomotive’s size quickly earned it the nickname "Big Bill", while its contemporary Class 16D 4-6-2
Pacific that arrived from the same builders in the same shipment was nicknamed "Big Bertha".
The first two locomotives, numbers 2060 and 2061, were erected at the Salt River shops and put to work on the line from Cape Town to Touws River. They performed well, were comparatively trouble free and good steamers, and capable of handling a heavy load exceeding that of any other locomotive that had been employed on this section to date. Because of the good results obtained from these two locomotives, an order was placed with Baldwin for another ten that were delivered in 1926, numbered 2062 to 2071.
(ALCO). When the twenty-one ALCO builts were placed in service in 1926, they were classified as Class 15CA
, with the "A" indicating the manufacturer ALCO. The Class 15C was then reclassified to Class 15CB, in this case with the "B" indicating the manufacturer Baldwin and not a branch line locomotive as was usual practice.
Three of the Class 15CB and Class 15CA locomotives were later reboilered with boiler numbers 9504 to 9506, which were of similar dimensions, but with a different tube arrangement. Since these were not Watson Standard boilers, the locomotives were not reclassified.
and Touws River
and were later transferred to Bloemfontein
, from where they worked south to Noupoort
. A brief stint on the Natal north coast followed in the mid 1960s, after which they spent the rest of their SAR working lives in the eastern and western Transvaal. They were retired from SAR service in 1976.
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s with a 4-8-2
4-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
Mountain wheel arrangement in service. Another ten locomotives were ordered and delivered a year later.
Manufacturer
The Class 15C 4-8-2 steam locomotive was built by Baldwin Locomotive WorksBaldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
(BLW) in 1925 and 1926, conforming to South African Railways (SAR) requirements as far as practicable, but also incorporating the latest American railway engineering practices. These locomotives introduced several features which were new to the SAR at the time, such as top feeds to the boiler, self cleaning smokeboxes, Sellar’s drifting valves and grease lubrication. Their fireboxes were equipped with siphon tubes to support the brick arch and to improve circulation.
Its boiler was larger in proportion than that of any existing SAR locomotive and was also raised 10 inches (254 mm) higher than that of anything else in service at that time. The locomotive’s size quickly earned it the nickname "Big Bill", while its contemporary Class 16D 4-6-2
South African Class 16D 4-6-2
In 1925 the South African Railways placed two Class 16D locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service. Five more were placed in service in 1926.-Manufacturer:...
Pacific that arrived from the same builders in the same shipment was nicknamed "Big Bertha".
The first two locomotives, numbers 2060 and 2061, were erected at the Salt River shops and put to work on the line from Cape Town to Touws River. They performed well, were comparatively trouble free and good steamers, and capable of handling a heavy load exceeding that of any other locomotive that had been employed on this section to date. Because of the good results obtained from these two locomotives, an order was placed with Baldwin for another ten that were delivered in 1926, numbered 2062 to 2071.
Reclassification
Shortly after being placed in service, the Class 15C’s frames began to show evidence of cracking. A similar locomotive, differing mainly in the design of the frame under the firebox, was then ordered from the American Locomotive CompanyAmerican Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
(ALCO). When the twenty-one ALCO builts were placed in service in 1926, they were classified as Class 15CA
South African Class 15CA 4-8-2
In 1926 the South African Railways placed twenty-three Class 15CA steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service. Another sixty-one were ordered and delivered in 1929 and 1930.-Class 15C redesign:...
, with the "A" indicating the manufacturer ALCO. The Class 15C was then reclassified to Class 15CB, in this case with the "B" indicating the manufacturer Baldwin and not a branch line locomotive as was usual practice.
Modifications
They were delivered with 57 inches (1,447.8 mm) driving wheels and their boilers were set at an operating pressure of 200 pound per square inches (1,379 kPa). All twelve were eventually rewheeled with 60 inches (1,524 mm) driving wheels and, to compensate for the loss of tractive effort due to the larger diameter drivers, their operating boiler pressure was increased to 210 pound per square inches (1,447.9 kPa) by an adjustment of the setting of their safety valves. This modification enabled these mixed traffic locomotives to handle the fastest main line passenger trains.Three of the Class 15CB and Class 15CA locomotives were later reboilered with boiler numbers 9504 to 9506, which were of similar dimensions, but with a different tube arrangement. Since these were not Watson Standard boilers, the locomotives were not reclassified.
South African Railways
They were placed in service on the main line between Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and Touws River
Touws River (town)
Touws River is a small railway town of 6,800 people in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is located on the river of the same name, about north-east of Cape Town.-History:...
and were later transferred to Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
, from where they worked south to Noupoort
Noupoort
Noupoort is a town in the eastern Karoo region of South Africa which revolved principally around the railways and is still used as traction change-over facility from diesel to electric locomotives on the Noupoort-Bloemfontein line. It was serviced by Midlandia, a locomotive complex a few kilometers...
. A brief stint on the Natal north coast followed in the mid 1960s, after which they spent the rest of their SAR working lives in the eastern and western Transvaal. They were retired from SAR service in 1976.
Industrial
Eleven Class 15CB locomotives were sold into industrial service in 1976, with only the first built, number 2060, being retained by the SAR for preservation. By the late 1980s, therefore, at more than 60 years of age, eleven of the original twelve Class 15CB locomotives were still at work.- Numbers 2061, 2065 and 2070 became South WitbankWitbankWitbank , also known as eMalahleni is a city situated on the Highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa, within the eMalahleni Local Municipality. The name Witbank is Afrikaans for White Ridge and is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wagon transport drivers rested...
Coal Mine’s numbers 3, 2 and 1 respectively. - Numbers 2062 and 2067 went to Tweefontein United Collieries.
- Numbers 2063 and 2064 went to Dunn’s Locomotive Works to be employed at Durban Navigation Collieries (Durnacol) in NatalNatal ProvinceNatal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Province included the bantustan of KwaZulu...
. Number 2063 was subsequently resold to Rustenburg Platinum Mines, becoming their number 5, and 2064 was resold to Tavistock Colliery, becoming their number 3. - Numbers 2066 and 2068 went to Tavistock Colliery, becoming their numbers 4 and 5 respectively.
- Numbers 2069 and 2071 went to Rustenburg Platinum Mines, becoming their numbers 3 and 4 respectively.
Gallery
The main picture shows ex SAR number 2071 on 31 March 1983, as Rustenburg Platinum Mines number 4.See also
- South African Class 15 4-8-2South African Class 15 4-8-2In 1914 the South African Railways placed ten Class 15 steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:The Class 15 was introduced by D.A...
- South African Class 15A 4-8-2South African Class 15A 4-8-2Between 1914 and 1925 the South African Railways placed one hundred and nineteen Class 15A steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service, delivered in ten batches from three manufacturers.-Manufacturers:...
- South African Class 15B 4-8-2South African Class 15B 4-8-2Between 1918 and 1922 the South African Railways placed ten Class 15B steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...
- South African Class 15CA 4-8-2South African Class 15CA 4-8-2In 1926 the South African Railways placed twenty-three Class 15CA steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service. Another sixty-one were ordered and delivered in 1929 and 1930.-Class 15C redesign:...
- South African Class 15E 4-8-2South African Class 15E 4-8-2Between 1935 and 1937 the South African Railways placed forty-four Class 15E steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service. -Manufacturers:...
- South African Class 15F 4-8-2South African Class 15F 4-8-2The Class 15F was the most numerous steam locomotive class in South African Railways service. Between 1938 and 1946 two hundred and fifty-five of these steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement were placed in service.-Manufacturers:...
- Tender locomotive numbering and classification
- The 4-8-2 "Mountain"
- List of South African locomotive classes