South African Class 1 4-8-0
class of 50 South African 4-8-0 locomotives
The South African Railways Class 1 4-8-0 of 1904 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal.
In 1904, the Natal Government Railways placed fifty Class B 4-8-0 Mastodon type steam locomotives in service. Six of them were modified to a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in 1906. In 1912, when the remaining 44 4-8-0 locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class 1.
Design
Because of the limited coal and water range of the existing fleet of Natal Government Railways (NGR) tank locomotives as well as the necessity to double- and even triple-head over the worst sections of the mainline, NGR Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie was tasked to produce a locomotive of greater power and capable of longer distances without refuelling or rewatering to work the mainline's steep 1 in 30 (31⁄3%) gradients.
His resulting Class B achieved this, being more powerful and with a longer range. When the designs were completed, Hendrie proposed that only five locomotives should be ordered so that they may first be thoroughly tested in service before ordering more. The designs, however, were so well received that the NGR placed an immediate order for fifty locomotives with the North British Locomotive Company (NBL).
Manufacturer
It does appear as though there was a fair degree of urgency to obtain these locomotives, evidenced on the one hand by the rush to place a large order for an untested locomotive and on the other hand by the fact that construction was accelerated by dividing it equally between NBL's Hyde Park and Queens Park works. The NGR's faith in Hendrie's ability turned out to be well justified, however, considering the fact that some of these locomotives remained in service for over seventy years.
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