Hartenbos Station, SAR Class 8 no 1070 (scrapped)

1972 photo by kind courtesy of Boon Boonzaaier.

This photo was obviously taken relatively shortly after this SAR Class 8 no 1070 was plinthed at Hartenbos station. Her showroom condition reflects the pride of the loco shed staff which prepared her for the plinth. She even had a full load of fuel ... she looks ready to go!

 The above October 1973 image kindly provided by Roger Griffiths. Note that the headlight was now changed compared to the first 1972 image taken by Boon.

Sadly, even as early as 1994, 22 years after this photo, she had already disappeared from the list of preserved steam locomotives, and it is likely that she very quickly perished in the sea air at Hartenbos. Boon thinks she might have been removed from the plinth to make room for a new block of flats.


Still looking super-shine. By 1977 the plinthed locomotive had an "upgrade" in the form of a more authentic looking headlight. Well done! April 1977 photo by kind courtesy of David Werbeloff.


April 1977 photo by kind courtesy of David Werbeloff. By this time her load of coal had been removed. I suppose this was an order from HQ?


April 1977 photo by kind courtesy of David Werbeloff.


Even in November 1979 she still seemed to be in mint condition. On a rare cloudless, overcast day - the light complemented this beautiful loco. So sad she's gone for a block of flats. This photo kind courtesy of David Perl.

David also caught a brief glimse of the locomotive on video in November 1979:

If you have any photos of this locomotive during her service years, or on the plinth at Hartenbos, I would be happy to put these up here for sharing with others.

SAR Class 8 4-8-0 "Cape 8th"

The Cape Government Railways (CGR) 8th class was conceived as a mixed-traffic locomotive equally suitable for goods or passenger work. They were designed by H.M. Beatty and had larger driving wheels than the 7th class. The 4-8-0 examples were actually based on a pair of 2-8-0 engines imported by the CGR in 1901 from the American Locomotive Co, which later became the SAR Class 8X. While they retained the bar frames of these engines, Beatty added a bogie to improve the ride. The first order from the CGR consisted of 23 locomotives delivered by Neilson, Reid and Co in 1902 and 1903 and were placed in service throughout the colony. They became SAR class 8.


Bophuthatswana – 1991 – Steam Locomotives - mini-sheet depicting the Class 8 in service.

exCGR Cape 8th Class
No's 358 - 365, 771 - 782 & 801 - 803.

Builders and Year:.......Neilson, Reid & Co. (1902)
Numbering:...............1069 - 1091
Wheel Arrangement:.......4-8-0 ooOOOO
Driving Wheel Diameter:..4 ft. 0 in.
Cylinders:...............2 x 18½ in. x 24 in.
Valve Gear:..............Stephenson's Link Motion
. . . . N O T E: Many were later converted to Piston Valve Gear

Boiler Pressure:.........180 lbs per square in.
Grate Size:..............21.3 square ft.
Tractive Force:..........23,100 lbs
Length:..................54 ft. 2 in.
Weight:..................59 tons 500 lbs
Axle Load:...............11 tons 1,400 lbs
Tender Weight:...........34 tons
Coal Capacity:...........5½ tons
Water Capacity:..........2,730 gallons
Tender Types:............XC, XC1, XD, XE, XE1, XF, XF1, XF2, XJ, XM, XM1, XM2 & XM3


This photo of SAR Class 8 no 1088 showing the locomotive in the form which the class 8 was originally built. Of note is the Stephenson slide valve gear visible in the photo. In the years 1929-36 when AG Watson was chief mechanical engineer of the SAR, many of the class 8 locomotives were upgraded with piston valve gear, such as is visible on the locomotive plinthed at Louis Trichardt station. The original photo above was taken by SH Carter and appears in DF Holland's Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways.


Class 8 (with Internal admission piston-valves) 4-8-0 "Cape 8th" No. 1074 [NR 6218-1902 - ex CGR 360] - at De Aar Loco Depot 5 June 1966 - photo courtesy of Leith Paxton.

Under AG Watson, chief mechanical engineer of the SAR during 1929-35, many of the front ends of the 8th classes were redesigned, using piston instead of slide valves, and the engines were superheated. The photos above and below show class 8 engines which had these conversions done.


Class 8D (with External admission piston-valves) 4-8-0 "Cape 8th" - No 1223 [NR 6300-1902 - ex CGR 788] - at Bloemfontein Loco Depot 22 March 1970. Photo courtesy of Leith Paxton.

A Class 8 sister engine, no 1090, is plinthed at Louis Trichardt station.

Sources:

1. Railways of Southern Africa - Locomotive Guide 1994 by John Middleton
2. SAR Steam 3ft 6in SAR Class 8 Tender