South African Class 8B 4-8-0

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = CSAR Class 8-L2 4-8-0
South African Classes 8B & 8BW 4-8-0

| image = SAR Class 8B (4-8-0).jpg

| alt =

| caption = CSAR Class 8-L2, SAR Class 8B, at the Waterval Boven tunnel, c. 1912

| hatnote = ♠ Original locomotive, as built
{{font color|red|♥}} Superheated, outside admission valves
{{font color|blue|♣}} Superheated, inside admission valves, Class 8BW

| powertype = Steam

| designer = Cape Government Railways
(H.M. Beatty)

| builder = Neilson, Reid and Company
North British Locomotive Company

| ordernumber =

| serialnumber = Neilson, Reid 6351-6360
NBL 15783-15802

| buildmodel = CGR 8th Class (4-8-0)

| builddate = 1903

| totalproduction = 30

| rebuilder =

| rebuilddate =

| numberrebuilt =

| whytetype = 4-8-0 (Mastodon)

| uicclass = ♠ 2'Dn2 – {{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} 2'Dh2

| driver = 2nd coupled axle

| gauge = {{Track gauge|Cape|allk=on}}

| leadingdiameter = {{convert|28+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| coupleddiameter = {{convert|48|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| trailingdiameter =

| tenderdiameter = {{convert|33+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} as built
{{convert|34|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} retyred

| minimumcurve =

| wheelbase = {{convert|46|ft|10+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| engine total = {{convert|23|ft|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| leading = {{convert|6|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| coupled = {{convert|13|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| trailing =

| tender total = {{convert|14|ft|7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| tenderbogie = {{convert|4|ft|7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| pivotcentres =

| wheelspacing =

| length =

| over couplers = {{convert|54|ft|5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| over bufferbeams =

| width =

| height = ♠ {{convert|12|ft|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|12|ft|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| frametype = Bar

| axleload = ♠ {{convert|12|lt|10|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|12|lt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|12|lt|11|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| leadingbogie/pony= ♠ {{convert|11|lt|18|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|12|lt|15|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| coupled all = {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|12|lt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| coupled 1 = ♠ {{convert|12|lt|9|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|11|lt|18|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| coupled 2 = ♠ {{convert|12|lt|10|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|12|lt|11|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| coupled 3 = ♠ {{convert|11|lt|19|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|11|lt|19|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| coupled 4 = ♠ {{convert|11|lt|16|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|11|lt|18|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| coupled 5 =

| coupled 6 =

| coupled 7 =

| coupled 8 =

| trail bogie/pony =

| tenderbogieload = Bogie 1: {{convert|18|lt|4|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
Bogie 2: {{convert|19|lt|8|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| tenderaxle = {{convert|9|lt|14|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| weightondrivers = ♠ {{convert|48|lt|14|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|48|lt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|48|lt|6|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| locoweight = ♠ {{convert|60|lt|12|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|60|lt|15|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|61|lt|1|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| tenderweight = {{convert|37|lt|12|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| locotenderweight = ♠ {{convert|98|lt|4|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|98|lt|7|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|98|lt|13|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}}

| tendertype = XF (2-axle bogies)
XC, XC1, XD, XE, XE1, XF, XF1, XF2, XJ, XM, XM1, XM2, XM3 permitted

| fueltype = Coal

| fuelcap = {{convert|6|lt|t|1|abbr=on}}

| watercap = {{convert|3000|impgal|L|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}

| tendercap =

| sandcap =

| fireboxtype = Round-top, Drummond

| firearea = {{convert|21|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| boiler =

| boilertype =

| pitch = ♠ {{convert|7|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|7|ft|1|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| diameterinside = ♠{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|5|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| lengthinside = ♠ {{convert|11|ft|1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|11|ft|3/8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| smalltubediameter= ♠ 197: {{convert|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} 115: {{convert|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| largetubediameter= ♠ 48 Drummond: {{convert|2+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} 18: {{convert|5+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| boilerpressure = {{convert|180|psi|kPa|0|abbr=on}}

| safetyvalvetype = Ramsbottom

| feedwaterheater =

| totalsurface = ♠ {{convert|1387.3|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|1081|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| tubearea = ♠ {{convert|1261.9|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|950|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| fluearea =

| tubesandflues =

| fireboxarea = ♠ {{convert|125.4|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|131|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| superheatertype =

| superheaterarea = {{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|214|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}

| cylindercount = Two

| cylindersize = ♠ {{convert|18+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} bore
{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|19|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} bore
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|20|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} bore
♠{{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|24|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} stroke

| frontcylindersize=

| rearcylindersize =

| hpcylindersize =

| lpcylindersize =

| valvegear = Stephenson

| valvetype = ♠ Slide – {{font color|red|♥}}{{font color|blue|♣}} Piston

| valvetravel =

| valvelap =

| valvelead =

| transmission =

| trainheating =

| locobrakes =

| trainbrakes =

| safety =

| coupling = Johnston link-and-pin
AAR knuckle (1930s)

| maxspeed =

| poweroutput =

| tractiveeffort = ♠ {{convert|23110|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75%
{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|24370|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75%
{{font color|blue|♣}} {{convert|27000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75%

| factorofadhesion =

| locobrakeforce =

| operator = Central South African Railways
South African Railways

| operatorclass = CSAR Class 8-L2
SAR Class 8B, Class 8BW

| powerclass =

| numinclass = 30

| fleetnumbers = CSAR 441-470, SAR 1132-1161

| officialname =

| nicknames =

| axleloadclass =

| locale =

| deliverydate = 1903

| firstrundate = 1903

| lastrundate =

| withdrawndate = 1972

| preservedunits =

| restoredate =

| scrapdate =

| currentowner =

| disposition =

| notes = The leading coupled axle had flangeless wheels

}}

The South African Railways Class 8B 4-8-0 of 1903 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in Transvaal Colony.

In 1903, soon after its establishment, the Central South African Railways placed thirty Class 8-L2 4-8-0 Mastodon type steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class 8B.{{Holland-Vol 1|pages=56, 127}}Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1945). The Locomotive in South Africa – A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VI – Imperial Military Railways and C.S.A.R. (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, January 1945. pp. 11-16.Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 8, 12, 15, 41 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000){{Paxton-Bourne|pages=48–49}}

Central South African Railways

Upon the establishment of the Central South African Railways (CSAR) in July 1902, a month after the end of the Second Boer War, Chief Locomotive Superintendent P.A. Hyde became the custodian of a mixed bag of locomotives inherited from the Imperial Military Railways (IMR). Apart from those locomotives which had been acquired new by the IMR during the war, these included engines which originated with the Selati Railway, the Nederlandsche Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorweg-Maatschappij (NZASM), the Pretoria-Pietersburg Railway (PPR) and the Oranje-Vrijstaat Gouwerment-Spoorwegen (OVGS).{{Durrant-Twilight|page=8}}

Manufacturers

The comparatively small number of serviceable locomotives which were immediately available for service, compounded by the poor condition of many of the original NZASM, PPR, Selati and OVGS locomotives as well as an expected post-war increase in traffic, led to an order for thirty Cape 8th Class {{nowrap|4-8-0}} steam locomotives from Neilson, Reid and Company.Neilson, Reid works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser

File:H.M. Beatty.jpg

They were built to the specifications of the 8th Class {{nowrap|4-8-0}} Mastodon type designed by H.M. Beatty, the Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the Cape Government Railways (CGR) from 1896 to 1910, and were the first locomotives to be ordered under the CSAR administration. Since they differed from the Class 8-L1 which had been inherited from the IMR by being equipped with Drummond tubes, these locomotives were designated CSAR Class {{nowrap|8-L2}}.

While they were being built, Neilson, Reid amalgamated with Dübs and Company and Sharp, Stewart and Company to form the North British Locomotive Company (NBL). As a result, the first ten of these locomotives, numbered in the range from 441 to 450, were delivered as built by Neilson, Reid, while the other twenty, numbered in the range from 451 to 470, were delivered as built by NBL, even though all the NBL locomotives were also built at the Hyde Park shops of the former Neilson, Reid.North British Locomotive Company works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser

Drummond tubes

When Hyde placed the order for these locomotives, he specified fireboxes equipped with Drummond water tubes. This involved the installation of crossing water tubes into the firebox, as featured on the London and South Western Railway's T9 Class and L11 Class, in an attempt to increase the heating surface area of the water, albeit at the cost of increased boiler complexity. The tubes were arranged in two clusters and angled to aid circulation. Visible exterior evidence of the presence of Drummond tubes was the two offset rectangular inspection covers attached to the sides of the firebox. They contained stay plugs, serving stays which extended through the tubes from cover to cover through the firebox.

The CGR had also experimented with Drummond tubes by modifying its 6th Class no. 286 and had found that the benefit in improved performance was minimal, while the tubes were inclined to leak and were difficult to maintain. Like the CGR, the CSAR soon learned that the increase in steaming capacity was not sufficient to warrant the additional initial cost and increased maintenance requirements.

Apart from the Drummond tubes, the locomotives differed from the Class {{nowrap|8-L1}} in a few particulars. Their coupling rods were "H" section instead of rectangular, while their crank pins were slightly larger.

South African Railways

When the Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (CGR, Natal Government Railways and CSAR) were united under a single administration to control and administer the railways, ports and harbours of the Union. Although the South African Railways and Harbours came into existence in 1910, the actual classification and renumbering of all the rolling stock of the three constituent railways were only implemented with effect from 1 January 1912.The South African Railways – Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.

File:Class 8B 1133 (4-8-0).JPG

In 1912, these locomotives were renumbered in the range from 1132 to 1161 and designated {{nowrap|Class 8B}} on the SAR.{{Holland-Vol 2|page=139}}

The Class 8-L2 locomotives, together with the CSAR's Classes {{nowrap|8-L1}} and {{nowrap|8-L3}} {{nowrap|4-8-0}} Mastodon type locomotives and all the CGR's {{nowrap|8th Class}} {{nowrap|2-8-0}} Consolidations and {{nowrap|4-8-0}} Mastodons were grouped into ten different sub-classes by the SAR. The {{nowrap|4-8-0}} locomotives became SAR Classes 8 and 8A to 8F and the {{nowrap|2-8-0}} locomotives became Classes 8X to 8Z.

Modifications

In the SAR era, the Drummond tubes were gradually removed as and when the boilers required repairs, but the locomotives retained their Class 8B designation.

During A.G. Watson's term as the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the SAR from 1929 to 1936, many of the Class 8 to Class 8F locomotives were equipped with superheated boilers, larger bore cylinders and either inside or outside admission piston valves.South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended

The outside admission valve locomotives had their cylinder bore increased from {{convert|18+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=off}} to {{convert|19|in|mm|0|abbr=off}} and retained their existing SAR classifications, while the inside admission valve locomotives had their cylinder bore increased to {{convert|20|in|mm|0|abbr=off}} and were reclassified, with a "W" suffix added to their existing SAR classifications.

Of the Class 8B locomotives, nine were equipped with superheating, {{convert|19|in|mm|abbr=off|sigfig=3}} bore cylinders and outside admission piston valves, while retaining their Class 8B classification.

Six locomotives were equipped with superheating, {{convert|20|in|mm|abbr=off|sigfig=3}} bore cylinders and inside admission piston valves and were reclassified to Class 8BW.

Service

In SAR service, the {{nowrap|4-8-0}} Class 8 family of locomotives served on every system in the country and, in the 1920s, became the mainstay of motive power on many branch lines. Their final days were spent in shunting service. They were all withdrawn from service by 1972.

Works numbers

The Class 8B and 8BW builders, works numbers, renumbering and superheating modifications are listed in the table.

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:100%;" \|+Class 8B & 8BW – Builders, works numbers, renumbering and modification
Builder !Works No. !CSAR No. !SAR No. !SAR Model
Neilson Reid \|6351 \|441 \|1132 \|Superheated
Neilson Reid \|6352 \|442 \|1133 \|
Neilson Reid \|6353 \|443 \|1134 \|Class 8BW
Neilson Reid \|6354 \|444 \|1135 \|Class 8BW
Neilson Reid \|6355 \|445 \|1136 \|Class 8BW
Neilson Reid \|6356 \|446 \|1137 \|Superheated
Neilson Reid \|6357 \|447 \|1138 \|
Neilson Reid \|6358 \|448 \|1139 \|Superheated
Neilson Reid \|6359 \|449 \|1140 \|
Neilson Reid \|6360 \|450 \|1141 \|
NBL \|15783 \|451 \|1142 \|Class 8BW
NBL \|15784 \|452 \|1143 \|
NBL \|15785 \|453 \|1144 \|Class 8BW
NBL \|15786 \|454 \|1145 \|
NBL \|15787 \|455 \|1146 \|Superheated
NBL \|15788 \|456 \|1147 \|
NBL \|15789 \|457 \|1148 \|
NBL \|15790 \|458 \|1149 \|
NBL \|15791 \|459 \|1150 \|
NBL \|15792 \|460 \|1151 \|Superheated
NBL \|15793 \|461 \|1152 \|Superheated
NBL \|15794 \|462 \|1153 \|Class 8BW
NBL \|15795 \|463 \|1154 \|Superheated
NBL \|15796 \|464 \|1155 \|Superheated
NBL \|15797 \|465 \|1156 \|
NBL \|15798 \|466 \|1157 \|
NBL \|15799 \|467 \|1158 \|Superheated
NBL \|15800 \|468 \|1159 \|
NBL \|15801 \|469 \|1160 \|
NBL \|15802 \|470 \|1161 \|

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:100%;"

|+Class 8B & 8BW – Builders, works numbers, renumbering and modification

Builder

!Works
No.

!CSAR
No.

!SAR
No.

!SAR
Model

Neilson Reid

|6351

|441

|1132

|Superheated

Neilson Reid

|6352

|442

|1133

Neilson Reid

|6353

|443

|1134

|Class 8BW

Neilson Reid

|6354

|444

|1135

|Class 8BW

Neilson Reid

|6355

|445

|1136

|Class 8BW

Neilson Reid

|6356

|446

|1137

|Superheated

Neilson Reid

|6357

|447

|1138

Neilson Reid

|6358

|448

|1139

|Superheated

Neilson Reid

|6359

|449

|1140

Neilson Reid

|6360

|450

|1141

NBL

|15783

|451

|1142

|Class 8BW

NBL

|15784

|452

|1143

NBL

|15785

|453

|1144

|Class 8BW

NBL

|15786

|454

|1145

NBL

|15787

|455

|1146

|Superheated

NBL

|15788

|456

|1147

NBL

|15789

|457

|1148

NBL

|15790

|458

|1149

NBL

|15791

|459

|1150

NBL

|15792

|460

|1151

|Superheated

NBL

|15793

|461

|1152

|Superheated

NBL

|15794

|462

|1153

|Class 8BW

NBL

|15795

|463

|1154

|Superheated

NBL

|15796

|464

|1155

|Superheated

NBL

|15797

|465

|1156

NBL

|15798

|466

|1157

NBL

|15799

|467

|1158

|Superheated

NBL

|15800

|468

|1159

NBL

|15801

|469

|1160

NBL

|15802

|470

|1161

Illustration

The main picture is a scan of a c. 1935 post card, showing a SAR Class 8B, ex CSAR Class 8-L2, banking at the Waterval Boven tunnel. The pictures below illustrate unmodified locomotives with Drummond tubes as well as superheated locomotives with outside admission piston valves (no. 1155) and inside admission piston valves (no. 1153).

File:SAR Class 8B 1132 (4-8-0) CSAR 441.jpg|CSAR no. 441 works picture, with Drummond tubes, SAR no. 1132, c. 1903

File:SAR Class 8B 1141 (4-8-0) CSAR 450.jpg|CSAR no. 450 with Drummond tubes, SAR no. 1141, c. 1910

File:Class 8B CSAR no. 466, SAR no. 1157.jpg|CSAR no. 466, SAR no. 1157, Barberton line, c. 1910

File:Class 8B 1159 (4-8-0) CSAR 468.jpg|CSAR no. 468 with Drummond tubes, SAR no. 1159, Barberton, c. 1910

File:Class 8BW 1153 (4-8-0).JPG|No. 1153 with inside admission piston valves, Fauresmith, 28 April 2013

File:2011-02-09 10-19-27 South Africa - Kloof.jpg|No. 1155 with outside admission piston valves, Kloof Station, KwaZulu-Natal, 9 February 2011

References

{{Commons category|South African Class 8B (4-8-0)|South African Class 8B 4-8-0|position=left}}

1540

Category:4-8-0 locomotives

Category:2′D h2 locomotives

Category:2D locomotives

Category:Neilson Reid locomotives

Category:NBL locomotives

Category:Cape gauge railway locomotives

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1903

Category:1903 in South Africa