The Cape Government Railways 2-6-0ST of 1900 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

era in the

Cape of Good Hope The Cape of Good Hope ( af, Kaap die Goeie Hoop ) ;''Kaap'' in isolation: pt, Cabo da Boa Esperança is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is ...

. In 1900, two 2-6-0 Mogul type saddle-tank locomotives entered service on the Port Elizabeth Harbour works, followed by one more in 1904. They were later taken onto the Cape Government Railways roster and were all still in service when the South African Railways was established in 1912.Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1943). ''The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter II - The Cape Government Railways'' (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, September 1943. p. 658.

Manufacturer

In 1900, two 2-6-0 saddle-tank locomotives were delivered to the Port Elizabeth Harbour Board (PEHB) from

Kitson and Company Kitson and Company was a locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Early history The company was started in 1835 by James Kitson at the Airedale Foundry, off Pearson Street, Hunslet, with Charles Todd as a part ...

. In 1904, they were followed by one more from the same manufacturer.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, April 1944. pp. 253-257. CGR 2-6-0ST of 1900

The builder’s works numbers of the first two locomotives are not known, but are probably two of Kitson numbers 4079 to 4083 in respect of which no trial date or owner are given in the Kitson Works Trial Book. The third locomotive, Kitson no. 4245, is listed with trial date 8 December 1903 and customer ''H Chaplin P.E.H.B.'' From the trial date, it would follow that the locomotive could only have entered service in

Port Elizabeth Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, S ...

early in 1904.Carter, Reg (November 1997). ''Kitson Works List.'' (Carter was assistant Librarian for the Stephenson Locomotive Society (SLS) who holds the original Kitson records.) The locomotives were similar in appearance and general dimensions to the 1st Class 2-6-0ST of 1876 which had been delivered as a pair of Stephenson's Patent back-to-back side-tank locomotives, before being rebuilt to saddle-tank locomotives by the

Cape Government Railways The Cape Government Railways (CGR) was the government-owned railway operator in the Cape Colony from 1874 until the creation of the South African Railways (SAR) in 1910. History Private railways The first railways at the Cape were privately own ...

(CGR) in the 1880s. The new locomotives were slightly larger, with an increased heating surface and tractive effort.

Service

Port Elizabeth Harbour Board

The locomotives were acquired as construction locomotives for use on the Port Elizabeth harbour works. The PEHB used letters to number its locomotives at the time, and the first two of these engines were lettered I and J, while the one which was delivered in 1904 was lettered O. Updated information on the 1st Class Kitsons

Cape Government Railways

In terms of Cape Act 38 of 1908, the

(CGR) became responsible for the administration of the three major harbours in the Cape of Good Hope with effect from 1 January 1909. The locomotives were therefore all taken onto the CGR roster and renumbered in the range from 1024 to 1026. They spent their entire service lives as dock shunting engines in the

Harbour. Updated information on the 1st Class Kitsons

South African Railways

When the

Union of South Africa The Union of South Africa ( nl, Unie van Zuid-Afrika; af, Unie van Suid-Afrika; ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the Cape, Natal, Tran ...

was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (CGR,

Natal Government Railways The Natal Government Railways (NGR) was formed in January 1877 in the Colony of Natal. In 1877, the Natal Government Railways acquired the Natal Railway Company for the sum of £40,000, gaining the line from the Point to Durban and from Durban ...

and

Central South African Railways The Central South African Railways (CSAR) was from 1902 to 1910 the operator of public railways in the Transvaal Colony and Orange River Colony in what is now South Africa. During the Anglo-Boer War, as British forces moved into the territory of ...

) 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.''The South African Railways - Historical Survey''. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25. In 1912, the locomotives were considered obsolete by the SAR and renumbered by having the numeral "0" prefixed to their existing engine numbers. Even though obsolete, they remained in service until 1931.''Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists'', issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 13, 17. (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)

References

{{Locomotives of South Africa

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2-6-0 locomotives 1C locomotives Kitson locomotives Cape gauge railway locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1900 1900 in South Africa Scrapped locomotives