South African Class ME 2-6-6-2
Encyclopedia
In January 1912 the South African Railways placed a single Class ME Mallet articulated steam locomotive
with a 2-6-6-2
wheel arrangement in service.
(NBL). The locomotive was intended for test purposes on branch lines with light 45 lb/yd rail.
By the time it was delivered in January 1912, the CSAR had already become part of the newly established South African Railways (SAR). The locomotive was therefore classified as the sole Class ME and numbered 1618 on the SAR roster.
superheater. Compared to other Mallet locomotives that were placed in service during the first decade of the SAR’s existence, the Class ME was unique in being arranged as a simple expansion locomotive with four high pressure cylinders, instead of the more usual compound expansion arrangement of two high pressure and two low pressure cylinders.
to Sabie
in the Eastern Transvaal Lowveld, until it was retired in 1937.
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...
with a 2-6-6-2
2-6-6-2
In Whyte notation, 2-6-6-2 refers to a railroad steam locomotive that has two leading wheels followed by six coupled driving wheels, a second set of six coupled driving wheels, and two trailing wheels...
wheel arrangement in service.
Manufacturer
During 1911 the Central South African Railways (CSAR) placed an order for an experimental simple expansion Mallet articulated steam locomotive with the North British Locomotive CompanyNorth 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). The locomotive was intended for test purposes on branch lines with light 45 lb/yd rail.
By the time it was delivered in January 1912, the CSAR had already become part of the newly established South African Railways (SAR). The locomotive was therefore classified as the sole Class ME and numbered 1618 on the SAR roster.
Characteristics
It had Walschaerts valve gear, a plate frame and was equipped with a SchmidtWilhelm Schmidt (engineer)
Wilhelm Schmidt, known as Hot Steam Schmidt was a German engineer and inventor who achieved the breakthrough in the development of superheated steam technology for steam engines....
superheater. Compared to other Mallet locomotives that were placed in service during the first decade of the SAR’s existence, the Class ME was unique in being arranged as a simple expansion locomotive with four high pressure cylinders, instead of the more usual compound expansion arrangement of two high pressure and two low pressure cylinders.
Service
The Class ME proved to be successful in operation and, even though it was acquired as an experimental locomotive, remained in service for twenty-five years. It spent its last years working on the line from NelspruitNelspruit
Nelspruit is a city of more than 500,000 people situated in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province . Located on the Crocodile River, Nelspruit lies about west of the Mozambique border and east of Johannesburg. The towns of Nelspruit are Kanyamazane and Pienaar...
to Sabie
Sabie
Sabie is a forestry town situated on the banks of the Sabie River in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Once the Sabie River was teeming with crocodiles and the local Shangaan people dubbed it uluSaba or ...
in the Eastern Transvaal Lowveld, until it was retired in 1937.
See also
- Mallet locomotiveMallet locomotiveThe Mallet Locomotive is a type of articulated locomotive, invented by a Swiss engineer named Anatole Mallet ....
- South African Class MA 2-6-6-0South African Class MA 2-6-6-0In 1909 the Natal Government Railways placed a single 2-6-6-0 Mallet articulated compound steam locomotive in service. In 1912, when it was assimilated into the South African Railways, it was renumbered and classified as Class MA.-Manufacturer:...
- South African Class MB 2-6-6-0South African Class MB 2-6-6-0In 1910 the Natal Government Railways placed five 2-6-6-0 Mallet articulated compound steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and classified as Class MB.-Manufacturer:...
- South African Class MC 2-6-6-0South African Class MC 2-6-6-0In 1912 the South African Railways placed ten Class MC Mallet articulated compound steam locomotives with a 2-6-6-0 wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...
- South African Class MC1 2-6-6-0South African Class MC1 2-6-6-0In 1914 the South African Railways placed fifteen Class MC1 Mallet articulated compound steam locomotives with a 2-6-6-0 wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...
- South African Class MD 2-6-6-2South African Class MD 2-6-6-2In March 1910 the Central South African Railways placed a single experimental Mallet articulated compound steam locomotive with a 2-6-6-2 wheel arrangement in service...
- South African Class MF 2-6-6-2South African Class MF 2-6-6-2In 1911 the Central South African Railways placed nine Mallet articulated compound steam locomotives with a 2-6-6-2 wheel arrangement in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and classified as Class MF...
- South African Class MG 2-6-6-2South African Class MG 2-6-6-2In 1911 the Central South African Railways placed a single experimental Mallet articulated compound steam locomotive with a 2-6-6-2 wheel arrangement in service...
- South African Class MH 2-6-6-2South African Class MH 2-6-6-2In 1915 the South African Railways placed five Class MH Mallet articulated compound steam locomotives with a 2-6-6-2 wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...
- South African Class MJ 2-6-6-0South African Class MJ 2-6-6-0Between 1914 and 1921 the South African Railways placed eighteen Class MJ Mallet articulated compound steam locomotives with a 2-6-6-0 wheel arrangement in branch line service.-Manufacturers:...
- South African Class MJ1 2-6-6-0South African Class MJ1 2-6-6-0In 1918 the South African Railways placed eight Class MJ1 Mallet articulated compound steam locomotives with a 2-6-6-0 wheel arrangement in branch line service.-Manufacturer:...
- Articulated locomotive numbering and classification
- The 2-6-6-2 Mallet2-6-6-2In Whyte notation, 2-6-6-2 refers to a railroad steam locomotive that has two leading wheels followed by six coupled driving wheels, a second set of six coupled driving wheels, and two trailing wheels...
- List of South African locomotive classes