South African type SK tender

22 ft 9+316 in (6,939 mm)Wheel dia.30 in (762 mm)Wheelbase15 ft 6 in (4,724 mm) • Bogie4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)Fuel typeCoalFuel cap.8 LT 15 cwt (8.9 t)Water cap.3,675 imp gal (16,700 L)StokingManualCouplersDrawbar & Johnston link-and-pin
Drawbar & AAR knuckle (1930s)
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
NumbersSAR 762-763, 1245-1288, 1440-1445

The South African type SK tender was a steam locomotive tender.

Type SK tenders were rebuilt from Type SH tenders which had entered service in 1904 and 1905. The rebuilding resulted in a tender with a larger water tank and larger coal bunker.[1][2]

Origin

The original Natal Government Railways (NGR) Class B Mastodon and Class A Pacific locomotives and tenders were designed in 1904 by NGR Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie.[1][2][3]

Type SH tenders entered service as tenders to these locomotives in 1904 and 1905, built by the North British Locomotive Company.[1][2][3]

Rebuilding

From c. 1925, several of the Type SH tenders were completely rebuilt by the South African Railways (SAR) by mounting a new upper structure on the existing underframe, with larger water tanks and a larger coal capacity. These rebuilt tenders had a more modern appearance, with flush sides all the way to the top of the coal bunker. They were designated Type SK.[4]

The program to rebuild several older tender types with new upper structures was begun by Col F.R. Collins DSO, who approved several of the detailed drawings for the work during his term in office as Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the SAR from 1922 to 1929. It was continued by his successor, A.G. Watson.[1][2][4]

Characteristics

The rebuilt tender had a water capacity which had been increased from 3,225 to 3,675 imperial gallons (14,661 to 16,707 litres) and a coal capacity which had been increased from 6 long tons (6.1 tonnes) to 8 long tons 15 hundredweight (8.9 tonnes).[1][2][4]

Classification letters

Since many tender types are interchangeable between different locomotive classes and types, a tender classification system was adopted by the SAR. The first letter of the tender type indicates the classes of engines to which it could be coupled. The "S_" tenders could be used with the locomotive classes as shown.[2]

The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_K" tenders had a capacity of 3,675 imperial gallons (16,700 litres; 4,410 US gallons).[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. p. 43.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte, Steam Locomotives/Stoomlokomotiewe. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. pp. 6a-7a, 43.
  3. ^ a b Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 99–101. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
  4. ^ a b c SAR Mechanical Department. New Tender Tank - Classes 1, 1A, 2, 2C, 3, 3B. SAR Mechanical Department Drawing Office, Drawing L-6512/1, c. 1926.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Steam
7' ¼" gauge
Standard gauge
  • CGR 0-4-0ST Aid
  • Natal 0-4-0ST Durban
  • Natal 0-4-0WT Natal
  • Natal 4-4-0T Perseverance
Cape gauge
Tank engines
  • Durban's Congella
  • Durban's Edward Innes
  • Durban's John Milne
  • Durban's Sir Albert
Cape gauge
Tender engines
Cape gauge
Articulated
engines
2' 6" gauge
  • Cape Copper John King & Miner
  • Cape Copper Britannia
  • Cape Copper Caledonia
  • Cape Copper Clara
  • Cape Copper Condenser
  • Cape Copper Scotia
  • Namaqua Copper Pioneer
  • Walvis Bay 2-4-2T Hope
2' & 600mm
gauges
Electric
Gas-electric
Diesel
Cape gauge
Diesel-electric
2' gauge
Diesel-electric
Cape gauge
Diesel-hydraulic
Cape gauge
Electro-diesel