The South African Railways Class 8D of 1903 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.
In 1903, when the first batch of 8th Class Mastodon type locomotives had been tried and proven successful, the Cape Government Railways placed another 38 8th Class steam locomotives in service, six on the Western System, twenty on the Midland System and twelve on the Eastern System. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class 8D.Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 9, 12, 15, 42-43 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
Manufacture Evolution The first 8th Class locomotive of the Cape Government Railways (CGR) was a Consolidation type, designed by H.M. Beatty, the Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the CGR from 1896 to 1910. It was later to be designated the South African Railways (SAR) Class 8X.
While these first Schenectady- and ALCO-built locomotives were being subjected to exhaustive testing on all types of traffic and under varying conditions, some trouble was experienced with the leading two-wheeled pony truck. When designs were prepared at Salt River for a later order for more locomotives, the pony truck was replaced with a four-wheeled bogie.
These 38 locomotives were the second batch of CGR 8th Class locomotives to be built with a Mastodon type wheel arrangement. In spite of the difference in wheel arrangement, the CGR's new post-7th Class Consolidations and Mastodons were all grouped together into the 8th Class.
Builders They were ordered from Neilson, Reid and Company in 1902 and were delivered in four batches in 1903. 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 last four of these locomotives were delivered as having been built by NBL at the Hyde Park shops of the former Neilson, Reid.Neilson, Reid works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard SchmeiserNorth British Locomotive Company works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser
The locomotives were delivered with Type XE1 tenders and distributed between the CGR's Midland, Eastern and Western systems. Twenty were allocated to the Midland System, nineteen of them numbered in the range from 366 to 384 and the twentieth numbered 399. Twelve, numbered in the range from 783 to 794, went to the Eastern System. Six, numbered in the range from 807 to 812, went to the Western System.
Class 8 sub-classes 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 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.South Africa Act, 1909, enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 20 September 1909
In 1912, these 38 locomotives were renumbered in the range from 1192 to 1229 and designated Class 8D on the South African Railways (SAR).
These locomotives, together with the rest of the CGR's 8th Class Consolidations and 8th Class Mastodons as well as the Class 8-L1 to 8-L3 Mastodon locomotives from the Central South African Railways (CSAR), were grouped into ten different sub-classes by the SAR. The locomotives became SAR Classes 8 and 8A to 8F and the locomotives became Classes 8X to 8Z.
Modifications Superheating During A.G. Watson's term as the Chief Mechanical Engineer 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. The outside admission valve locomotives had their cylinder bore increased from to and retained their existing SAR classifications, while the inside admission valve locomotives had their cylinder bore increased to and were reclassified by having a "W" suffix added to their existing SAR classifications.South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
Of the Class 8D locomotives, nine were equipped with superheated boilers, bore cylinders and outside admission piston valves, while retaining their Class 8D classification.
Fourteen were equipped with superheated boilers, bore cylinders and inside admission piston valves, and were reclassified to .
Experimental chimney In the early 1930s engine no. 1197 was fitted with an experimental chimney designed by Watson. A similar chimney, the shape of which earned it a nickname that referred to a night bucket, was also tested on Class 5B no. 726. This experiment did not result in further production.SAR Mechanical Department. Experimental Chimney. Class 5B Engine no. 726. SAR Mechanical Department Drawing Office Pretoria, Drawing L-7503, 7 October 1931.
Service In SAR service, the 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 and they were all withdrawn by 1972.
Some were sold into industrial service after withdrawal, like no. 1211, which became Puffing Duggie at Grootvlei Proprietary Mines (GVPM).
Works numbers The Class 8D and Class 8DW locomotive builders, works numbers, CGR to SAR renumbering and superheating modifications are listed in the table. +Class 8D Builders, Works Numbers & RenumberingBuilderYearWorksNo.CGRNo.CGRSystemSARNo.SARModelNeilson Reid1903 6325 807 Western1192 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1903 6326 808 Western1193 Neilson Reid1903 6327 809 Western1194 Neilson Reid1903 6328 810 Western1195 Neilson Reid1903 6329 811 Western1196 SuperheatedNeilson Reid1903 6330 812 Western1197 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1902 6284 366 Midland1198 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1902 6285 367 Midland1199 Neilson Reid1902 6286 368 Midland1200 SuperheatedNeilson Reid1902 6287 369 Midland1201 Neilson Reid1902 6288 370 Midland1202 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1902 6289 371 Midland1203 Neilson Reid1902 6290 372 Midland1204 Neilson Reid1902 6291 373 Midland1205 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1902 6292 374 Midland1206 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1902 6293 375 Midland1207 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1902 6294 376 Midland1208 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1902 6295 377 Midland1209 Neilson Reid1903 6303 378 Midland1210 Neilson Reid1903 6304 379 Midland1211 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1903 6305 380 Midland1212 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1903 6308 381 Midland1213 SuperheatedNBL1903 15833 382 Midland1214 SuperheatedNBL1903 15834 383 Midland1215 NBL1903 15835 384 Midland1216 Class 8DWNBL1903 15836 399 Midland1217 SuperheatedNeilson Reid1902 6296 783 Eastern1218 Neilson Reid1902 6297 784 Eastern1219 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1902 6298 785 Eastern1220 Neilson Reid1902 6299 786 Eastern1221 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1903 6306 787 Eastern1222 Neilson Reid1902 6300 788 Eastern1223 SuperheatedNeilson Reid1903 6307 789 Eastern1224 SuperheatedNeilson Reid1902 6301 790 Eastern1225 SuperheatedNeilson Reid1903 6331 791 Eastern1226 Class 8DWNeilson Reid1903 6332 792 Eastern1227 Neilson Reid1903 6333 793 Eastern1228 Neilson Reid1903 6334 794 Eastern1229 Superheated
Illustration The main picture shows reboilered and modified SAR Class 8D no. 1223 at the Bloemfontein locomotive depot on 22 March 1970. In the second picture below, the same locomotive is depicted before the modification.
References