South West African Class Hd

Locomotive class

GSWA Class Hd 2-8-2
South West African Class Hd 2-8-2
South African Class NG5 2-8-2

No. 40 plinthed at Usakos, May 1984

| Type and origin

Power type| Steam
Designer| Henschel and Son
Builder| Henschel and Son
Serial number| 10720-10722
Model| Class Hd
Build date| 1912
Total produced| 3
| Specifications

Configuration:
| ​
• Whyte| 2-8-2
• UIC| 1D1h2
Driver| 3rd coupled axle
Gauge| 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow
Leading dia.| 21+21⁄32 in (550 mm)
Coupled dia.| 33+7⁄8 in (860 mm)
Trailing dia.| 21+21⁄32 in (550 mm)
Tender wheels| 20+1⁄2 in (521 mm)
Wheelbase| 38 ft 6+5⁄8 in (11,751 mm) ​
• Axle spacing
(Asymmetrical)| 1-2: 3 ft 1+7⁄16 in (951 mm)
2-3: 3 ft 4+1⁄8 in (1,019 mm)
3-4: 3 ft 1+7⁄16 in (951 mm)
• Engine| 17 ft 11⁄16 in (5,199 mm)
• Coupled| 9 ft 7 in (2,921 mm)
• Tender| 11 ft 5+3⁄4 in (3,499 mm)
• Tender bogie| 3 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1,000 mm)
Length:
| ​
• Over couplers| 49 ft 9+1⁄4 in (15,170 mm)
Height| 10 ft 9+15⁄16 in (3,300 mm)
Frame type| Plate
Loco weight| 32 LT 17 cwt (33,380 kg)
Tender weight| 25 LT 11 cwt 3 qtr (26,000 kg)
Total weight| 58 LT 8 cwt 3 qtr (59,380 kg)
Tender type| 2-axle bogies
Fuel type| Coal
Fuel capacity| 2 LT 17 cwt (2.9 t)
Water cap.| 2,860 imp gal (13,000 L)
Firebox:| ​
• Type| Round-top
• Grate area| 16.7 sq ft (1.55 m2)
Boiler:
| ​
• Pitch| 5 ft 8+7⁄8 in (1,749 mm)
• Diameter| 3 ft 11+3⁄4 in (1,213 mm)
• Tube plates| 13 ft 1+1⁄2 in (4,000 mm)
• Small tubes| 114: 1+3⁄4 in (44 mm)
• Large tubes| 12: 4+23⁄32 in (120 mm)
Boiler pressure| 171 psi (1,179 kPa)
Heating surface:| ​
• Firebox| 68 sq ft (6.3 m2)
• Tubes| 900 sq ft (84 m2)
• Total surface| 968 sq ft (89.9 m2)
Superheater:
| ​
• Heating area| 169 sq ft (15.7 m2)
Cylinders| Two
Cylinder size| 15+3⁄4 in (400 mm) bore
17+3⁄4 in (451 mm) stroke
Valve gear| Heusinger
Valve type| Piston
Loco brake| Air
Train brakes| Air & vacuum
Couplers| Buffer-and-chains
| Performance figures

Tractive effort| 16,610 lbf (73.9 kN) @ 75%
| Career

Operators| Otavi Mining and Railway Co.
South African Railways
Class| GSWA Class Hd, SAR Class NG5
Number in class| 3
Numbers| SW40-SW42
Delivered| 1912
First run| 1912
Withdrawn| 1960

The South West African Class Hd 2-8-2 of 1912 was a narrow gauge steam locomotive from the German South West Africa era.

In 1912, the German administration in German South West Africa acquired three Class Hd tender locomotives with a 2-8-2 "Mikado" wheel arrangement, for lease to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company to use on the line from Swakopmund to Karibib. When these locomotives were taken onto the roster of the South African Railways after the First World War, they retained their German classification and engine numbers, but with an "SW" prefix to their numbers.[1][2]

When a system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced by the South African Railways, they were designated Class NG5 along with similar locomotives which were placed in service by the South African Railways in 1922.[1][3][4]

## Manufacturer

[edit]

Increasing traffic demands arising from the copper mines at Tsumeb led to a requirement for more locomotives. Three narrow gauge 2-8-2 steam locomotives were built for the German administration in German South West Africa (GSWA) by Henschel and Son in Germany in 1912. They were designated Class Hd, numbered in the range from 40 to 42, and leased to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company for use on the section between Swakopmund and Karibib.[1][2][5]

The "Hd" classification identified the locomotive type as the fourth class to have been built for GSWA by Henschel.[1]

## Characteristics

[edit]

The locomotives were superheated, with Heusinger valve gear, piston valves and outside plate frames. Since they were to be used across the Namib Desert, they were equipped with dust covers to protect the motion from wind-blown sand. Their leading and trailing carrying wheels were not mounted in separate bogie trucks, but were rigidly mounted and arranged as radial axles to allow for sideways motion of the wheels in relation to the locomotive frame. This resulted in a rigid wheelbase of 17 feet 11⁄16 inch (5,199 millimetres), even though the leading carrying wheels were arranged to the rear instead of ahead of the cylinders.[1][2]

As built, the sand boxes were mounted on top of the boiler aft of the dome. Their tenders, also built by Henschel, rode on two four-wheeled bogies and had a coal capacity of 2 long tons 17 hundredweight (2.9 tonnes) and a water capacity of 2,860 imperial gallons (13,000 litres). The engines were equipped for trains with air brakes, which was not yet in use in South Africa at the time.[1][2]

## South African Railways

[edit]

After the First World War, when the former German colony came under South African administration and all railway operations in South West Africa (SWA) were taken over by the South African Railways (SAR) in 1922, these locomotives retained their Hd classification and engine numbers, but with an "SW" prefix to the numbers. This was to prevent confusion with the two Class NG1 narrow gauge locomotives of the SAR which were numbered NG40 and NG41.[1]

In SAR service, the locomotives were also equipped with vacuum train brakes.[3]

## Reclassification

[edit]

A system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was only adopted by the SAR somewhere between 1928 and 1930 and at that point these three locomotives, along with six similar locomotives which were built to a revised design and placed in service by the SAR in SWA in 1922, were all designated Class NG5. The original three locomotives retained their original German engine numbers, but the SW prefix was done away with since the two Class NG1 locomotives with duplicate engine numbers were being withdrawn from service at the time.[1][3]

## Service

[edit]

They remained on the SWA for their entire working lives, and all were withdrawn when the 2 ft gauge lines of the SWA system were widened to Cape gauge in 1960. Since they were unsuitable for use on the 2 ft line in the Langkloof, all six of the 1922 vintage Class NG5 locomotives were scrapped in 1962.[1]

Number plate and plaques on No. 41, Otjiwarongo, 2011

Two of the 1912 ex-Class Hd locomotives were preserved. No. 40 was plinthed on the Usakos railway station platform while No. 41 was plinthed outside Otjiwarongo railway station.[6]

## Commemoration

[edit]

A postage stamp depicting the Class Hd locomotive was one of a set of four commemorative South West African postage stamps which were issued on 2 August 1985 to commemorate the narrow gauge locomotives which pioneered railways in the territory. The stamp design was by the noted stamp designer and artist Koos van Ellinckhuijzen.[7][8]

## Illustration

[edit]

* Works picture of Class Hd no. 40, c. 1912

## References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South West African Class Hd.

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 102, 110, 116–117. ISBN 0869772112.
2. ^ a b c d Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1947). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, October 1947. pp. 859-860.
3. ^ a b c South African Railways and Harbours Narrow Gauge Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" Gauge, S.A.R. Mechanical Dept. Drawing Office, Pretoria, 28 November 1932
4. ^ South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
5. ^ Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow
6. ^ Middleton, John N. (2002). Railways of Southern Africa Locomotive Guide - 2002 (as amended by Combined Amendment List 4, January 2009) (2nd, Dec 2002 ed.). Herts, England: Beyer-Garratt Publications. p. 33.
7. ^ Philatelic Bulletin 44, issued by Philatelic Services and INTERSAPA, 1985
8. ^ De Jager, Okkie and Steenkamp, Riaan - The Art of J.J. (Koos) van Ellinckhuijzen

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* t
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Steam Locomotives of South West Africa

600 mm gauge
(Narrow gauge)|

* Class Ha
* Class Hb
* Class Hc
* Class Hd
* Jung
* Zwillinge

3' 6" gauge
(Cape gauge)|

* 6-Coupled Tank
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* 10-Coupled Tender

* List of South African locomotive classes
* South African locomotive history

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Locomotives of South Africa

Steam|

| 7' ¼" gauge|

* East London 0-4-0VB

* Table Bay 0-4-0ST
* Table Bay 0-4-0T
* Table Bay 0-4-0WT

|

Standard gauge|

* Cape 0-4-0T Blackie
* Cape 0-4-2
* Cape 2-4-0T

* CGR 0-4-0ST Aid

* Natal 0-4-0ST Durban
* Natal 0-4-0WT Natal
* Natal 4-4-0T Perseverance

Cape gauge
Tank engines|

* CGR 0-4-0ST 1873
* CGR 0-4-0ST 1874
* CGR 0-4-0ST 1881
* CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 Coffee Pot
* CGR 0-6-0ST
* CGR 0-6-0T
* CGR 2-6-0ST 1900
* CGR 2-6-0ST 1902
* CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1875
* CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1876
* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0ST
* CGR 1st Class 4-4-0T
* CGR 2nd Class 4-4-0T
* CGR 3rd Class 2-6-0T
* CGR Railmotor

* CSAR Class C
* CSAR Class E
* CSAR Rack 4-6-4RT
* CSAR Railmotor

* Durban's Congella
* Durban's Edward Innes
* Durban's John Milne
* Durban's Sir Albert

* Port Elizabeth 0-4-0ST

* Kowie Railway 0-6-0T
* Kowie Railway 4-4-0T

* Metropolitan & Suburban 4-6-2T

* NGR 2-6-0T Durban & Pietermaritzburg
* NGR Class I 2-6-2T
* NGR Class K 0-4-0ST
* NGR Class K 0-6-0ST
* NGR Class K 2-6-0T

* NZASM 10 Tonner
* NZASM 13 Tonner
* NZASM 14 Tonner
* NZASM 18 Tonner
* NZASM 19 Tonner
* NZASM 32 Tonner
* NZASM 40 Tonner

* PPR 26 Tonner
* PPR 35 Tonner Portuguese

* SAR Class A
* SAR Class B
* SAR Class C
* SAR Class C1
* SAR Class C2
* SAR Class D
* SAR Class E
* SAR Class F
* SAR Class G
* SAR Class H
* SAR Class H1
* SAR Class H2
* SAR Class J
* SAR Class K
* SAR Railmotor
* SAR Dock 0-4-0ST
* SAR Dock 0-4-0T

* SWA 2-8-0T

Cape gauge
Tender engines|

* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 BP
* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Kitson
* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1879
* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1891
* CGR 1st Class 4-4-0
* CGR 1st Class 4-4-0TT
* CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1883
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1884
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1889
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1898
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1901
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1903
* CGR 4th Class 4-4-2
* CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880
* CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882
* CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882 Joy
* CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1884
* CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1890
* CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891

* NGR Havelock
* NGR Class I

* SAR Class Exp 1
* SAR Class Exp 2
* SAR Class Exp 3
* SAR Class Exp 4
* SAR Class Exp 5
* SAR Class Exp 6
* SAR Class S
* SAR Class S1
* SAR Class S2
* SAR Class 1
* SAR Class 1A
* SAR Class 1B
* SAR Class 2
* SAR Class 2C
* SAR Class 3
* SAR Class 3A
* SAR Class 3B
* SAR Class 4
* SAR Class 4A
* SAR Class 5
* SAR Class 5A
* SAR Class 5B
* SAR Class 6
* SAR Class 6A
* SAR Class 6B
* SAR Class 6C
* SAR Class 6D
* SAR Class 6E
* SAR Class 6F
* SAR Class 6G
* SAR Class 6H
* SAR Class 6J
* SAR Class 6K
* SAR Class 6L
* SAR Class 6Y
* SAR Class 6Z
* SAR Class 7
* SAR Class 7A
* SAR Class 7B
* SAR Class 7C
* SAR Class 7D
* SAR Class 7E
* SAR Class 7F
* SAR Class 8
* SAR Class 8A
* SAR Class 8B
* SAR Class 8C
* SAR Class 8D
* SAR Class 8E
* SAR Class 8F
* SAR Class 8R
* SAR Class 8X
* SAR Class 8Y
* SAR Class 8Z
* SAR Class 9
* SAR Class 10
* SAR Class 10A
* SAR Class 10B
* SAR Class 10C
* SAR Class 10D
* SAR Class 11
* SAR Class 12
* SAR Class 12A
* SAR Class 12B
* SAR Class 13
* SAR Class 14
* SAR Class 14A
* SAR Class 14B
* SAR Class 14C 1st
* SAR Class 14C 2nd
* SAR Class 14C 3rd
* SAR Class 14C 4th
* SAR Class 15
* SAR Class 15A
* SAR Class 15B
* SAR Class 15C
* SAR Class 15CA
* SAR Class 15E
* SAR Class 15F
* SAR Class 16
* SAR Class 16A
* SAR Class 16B
* SAR Class 16C
* SAR Class 16D
* SAR Class 16DA 1928
* SAR Class 16DA 1930
* SAR Class 16E
* SAR Class 17
* SAR Class 18
* SAR Class 19
* SAR Class 19A
* SAR Class 19B
* SAR Class 19C
* SAR Class 19D
* SAR Class 20
* SAR Class 21
* SAR Class 23
* SAR Class 24
* SAR Class 25
* SAR Class 25NC
* SAR Class 26
* SAR Katanga

* SWA 2-8-0

Cape gauge
Articulated
engines|

* CGR Fairlie
* CGR Kitson-Meyer

* SAR Class FC
* SAR Class FD
* SAR Class GA
* SAR Class GB
* SAR Class GC
* SAR Class GCA
* SAR Class GD
* SAR Class GDA
* SAR Class GE
* SAR Class GEA
* SAR Class GF
* SAR Class GG
* SAR Class GH
* SAR Class GK
* SAR Class GL
* SAR Class GM
* SAR Class GMA
* SAR Class GO
* SAR Class HF
* SAR Class KM
* SAR Class MA
* SAR Class MB
* SAR Class MC
* SAR Class MC1
* SAR Class MD
* SAR Class ME
* SAR Class MF
* SAR Class MG
* SAR Class MH
* SAR Class MJ
* SAR Class MJ1
* SAR Class U

2' 6" gauge|

* Cape Copper John King & Miner
* Cape Copper Britannia
* Cape Copper Caledonia
* Cape Copper Clara
* Cape Copper Condenser
* Cape Copper Scotia

* Namaqua Copper Pioneer

* Walvis Bay 2-4-2T Hope

2' & 600mm
gauges|

* ACR Class NG-G16A

* CGR NG 0-4-0T
* CGR NG 0-6-0T
* CGR NG 4-6-2T
* CGR Type A 2-6-4T
* CGR Type C 0-4-0T

* NGR Class N 4-6-2T

* SAR Dutton
* SAR NG 0-4-0T
* SAR Class NG1
* SAR Class NG2
* SAR Class NG3
* SAR Class NG4
* SAR Class NG5
* SAR Class NG6
* SAR Class NG7
* SAR Class NG8
* SAR Class NG9
* SAR Class NG10
* SAR Class NG-G11
* SAR Class NG-G12
* SAR Class NG-G13
* SAR Class NG-G14
* SAR Class NG15
* SAR Class NG-G16

* SWA Class Ha
* SWA Class Hb
* SWA Class Hc
* SWA Class Hd
* SWA Jung
* SWA Zwillinge

Electric|

* Amcoal Class E38

* SAR Class ES
* SAR Class ES1
* SAR Class Exp-AC
* SAR Class 1E
* SAR Class 2E
* SAR Class 3E
* SAR Class 4E
* SAR Class 5E s1
* SAR Class 5E s2
* SAR Class 5E s3
* SAR Class 5E1 s1
* SAR Class 5E1 s2
* SAR Class 5E1 s3
* SAR Class 5E1 s4
* SAR Class 5E1 s5
* SAR Class 6E
* SAR Class 6E1 s1
* SAR Class 6E1 s2
* SAR Class 6E1 s3
* SAR Class 6E1 s4
* SAR Class 6E1 s5
* SAR Class 6E1 s6
* SAR Class 6E1 s7
* SAR Class 6E1 s8
* SAR Class 6E1 s9
* SAR Class 6E1 s10
* SAR Class 6E1 s11
* SAR Class 7E
* SAR Class 7E1
* SAR Class 7E2 s1
* SAR Class 7E2 s2
* SAR Class 7E3 s1
* SAR Class 7E3 s2
* Spoornet Class 7E4
* SAR Class 8E
* SAR Class 9E s1
* SAR Class 9E s2
* SAR Class 10E
* SAR Class 10E1 s1
* Spoornet Class 10E1 s2
* SAR Class 10E2
* SAR Class 11E
* SAR Class 12E
* Spoornet Class 14E
* Spoornet Class 14E1
* TFR Class 15E
* Spoornet Class 16E
* Spoornet Class 17E
* Spoornet Class 18E s1
* TFR Class 18E s2
* TFR Class 19E
* TFR Class 20E
* TFR Class 21E
* TFR Class 22E
* TFR Class 23E

Gas-electric|

* SAR Gas-electric

Diesel|

| Cape gauge
Diesel–electric|

* PRASA Class Afro 4000
* SAR Class DS
* SAR Class DS1
* SAR Class 31-000
* SAR Class 32-000
* SAR Class 32-200
* SAR Class 33-000
* SAR Class 33-200
* SAR Class 33-400
* SAR Class 34-000
* SAR Class 34-200
* SAR Class 34-400
* SAR Class 34-500
* SAR Class 34-600
* SAR Class 34-800
* SAR Class 34-900
* SAR Class 35-000
* SAR Class 35-200
* SAR Class 35-400
* SAR Class 35-600
* TFR Class 35-800
* SAR Class 36-000
* SAR Class 36-200
* SAR Class 37-000
* Spoornet Class 39-000
* TFR Class 39-200
* TFR Class 43-000
* TFR Class 44-000
* TFR Class 45-000

|

2' gauge
Diesel–electric|

* SAR Class 91-000

Cape gauge
Diesel–hydraulic|

* SAR Class 61-000

Cape gauge
Electro-diesel|

* Spoornet Class 38-000

* List of South African locomotive classes
* South African locomotive numbering and classification

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