South African Class 16D 4-6-2
Encyclopedia
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.
by Baldwin Locomotive Works
. Two were built and delivered in 1925, numbered 860 and 861, along with the first two Class 15CB
from the same manufacturer. They were followed by another five Pacifics from the same manufacturer in 1926, numbered 862 to 866. The locomotives were specially designed for working the Union Limited and Union Express fast passenger trains, the forerunners of the Blue Train, between Johannesburg
and Cape Town
.
The Class 16D had a bar frame extending from the front buffer beam to the rear dragbox, compared to its successor Class 16DA which had a main frame that terminated behind the rear drivers, behind which it had a built-up wide section under the firebox that gave it more ashpan room.
The locomotive’s size quickly earned it the nickname "Big Bertha", while its contemporary Class 15CB
heavy goods locomotive that arrived from the same builders in the same shipment was nicknamed "Big Bill".
they were all delivered with 60 inches (1,524 mm) driving wheels. All seven Class 16D locomotives were later refitted with 63 inches (1,600.2 mm) driving wheel tyres, similar to the modification that was also done on Class 16C
numbers 821 and 825.
line all the way through to Beaufort West
in the Karoo
. On Thursday 13 August 1926 "Big Bertha" number 860 made locomotive history by hauling the Union Limited, later to become the Blue Train
, over a distance of 956 miles (1,539 km) from Johannesburg to Cape Town in 29 hours.
This continuous run by one locomotive set up a world record. Prior to this, up to six locomotives were used to make this run, with locomotive changes at Klerksdorp, Kimberley
, De Aar, Beaufort West
and Touws River
. On the return journey, number 860 took the Union Limited over at Beaufort West and hauled it all the way back to Johannesburg.
With the arrival of larger locomotives they were transferred to Bloemfontein
in the Orange Free State, from where they worked north to Johannesburg. In the late 1930s they were relocated to Cape Town, from where they hauled fast locals to Wellington
and Malmesbury
for the remainder of their careers. They were retired in 1972.
, Western Cape
, circa 2001.
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service. Five more were placed in service in 1926.
Manufacturer
The Class 16D 4-6-2 Pacific type locomotive was built for the South African Railways (SAR) in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin 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...
. Two were built and delivered in 1925, numbered 860 and 861, along with the first two Class 15CB
South African Class 15CB 4-8-2
In 1925 the South African Railways placed two American built Class 15C steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service. Another ten locomotives were ordered and delivered a year later.-Manufacturer:...
from the same manufacturer. They were followed by another five Pacifics from the same manufacturer in 1926, numbered 862 to 866. The locomotives were specially designed for working the Union Limited and Union Express fast passenger trains, the forerunners of the Blue Train, between Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and Cape Town
Cape 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...
.
Characteristics
The builders conformed to SAR requirements as far as practicable, but also incorporated the latest American railway engineering practices. The Class 16D and Class 15CB 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.The Class 16D had a bar frame extending from the front buffer beam to the rear dragbox, compared to its successor Class 16DA which had a main frame that terminated behind the rear drivers, behind which it had a built-up wide section under the firebox that gave it more ashpan room.
The locomotive’s size quickly earned it the nickname "Big Bertha", while its contemporary Class 15CB
South African Class 15CB 4-8-2
In 1925 the South African Railways placed two American built Class 15C steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service. Another ten locomotives were ordered and delivered a year later.-Manufacturer:...
heavy goods locomotive that arrived from the same builders in the same shipment was nicknamed "Big Bill".
Modification
Like the subsequent Class 16DASouth African Class 16DA 4-6-2
In 1928 the South African Railways placed six Class 16DA steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service. Eight more were placed in service in 1929, and another six in 1930.-Manufacturers:...
they were all delivered with 60 inches (1,524 mm) driving wheels. All seven Class 16D locomotives were later refitted with 63 inches (1,600.2 mm) driving wheel tyres, similar to the modification that was also done on Class 16C
South African Class 16C 4-6-2
During 1919 the South African Railways placed ten Class 16C steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service. Another twenty were placed in service in 1922.-Manufacturer:...
numbers 821 and 825.
Service
The Class 16D Pacifics were initially placed in passenger service out of Johannesburg on the KimberleyKimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
line all the way through to Beaufort West
Beaufort West
Beaufort West is a town in the Western Cape province in South Africa. It is the largest town in the arid Great Karoo region, and forms part of the Beaufort West Local Municipality, with 37 000 inhabitants in 2001....
in the Karoo
Karoo
The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south. The 'High' Karoo is one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger South African Platform division.-Great Karoo:The Great Karoo has an area of...
. On Thursday 13 August 1926 "Big Bertha" number 860 made locomotive history by hauling the Union Limited, later to become the Blue Train
Blue Train (South Africa)
The Blue Train travels an approximately journey in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. It is one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world...
, over a distance of 956 miles (1,539 km) from Johannesburg to Cape Town in 29 hours.
This continuous run by one locomotive set up a world record. Prior to this, up to six locomotives were used to make this run, with locomotive changes at Klerksdorp, Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, De Aar, Beaufort West
Beaufort West
Beaufort West is a town in the Western Cape province in South Africa. It is the largest town in the arid Great Karoo region, and forms part of the Beaufort West Local Municipality, with 37 000 inhabitants in 2001....
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:...
. On the return journey, number 860 took the Union Limited over at Beaufort West and hauled it all the way back to Johannesburg.
With the arrival of larger locomotives they were 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...
in the Orange Free State, from where they worked north to Johannesburg. In the late 1930s they were relocated to Cape Town, from where they hauled fast locals to Wellington
Wellington, Western Cape
Wellington is a town in the Western Cape Winelands 45 minutes from Cape Town, in South Africa with a population of approximately 58,300. Wellington's economy is centered around agriculture such as wine, table grapes, citrus fruit and a brandy industry. The town is located 75 km north-east of...
and Malmesbury
Malmesbury, Western Cape
Malmesbury is a town with 37,529 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa, about 65 km north of Cape Town.The town is the largest in the Swartland due to the dark "Renosterbos" , an indigenous plant that turns black in the warm, dry summers...
for the remainder of their careers. They were retired in 1972.
Gallery
The main picture shows "Big Bertha" number 860 piloting Class 16DA number 879 on the "Union Limited" at PaarlPaarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
, Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
, circa 2001.
See also
- South African Class 16 4-6-2South African Class 16 4-6-2In 1914 the South African Railways placed twelve Class 16 steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service.-Manufacturer:The Class 16 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive was designed by D.A...
- South African Class 16A 4-6-2South African Class 16A 4-6-2In 1915 the South African Railways placed two Class 16A four-cylinder simple steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service.-Manufacturer:The Class 16A 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive was designed by D.A...
- South African Class 16B 4-6-2South African Class 16B 4-6-2In November 1917 the South African Railways placed ten Class 16B steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service.-Manufacturer:The Class 16B 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive was designed by D.A...
- South African Class 16C 4-6-2South African Class 16C 4-6-2During 1919 the South African Railways placed ten Class 16C steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service. Another twenty were placed in service in 1922.-Manufacturer:...
- South African Class 16DA 4-6-2South African Class 16DA 4-6-2In 1928 the South African Railways placed six Class 16DA steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service. Eight more were placed in service in 1929, and another six in 1930.-Manufacturers:...
- South African Class 16E 4-6-2South African Class 16E 4-6-2In 1935 the South African Railways placed six Class 16E steam locomotives with a Pacific wheel arrangement in passenger train service.-Manufacturer:...
- Tender locomotive numbering and classification
- The 4-6-2 "Pacific"
- List of South African locomotive classes