South African Class 7C 4-8-0

{{Short description|1902 design of steam locomotive}} {{About|one of several different Cape Government Railways locomotive types to be designated "7th Class"|the others|Cape Government Railways 7th Class locomotives}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use South African English|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox locomotive | name = CGR 7th Class 4-8-0 1902 South African Classes 7C & 7CS 4-8-0 | image = SAR Class 7C (4-8-0) ex CGR.jpg | alt = | caption = CGR 7th Class no. 765, SAR Class 7C no. 1065 | hatnote = ♠ Original locomotive, as built {{font color|red|♥}} Locomotive equipped with superheating | powertype = Steam | designer = [[Cape Government Railways]] (H.M. Beatty) | builder = [[Neilson and Company#Turn of the 20th century|Neilson, Reid and Company]] | ordernumber = | serialnumber = 6079–6088 | buildmodel = CGR 7th Class | builddate = 1901 | totalproduction = 10 | rebuilder = | rebuilddate = | numberrebuilt = | whytetype = [[4-8-0]] (Mastodon) | uicclass = ♠ 2'Dn2 – {{font color|red|♥}} 2'Dh2 | driver = 2nd coupled axle | gauge = {{Track gauge|Cape|allk=on}} | leadingdiameter = {{convert|28+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | coupleddiameter = {{convert|42+3/4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | trailingdiameter = | tenderdiameter = {{convert|33+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} as built {{convert|34|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} retyred | minimumcurve = | wheelbase = {{convert|46|ft|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | engine total = {{convert|21|ft|3+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | leading = {{convert|5|ft|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | coupled = {{convert|12|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}} | trailing = | tender total = {{convert|16|ft|1|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | tenderbogie = {{convert|4|ft|7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | pivotcentres = | wheelspacing = | length = | over couplers = {{convert|53|ft|4+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | over bufferbeams = | width = | height = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|12|ft|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | frametype = [[Locomotive frame#Plate frames|Plate]] | axleload = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|9|lt|14|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | leadingbogie/pony= ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|11|lt|2|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled all = | coupled 1 = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|9|lt|8|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled 2 = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|9|lt|14|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled 3 = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|9|lt|10|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled 4 = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|9|lt|8|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled 5 = | coupled 6 = | coupled 7 = | coupled 8 = | trail bogie/pony = | tenderbogieload = | tenderaxle = {{convert|8|lt|10|lcwt|2|qtr|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} av. | weightondrivers = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|38|lt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | locoweight = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|49|lt|2|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | tenderweight = {{convert|34|lt|2|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | locotenderweight = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|83|lt|4|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | tendertype = [[South African type ZC tender|ZC]] (2-axle bogies) [[South African type ZA tender|ZA]], [[South African type ZB tender|ZB]], ZC, [[South African type ZE tender|ZE]] permitted | fueltype = Coal | fuelcap = {{convert|5|lt|10|lcwt|t|1|abbr=on}} | watercap = {{convert|2600|impgal|L|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} | tendercap = | sandcap = | fireboxtype = Round-top | firearea = ♠ {{convert|17.5|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|18|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | boiler = | pitch = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|6|ft|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | boilertype = | diameterinside = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|4|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | lengthinside = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|10|ft|9|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | smalltubediameter= ♠ '''185:''' {{convert|1+7/8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} '''100:''' {{convert|1+7/8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | largetubediameter= {{font color|red|♥}} '''18:''' {{convert|5+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | boilerpressure = {{convert|180|psi|kPa|0|abbr=on}} | safetyvalvetype = [[Safety valve#Ramsbottom safety valves|Ramsbottom]] | feedwaterheater = | totalsurface = ♠ {{convert|1089|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|919|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | tubearea = ♠ {{convert|976|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|806|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | fluearea = | tubesandflues = | fireboxarea = ♠{{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|113|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | superheatertype = | superheaterarea = {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|206|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | cylindercount = Two | cylindersize = {{convert|17+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} bore {{convert|23|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} stroke | frontcylindersize= | rearcylindersize = | hpcylindersize = | lpcylindersize = | valvegear = [[Stephenson valve gear|Stephenson]] | valvetype = ♠ [[Slide valve|Slide]] – {{font color|red|♥}} [[Piston valve (steam engine)|Piston]] | valvetravel = | valvelap = | valvelead = | transmission = | trainheating = | locobrakes = | trainbrakes = | safety = | coupling = [[Railway coupling#Johnston coupler|Johnston link-and-pin]] [[Janney coupler|AAR knuckle]] (1930s) | maxspeed = | poweroutput = | tractiveeffort = ♠ {{convert|22240|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75% {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|20990|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75% | factorofadhesion = 3.83 | locobrakeforce = | operator = Cape Government Railways [[South African Railways]] | operatorclass = CGR 7th Class SAR Class 7C, Class 7CS | powerclass = | numinclass = 10 | fleetnumbers = CGR 759-768 SAR 1059-1068 | officialname = | nicknames = | axleloadclass = | locale = | deliverydate = 1902 | firstrundate = 1902 | lastrundate = | withdrawndate = 1972 | preservedunits = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition = | notes = The leading coupled axle had flangeless wheels }}

The '''South African Railways Class 7C 4-8-0''' of 1902 was a steam locomotive from the pre-[[Union of South Africa|Union]] era in the [[Cape Colony|Cape of Good Hope]].

In 1902, the Cape Government Railways placed its last ten 7th Class {{nowrap|[[4-8-0]]}} Mastodon type steam locomotives in service on the Cape Eastern System. In 1912, when all these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated {{nowrap|Class 7C}}.<ref name="Holland 1">{{Holland-Vol 1|pages=43–44}}</ref><ref name="SAR Renumber">Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 8, 12, 15, 39 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)</ref><ref name="Paxton-Bourne">{{Paxton-Bourne|pages=46–48}}</ref><ref name="Pattison 1">{{Pattison-Seventh|pages=10, 23, 29-32}}</ref>

==Manufacturer== The last of the 7th Class locomotives to be ordered by the [[Cape Government Railways]] (CGR), were ten for the Cape Eastern System. They were built by [[Neilson and Company#Turn of the 20th century|Neilson, Reid and Company]] in 1901 and delivered and placed in service in 1902, with engine numbers in the range from 759 to 768.<ref name="Holland 1"/><ref name="Neilson">Neilson, Reid works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser</ref>

[[File:H.M. Beatty.jpg|thumb|left|150px|H.M. Beatty]] The original Cape 7th Class locomotive had been designed in 1892 by H.M. Beatty, at the time the Cape Government Railways (Western System) Locomotive Superintendent.<ref name="SAR&H Jan 1944">Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1944). ''The Locomotive in South Africa – A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter II – The Cape Government Railways'' (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, January 1944. pp. 9-10.</ref>

This last batch of locomotives differed from all previous 7th Class models in having a large commodious cab with double windows on each side, similar to those which were fitted to the ex [[Central South African Railways]] (CSAR) [[South African Class 7B 4-8-0|Class 7B]] locomotives. This afforded better protection for the crew. They were more than {{convert|4|lt|t|1|abbr=off}} heavier than the original [[South African Class 7 4-8-0|7th Class]] locomotives, with larger diameter boilers with a higher boiler pressure. Their power was further improved by their increased cylinder diameter.<ref name="Holland 1"/><ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/>

==Class 7 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.<ref name="SAR Renumber"/><ref name="SAR History">''The South African Railways – Historical Survey''. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.</ref>

When these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways (SAR) in 1912, they were renumbered in the range from 1059 to 1068 and designated Class 7C.<ref name="Holland 1"/><ref name="SAR Renumber"/><ref name="Holland 2">{{Holland-Vol 2|page=139}}</ref>

Other Class 7 locomotives which came onto the SAR roster from the CGR and other Colonial railways in the region, namely the CSAR, the [[Natal Government Railways]] (NGR), some from the [[Rhodesia Railways]] (RR) and, in 1925, from the New Cape Central Railways (NCCR), were grouped into another six sub-classes by the SAR, becoming SAR Classes 7, 7A, 7B and 7D to 7F.<ref name="diagram-book">South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended</ref>

==Modifications== During the 1930s, many of the Class 7 series locomotives were equipped with superheated boilers and piston valves. On the [[South African Class 7B 4-8-0|Classes 7B]] and 7C, this conversion was sometimes indicated with an "S" suffix to the class number on the locomotive number plates, but on the rest of the Class 7 family this distinction was not applied consistently. The superheated versions could be identified by the position of the chimney on the smokebox. The chimney was displaced forward on the superheated engines to provide space behind it in the smokebox for the superheater header.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="diagram-book"/>

==Service==

===South Africa=== In SAR service, the Class 7 series worked on every system in the country. They remained in branch line service until they were finally withdrawn in 1972.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/>

===South West Africa=== In 1915, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, the [[German South West Africa]] colony was occupied by the Union Defence Forces. Since a large part of the territory's railway infrastructure and rolling stock was destroyed or damaged by retreating German forces, an urgent need arose for locomotives for use on the [[Cape gauge]] lines in that territory. In 1917, numbers 1065 to 1067 were transferred to the Defence Department for service in South West Africa.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/><ref name="SAR&H Dec 1947">Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1947). ''The Locomotive in South Africa – A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII – South African Railways (Continued).'' South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, December 1947. p. 1033.</ref>

These three locomotives remained in South West Africa after the war. They proved to be so successful in that territory that more were gradually transferred there in later years. By the time the [[South African Class 24 2-8-4|Class 24]] locomotives arrived in SWA in 1949, 53 locomotives of the Class 7 family were still in use there. Most remained there and were only transferred back to South Africa when the [[South African Class 32-000|Class 32-000]] diesel-electric locomotives replaced them in 1961.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/>

==Preservation== Only one of these locomotives has survived into preservation. Locomotive no. 1062 has been preserved at Prieska Station Forecourt.

==References== {{Commons category|South African Class 7C (4-8-0)|South African Class 7C 4-8-0|position=left}} {{Reflist}} {{Locomotives of the Cape Government Railways}} {{Locomotives of South Africa}} {{Steam locomotive tenders}}

[[Category:Steam locomotives of South Africa|1480]] [[Category:H.M. Beatty locomotives|1480]] [[Category:4-8-0 locomotives]] [[Category:2′D h2 locomotives]] [[Category:2D locomotives]] [[Category:Neilson Reid locomotives]] [[Category:Cape gauge railway locomotives]] [[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1902]] [[Category:1902 in South Africa]] [[Category:Scrapped locomotives]]