Johannesburg, Gold Reef City, part 2, SAR Class NG/G16 No NG111 (Garratt)

Gold Reef City Theme Park is a recreation of turn of the century Johannesburg on the site of the former Crown Mines 14 shaft. The shaft is still operational for underground visits to 5 level (220 metres).

Most of the photos below were found on Picasa Web Albums. Unfortunately it is not easy to credit the photographers as pseudonyms were used in most instances. In any case, my warm thanks to all of them for posting their pictures to the web.

SAR Class NG/G16 # NG111
2-6-2+2-6-2 Beyer Peacock works # 6921 built 1939
61.4T 4 cylinder 12x16 design /33"/180lb
withdrawn by 1986; exhibited at Gold Reef City from 1991


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Since 1991 this engine used to look like this ...


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and this ...


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Then the painters moved in ...


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.... and decided to paint the town red !!!


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.... with these results!


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The Garratt locomotive on display is ex SAR NG16 #111 built in 1939 by Beyer Peacock as order number 6921.


Photo: Kevin R Wilson-Smith 16 July 2008


Photo: Kevin R Wilson-Smith 16 July 2008


Photo: Kevin R Wilson-Smith 16 July 2008


Photo: Kevin R Wilson-Smith 16 July 2008


Photo: Kevin R Wilson-Smith 16 July 2008

#111 was built in 1939 as part of an order of eight engines No NG109 to NG116 - these were placed in service on the 2 ft narrow gauges branch lines in Natal and the Avontuur line.

A sister engine #112 is plinthed at Intaka Island, Century City, Cape Town.

Other Gold Reef City Locomotives:

part 1, SAR Class 19D No 3345
part 3, WG Bagnall 0-4-2T works # 2870 built 1948
part 4, Hudswell, Clarke Co Ltd. 0-6-0T works # 1578 built 1926
part 5, Manning, Wardle & Co Ltd. 0-4-0T works # 1583 built 1902

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De Aar, part 2c, Locomotive Graveyard: SAR Class GO No 2586

De Aar Steam Locomotive Graveyard.

Actually this locomotive SAR N0 2586 is stored here for SANRASM, but has not been moved due to the excessive cost, it is pretty well stripped by now.. This locomotive was built in 1954 as works number 28719 by Henschel & Sohn.

Class GO 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt

These Photos were taken in April/May 2009.



After displacement by diesels, the whole GO lass was moved to De Aar in 1977, where the locomotives spent seven years on the dump, before being written-off abruptly early in 1984. Only No 2575 and the above engine No 2586 have survived.

In 1938 development in locomotive design and power had led to the introduction of the SAR Class GM, which were noted for their exceptional hauling ability on 60-lb rail. They were also the first Garratt on the SAR to employ the use of an auxiliary water tank, therefore getting maximum power from the axle load, without the limitations of the water supplies carried in the front tank.



It is from "Grand Daddy" Class GM which the Classes GMA, GMAM and also Class GO developed.

Our interest here is focused on Class GO. The GO class was introduced in 1954 and 25 of these fine locomotives were built by Henschel & Sohn.



A variant of the Class GMA, the Class GO was suitable for use on branches laid with 45-lb rail, the Class GO differed in having a smaller boiler. The cylinder castings were lined to reduce their diameter to suit the GO's steaming capacity compared to the GMA. Tractive effort was also correspondingly reduced and coal and water capacities lessened to reduce the overall weight. Many other parts are interchangeable with the GMA.



25 were ordered from Henschel in 1954, and after a brief period on the Krugersdorp-Zeerust line, were placed in service on the Pietermaritzburg-Greytown branch, from whence they were sent to the Belfast-Steelpoort line, although in 1972 they had a short and unsuccessful spell on the Umtata branch. Their final allocation was to the Natal north coast lines before being withdrawn from service by 1975.



The Class GO was numbered N0's 2572-2596.



The occurrence of one of these locomotives at De Aar is a bit of a surprise, but this locomotive may at some stage has seen operation on the lighter track branch line towards Upington, but certainly not as far Namibia - the only Garratts on record to do so was Class GCA 2-6-2+2-6-2 locomotive No 2615 & others working from Windhoek between 1928-32. [source: The First 100 Years of State Railways in Namibia - Bravenboer & Rusch - 1997]

In his book TWILIGHT of SOUTH AFRICAN STEAM, published in 1989, AE Durrant wrote about the GO Class:

"These locomotives were in all technical features identical to the GMA/M classes, but had smaller boilers and cylinders, bringing the axle load down to 134 tons, suitable for use over lighter track, on which they were never utilised. The real purpose behind this design was unclear, as they were never used over lines which could not take heavier power. Possibly their originally envisaged use had disappeared between the time of ordering and time of delivery."

"At the opening period (1973) of this book, all GOs were stationed along the North coast of Natal, at Stanger, Empangeni, and Gingindlovu. Here they worked the main line, then in course of electrification, often double-headed with a GMA/M or another GO, this being the only part of the SAR where double GOs were regularly operated. They also worked the line north to Gollel on the Swaziland border, and were the most powerful locomotives used on this line, for which their design features were finally justified shortly before withdrawal. Both the Eshowe and Nkwalini branches saw GOs used to replace the older GE and GEA Garratts, but on the Eshowe line their fire-throwing capabilities when climbing 1 in 30 gradients through sugar cane fields caused the GEAs to be returned until dieselisation of this and the other lines using GOs."

"After displacement by diesels, the whole class was moved to De Aar, where the locomotives spent seven years on the dump, before being written-off abruptly early in 1984. Thus these modern and very effective locomotives spent only 22 years in service, being replaced by expensive diesels, which were so feeble as to need using in multiple where a single GO sufficed, and whose consumption of imported fuel and imported spare parts became increasingly costly."

Preservation and industrial: No GOs were sold to industry; according to John Middleton's 2002 Railways of South Africa locomotive guide, 2 examples of the GO class still exist: This De Aar engine no 2586 (Hen 28719/54), and no 2575 (Hen 28708/54) -- the latter was still steamable in 2002. See 1999 image below:

7 July 1999: this photo is courtesy Roger Griffiths, and shows Class GO no 2575 working a steam special. At this time she was based at Dal Josafat, but has since been moved to Voorbaai.

From the past: A sister engine when still operational


photo: Leith Paxton : No. 2575 [Henschel 28708/1954] (click on picture to enlarge) - at Mason's Mill Loco Depot (Pietermaritzburg) 6 July 1962 - note the extra auxiliary water tank trailing the loco.

Also visit:
De Aar, part 1, "Loco Shed", SAR Class 8F No 1236
De Aar, part 2a, Locomotive Graveyard, SAR Class 24 No 3652
De Aar, part 2b, Locomotive Graveyard: SAR Class 12A No 2123
De Aar, part 3, Station scenes in May 2009

Source:

• The Locomotives of the South African Railways - Bernard Zurnamer - undated
• Railways of Southern Africa - Locomotive Guide 2002 - J Middleton
• Twilight of SOUTH AFRICAN STEAM - AE Durrant - David & Charles 1989
  

Photos on this page (unless indicated otherwise) were very kindly taken by ds. F. Marais in April/May 2009.

INTAKA ISLAND, Century City, Cape Town: 2 locomotives on display

This 2016 image courtesy of the photographer Laurie Mulrine; it was 1st posted here: SAR NGG 16, No. 112 and Douglas Colliery No. 3, Intaka Island, Century City, Cape Town, Western Cape. 10.11.2016.


This 2016 image courtesy of the photographer Laurie Mulrine; it was 1st posted here: SAR Class NGG16: No. NGG 112, Intaka Island, Century City, Cape Town, Western Cape. 10.11.2016.


This 2016 image courtesy of the photographer Laurie Mulrine; it was 1st posted here: Douglas Colliery No. 3, Intaka Island, Century City, Cape Town, Western Cape. 10.11.2016.



A contract was awarded to Sandstone to supply the Rabie Properties Group which owns Century City in Cape Town with two aesthetically refurbished locomotives for a new development at Century City called Central Park.


The two locomotives are plinthed at Grand Central which is a part of the Central Park development which is also the gateway to Intaka Island. For MAP directions to Intaka Island please follow this link.


The contract was completed at the end of 2007 with the delivery of a Douglas Colliery Tank Engine which travelled by road from Sandstone in the Free State and which joined the first locomotive, a Narrow Gauge Garrett No.112 which was delivered in October 2007, and placed on the specially designed plinth.


Both locomotives are the property of Sandstone, and are on loan to Century City.


The narrow gauge Garratt locomotive has seen service in the SAR, while the industrial 0-6-0T tank locomotive worked on standard gauge at the Douglas Colliery 25 km south east of Witbank.


The Douglas Colliery locomotive was built at the ex Dubs Queens Parks works of North British to their work number 19790 in 1912 and delivered to the Transvaal & Delagoa Bay Collieries as their number 4, and was the second of its type, the first being number 16447 of 1904.


It later worked at Douglas Colliery, near Witbank, part of the Rand Mines Group, as number 3 before being preserved outside their offices.


In 1998 it was donated to Sandstone and taken to the Randfontein Estates workshops for assessment, later being moved to the Hoekfontein workshops.


Although complete, much of the steelwork has suffered corrosion in the polluted atmosphere of the Witbank area. In terms of an agreement with Century City in Cape Town, this locomotive has received full cosmetic restoration, and is displayed at the entrance to Intaka Island.


Apart from a mechanical overhaul, a new cab, coal bunker and side tanks were required. Interestingly only three locomotives from the Transvaal & Delagoa Bay Collieries survive of which Sandstone has two. The others being Barclay 0-6-0T #976 of 1906 and the Brooks 0-4-0ST #2725 of 1896 which is plinthed at a children's playground in Claremont, Cape Town.


Pictures of the tank locomotive being put on display at Intaka may be seen here.


wheel arrangement: 2-6-2+2-6-2

The Garratt locomotive on display is ex SAR NG16 #112 built in 1939 by Beyer Peacock as order number 6922.


#112 was built in 1939 as part of an order of eight engines No NG109 to NG116 - these were placed in service on the 2 ft narrow gauges branch lines in Natal and the Avontuur line. #112 began its working life on the Ixopo Branch in Kwa Zulu Natal, being based at Umzinto. On withdrawal in 1977 it was staged there until its disposal to Ratanga Junction.


pre-2006 photo courtesy Harry Van der Schyff.

The developers of Ratanga envisioned a steam railroad operation ....

pre-2006 photo courtesy Harry Van der Schyff.

.... but this never got off the ground and sadly the locomotives rusted away in the Cape weather.

pre-2006 photo courtesy Harry Van der Schyff.

In December 2005 #112 along with its sister #110 were transported to Sandstone for appraisal.

#112 was cosmetically restored and returned to Century City in 2007 for display at the entrance to Intaka Island.

More detailed information about the restoration of #112 and pictures of it being put on display at Intaka Island may be found here.

A sister engine #111 is plinthed at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg.

The photos above were all taken on 1 April 2009. Of concern was that the (wooden) number plates, the restored seats and windows of the garratt were all missing.

NOTE: Most of the information given here was sourced from Sandstone web pages as well as their publication "The Sandstone Steam Railroad" compiled by Dave Richardson & Joanna Molyneux-Killik (2006).

Joubertina, steam locomotive #NG80 at station 2/2

ALL THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS ARE BY KIND PERMISSION OF ERROL SWANEPOEL WHO VISITED JOUBERTINA STATION ON 22 OCTOBER 2006


Continued from part 1

Things were looking much better this second visit #NG80 was in great shape again! Painted all over and access to the green van behind the locomotive was restricted again.

#NG80 class NG/G13 Garratt

2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1927 Hanomag designed, in consultation with the SAR, an engine which was to become the standard narrow-gauge Garratt design for the next 40 years. The final order of 7, No NG77-NG83 was used on the Avontuur line where they worked their entire lives. (except 77 & 78 which was exchanged in 1965 for a pair of G11's)


view 3

The balance of the NG/G13's ended their days working out of Loerie, either hauling lime-stone trains up the bank to Van Stadens or doing duty on the Patensie branch. With the arrival of diesels in 1973 they were all withdrawn.


close-up


The cab in neat condition.


Builders plate.


Close-up of driver mechanism.

Joubertina, steam locomotive #NG80 at station 1/2

ALL THE PHOTOS BELOW ARE BY KIND PERMISSION OF ERROL SWANEPOEL WHO VISITED THE JOUBERTINA STATION on 1 APRIL 2005


Joubertina station as seen on 1 April 2005. You might ask where is Joubertina? It is in the Langkloof between Port Elizabeth and Uniondale. The Port Elizabeth-Avontuur narrow gauge railway line runs through Joubertina.


#NG80 is a narrow gauge Garratt locomotive which worked this line from PE to Avontuur. It is now plinthed at Joubertina station.


The locomotive's number and class is indicated here.


Inside of the cab.


As can be seen the locomotive was in bad shape with paint peeling off all over.


It was reported the van behind the locomotive was open and obviously used by vagrants.

BUT GOOD NEWS IS TO FOLLOW!

PLEASE READ PART 2 !!!