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Class GC no. 2182, c. 1924 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TheSouth African Railways Class GC 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1924 was an articulated steam locomotive.
In 1924 and 1925, theSouth African Railways placed six Class GCGarratt articulated steam locomotives with a2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in branch line service.[1][2][3]
Following the good performance of theClass GB branch line Garratts, the first locomotive to be built to the specifications of F.R. Collins after he was appointed as thechief mechanical engineer of the South African Railways in 1922 was a heavier2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type Garratt, also intended for branch line work. It was designed and built to his specifications byBeyer, Peacock & Company in 1924.[1][2][3][4]
Six locomotives were delivered in 1924 and were erected in theDurban shops of the SAR. They were placed in service in 1924 and 1925, designated Class GC and numbered in the range from 2180 to 2185. The locomotives were superheated, withBelpaire fireboxes, plate frames,Walschaerts valve gear and piston valves.[1][2][3][5][6]
Like its predecessorClass GB, the heavier Class GC was also a branch line locomotive and its maximum axle load of 11 long tons 16 hundredweight (11,990 kilograms) made it suitable for light rail. It was a more powerful development of the Class GB and was very similar to theClass GK Garratts which had been acquired by theNew Cape Central Railway in 1923, but 2 long tons (2,032 kilograms) heavier and with 1 inch (25 millimetres) smaller diameter cylinders with a 1 inch (25 millimetres) longer stroke.[3]
The locomotives were initially placed in service on the Natal South Coast line. Although they later also worked on other branch lines, they spent their entire working lives in Natal until they were withdrawn from service in 1962.[1][3]
Media related toSouth African Class GC 2-6-2+2-6-2 at Wikimedia Commons