Streamlined locomotives
of the world
Alan (Fred) Pipes and a Beyer-Garratt
This is me in front of a huge beautiful Beyer-Garratt articulated loco from South Africa at Manchester's fabulous Museum of Science and Industry, not far from my home town of Bury, Lancs (or is it still in Greater Manchester?) – terminus of the East Lancashire Railway. Although this one is not streamlined, others did have streamlined front tenders.
This Class GL 4-8-2 2-8-4 loco, number 2352, was built by Bayer, Peacock & Co Ltd in Gorton, Manchester for South African Railways in 1930. The first two GLs, 2350 & 2351, were built in 1929 and were so successful that another 6 were ordered, of which 2352 was the first. It initially worked the coal trains from Durban to Cato Ridge on the Natal main line, then from 1938 the Glencoe – Vryheid route, and later the Stanger – Empangani route. It was withdrawn in 1972 and returned to Manchester in 1984.
Despite its 3ft 6in gauge, this 90ft loco had a tractive effort of 89,130 lb @ 85% boiler pressure and could haul a 1200 ton train up a 1 in 50 gradient.
Mosi will be hosting a Great Garratt Gathering on 15 August 2009.
A complete list of all Garratt locomotives:
users.powernet.co.uk/hamilton/source.html
This great site includes a photograph of a streamlined Beyer-Garratt: PLM-Algeria 231-132BT1 (Societe Franco-Belge, Raismes, France 2697/1936). The most striking Garratt design built! (Collection G. Hamilton)
The world's first Beyer-Garratt, the historic K1 has been restored and is working on the Welsh Highland Railway.
Here are some sad pictures of a crashed Beyer-Garratt of Rhodesian Railways.
