In 1912, the German administration in German South West Africa acquired three Class Hd tender locomotives with a 2-8-2 "Mikado" wheel arrangement, for lease to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company to use on the line from Swakopmund to Karibib. When these locomotives were taken onto the roster of the South African Railways after the First World War, they retained their German classification and engine numbers, but with an "SW" prefix to their numbers.[1][2]
When a system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced by the South African Railways, they were designated Class NG5 along with similar locomotives which were placed in service by the South African Railways in 1922.[1][3][4]
Increasing traffic demands arising from the copper mines at Tsumeb led to a requirement for more locomotives. Three narrow gauge 2-8-2 steam locomotives were built for the German administration in German South West Africa (GSWA) by Henschel and Son in Germany in 1912. They were designated Class Hd, numbered in the range from 40 to 42, and leased to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company for use on the section between Swakopmund and Karibib.[1][2][5]
The "Hd" classification identified the locomotive type as the fourth class to have been built for GSWA by Henschel.[1]
CharacteristicsEdit
The locomotives were superheated, with Heusinger valve gear, piston valves and outside plate frames. Since they were to be used across the Namib Desert, they were equipped with dust covers to protect the motion from wind-blown sand. Their leading and trailing carrying wheels were not mounted in separate bogie trucks, but were rigidly mounted and arranged as radial axles to allow for sideways motion of the wheels in relation to the locomotive frame. This resulted in a rigid wheelbase of 17 feet 11⁄16 inch (5,199 millimetres), even though the leading carrying wheels were arranged to the rear instead of ahead of the cylinders.[1][2]
As built, the sand boxes were mounted on top of the boiler aft of the dome. Their tenders, also built by Henschel, rode on two four-wheeled bogies and had a coal capacity of 2 long tons 17 hundredweight (2.9 tonnes) and a water capacity of 2,860 imperial gallons (13,000 litres). The engines were equipped for trains with air brakes, which was not yet in use in South Africa at the time.[1][2]
South African RailwaysEdit
After the First World War, when the former German colony came under South African administration and all railway operations in South West Africa (SWA) were taken over by the South African Railways (SAR) in 1922, these locomotives retained their Hd classification and engine numbers, but with an "SW" prefix to the numbers. This was to prevent confusion with the two Class NG1 narrow gauge locomotives of the SAR which were numbered NG40 and NG41.[1]
In SAR service, the locomotives were also equipped with vacuum train brakes.[3]
ReclassificationEdit
A system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was only adopted by the SAR somewhere between 1928 and 1930 and at that point these three locomotives, along with six similar locomotives which were built to a revised design and placed in service by the SAR in SWA in 1922, were all designated Class NG5. The original three locomotives retained their original German engine numbers, but the SW prefix was done away with since the two Class NG1 locomotives with duplicate engine numbers were being withdrawn from service at the time.[1][3]
ServiceEdit
They remained in service in SWA for their entire working lives, until they were all withdrawn from service when the narrow gauge lines of the SWA system were regauged to Cape gauge in 1960. Since they were unsuitable for use on the narrow gauge line in the Langkloof, all six of the 1922 vintage Class NG5 locomotives were sold as scrap in 1962.[1]
Number plate and plaques on no. 41, Otjiwarongo, 2011
A postage stamp depicting the Class Hd locomotive was one of a set of four commemorative South West African postage stamps which were issued on 2 August 1985 to commemorate the narrow gauge locomotives which pioneered railways in the territory. The stamp design was by the noted stamp designer and artist Koos van Ellinckhuijzen.[7][8]
IllustrationEdit
Works picture of Class Hd no. 40, c. 1912
ReferencesEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to South West African Class Hd.
^ abcdefghiPaxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 102, 110, 116–117. ISBN0869772112.
^ abcdEspitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1947). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, October 1947. pp. 859-860.
^South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
^Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow
^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. 33.
^Philatelic Bulletin 44, issued by Philatelic Services and INTERSAPA, 1985
^De Jager, Okkie and Steenkamp, Riaan - The Art of J.J. (Koos) van Ellinckhuijzen
October 21, 2023
south, west, african, class, 1912, narrow, gauge, steam, locomotive, from, german, south, west, africa, gswa, class, 2south, african, class, plinthed, usakos, 1984type, originpower, typesteamdesignerhenschel, sonbuilderhenschel, sonserial, number10720, 10722mo. The South West African Class Hd 2 8 2 of 1912 was a narrow gauge steam locomotive from the German South West Africa era GSWA Class Hd 2 8 2South West African Class Hd 2 8 2South African Class NG5 2 8 2No 40 plinthed at Usakos May 1984Type and originPower typeSteamDesignerHenschel and SonBuilderHenschel and SonSerial number10720 10722ModelClass HdBuild date1912Total produced3SpecificationsConfiguration Whyte2 8 2 UIC1D1h2Driver3rd coupled axleGauge600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in narrowLeading dia 21 21 32 in 550 mm Coupled dia 33 7 8 in 860 mm Trailing dia 21 21 32 in 550 mm Tender wheels20 1 2 in 521 mm Wheelbase38 ft 6 5 8 in 11 751 mm Engine17 ft 11 16 in 5 199 mm Coupled9 ft 7 in 2 921 mm Tender11 ft 5 3 4 in 3 499 mm Tender bogie3 ft 3 3 8 in 1 000 mm Wheel spacing Asymmetrical 1 2 3 ft 1 7 16 in 951 mm 2 3 3 ft 4 1 8 in 1 019 mm 3 4 3 ft 1 7 16 in 951 mm Length Over couplers49 ft 9 1 4 in 15 170 mm Height10 ft 9 15 16 in 3 300 mm Frame typePlateLoco weight32 LT 17 cwt 33 380 kg Tender weight25 LT 11 cwt 3 qtr 26 000 kg Total weight58 LT 8 cwt 3 qtr 59 380 kg Tender type2 axle bogiesFuel typeCoalFuel capacity2 LT 17 cwt 2 9 t Water cap 2 860 imp gal 13 000 L Firebox typeRound top Firegrate area16 7 sq ft 1 55 m2 Boiler Pitch5 ft 8 7 8 in 1 749 mm Diameter3 ft 11 3 4 in 1 213 mm Tube plates13 ft 1 1 2 in 4 000 mm Small tubes114 1 3 4 in 44 mm Large tubes12 4 23 32 in 120 mm Boiler pressure171 psi 1 179 kPa Heating surface968 sq ft 89 9 m2 Tubes900 sq ft 84 m2 Firebox68 sq ft 6 3 m2 Superheater Heating area169 sq ft 15 7 m2 CylindersTwoCylinder size15 3 4 in 400 mm bore17 3 4 in 451 mm strokeValve gearHeusingerValve typePistonLoco brakeAirTrain brakesAir amp vacuumCouplersBuffer and chainsPerformance figuresTractive effort16 610 lbf 73 9 kN 75 CareerOperatorsOtavi Mining and Railway Co South African RailwaysClassGSWA Class Hd SAR Class NG5Number in class3NumbersSW40 SW42Delivered1912First run1912Withdrawn1960In 1912 the German administration in German South West Africa acquired three Class Hd tender locomotives with a 2 8 2 Mikado wheel arrangement for lease to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company to use on the line from Swakopmund to Karibib When these locomotives were taken onto the roster of the South African Railways after the First World War they retained their German classification and engine numbers but with an SW prefix to their numbers 1 2 When a system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced by the South African Railways they were designated Class NG5 along with similar locomotives which were placed in service by the South African Railways in 1922 1 3 4 Contents 1 Manufacturer 2 Characteristics 3 South African Railways 4 Reclassification 5 Service 6 Commemoration 7 Illustration 8 ReferencesManufacturer EditIncreasing traffic demands arising from the copper mines at Tsumeb led to a requirement for more locomotives Three narrow gauge 2 8 2 steam locomotives were built for the German administration in German South West Africa GSWA by Henschel and Son in Germany in 1912 They were designated Class Hd numbered in the range from 40 to 42 and leased to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company for use on the section between Swakopmund and Karibib 1 2 5 The Hd classification identified the locomotive type as the fourth class to have been built for GSWA by Henschel 1 Characteristics EditThe locomotives were superheated with Heusinger valve gear piston valves and outside plate frames Since they were to be used across the Namib Desert they were equipped with dust covers to protect the motion from wind blown sand Their leading and trailing carrying wheels were not mounted in separate bogie trucks but were rigidly mounted and arranged as radial axles to allow for sideways motion of the wheels in relation to the locomotive frame This resulted in a rigid wheelbase of 17 feet 11 16 inch 5 199 millimetres even though the leading carrying wheels were arranged to the rear instead of ahead of the cylinders 1 2 As built the sand boxes were mounted on top of the boiler aft of the dome Their tenders also built by Henschel rode on two four wheeled bogies and had a coal capacity of 2 long tons 17 hundredweight 2 9 tonnes and a water capacity of 2 860 imperial gallons 13 000 litres The engines were equipped for trains with air brakes which was not yet in use in South Africa at the time 1 2 South African Railways EditAfter the First World War when the former German colony came under South African administration and all railway operations in South West Africa SWA were taken over by the South African Railways SAR in 1922 these locomotives retained their Hd classification and engine numbers but with an SW prefix to the numbers This was to prevent confusion with the two Class NG1 narrow gauge locomotives of the SAR which were numbered NG40 and NG41 1 In SAR service the locomotives were also equipped with vacuum train brakes 3 Reclassification EditA system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was only adopted by the SAR somewhere between 1928 and 1930 and at that point these three locomotives along with six similar locomotives which were built to a revised design and placed in service by the SAR in SWA in 1922 were all designated Class NG5 The original three locomotives retained their original German engine numbers but the SW prefix was done away with since the two Class NG1 locomotives with duplicate engine numbers were being withdrawn from service at the time 1 3 Service EditThey remained in service in SWA for their entire working lives until they were all withdrawn from service when the narrow gauge lines of the SWA system were regauged to Cape gauge in 1960 Since they were unsuitable for use on the narrow gauge line in the Langkloof all six of the 1922 vintage Class NG5 locomotives were sold as scrap in 1962 1 nbsp Number plate and plaques on no 41 Otjiwarongo 2011Two of the 1912 vintage ex Class Hd locomotives were preserved No 40 was plinthed on the Usakos railway station platform while no 41 was plinthed outside Otjiwarongo railway station 6 Commemoration EditA postage stamp depicting the Class Hd locomotive was one of a set of four commemorative South West African postage stamps which were issued on 2 August 1985 to commemorate the narrow gauge locomotives which pioneered railways in the territory The stamp design was by the noted stamp designer and artist Koos van Ellinckhuijzen 7 8 Illustration Edit nbsp Works picture of Class Hd no 40 c 1912References Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to South West African Class Hd a b c d e f g h i Paxton Leith Bourne David 1985 Locomotives of the South African Railways 1st ed Cape Town Struik pp 102 110 116 117 ISBN 0869772112 a b c d Espitalier T J Day W A J 1947 The Locomotive in South Africa A Brief History of Railway Development Chapter VII South African Railways Continued South African Railways and Harbours Magazine October 1947 pp 859 860 a b c South African Railways and Harbours Narrow Gauge Locomotive Diagram Book 2 0 Gauge S A R Mechanical Dept Drawing Office Pretoria 28 November 1932 South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book 2 0 amp 3 6 Gauge Steam Locomotives 15 August 1941 as amended Henschel Lieferliste Henschel amp Son works list compiled by Dietmar Stresow 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 33 Philatelic Bulletin 44 issued by Philatelic Services and INTERSAPA 1985 De Jager Okkie and Steenkamp Riaan The Art of J J Koos van Ellinckhuijzen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title South West African Class Hd amp oldid 1144562552, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
