South African Class 15C 4-8-2

South African Classes 15C & 15CB 4-8-2

Class 15C Big Bill, as delivered, c. 1930

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	South African Railways Baldwin Locomotive Works
Builder	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number	58307, 58308, 58708-58717
Model	Class 15C
Build date	1925-1926
Total produced	12

Specifications
Configuration	4-8-2 "Mountain"
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia	30 in (762 mm)
Driver diameter	57 in (1,448 mm) as built 60 in (1,524 mm) rewheeled
Trailing dia	33 in (838 mm)
Wheelbase	Total: 65 ft 3.1875 in (19,893 mm) Engine: 6 ft 10 in (2,083 mm) bogie 15 ft 9 in (4,801 mm) coupled 35 ft 8 in (10,871 mm) total Tender: 6 ft 2 in (1,880 mm) bogie 20 ft 5 in (6,223 mm) total
Length	73 ft 2.1875 in (22,306 mm)
Height	12 ft 10 in (3,912 mm) as built 12 ft 11.5 in (3,950 mm) with 60" drivers
Frame	Bar frame
Axle load	As built: 17.65 long tons (17.9 t) on 1st & 3rd drivers, copper firebox 17.1 long tons (17.4 t) on 2nd & 3rd drivers, steel firebox With 60" drivers: 17.95 long tons (18.2 t) on 3rd driver, copper firebox 17.4 long tons (17.7 t) on 2nd & 3rd drivers, steel firebox
Adhesive weight	As built: 70.35 long tons (71.5 t) copper firebox 68.15 long tons (69.2 t) steel firebox With 60" drivers: 71.4 long tons (72.5 t) copper firebox 69.2 long tons (70.3 t) steel firebox
Loco weight	As built: 104.8 long tons (106.5 t) copper firebox 103.35 long tons (105.0 t) steel firebox With 60" drivers: 105.85 long tons (107.5 t) copper firebox 104.4 long tons (106.1 t) steel firebox
Tender weight	68,888 lb (31.2 t) empty 69.4 long tons (70.5 t) w/o
Loco & tender weight	As built: 214,596 lb (97.3 t) empty 174.2 long tons (177.0 t) w/o, copper firebox 172.75 long tons (175.5 t) w/o, steel firebox With 60" drivers: 216,950 lb (98.4 t) empty 175.25 long tons (178.1 t) w/o, copper firebox 173.8 long tons (176.6 t) w/o, steel firebox
Tender type	KT * 2 axle bogies * 34 in (864 mm) wheels * Length 28 ft 8.25 in (8,744 mm)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	14 long tons (14.2 t)
Water cap	6,000 imp gal (27,000 l)
Firebox: • Firegrate area	48 sq ft (4.459 m²)
Boiler	6 ft 2.25 in (1,886 mm) inside diameter 20 ft 0.5 in (6,109 mm) inside length 8 ft 6 in (2,591 mm) pitch as built 8 ft 7.5 in (2,629 mm) pitch with 60" drivers
Boiler pressure	200 psi (1,380 kPa) as built 210 psi (1,450 kPa) with 60" drivers
Heating surface	2,777 sq ft (257.992 m²) as built 2,584 sq ft (240.061 m²) reboilered
• Tubes	As built: 143 tubes 2.25 in (57 mm) diameter 30 tubes 5.5 in (140 mm) diameter 2,554 sq ft (237.274 m²) Reboilered: 117 tubes 2.25 in (57 mm) diameter 34 tubes 5.5 in (140 mm) diameter 2,361 sq ft (219.344 m²)
• Flues	23 sq ft (2.137 m²)
• Firebox	200 sq ft (18.581 m²)
Superheater: • Heating area	716 sq ft (66.519 m²) as built 570 sq ft (52.955 m²) reboilered
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	24 in (610 mm) bore 28 in (711 mm) stroke
Valve gear	Walschaerts

Performance figures
Tractive effort	At 75% boiler pressure: 42,440 lbf (188.8 kN) as built 42,340 lbf (188.3 kN) with 60" drivers

Career
Operators	South African Railways
Class	Class 15C, Class 15CB
Number in class	12
Numbers	2060–2071
Nicknames	Big Bill
Delivered	1925-1926
First run	1925
Withdrawn	1976

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The South African Railways Class 15C 4-8-2 of 1925 is a steam locomotive.

In 1925 the South African Railways placed two American-built Class 15C steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service. Another ten locomotives were ordered and delivered a year later.^[1]^[2]

Manufacturer

The Class 15C 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotive was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works (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.^[1]^[2]

Its boiler was larger in proportion than that of any existing SAR locomotive and was also raised 10 inches (254 millimetres) 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 type that arrived from the same builders in the same shipment was nicknamed "Big Bertha".^[2]

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 in the range from 2062 to 2071.^[1]

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 Company (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 branchline locomotive as was usual practice.^[2]

Modifications

They were delivered with 57 inches (1,450 millimetres) coupled wheels and their boilers were set at an operating pressure of 200 pounds per square inch (1,380 kilopascals). All twelve were eventually rewheeled with 60 inches (1,520 millimetres) coupled wheels and, to compensate for the loss of tractive effort due to the larger diameter drivers, their operating boiler pressure was increased to 210 pounds per square inch (1,450 kilopascals) by an adjustment of the setting of their safety valves. This modification enabled these mixed traffic locomotives to handle the fastest mainline passenger trains.^[1]^[3]

Three of the Class 15CB and Class 15CA locomotives were later reboilered with boiler numbers in the range from 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.^[3]

Service

South African Railways

They were placed in service on the mainline between Cape Town 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.^[2]

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.^[4]

Numbers 2061, 2065 and 2070 became South Witbank 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 Natal. Number 2063 was subsequently resold to Rustenburg Platinum Mines, becoming their number 5, and number 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.

Illustration

The main picture shows a Class 15C, as delivered, c. 1930, while the following show two Class 15CB locomotives in industrial service after withdrawal from SAR service.

No. 2071 as Rusplats no. 4, Rustenburg, 31 March 1983

No. 2064 at Durnacol, Dannhauser, Natal, 11 April 1979

References

1 2 3 4 Holland, D.F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 46–49. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
1 2 3 4 5 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 10–11, 61–62, 66. ISBN 0869772112.
1 2 South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2’0” & 3’6” Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
↑ Durrant, A E (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, London: David & Charles. p. 88. ISBN 0715386387.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class 15C (4-8-2).

Locomotives of South Africa

Steam

7' ¼" gauge	East London Harbour 0-4-0 Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0ST Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0T Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0WT

4' 8½" gauge	Cape 0-4-0T Blackie Cape 0-4-2 Cape 2-4-0T CGR 0-4-0ST Aid Natal 0-4-0ST Durban Natal 0-4-0WT Natal Natal 4-4-0T Perseverance

3' 6" gauge Tank engines	CGR 0-4-0ST 1873 CGR 0-4-0ST 1874 CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 Coffee Pot CGR 0-6-0ST 1902 CGR 0-6-0T 1876 Back-to-Back CGR 2-6-0ST 1900 CGR 2-6-0ST 1902 CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1875 CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1876 CGR 1st Class 2-6-0ST 1876 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0T 1875 CGR 2nd Class 4-4-0T 1882 CGR 3rd Class 2-6-0T CGR Railmotor CSAR Class C CSAR Class E CSAR Rack CSAR Railmotor DSWA Eight-Coupled Tank 2-8-0T Durban's Congella Durban's Edward Innes Durban's John Milne Durban's Sir Albert Port Elizabeth Harbour 0-4-0ST Kowie Railway 0-6-0T Kowie Railway 4-4-0T Metropolitan & Suburban 4-6-2T NGR 2-6-0T Durban & Pietermaritzburg NGR Class I 2-6-2T NGR Class K 0-4-0ST NGR Class K 0-6-0ST NGR Class K 2-6-0T NZASM 10 Tonner NZASM 14 Tonner NZASM 18 Tonner NZASM 19 Tonner NZASM 32 Tonner NZASM 40 Tonner PPR 26 Tonner PPR 35 Tonner Portuguese SAR 0-4-0ST 1903 SAR 0-4-0T no. 69 SAR Class A SAR Class B SAR Class C SAR Class C1 SAR Class C2 SAR Class D SAR Class E SAR Class F SAR Class G SAR Class H SAR Class H1 SAR Class H2 SAR Class J SAR Class K SAR Clayton Railmotor

3' 6" gauge Tender engines	CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Beyer, Peacock CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Kitson CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1879 CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1891 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0 1879 CGR 1st Class 4-4-0TT 1881 CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT 1875 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1883 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1884 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1889 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1898 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1901 CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1903 CGR 4th Class 4-4-2 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882 CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1884 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1890 CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891 DSWA Eight-Coupled Tender 2-8-0 NGR Havelock NGR Class I SAR Class Exp 1 SAR Class Exp 2 SAR Class Exp 3 SAR Class Exp 4 SAR Class Exp 5 SAR Class Exp 6 SAR Class S SAR Class S1 SAR Class S2 SAR Class 1 SAR Class 1A SAR Class 1B SAR Class 2 SAR Class 2C SAR Class 3 SAR Class 3A SAR Class 3B SAR Class 4 SAR Class 4A SAR Class 5 SAR Class 5A SAR Class 5B SAR Class 6 SAR Class 6A SAR Class 6B SAR Class 6C SAR Class 6D SAR Class 6E SAR Class 6F SAR Class 6G SAR Class 6H SAR Class 6J SAR Class 6K SAR Class 6L SAR Class 6Y SAR Class 6Z SAR Class 7 SAR Class 7A SAR Class 7B SAR Class 7C SAR Class 7D SAR Class 7E SAR Class 7F SAR Class 8 SAR Class 8A SAR Class 8B SAR Class 8C SAR Class 8D SAR Class 8E SAR Class 8F SAR Class 8R SAR Class 8X SAR Class 8Y SAR Class 8Z SAR Class 9 SAR Class 10 SAR Class 10A SAR Class 10B SAR Class 10C SAR Class 10D SAR Class 11 SAR Class 12 SAR Class 12A SAR Class 12B SAR Class 13 SAR Class 14 SAR Class 14A SAR Class 14B SAR Class 14C SAR Class 15 SAR Class 15A SAR Class 15B SAR Class 15C SAR Class 15CA SAR Class 15E SAR Class 15F SAR Class 16 SAR Class 16A SAR Class 16B SAR Class 16C SAR Class 16D SAR Class 16DA SAR Class 16E SAR Class 17 SAR Class 18 SAR Class 19 SAR Class 19A SAR Class 19B SAR Class 19C SAR Class 19D SAR Class 20 SAR Class 21 SAR Class 23 SAR Class 24 SAR Class 25 SAR Class 25NC SAR Class 26 Red Devil

3' 6" gauge Articulated engines	CGR Fairlie CGR Kitson-Meyer SAR Class FC SAR Class FD SAR Class GA SAR Class GB SAR Class GC SAR Class GCA SAR Class GD SAR Class GDA SAR Class GE SAR Class GEA SAR Class GF SAR Class GG SAR Class GH SAR Class GK SAR Class GL SAR Class GM SAR Class GMA SAR Class GO SAR Class HF SAR Class KM SAR Class MA SAR Class MB SAR Class MC SAR Class MC1 SAR Class MD SAR Class ME SAR Class MF SAR Class MG SAR Class MH SAR Class MJ SAR Class MJ1 SAR Class U

2' 6" gauge	Cape Copper 0-6-0T 1871 Cape Copper Britannia Cape Copper Caledonia Cape Copper Clara Class Cape Copper Condenser Cape Copper Scotia Class Namaqua Copper Pioneer

2' & 600mm gauges	ACR Class NG-G16A CGR NG 0-6-0T CGR NG 4-6-2T CGR Type A 2-6-4T CGR Type C 0-4-0T DSWA Class Ha DSWA Class Hb DSWA Class Hc DSWA Class Hd DSWA Jung DSWA Zwillinge NGR Class N 4-6-2T SAR NG 0-4-0T 1899 SAR Class NG1 SAR Class NG2 SAR Class NG3 SAR Class NG4 SAR Class NG5 SAR Class NG6 SAR Class NG7 SAR Class NG8 SAR Class NG9 SAR Class NG10 SAR Class NG-G11 SAR Class NG-G12 SAR Class NG-G13 SAR Class NG-G14 SAR Class NG15 SAR Class NG-G16

Electric

Amcoal Class E38

Diesel

3' 6" gauge Diesel-electric	PRASA Class Afro 4000 SAR Class DS SAR Class DS1 SAR Class 31-000 SAR Class 32-000 SAR Class 32-200 SAR Class 33-000 SAR Class 33-200 SAR Class 33-400 SAR Class 34-000 SAR Class 34-200 SAR Class 34-400 SAR Class 34-500 SAR Class 34-600 SAR Class 34-800 SAR Class 34-900 SAR Class 35-000 SAR Class 35-200 SAR Class 35-400 SAR Class 35-600 SAR Class 36-000 SAR Class 36-200 SAR Class 37-000 Spoornet Class 39-000 TFR Class 35-800 TFR Class 39-200 TFR Class 43-000 TFR Class 44-000

2' gauge Diesel-electric	SAR Class 91-000

3' 6" gauge Diesel-hydraulic	SAR Class 61-000

3' 6" gauge Electro-diesel	Spoornet Class 38-000

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