CGR NG 0-6-0T 1903

CGR NG 0-6-0T 1903
South African NG 0-6-0T 1903

300px No. NG21 with a makeshift water tender

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Krauss & Company Builder Krauss & Company Build date 1902

Specifications Configuration 0-6-0T (Six-coupled) Driver axle 3rd coupled axle Gauge 2 ft (610 mm) narrow Adhesive weight Loco weight Fuel type Wood Boiler:  • Firebox type Round-top Boiler pressure 160 psi (1,103 kPa) Cylinders Two Cylinder size bore 12 in (305 mm) stroke Valve gear Walschaerts Couplers Bell lift-hook

Performance figures Tractive effort 6,207 lbf (27.61 kN) @ 75%

Career Operators Cape Government Railways South African Railways Number in class 1 Numbers SAR NG21 Delivered 1902 First run 1903 Withdrawn 1918

The Cape Government Railways NG 0-6-0T of 1903 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.

In 1902, Arthur Koppel, acting as agent, imported a single 0-6-0 narrow gauge tank steam locomotive for a customer in Durban. It was then purchased by the Cape Government Railways and used as construction locomotive on the Avontuur branch from 1903. In 1912, this locomotive was assimilated into the South African Railways and, in 1917, it was sent to German South West Africa during the World War I campaign in that territory.

Manufacturer

A single locomotive, built by Krauss & Company in 1902, was imported to Durban in 1902 by Arthur Koppel, acting as agent, for an unknown customer. It was purchased by the Cape Government Railways (CGR) shortly after and placed in service, from 1903, as construction locomotive on the narrow gauge Avontuur branch out of Port Elizabeth, where it was colloquially known as the Koppel engine.

The locomotive had Walschaerts valve gear and, judging from its balloon chimney which was usually used to accommodate a spark arrester, it was probably a wood-burner.

Service

Cape Government Railways

The main picture shows the locomotive hauling a makeshift water tender, consisting of two water tanks on a two-axle goods wagon, with a water pipe strung along the locomotive's side to feed water into the side tanks on the engine. After completion of the Avontuur line, the locomotive was retained in service, since it could haul three passenger coaches more economically than a petrol railcar.

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 Central South African Railways) 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 required careful planning and was only implemented with effect from 1 January 1912.

When it came onto the roster of the South African Railways (SAR) in 1912, the locomotive was numbered no. NG21, with the letters NG identifying it as a narrow gauge locomotive in the SAR registers. In 1917, when an urgent need arose for additional locomotives in German South West Africa during World War I, no. NG21 was transferred to that territory. It did not return after the war and was withdrawn from service in 1918.