In 1917 the South African Railways placed seven Class K tank steam locomotive

Steam locomotive

A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...

s with a 4-6-4T wheel arrangement in service that had been built for the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

, but could not be delivered.

Manufacturer

The Class K 4-6-4T tank steam locomotive was built for the Manila Railway Company

Philippine National Railways

The Philippine National Railways , or PNR, is a state-owned railway company in the Philippines, operating a single line of track on Luzon. As of 2010, it operates one commuter rail service in Metro Manila and a second in the Bicol Region. PNR restored its intercity service to the Bicol region in 2011...

 in the Philippine Islands by the North British Locomotive Company

North British Locomotive Company

The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...

 (NBL) in 1914. Because of difficulties experienced in delivering them to the Philippines during World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 as well as a critical wartime shortage of locomotives on the South African Railways (SAR), the NBL eventually offered the seven locomotives for sale to the SAR. They were purchased and delivered in 1917 and numbered 347 to 353.

Characteristics

The locomotives were superheated, had Walschaerts valve gear and proved to be extremely useful. The Class K was the first locomotive in South Africa to be equipped with exhaust steam injectors, which were of the Davies and Metcalfe

Davies and Metcalfe

Davies and Metcalfe Ltd was a railway equipment and locomotive manufacturer from Romiley, Manchester, England originally founded in Aberystwyth in 1878...

 pattern.

The only modifications needed to these locomotives for them to be put to work on the SAR were to the buffers and drawgear. As built, they had acetylene headlamps and were equipped with bells, but these were removed and SAR headlamps were installed.

Service

The Class K was placed in service on the Reef’s suburban services, shedded at Braamfontein and working between Randfontein and Springs. They were well suited for suburban service since they were free-steaming, had rapid acceleration and were capable of relatively high speeds. They remained in this service until they were eventually withdrawn in 1938.

Gallery

See also

• Tank locomotive numbering and classification
• The 4-6-4 "Hudson"
• List of South African locomotive classes