George, Entrance to Transport MUSEUM, SAR Class 7A No 1009

This 2016 image is courtesy of the photographer Laurie Mulrine; it was 1st posted here:  SAR Class 7A: no. 1009, Outeniqua Transport Museum, George, Western Cape. 22.11.2016.

This SAR Class 7A engine No 1009 is plinthed at the street entrance to the OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM in George. This blog has more entries about this museum:

1. Entrance to Transport MUSEUM, SAR Class 7A No 1009 (THIS ENTRY)
2. OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM 1/4
3. OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM 2/4
4. OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM 3/3
5. OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM 4/4

SAR 7A #1009 as she appeared on 21 Feb 2011


SAR 7A #1009


SAR 7A #1009


SAR 7A #1009

This engine was built as works number 4928 by Neilson & Co in 1896 for the Cape Government Railways. (CGR). The Class 7 in general was withdrawn in 1972.

SAR Class 7A engine no 1009 in super-shine condition as she appeared at Oudtshoorn Station in Nov 1979 - photo (c) HG Graser, Hersbruck as published in Steam Safari Nov. 1979: part 4 (German text)

Oudtshoorn 1984 - Photo: Sue Lawrence; source sa-transport

This engine was first plinthed at the Oudtshoorn station, but was later moved to George to be a gate guard at the OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM.


photo taken by Piet Conradie on 26-11-2001.

The Class 7 were the main goods locomotives for the last 20 years of the CGR, the design prepared in 1890 by H.M. Beatty.


photo taken by Piet Conradie on 26-11-2001.

The first 38 engines became SAR Class 7; the next batch of 26 engines were built by Sharp, Steward and Co., Neilson, Reid and Co and Dübs and Co between 1896 and 1901. They differed from the earlier order by having a larger boiler and an eight-wheeled tender.


2004 Photo: Christo Kleingeld; source sa-transport

The first Class 7 locomotives were commissioned by the Cape Government Railways and delivered by Dübs & Co of England in 1892. Follow-up batches were built by Sharp, Steward & Co, Neilson, Reid & Co, and North British Locomotive Company. They had a wheel arrangement of 4-8-0, coupled wheels of 3'6 3/4" (1086mm diameter and Stephenson link valve gear. The engines were originally powered by saturated steam, but many were later reboilered and converted to use superheated steam. Modifications such as larger boilers, increases in cylinder diameters and larger cabs resulted in the reclassification of the locomotives as Class 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E and 7F.


2004 Photo: Christo Kleingeld; source sa-transport

The SAR Class 7A engine number series were 988-1031.

All the locomotives in this series originally used saturated steam, had plate frames and Stephonson's link motion.

Specifications for the SAR Class 7A are here.

Also look-up the entry for Keetmanshoop where Class sister engine SAR Class 7A no 1011 is plinthed.