The South African Railways Class 15CA 4-8-2 of 1926 was a steam locomotive.
In 1926, the South African Railways placed 23 Class 15CA steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service. Another 61 engines were ordered and delivered from three manufacturers in 1929 and 1930.[1][2][3]
Class 15C redesign
After the twelve Class 15C Big Bill4-8-2 Mountain type locomotives which were delivered by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925 had been in service a short while, it was discovered that the frames under the front of the firebox had a tendency to crack, necessitating heavy repairs.[1][2]
To overcome this, a new modified design was prepared by Col F.R. Collins DSO, the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the South African Railways (SAR), for an almost identical locomotive but with the frames shortened to the front of the firebox and widened under the firebox by means of a bridle casting.[1]
Manufacturers
The first batch of 23 of these redesigned locomotives were built for the SAR by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). They were delivered in 1926, numbered in the range from 2039 to 2059, 2072 and 2073, and designated Class 15CA. The "A" supposedly indicated the manufacturer ALCO rather than, as was usual SAR practice, a different version of an existing locomotive type.[1][2][3][4]
The earlier Baldwin-built Class 15C was then reclassified to Class 15CB for no good reason, since the "B" merely indicated the manufacturer Baldwin and not, as was usual practice, a branchline locomotive.[4]
Another 61 Class 15CA locomotives were acquired in four batches from three other manufacturers in 1929 and 1930. Like the 23 ALCO-built locomotives, all except the last batch were built with 23 inches (584 millimetres) bore cylinders.[2]
In 1929, four engines were delivered by Baldwin Locomotive Works in the United States of America, numbered in the range from 2074 to 2077.[2]
Also in 1929, 29 engines were built by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) and delivered in that same year, numbered in the range from 2811 to 2839.[2][5]
The last 18 Class 15CA locomotives were also built by NBL in 1929. These were delivered in 1930 and numbered in the range from 2840 to 2857. This last batch of engines were built with larger 24 inches (610 millimetres) bore cylinders and larger diameter trailing wheels.[2][5]
Characteristics
Apart from the redesigned frame under the firebox, these locomotives were very similar to the Class 15C in proportions and appearance. They also had Coale pop type safety valves, a Schmidt type superheater and a combustion chamber in the firebox, which was equipped with flexible side stays and water siphon arch tubes. Their coupled wheel axleboxes, crank pins and connecting rod big ends were grease lubricated. These engines used the same Type KT tenders with a coal capacity of 14 long tons (14.2 tonnes) and a water capacity of 6,000 imperial gallons (27,300 litres).[2][1]
Modifications
Retyring
The locomotives were delivered with 57 inches (1,448 millimetres) diameter coupled wheels and their boilers were set at an operating pressure of 200 pounds per square inch (1,379 kilopascals). All their coupled wheels were eventually retyred to a 60 inches (1,524 millimetres) diameter and to compensate for the loss of tractive effort due to the larger diameter wheels, their operating boiler pressure was increased from 200 to 210 pounds per square inch (1,379 to 1,448 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][6][7]
In addition, all those locomotives which had been built with 23 inches (584 millimetres) bore cylinders had their cylinders reamed to a bore of 24 inches (610 millimetres).[2]
When larger tyres were fitted to their coupled wheels, the old tyres were left in position and turned down on the wheel centres to serve as liners and the new tyres were then shrunk on over the liners. The leading coupled wheels, which had been flangeless as built, were flanged during the retyring. The practice of increasing the diameter of coupled wheels, wheel spacing and other considerations permitting, was begun by A.G. Watson during his term in office as CME and was continued by his successors. The reduction of tractive effort caused by the larger wheels was made up by increasing boiler pressure or by fitting larger cylinders or both, as required. This policy resulted in more mileage between heavy repairs, less cost-per-mile on repairs and locomotives capable of higher speeds.[2]
Reboilering
During the early 1940s, three of the Class 15CB and Class 15CA locomotives were reboilered with new boilers numbered in the range from 9504 to 9506. These boilers were of similar dimensions as the originals but with a different tube arrangement. It was designed by Dr. M.M. Loubser, CME at the time. The reboilered locomotives were not reclassified.[6][7]
Service
South African Railways
The Class 15CA locomotives were placed in service on the mainline between Cape Town and Kimberley but like the Class 15CB, they were later transferred to Bloemfontein. From here they worked throughout the Free State until they were eventually relocated to the Eastern Transvaal system. There they worked out of Pretoria to Pietersburg in the north and from there to Tzaneen in the east and Messina on the Rhodesian border in the north. Some also worked out of Witbank and Breyten.[3][4]
In the early 1960s, a few joined the Class 15CB on the National North Coast line. Here they were used on, amongst others, the night and day passenger trains to and from Empangeni on the north coast line and on passenger trains to and from Kelso on the south coast line. In 1983, they all went from there to the Cape Northern system for use on the lines from Beaconsfield in Kimberley, working north to Mafeking and south to De Aar. Eventually nearly forty of them ended up as heavy shunters at Kaserne and Germiston in Johannesburg where they replaced the Class 12AR and Class S1.[3][4][8][9]
15CA 2828 is now plinthed at the Gospel Express, Vinkrivier Station, R60, Robertson, is the Western Cape, South Africa. 2828 completes the 11 coaches stationed at Vink, as accommodation for the Gospel Express Christian Centre.
Industry
Three Class 15CA locomotives were sold into industrial service. Numbers 2807 and 2839 went to Dunn's Locomotive Works and were eventually sold to Rustenburg Platinum Mines. No. 2811 went to South Witbank Colliery as their no. 4.[4][10]
Works numbers
The table lists the Class 15CA engine numbers, builders, years built and the builders' works numbers. The colour coding following the engine numbers refers to the three axle loadings of the different batches of the Class 15CA, as shown in the table of specifications.
Class 15CA 4-8-2 Builders & Works Numbers
SAR No.
Builder
Year
Works No.
2039 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66986
2040 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66987
2041 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66988
2042 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66989
2043 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66990
2044 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66991
2045 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66992
2046 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66993
2047 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66994
2048 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66995
2049 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66996
2050 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66997
2051 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66998
2052 ʘ
ALCO
1926
66999
2053 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67000
2054 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67001
2055 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67002
2056 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67003
2057 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67004
2058 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67005
2059 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67006
2072 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67007
2073 ʘ
ALCO
1926
67008
2074 ʘ
Baldwin
1929
60828
2075 ʘ
Baldwin
1929
60829
2076 ʘ
Baldwin
1929
60830
2077 ʘ
Baldwin
1929
60831
2801 ʘ
Breda
1929
2236
2802 ʘ
Breda
1929
2237
2803 ʘ
Breda
1929
2238
2804 ʘ
Breda
1929
2239
2805 ʘ
Breda
1929
2240
2806 ʘ
Breda
1929
2241
2807 ʘ
Breda
1929
2242
2808 ʘ
Breda
1929
2243
2809 ʘ
Breda
1929
2244
2810 ʘ
Breda
1929
2245
2811 ʘ
NBL
1928
23774
2812 ʘ
NBL
1928
23775
2813 ʘ
NBL
1928
23776
2814 ʘ
NBL
1928
23777
2815 ʘ
NBL
1928
23778
2816 ʘ
NBL
1928
23779
2817 ʘ
NBL
1928
23780
2818 ʘ
NBL
1928
23781
2819 ʘ
NBL
1928
23782
2820 ʘ
NBL
1928
23783
2821 ʘ
NBL
1928
23784
2822 ʘ
NBL
1928
23785
2823 ʘ
NBL
1928
23786
2824 ʘ
NBL
1928
23787
2825 ʘ
NBL
1928
23788
2826 ʘ
NBL
1928
23789
2827 ʘ
NBL
1928
23790
2828 ʘ
NBL
1928
23791
2829 ʘ
NBL
1928
23792
2830 ʘ
NBL
1928
23793
2831 ʘ
NBL
1928
23794
2832 ʘ
NBL
1928
23795
2833 ʘ
NBL
1928
23796
2834 ʘ
NBL
1928
23797
2835 ʘ
NBL
1928
23798
2836 ʘ
NBL
1928
23799
2837 ʘ
NBL
1928
23800
2838 ʘ
NBL
1928
23801
2839 ʘ
NBL
1928
23802
2840 ʘ
NBL
1929
24008
2841 ʘ
NBL
1929
24009
2842 ʘ
NBL
1929
24010
2843 ʘ
NBL
1929
24011
2844 ʘ
NBL
1929
24012
2845 ʘ
NBL
1929
24013
2846 ʘ
NBL
1929
24014
2847 ʘ
NBL
1929
24015
2848 ʘ
NBL
1929
24016
2849 ʘ
NBL
1929
24017
2850 ʘ
NBL
1929
24018
2851 ʘ
NBL
1929
24019
2852 ʘ
NBL
1929
24020
2853 ʘ
NBL
1929
24021
2854 ʘ
NBL
1929
24022
2855 ʘ
NBL
1929
24023
2856 ʘ
NBL
1929
24024
2857 ʘ
NBL
1929
24025
Preservation
Number
Works nmr
THF / Private
Leaselend / Owner
Current Location
Outside South Africa
?
2039
ALCO 66986
THF/Private
MISLPT (Michael Barclay)
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
Ownership Unclear
2040
ALCO 66987
THF/Private
MISLPT (Michael Barclay)
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
Ownership Unclear
2041
ALCO 66988
THF/Private
MISLPT (Michael Barclay)
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
Ownership Unclear
2055
ALCO 67005
THF
Rustenburg (Station)
2056
ALCO 67003
THF
Reefsteamers
Germiston Locomotive Depot
2077
BAL 60831
THF/Private
MISLPT (Michael Barclay)
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
Ownership Unclear
2802
BREDA 2237
THF
Esslenpark Railway College
2803
BREDA 2238
THF/Private
MISLPT (Michael Barclay)
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
Ownership Unclear
2804
BREDA 2239
THF
Esslenpark Railway College
2820
NBL 23783
THF/Private
MISLPT (Michael Barclay)
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
Ownership Unclear
2825
NBL 23788
THF
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
2828
NBL 23791
THF
Gospel Express
Vink (Station)
2833
NBL 23796
THF
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
2836
NBL 23799
THF
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
2850
NBL 24018
THF
Wonder Steam Trains
Hermanstad Depot
2853
NBL 24021
THF
Krugersdorp Locomotive Depot
Illustration
The main picture shows Breda-built no. 2802, serving as school guard at Esselen Park, the Transnet School of Rail in Kaalfontein, Gauteng, on 21 September 2009.
ALCO-built no. 2054 Cheeta at Vereeniging, 7 October 1989
NBL-built no. 2828, staged at Vink siding near Robertson, 11 January 2008.
NBL-built no. 2828, now in royal blue and with number plates, 20 October 2009.
References
^ abcdefHolland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 46, 49–50. ISBN978-0-7153-5427-8.
^ abcdefghijkEspitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, May 1946. pp. 375-376.
^ abcdPaxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 10–11, 61–62. ISBN0869772112.
^Middleton, John N. (2002). Railways of Southern Africa Locomotive Guide - 2002 (as amended by Combined Amendment List 4, January 2009) (2nd, Dec 2002 ed.). Herts, England: Beyer-Garratt Publications. p. 22.