The South African type YE tender was a steam locomotive tender from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope.
The Type YE tender first entered service in 1901, as tenders to the first four 6th Class2-6-2 Prairie type steam locomotives of the Cape Government Railways, which were soon modified to a 2-6-4 Adriatic wheel arrangement. These locomotives were designated Class 6Z on the South African Railways in 1912.[1][2][3]
In 1901, the Cape Government Railways (CGR) placed four 6th Class steam locomotives with a 2-6-2 Prairie type wheel arrangement in service. The engines were soon modified to a 2-6-4 Adriatic type wheel arrangement. The locomotive and tender were designed at the Salt River works in Cape Town under the supervision of Western System Locomotive Superintendent H.M. Beatty. They would be designated Class 6Z on the South African Railways (SAR) in 1912.[1][2][3]
The Type YE first entered service as tenders to these locomotives. More entered service in 1903, as tenders to the CGR Karoo Class of 1903 and the CGR 6th Class 2-6-2.[1][2][3]
Characteristics
The tender had a coal capacity of 5 long tons 10 hundredweight (5.6 tonnes), a water capacity of 2,825 imperial gallons (12,800 litres) and a maximum axle load of 10 long tons 17 hundredweight (11,020 kilograms).[2][3]
Locomotives
In the SAR years, tenders were numbered for the engines they were delivered with. In most cases, an oval number plate, bearing the engine number and often also the tender type, would be attached to the rear end of the tender. During the classification and renumbering of locomotives onto the SAR roster in 1912, no separate classification and renumbering list was published for tenders, which should have been renumbered according to the locomotive renumbering list.[3][4]
Three locomotive classes were delivered new with Type YE tenders. Bearing in mind that tenders could and did migrate between engines, these tenders should have been numbered in the SAR number ranges as shown.[2][3][4]
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 "Y_" tenders could be used with the following locomotive classes:[3]
The second letter indicates the tender's water capacity. The "_E" tenders had a capacity of between 2,800 and 2,855 imperial gallons (12,700 and 13,000 litres; 3,360 and 3,430 US gallons).[3]
A number, when added after the letter code, indicates differences between similar tender types, such as function, wheelbase or coal bunker capacity.[3]
Modification
The original slatted upper sides of the Type YE tender's coal bunker were soon replaced by sheet-metal sides.
Modified Type YE on CGR 6th Class 2-6-2, Three Sisters, c. 1905
References
^ abcdHolland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 52–54, 56. ISBN978-0-7153-5382-0.
^ abcdeSouth 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. p. 41.
^ abClassification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 8, 12, 14, 34 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
