South African type MX tender

44 ft 8+38 in (13,624 mm)BogiesBuckeyeWheel dia.34 in (864 mm)Wheelbase34 ft 9 in (10,592 mm) • Bogie8 ft 8 in (2,642 mm)Axle load12 LT 10 cwt (12,700 kg) • Front bogie37 LT 10 cwt (38,100 kg) • Rear bogie35 LT 17 cwt (36,430 kg)Weight empty72,424 lb (32,851 kg)Weight w/o73 LT 7 cwt (74,530 kg)Fuel typeCoalFuel cap.12 LT (12.2 t)Water cap.6,500 imp gal (29,500 L)StokingManualCouplersDrawbar & AAR knuckle
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
NumbersSAR 3321-3370
NicknamesTorpedo

The South African type MX tender was a steam locomotive tender.

Type MX tenders entered service in 1949, as tenders to the last batch of Class 19D 4-8-2 Mountain type steam locomotives which entered service on the South African Railways in that year.[1][2][3][4]

Manufacturer

Type MX tenders were built in 1948 by the North British Locomotive Company.[1]

The South African Railways (SAR) placed its final batch of fifty Class 19D locomotives in service in 1949, built by North British. The new Type MX tender for these engines was designed by Dr. M.M. Loubser, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the SAR from 1939 to 1949.[1][2]

Characteristics

Buckeye bogie

The Type MX tender had a coal capacity of 12 long tons (12.2 tonnes), a water capacity of 6,500 imperial gallons (29,500 litres) and a maximum axle loading of 12 long tons 10 hundredweight (12,700 kilograms). It was a tank wagon type tender with a cylindrical water tank, similar in appearance to the North American Vanderbilt type tenders, and was the first of its kind on the SAR. It rode on three-axle Buckeye bogies to reduce the axle load and became commonly known as a Torpedo tender.[1][2][3][4]

Locomotive

Only the last batch of fifty Class 19D locomotives were delivered new with Type MX tenders, which were numbered in the range from 3321 to 3370 for their engines. An oval number plate, bearing the engine number and tender type, was attached to the rear end of the tenders.[1][3][4]

Classification letters

Since many tender types are interchangeable between different locomotive classes and types, a tender classification system was adopted by the SAR. The first letter of the tender type indicates the classes of engines to which it could be coupled. The "M_" tenders could be used with the locomotive classes as shown, although in some cases engine drawbars and intermediate emergency chains had to be replaced or adjusted to suit the target locomotive.[3][4]

The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_X" tenders had a capacity of 6,500 imperial gallons (29,500 litres; 7,810 US gallons).[3][4]

Illustration

  • Type MX tender on Class 19C, 1989
    Type MX tender on Class 19C, 1989
  • Type MX tender on Class 19D, 2008
    Type MX tender on Class 19D, 2008

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 93–96. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  2. ^ a b c Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0869772112.
  3. ^ a b c d e South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. pp. VIII, 45-46.
  4. ^ a b c d e South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 Aug 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte, Steam Locomotives/Stoomlokomotiewe. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. pp. VIII, 6a-7a, 20-21, 28-28A, 45-46.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Steam
7' ¼" gauge
Standard gauge
  • CGR 0-4-0ST Aid
  • Natal 0-4-0ST Durban
  • Natal 0-4-0WT Natal
  • Natal 4-4-0T Perseverance
Cape gauge
Tank engines
  • Durban's Congella
  • Durban's Edward Innes
  • Durban's John Milne
  • Durban's Sir Albert
Cape gauge
Tender engines
Cape gauge
Articulated
engines
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
Electric
Gas-electric
Diesel
Cape gauge
Diesel-electric
2' gauge
Diesel-electric
Cape gauge
Diesel-hydraulic
Cape gauge
Electro-diesel