Cape Government 4-4-2 Locomotives in South_Africa

Class 04 "Hatrack" (Locobase 2713)

Data from "An American Locomotive for South Africa", Engineering News, Volume 38 (28 October 1897), pp. 277-278 and DeGolyer, Volume 21, p. 25. See also A E Durrant, The Smoke That Thunders (Harare, Zimbabwe: African Publishing Group, 1997), p. 50. Works numbers were 15338-15543 in May 1897.

Relatively large engines for the Cape gauge supplied by an American builder at a time when European builders were overwhelmed by orders. It's an unusual-looking Atlantic, having relatively small drivers in proportion to the boiler and cab. But Baldwin took full advantage of positioning the firebox over the small trailing axle, whose wheels measured 33" (838 mm), and produced a short, but quite wide (60"/1,524 mm) furnace.

According to Holland (1972, I), in service these engines "were found to be free of any vices, low in maintenance costs, free running, and had excellent steaming qualities. They became great favourites with the engine crews, who dubbed them "Hatracks" because of their appearance." Hiroshi Takagi, a Japanese steam locomotive historian, suggests that the nickname came from their having a relatively slender boiler.

"Dusty" Durrant asserted a leading role for this accidental South African import: They were "especially, were the forerunners of all modern locomotives in Southern Africa, and [H M] Beatty then turned entirely to bar framed locomotives, belatedly following their other excellent feature, the wide firebox."