South African Class GF 4-6-2+2-6-4

Class GF no. 2427 at Mason’s Mill, 6 July 1962

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	South African Railways
Builder	Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG Henschel and Son Maffei
Serial number	Hanomag: 10512-10548 Henschel: 21053-21070 Maffei: 5748-5757
Model	Class GF
Build date	1927-1928
Total produced	65

Specifications
Configuration	4-6-2+2-6-4 "Double Pacific" Garratt
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia	30 in (762 mm)
Driver diameter	54 in (1,372 mm)
Trailing dia	30 in (762 mm)
Wheelbase	Total: 69 ft 9 in (21,260 mm) Engines: 6 ft 2 in (1,880 mm) bogie 9 ft 6 in (2,896 mm) coupled 23 ft 7 in (7,188 mm) total
Length	77 ft 1 in (23,495 mm)
Height	12 ft 10 in (3,912 mm)
Frame	Bar frame, 33 ft 2 in (10,109 mm) between pivot centres
Axle load	14 long tons (14.2 t) on 6th driver, Hanomag built 14.2 long tons (14.4 t) on 4th & 6th drivers, Henschel & Maffei built
Adhesive weight	82.5 long tons (83.8 t) Hanomag built 84 long tons (85.3 t) Henschel & Maffei built
Loco weight	Hanomag built: 243,700 lb (110.5 t) empty 143.25 long tons (145.5 t) w/o Henschel & Maffei built: 244,200 lb (110.8 t) empty 145.55 long tons (147.9 t) w/o
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	10 long tons (10.2 t) on light rail 11.5 long tons (11.7 t) allowed on Johannesburg-Mafeking section
Water cap	3,000 imp gal (14,000 l) front 1,000 imp gal (4,500 l) rear
Firebox: • Firegrate area	44 sq ft (4.088 m²)
Boiler	6 ft 2.75 in (1,899 mm) inside diameter 11 ft 8.625 in (3,572 mm) inside length 7 ft 9 in (2,362 mm) pitch
Boiler pressure	185 psi (1,280 kPa)
Heating surface	2,242 sq ft (208.289 m²)
• Tubes	234 tubes 2 in (51 mm) diameter 36 tubes 5.5 in (140 mm) diameter 2,043 sq ft (189.801 m²)
• Flues	23 sq ft (2.137 m²)
• Firebox	176 sq ft (16.351 m²)
Superheater: • Heating area	473 sq ft (43.943 m²)
Cylinders	Four
Cylinder size	16 in (406 mm) bore 26 in (660 mm) stroke
Valve gear	Walschaerts

Performance figures
Tractive effort	34,200 lbf (152 kN) at 75% pressure

Career
Operators	South African Railways
Class	Class GF
Number in class	65
Numbers	2370-2434
Delivered	1927-1928
First run	1927
Withdrawn	1979

Error in template * unknown parameter name (Template:Infobox_locomotive): 'framesize'

The South African Railways Class GF 4-6-2+2-6-4 of 1927 is an articulated steam locomotive.

In 1927 the South African Railways placed thirty-seven Class GF Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 4-6-2+2-6-4 Double Pacific type wheel arrangement in service. A further twenty-eight locomotives were delivered in 1928.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Manufacturers

The specifications for the Class GF 4-6-2+2-6-4 Garratt locomotive were prepared by Colonel F.C. Collins, Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the South African Railways (SAR) from 1922 to 1929, and an order for thirty-seven locomotives was placed with Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG (Hanomag) in Germany. It was designed as a mixed traffic locomotive for use on branchlines and secondary mainlines throughout the country. They were delivered in 1927 and numbered in the range from 2370 to 2406.^[1]^[3]

A second order was placed with Henschel and Son in 1927 for eighteen locomotives that were delivered in 1928, numbered in the range from 2407 to 2424.^[4]^[5]^[6]

This was followed by a third order, placed with Maffei in 1928, for a final batch of ten locomotives that were delivered that same year and numbered in the range from 2425 to 2434.^[5]^[6]

The locomotives were superheated, had bar frames and used Walschaerts valve gear. The Class GF was the only Double Pacific type Garratt to see service on the SAR and until the arrival of the Class GMA and Class GMAM, they were the most numerous Garratt locomotive Class in SAR service.^[3]^[6]

Characteristics

As built, the Class GF had inside bearings in the two-wheeled pony trucks and considerable trouble was experienced with hot boxes until they were modified to outside bearings, after which they proved to be very successful locomotives. Their good turn of speed and reasonably high tractive effort made the class a good utility locomotive.^[1]

Service

South African Railways

They saw service on many lines in Natal, the Transvaal, the Orange Free State and the Eastern Cape. In the Eastern Transvaal they were stationed at Nelspruit to work the branches to Graskop and Plaston. Some worked out of Johannesburg via Krugersdorp and Zeerust on the Mafeking line as well, where they were allowed to carry an increased coal load of 11.5 long tons (11.7 tonnes), compared to the 10 long tons (10.2 tonnes) that they were allowed on lighter rail elsewhere.^[1]^[2]^[6]

The bulk of the Class GF fleet worked in Natal, some stationed at Empangeni to work the sugar cane traffic from Mtubatuba while most were based at Mason’s Mill to work the various branches that radiated from Pietermaritzburg. They worked a daily passenger train from Franklin to Kokstad, but on the other branches they were mainly used on goods and mixed train service.^[1]^[6]

Apart from four that were sold and two that were scrapped after collisions, they were all still in stock by 1972, although not all were still in operation. The last one in SAR service was scrapped in 1979.^[3]^[6]

Mozambique

Four of the Class GF, numbers 2370, 2419, 2420 and 2432, were sold to the Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM), where they became the Series 911, numbered in the range from 911 to 914.^[1]

Industrial

Several of the Class GF locomotives were sold into mining service upon retirement.^[7] Most went to the Enyati Railway, where in later years some were equipped with diesel-driven air brake equipment, situated in a cage behind the coal bunker, since some of the SAR’s air braked coal export block trains originated on the Enyati. As far as is known, the industrial locomotives were the following:^[6]

Numbers 2371, 2377, 2378, 2386. 2387, 2399, 2404, 2415, 2417, 2425 and 2429 went to the Enyati Railway of Enyati Collieries.
No. 2433 went to Transvaal Navigation Collieries.
One locomotive went to Tweefontein United Collieries and is believed to have later been transferred to Enyati.

Illustration

The main picture and the following illustrate both sides of the Class GF locomotive.

Works picture of Hannoversche Maschinenbau AG-built no. 2370, the first of the Class GF, circa 1927
No. 2401 at the Outeniqua Transport Museum, George, 15 April 2013
Class GF no. 2401, here named "Cathy", at Grahamstown depot, circa 1991
No. 2401 with a Class GMAM on the Union Limited, Buffeljagsrivier, c. 2001

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. pp. 54–56. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
1 2 South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2’0” & 3’6” Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
1 2 3 4 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 92. ISBN 0869772112.
↑ Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow
1 2 Hamilton, Gavin N., The Garratt Locomotive - Garratt Locomotives from Other Builders, retrieved 10 November 2012
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Durrant, A E (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, London: David & Charles. p. 113. ISBN 0715386387.
↑ Factor of adhesion comments

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class GF (4-6-2+2-6-4).

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

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, November 06, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.