South African type XD tender


The South African type XD tender was a steam locomotive tender from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.
The Type XD tender first entered service in 1901, as tenders to the British-built of the three versions of Tenwheeler type steam locomotive which were acquired by the Cape Government Railways in that year. These locomotives were designated Class 6H on the South African Railways in 1912.

Manufacturer

Type XD tenders were built in 1901 and 1902 by Neilson, Reid and Company.
The original 6th Class locomotive and tender was designed in 1892 by H.M. Beatty, the Locomotive Superintendent of the Cape Government Railways Western System at the time, at its Salt River works in Cape Town. The Type XD tender first entered service in 1901, as tenders to 21 new locomotives which were built for the CGR by Neilson, Reid.

Characteristics

As built, the tender had a maximum axle load of, a coal capacity of and a water capacity of.

Locomotives

In the South African Railways years, tenders were numbered for the engines they were delivered with. In most cases, an oval number plate, bearing the engine number and often also the tender type and locomotive class, would be attached to the rear end of the tender. During the classification and renumbering of locomotives onto the SAR roster in 1912, no separate classification and renumbering list was published for tenders, which should have been renumbered according to the locomotive renumbering list.
Three locomotive classes were delivered new with Type XD tenders, built by the same manufacturer. Bearing in mind that tenders could and did migrate between engines, these tenders should have been numbered in the SAR number ranges as shown.
Since many tender types are interchangeable between different locomotive classes and types, a tender classification system was adopted by the SAR. The first letter of the tender type indicates the classes of engines to which it can be coupled. The "X_" tenders could be used with the locomotive classes as shown.
The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_D" tenders had a capacity of between.

Modifications and rebuilding

Modifications

The original slatted upper sides of the Type XD tender's coal bunker were soon replaced by sheet-metal sides to increase the coal capacity.

Rebuilding

From c. 1925, some Type XD tenders from Classes 6H, 6J and 8 were completely rebuilt by the SAR, by mounting a new upper structure on the existing underframe. Since their new tanks increased their water capacity to, these tenders were reclassified to Type XF. They had a coal capacity of and a maximum axle load of. These rebuilt tenders had a more modern appearance, with flush sides all the way to the top of the coal bunker.SAR Mechanical Department. New Tender Tank - Class 6H, 6J, 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 8Y, 8Z, 10C old tenders, Exp 4, 20. SAR Mechanical Department Drawing Office, Drawing L-5076/12, 1925.
The program to rebuild several older tender types with new upper structures was begun by Col F.R. Collins DSO, who approved several of the detailed drawings for the work during his term in office as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the SAR from 1922 to 1929. It was continued by his successor, A.G. Watson.