South African Class GK 2-6-2+2-6-2

New Cape Central Garratt 2-6-2+2-6-2
South African Class GK 2-6-2+2-6-2

NCCR no. G2, later SAR Class GK no. 2341, c. 1925

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Beyer, Peacock and Company
Builder	Beyer, Peacock and Company
Serial number	6135-6136
Model	NCCR G
Build date	1923
Total produced	2

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	56 ft 8 in (17,272 mm)
• Engine	17 ft 8 in (5,385 mm) each
• Coupled	8 ft (2,438 mm) each
Pivot centres	29 ft 8 in (9,042 mm)
Length:
• Over couplers	63 ft 2 ³⁄₄ in (19,272 mm)
Height	12 ft 3 in (3,734 mm)
Frame type	Plate
Axle load	10 LT 10 cwt (10,670 kg)
• Leading	8 LT 7 cwt (8,484 kg) front 8 LT 16 cwt (8,941 kg) rear
• Coupled	10 LT 10 cwt (10,670 kg)
• Trailing	6 LT 16 cwt (6,909 kg) front 7 LT 19 cwt (8,078 kg) rear
Adhesive weight	63 LT (64,010 kg)
Loco weight	94 LT 18 cwt (96,420 kg)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	4 LT (4.1 t)
Water cap	1,900 imp gal (8,640 l) front 1,100 imp gal (5,000 l) rear
Firebox type	Belpaire
• Firegrate area	34 sq ft (3.2 m²)
Boiler:
• Pitch	7 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in (2,219 mm)
• Diameter	5 ft 2 in (1,575 mm)
• Tube plates	11 ft 3 ¹⁄₄ in (3,435 mm)
• Small tubes	225: 1 ³⁄₄ in (44 mm)
• Large tubes	24: 5 ¹⁄₄ in (133 mm)
Boiler pressure	180 psi (1,241 kPa)
Safety valve	Ramsbottom
Heating surface	1,687 sq ft (156.7 m²)
• Tubes	1,531 sq ft (142.2 m²)
• Firebox	156 sq ft (14.5 m²)
Superheater:
• Heating area	300 sq ft (28 m²)
Cylinders	Four
Cylinder size	15 in (381 mm) bore 22 in (559 mm) stroke
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Couplers	Bell link-and-pin

Performance figures
Tractive effort	31,260 lbf (139.1 kN) @ 75%

Career
Operators	New Cape Central Railways South African Railways
Class	Class GK
Number in class	2
Numbers	NCCR 12-13, renumbered G1-G2 SAR 2340-2341
Delivered	1923
First run	1923
Withdrawn	1957

The South African Railways Class GK 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1923 was an articulated steam locomotive from the New Cape Central Railway era.

In 1923, the New Cape Central Railway placed two Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in service. In 1925, when the New Cape Central Railway was amalgamated into the South African Railways, the two Garratts were renumbered and designated Class GK.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

New Cape Central Railway

The New Cape Central Railway (NCCR) was an independent privately owned common carrier which operated between Worcester and Mosselbaai. It was formed in January 1893, when it purchased all the assets of the bankrupted Cape Central Railway (CCR), which had constructed a line from Worcester via Robertson to Roodewal, later renamed Ashton.^[1]^[4]

In 1894, the NCCR began work to extend the line to Swellendam. From there it continued via Heidelberg to Riversdale, which was reached on 3 December 1903. Voorbaai, outside Mosselbaai, was reached in 1906.^[1]^[4]

When the Cape Government Railways linked up with the NCCR at Mosselbaai on 23 September 1907, the NCCR undertook to operate the 32 ¹⁄₂ miles (52.3 kilometres) section to George.^[2]

Unlike many other privately owned railways in South Africa, the NCCR prospered and was well and efficiently run. Prior to 1917, dividends were small, but from 1917 to 1925, dividends of 4½% were declared each year. The NCCR was the last component railway to be added to the South African Railways (SAR), when it was liquidated and amalgamated in May 1925. All the NCCR locomotives which came onto the SAR roster continued to give good service for many years.^[1]^[2]

Manufacturer

Increasing traffic and heavier loads led to the decision by the NCCR in 1922 to place an order for two Garratt 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type locomotives with Beyer, Peacock and Company. The locomotives were built to the design of the Class GB of the SAR and were also superheated, with Belpaire fireboxes, plate frames and Walschaerts valve gear, but they were heavier and had larger cylinders. They were delivered in 1923 and were initially numbered 12 and 13, but were later renumbered G1 and G2. The Garratts were the last new locomotives to be acquired by the company.^[1]^[4]^[5]

Service

New Cape Central Railway

In service on the NCCR, each Garratt could replace two of its older Class 7 locomotives, with one 95 long tons (97 tonnes) Garratt able to do the work of altogether 166 long tons (169 tonnes) worth of tender locomotives, while saving 5 long tons (5 tonnes) of coal and one crew's wages in the process. The Garratts eliminated the need to double-head passenger trains, which often consisted of eight bogie carriages.^[1]^[2]

South African Railways

When the NCCR was amalgamated into the SAR in 1925, the two Garratt locomotives were renumbered 2340 and 2341 on the SAR roster and designated Class GK.^[1]^[2]^[4]

The locomotives were initially transferred to Cape Town and worked the Overberg line to Caledon for a brief period. They were then sent to Natal, where they remained in service on the Donnybrook to Underberg branch, until they were withdrawn from service by 1957.^[4]

Illustration

The main picture and the following photograph offer views of both sides of the Class GK locomotive.

NCCR no. G1, later SAR Class GK no. 2340, as delivered c. 1923

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 1: 1859-1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. pp. 79–80. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
1 2 3 4 5 Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1944). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter II - The Cape Government Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, April 1944. pp. 253-257.
↑ South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
1 2 3 4 5 6 Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 93–94. ISBN 0869772112.
↑ Hamilton, Gavin N., The Garratt Locomotive - Garratt Locomotives produced by Beyer, Peacock, retrieved 10 November 2012

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class GK (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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