South African Class GB 2-6-2+2-6-2

Class GB no. 1650, renumbered no. 2166, Voorbaai, 4 September 1997

Type and origin
♠ Locomotive no. 2166 ♥ Locomotive numbers 2160-2165
Power type	Steam
Designer	Beyer, Peacock and Company
Builder	Beyer, Peacock and Company
Serial number	5942, 6181-6186
Model	Class GB
Build date	1921, 1924
Total produced	7

Specifications
Configuration	2-6-2+2-6-2 (Double Prairie)
Driver	3rd & 4th coupled axles
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.	28 ¹⁄₂ in (724 mm)
Coupled dia.	42 ³⁄₄ in (1,086 mm)
Trailing dia.	28 ¹⁄₂ in (724 mm)
Wheelbase	53 ft (16,154 mm)
• Engine	♠ 17 ft 5 in (5,309 mm) each ♥ 17 ft 5 ¹⁄₄ in (5,315 mm) each
• Coupled	8 ft (2,438 mm) each
Pivot centres	26 ft 6 in (8,077 mm)
Length:
• Over couplers	59 ft 6 ³⁄₄ in (18,155 mm)
Height	12 ft 3 in (3,734 mm)
Frame type	Plate
Axle load	♠ 7 LT 14 cwt (7,824 kg) ♥ 8 LT (8,128 kg)
• Leading	♠ 6 LT 19 cwt (7,062 kg) front 7 LT 1 cwt (7,163 kg) rear ♥ 7 LT 16 cwt (7,925 kg) front 7 LT 12 cwt (7,722 kg) rear
• 1st coupled	♠ 7 LT 10 cwt (7,620 kg) ♥ 7 LT 16 cwt (7,925 kg)
• 2nd coupled	♠ 7 LT 9 cwt (7,570 kg) ♥ 7 LT 16 cwt (7,925 kg)
• 3rd coupled	♠ 7 LT 9 cwt (7,570 kg) ♥ 7 LT 16 cwt (7,925 kg)
• 4th coupled	♠ 7 LT 13 cwt (7,773 kg) ♥ 8 LT (8,128 kg)
• 5th coupled	♠ 7 LT 14 cwt (7,824 kg) ♥ 8 LT (8,128 kg)
• 6th coupled	♠ 7 LT 14 cwt (7,824 kg) ♥ 8 LT (8,128 kg)
• Trailing	♠ 6 LT (6,096 kg) front 6 LT 4 cwt (6,299 kg) rear ♥ 6 LT 14 cwt (6,808 kg) front 7 LT 1 cwt (7,163 kg) rear
Adhesive weight	♠ 45 LT 9 cwt (46,180 kg) ♥ 47 LT 8 cwt (48,160 kg)
Loco weight	♠ 71 LT 13 cwt (72,800 kg) ♥ 76 LT 1 cwt (77,270 kg)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	5 LT (5.1 t)
Water cap	♠ 1,450 imp gal (6,590 l) front 550 imp gal (2,500 l) rear ♥ 1,520 imp gal (6,910 l) front 800 imp gal (3,640 l) rear
Firebox type	Belpaire
• Firegrate area	♠♥ 23 sq ft (2.1 m²)
Boiler:
• Pitch	7 ft (2,134 mm)
• Diameter	4 ft 5 ⁷⁄₈ in (1,368 mm)
• Tube plates	♠ 10 ft 4 in (3,150 mm) ♥ 10 ft 4 ³⁄₈ in (3,159 mm)
• Small tubes	♠ 128: 1 ⁷⁄₈ in (48 mm) ♥ 119: 1 ⁷⁄₈ in (48 mm)
• Large tubes	♠ 21: 5 ¹⁄₄ in (133 mm) ♥ 21: 5 ¹⁄₂ in (140 mm)
Boiler pressure	180 psi (1,241 kPa)
Safety valve	Ramsbottom
Heating surface	♠ 1,049 sq ft (97.5 m²) ♥ 1,018 sq ft (94.6 m²)
• Tubes	♠ 944 sq ft (87.7 m²) ♥ 914 sq ft (84.9 m²)
• Firebox	♠ 105 sq ft (9.8 m²) ♥ 104 sq ft (9.7 m²)
Superheater:
• Heating area	♠ 174 sq ft (16.2 m²) ♥ 203 sq ft (18.9 m²)
Cylinders	Four
Cylinder size	12 in (305 mm) bore 20 in (508 mm) stroke
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Valve type	Piston
Couplers	Bell link-and-pin AAR knuckle (1950s)

Performance figures
Tractive effort	18,190 lbf (80.9 kN) @ 75%

Career
Operators	South African Railways
Class	Class GB
Number in class	7
Numbers	1650 renumbered 2166, 2160-2165
Delivered	1921, 1924
First run	1921
Withdrawn	1967

The South African Railways Class GB 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1921 was an articulated steam locomotive.

In June 1921, the South African Railways placed a single experimental Class GB Garratt articulated steam locomotive with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in service. Six more of these locomotives entered service in 1924.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Manufacturer

The first experimental model of the eventually seven Class GB branchline Garratt articulated locomotives was one of altogether five Garratt locomotives which were ordered by the South African Railways (SAR) from Beyer, Peacock and Company (BP) in 1914. The rest of the order consisted of three narrow gauge Class NG G11 2-6-0+0-6-2 locomotives and a single experimental Class GA 2-6-0+0-6-2 mainline locomotive. Production was disrupted by the First World War, however, and BP was only able to deliver the narrow gauge locomotives in 1919 and the Cape gauge locomotives in 1921, after cessation of hostilities.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Characteristics

The Class GB was numbered 1650, but the engine number was later changed to 2166. The locomotive was erected in the Durban shops and placed in service in June 1921. It was superheated, with a Belpaire firebox, plate frames and Walschaerts valve gear. The boiler was provided with the Gresley type air valve and mechanical lubrication was provided for the coupled wheel axle boxes.^[1]^[2]^[3]

In 1924, six more locomotives of this Class were placed in service, also built by BP and numbered in the range from 2160 to 2165. They embodied all improvements which experience with the first engine had shown desirable. The main differences between these locomotives and the original were revised boiler proportions and a larger water bunker capacity. The most obvious difference was a more completely enclosed cab with side windows, instead of the curved cut-outs in the cab sides of the first locomotive. They were heavier, 76 long tons 1 hundredweight (77,270 kilograms) compared to the 71 long tons 13 hundredweight (72,800 kilograms) of the engine of 1921.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Service

The first locomotive was placed in service working passenger trains on the Natal South Coast line. It proved to be a successful locomotive, having good riding qualities and flexibility on light track with poor ballasting and many curves of 300-foot (91-metre) radius.^[1]^[2]

A couple of the second batch of locomotives joined the first one on the South Coast line for a brief period, but most went directly to the Eastern Cape, where they were used on the Port Alfred branch and the Aliwal North to Barkly East line, famous for its reverses and its 1 in 30 (3⅓%) compensated ruling gradients. The Natal locomotives were soon also relocated to work there, when the Class GC Garratts replaced them on the South Coast line later in 1924. They remained working on the Barkly East branchline for many years, until they were withdrawn from service in 1967.^[1]^[3]

Illustration

The main picture shows the retired first Class GB, no. 2166, originally no. 1650, at Voorbaai near Mosselbaai on 4 September 1997. Since the top of the front bunker is only about 7 feet 6 inches (2,286 millimetres) above the railhead, these locomotives were later equipped with a pedestal between the headlight and the water inlet, to enable crew members to reach the overhead equipment when taking water.

No. 2160, c. 1930, with bell couplers and cab side windows

No. 2166 with curved cut-out cab sides, Voorbaai, 4 September 1997

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Holland, D.F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. p. 41-42. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
1 2 3 4 5 Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1945). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, November 1945. p. 867.
1 2 3 4 5 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 89. ISBN 0869772112.
↑ Hamilton, Gavin N., The Garratt Locomotive - Garratt Locomotives produced by Beyer, Peacock, retrieved 10 November 2012
↑ Durrant, A E (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, London: David & Charles. p. 25. ISBN 0715386387.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class GB (2-6-2+2-6-2).

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 13 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

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 Joy 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 1st SAR Class 14C 2nd SAR Class 14C 3rd SAR Class 14C 4th 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 SAR Katanga

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 Cape Copper Condenser Cape Copper Scotia 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 Dutton 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

Gas-electric

Gas-electric

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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