South African Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2


The South African Railways Class of 1937 is a narrow gauge steam locomotive.
Between 1937 and 1968, the South African Railways placed 34 Class Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in service on the Avontuur Railway and on the Natal narrow gauge lines.

Manufacturers

The success of the Class NG G13 narrow gauge Garratts that were introduced by the South African Railways in 1927 led to a decision that any additional narrow gauge articulated locomotives would be of the same design. Altogether 34 more Double Prairie type narrow gauge locomotives were built, spread over five orders from three manufacturers over a span of 32 years.

Cockerill

In 1937, Société Anonyme John Cockerill of Seraing in Belgium delivered four new locomotives, numbered in the range from NG85 to NG88, which were so similar to the older locomotives that they were initially designated Class NG G13 as well. However, in view of the fact that all the carrying wheels were fitted with roller bearing axle boxes and arranged as swiveling pony trucks, compared to the Class NG G13 of which the inner carrying wheels were built to the Gölsdorf system which allowed the axle some lateral movement, it was soon decided to reclassify them to Class.
These pre-war locomotives, like the earlier Class NG G13 locomotives, were built with riveted coal and water bunkers and with elliptical tops on the water tanks.

Beyer, Peacock

The second order of eight locomotives was delivered from Beyer, Peacock and Company in 1939. They were numbered in the range from NG109 to NG116.
The third order was for a further seven locomotives in 1951, numbered in the range from NG125 to NG131, once again from Beyer, Peacock. They still had elliptical tops on the water tanks, but these and the subsequent locomotives had welded water and coal bunkers.
The fourth batch of seven locomotives, numbered in the range from NG137 to NG143, were the last steam locomotives to be built by Beyer, Peacock and were built to the specifications of the Tsumeb Copper Corporation in South West Africa. They were mechanically similar to the earlier and subsequent Class locomotives, but with a revised coal and water carrying arrangement. These locomotives had an enlarged front water tank capacity, but carried no water in their rear bunkers which consequently had a larger coal capacity. They had flat-topped water tanks with rounded top side edges. It was planned to use them as tank-and-tender Garratts, semi-permanently attached to a water tender for use across the Namib desert in SWA, as was the practice with the Cape gauge Classes GM, GMA and GO tank-and-tender Garratts in South Africa.
However, while the locomotives were being built, the decision was made to convert all the SWA narrow gauge lines to Cape gauge. In terms of a prior agreement between the SAR and the Tsumeb Copper Corporation, the SAR would purchase any narrow gauge locomotives that would become redundant should the re-gauging of the SWA system take place. The new locomotives were therefore delivered directly to the SAR in 1958.
On the Avontuur Railway, these locomotives were used as tank-and-tender Garratts, but when the Langkloof members of the class were transferred to Natal in 1964, the water tenders were dispensed with since watering points were much closer together in Natal as a consequence of the early use of tank engines on those narrow-gauge branches.

Hunslet-Taylor

The final order for eight locomotives in 1967, numbered in the range from NG149 to NG156, turned out to be the last new steam locomotives to be ordered by the SAR. Beyer-Peacock had stopped building steam locomotives after the last batch of Class in 1958 and by 1968 they were in the process of closing the business altogether. Since no other overseas manufacturers were available to supply them, they were built by Hunslet-Taylor in Germiston using boilers supplied by their overseas principals, the Hunslet Engine Company in England. Built in 1967 and 1968, these locomotives had the same enlarged capacity front water tanks as those of the Tsumeb group, but their rear bunkers were identical to those of the 1951 batch of locomotives and carried both coal and water.

Cabside number plates

After the Official Languages of the Union Act No 8 of 1925 was passed on 8 May 1925, bilingual English and Afrikaans cabside number plates began to appear on SAR locomotives, initially inscribed "SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS" at the top and "SUID AFRIKANSE SPOORWEË" at the bottom. The Afrikaans spelling conventions were changed from time to time in the early years. On postage stamps, for example, it was "Zuid Afrika" from 1913, "Suidafrika" from the airmail stamps of 1925 and hyphenated "Suid-Afrika" from 1933. On cabside number plates, the spelling of the Afrikaans inscription was later altered with "AFRIKANSE" changed to "AFRIKAANSE" and with "SUID AFRIKAANSE SPOORWEË" unhyphenated, and stil later to "SUID-AFRIKAANSE SPOORWEË" hyphenated.
The Cockerill-built locomotives were delivered with bilingual cabside number plates inscribed "NG/G13" and with the older style Afrikaans "SUID AFRIKANSE SPOORWEË" at the bottom. When they were designated Class NG G16, the "NG/G13" was altered to "NG/G16" by milling out the 3 and riveting on a 6, as shown.

Service

The Cockerill locomotives, numbers NG85 to NG88, remained in Natal for most of their service lives.
The Beyer, Peacock locomotives ordered by the SAR, numbers NG109 to NG116 and NG125 to NG131, were shared more or less equally between the Natal and Langkloof lines.
The seven Beyer, Peacock locomotives ordered by the Tsumeb Copper Corporation, numbers NG137 to NG143, were initially distributed between the Umzinto, Port Shepstone and Avontuur lines, but in 1964 the three that went to the Langkloof were also transferred to Natal.
The Hunslet-Taylor locomotives, numbers NG149 to NG156, were placed in service on the Harding and Donnybrook branches in Natal in 1968.
When the lower section of the Avontuur line was dieselised upon the arrival of the Class 91-000 diesel-electric locomotives in 1973, all the Class locomotives still in service were transferred to various branches in Natal, where they remained until they were withdrawn from service.

Class NG G16A

When the four Natal narrow gauge systems were closed down by the SAR, the Weenen and Mid-Illovo lines were lifted, but the Harding line was privatised as the Alfred County Railway, operating out of Port Shepstone.
As part of their strategy to keep the railway competitive, two of the ACR's Class locomotives were rebuilt using technology similar to that used in the Cape gauge Class 26 Red Devil. The rebuilding incorporated a gas producing combustion system, Lempor exhausts, an improved spark arrester, lightweight multi-ring articulated piston valves, improved valve events and improved mechanical lubrication. The two locomotives which received this treatment, no. NG141 in 1989 and no. NG155 in 1990, were reclassified to Class NG G16A.
In comparative testing, no. NG141 achieved a fuel saving of 25% compared to a standard Class Garratt, a performance which was easily maintained in regular service. The cost of the work paid off financially within twelve months and led to a proposal to develop a Class NG G17, but that never materialised since the line's farming produce traffic was gradually lost to road transport on the improving road network.

Preservation

Since withdrawal from SAR service, some locomotives were sold to foreign railways and into private hands and restored to operational condition, while others ended up in various degrees of preservation ranging across the spectrum from running order to staging to total abandonment. In 2017, at least four establishments still operated or were restoring ex-SAR Class Garratts. Several however, have now been cut up for scrap.

Welsh Highland Railway

The Welsh Highland Railway in the United Kingdom owns four Class locomotives. One, no. NG140, is used as a source of rotable spare parts while three locomotives, Cockerill-built no. NG87 and Beyer, Peacock-built numbers NG138 and NG143, are used for operational purposes. In addition, one other Class, number NG130, is based on the line but not owned by the railway. NG130 is undergoing a fast track restoration sponsored by its private owner with a ten-year operating agreement with the WHR in place from 2019.

Sandstone Estates

The Sandstone Estates near Ficksburg in the Free State is home to a large number of Class locomotives, either as the owners or as the custodian for locomotives belonging to individuals or other establishments. Three of their Class locomotives are homed here, and are regularly run during the Estate's annual events like the Cosmos Festival, Cherry Festival, Stars of Sandstone and others. These are Cockerill-built no. NG88, Beyer, Peacock-built no. NG113 and Hunslet-Taylor-built no. NG153.

Puffing Billy Railway

The Puffing Billy Railway, located in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne, Australia, purchased NG129 in August 1996 from ACR Shareholder Peter Newton. From 2008 they have completely rebuilt it, including re-gauging it to as additional capacity at a time of increasing passenger loadings. Completion of no. NG129's restoration was planned to coincide with the next time that no. G42 was to be withdrawn for major maintenance. The Puffing Billy Railway also purchased no. NG127 from Peter Newton in November 2011. This gave them a second almost-complete Class NG G16 which will possibly also be totally rebuilt in the future. After first being steamed in September 2019 129, in November 2019 it underwent light engine and load testing. On 18 December 2019 it ran its first public trip on the railway hauling a special doubled headed service for supporters of the project from Belgrave to Menzies Creek in company with Garratt G42 127 was pulled out of the museum for photo opportunities with 129.

Distribution

The last known fate of all the Class locomotives, as of December 1, 2018, are shown in Table I.
Table I
South African Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2 locations


No.
BuilderCountryLocationNotes
NG85Cockerill South AfricaSandstone EstatesUnrestored, scrap condition.
NG86Cockerill South AfricaSandstone EstatesUnrestored, scrap condition.
NG87Cockerill WalesWelsh Highland RailwayWithdrawn in late 2018. Receiving new 10 year boiler ticket, some mechanical work and a full repaint during the year 2019. Now back in operation as of February 2020.
NG88Cockerill South AfricaSandstone EstatesOperational.
NG109Beyer, Peacock EnglandPeak RailPurchased by Waterman Heritage Railway Trust in scrap condition during 2009 from the Exmoor Steam Railway for future use on the WHR. After failure to gain UK Government backing for his apprenticeship restoration program, the overhaul was stopped. All parts were moved to where they remained in open storage until August 2018. After failure to reach a sale agreement with the FR/WHR the locomotive, still in scrap component form was moved to Peak Rail in Derbyshire, England.
NG110Beyer, Peacock South AfricaSandstone EstatesUnrestored, scrap condition.
NG111Beyer, Peacock South AfricaGold Reef City, JohannesburgOn display in excellent cosmetic condition.
NG112Beyer, Peacock South AfricaCentury City, Cape TownOn display in good cosmetic condition, on loan from Sandstone Estates.
NG113Beyer, Peacock South AfricaSandstone EstatesBack in operation by April 2019 after a boiler retube.
NG114Beyer, Peacock South AfricaPaddock, KwaZulu-NatalScrapped at Paddock, South Africa October 2017
NG115Beyer, Peacock EnglandExmoor Steam RailwayStored in unrestored, scrap condition. Sold February 2020, Moved to undisclosed location March 2020..
NG116Beyer, Peacock South AfricaPaton's Country Railway, Ixopo, KwaZulu-NatalOperational from April 2017 but as of March 2020 has not made a line run. Overhauled using parts off 156 including the 1968 built Hunslet boiler.
NG125Beyer, Peacock South AfricaPaddock, KwaZulu-NatalScrapped at Paddock, South Africa October 2017
NG126Beyer, Peacock South AfricaPaddock, KwaZulu-NatalScrapped at Paddock, South Africa September 2017
NG127Beyer, Peacock AustraliaPuffing Billy RailwaySold to and overhauled for the Exmoor Steam Railway in England around 1996 by the ACR but not delivered. Returned to service on the ACR until April 2006. Stored at Port Shepstone 2006 to 2011, then sold to the Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne, Australia by Peter Newton, arriving in March 2012. Currently on display as delivered in unrestored condition in the new Museum at Menzies Creek station.
NG128Beyer, Peacock South AfricaSandstone EstatesUnrestored, scrap condition.
NG129Beyer, Peacock AustraliaPuffing Billy RailwaySold to the Puffing Billy Railway by ACR shareholder Peter Newton in 1996. Total rebuild carried out including a new all-welded steel boiler and conversion to 2'6" gauge. Commenced service on the Puffing Billy Railway in December 2019.
NG130Beyer, Peacock WalesFor Welsh Highland RailwayPurchased from the Exmoor Steam Railway by Steam Powered Services in scrap condition. Now at the WHR Dinas works where it is being restored to operate on the railway. Expected to be ready for the 2020 main operating season.
NG131Beyer, Peacock South AfricaApple Express, Port ElizabethOwned by Transnet Heritage Trust. Lease lend to the Apple Express Organization. Located in the former Humewood Road Narrow Gauge diesel depot in excellent external condition. Overhaul to operating condition proceeding
NG137Beyer, Peacock South AfricaSandstone EstatesUnrestored, scrap condition.
NG138Beyer, Peacock WalesWelsh Highland RailwayOperational.
NG139Beyer, Peacock South AfricaPaddock, KwaZulu-NatalUnrestored. Ownership transferred to Paddock Motors after a court case to resolve unpaid storage fees. Locomotive is for sale.
NG140Beyer, Peacock WalesWelsh Highland RailwayDisassembled about 2002. Used as a source of rotable spare parts to keep 87, 138 and 143 in continual operation.
NG141Beyer, Peacock South AfricaSandstone EstatesRebuilt in 1989 to Class NGG16A, Privately owned by the Mortimer family, in very poor condition.
NG142Beyer, Peacock South AfricaPaddock, KwaZulu-NatalScrapped at Paddock, South Africa September 2017.
NG143Beyer, Peacock WalesWelsh Highland RailwayOperational. The last Garratt built by Beyer, Peacock.
NG149Hunslet-Taylor South AfricaPaddock, KwaZulu-NatalScrapped at Paddock, South Africa August 2017. Engine units sent to Ixopo for 156.
NG150Hunslet-Taylor South AfricaSandstone EstatesUnrestored, scrap condition.
NG151Hunslet-Taylor South AfricaPaddock, KwaZulu-NatalUnrestored, scrap condition. Ownership transferred to Paddock Motors after a court case to resolve unpaid storage fees. Locomotive is for sale.
NG152Hunslet-Taylor South AfricaSandstone EstatesUnrestored, scrap condition.
NG153Hunslet-Taylor South AfricaSandstone EstatesOperational.
NG154Hunslet-Taylor South AfricaHumewood Station, Port ElizabethScrapped by the THF at Humewood Road, Port Elizabeth, South Africa August 2011.
NG155Hunslet-Taylor South AfricaSandstone EstatesSold to Sandstone in 2002. It has the NGG16A boiler unit but carries the standard British built unmodified power units off 142. The South African built 16A power units were cut up at Paddock October 2017 On January 31st 2020, the Sandstone Estate announced that it would overhaul the remains of 155 to operating condition.
NG156Hunslet-Taylor South AfricaPaton's Country Railway, Ixopo, KwaZulu-NatalScrap condition. Moved from Paddock to Ixopo by December 2015 with power units off 149. 156 power units cut up at Paddock in October 2017. Some parts including the boiler used to make 116 whole. remaining large components re-assembled using 116 boiler for static display at Ixopo by January 2019.

Works numbers

Their engine numbers, builders, years built and works numbers are listed in Table II.

Loco no.
Builder
Year
built
Works
no.
NG85Cockerill19373265
NG86Cockerill19373266
NG87Cockerill19373267
NG88Cockerill19373268
NG109Beyer, Peacock19396919
NG110Beyer, Peacock19396920
NG111Beyer, Peacock19396921
NG112Beyer, Peacock19396922
NG113Beyer, Peacock19396923
NG114Beyer, Peacock19396924
NG115Beyer, Peacock19396925
NG116Beyer, Peacock19396926
NG125Beyer, Peacock19517426
NG126Beyer, Peacock19517427
NG127Beyer, Peacock19517428
NG128Beyer, Peacock19517429
NG129Beyer, Peacock19517430
NG130Beyer, Peacock19517431
NG131Beyer, Peacock19517432
NG137Beyer, Peacock19587862
NG138Beyer, Peacock19587863
NG139Beyer, Peacock19587864
NG140Beyer, Peacock19587865
NG141Beyer, Peacock19587866
NG142Beyer, Peacock19587867
NG143Beyer, Peacock19587868
NG149Hunslet-Taylor1967-683894
NG150Hunslet-Taylor1967-683895
NG151Hunslet-Taylor1967-683896
NG152Hunslet-Taylor1967-683897
NG153Hunslet-Taylor1967-683898
NG154Hunslet-Taylor1967-683899
NG155Hunslet-Taylor1967-683900
NG156Hunslet-Taylor1967-683901

Illustration

The builder’s pictures serve to illustrate the differences between the five models of the Class locomotive.