class 24 loco[Qld]

["James C." <james_ccj@my-deja.com>]

Information about class 24:



The year 1948 saw the introduction of the 2-8-4 or 'Berkshire' wheel
arrangement on the SAR with the placing in service of one hundred Class
24 branch line locomotives. These engines were designed by CME M.M.
Loubser (father of the former General Manager, Dr Kobus Loubser) and
were intended specifically to replace the 6th, 7th and 8th class
locomotives and were designed to operate on 45lb rail.

Most of the class were initially allocated to the South West Africa
system. However the dieselisation of South West Africa in 1961 saw the
class widely distributed throughout South Africa where they operated
many lightly laid branch lines.

The first withdrawals only occurred in the late 1970's but the 24's
sphere of operation has steadily shrunk and in 1989 there were only 12
examples remaining in service.

These few engines are used on the George to Knysna branch with a few
other examples being retained for special duties. The engines are of
modern design, having among other features, cast steel bed frames with
integral cylinders, cylinder hind covers, smokebox support frame, stays
and various brackets.

No. 3675 was the 2000th locomotive supplied by the North British
Locomotive Co and its predecessors to the South African Railways and
was named 'Bartholomew Diaz'. This locomotive is part of the Transnet
Museum collection.

The tender, like the final order of 19D's is of the 'Vanderbilt' type,
but shorter in length although still carried on two six wheel 'Buckeye'
bogies





--
Cheers

James


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