109
| 109 | |
|---|---|
| Type | NGG16 |
| Original Railway | SAR |
| Number | 109 |
| Status | Long term storage |
| History | |
| Built by | Beyer Peacock |
| Built | 1939 |
| 2009 | Acquired by PWT |
| 2014 | Arrived on WHR |
| 2018 | Left WHR |
| Technical | |
| Wheel Arrangement | 2-6-2+2-6-2T |
| Length | 49 ft 2 in |
| Locomotives | |
109 is an NGG16 Garratt locomotive that was being rebuilt for use on the Welsh Highland Railway. The overhaul was never completed and the locomotive is now in store at Peak Rail, Derbyshire.
History in South Africa[edit]
109 was built by Beyer Peacock for South African Railways to their 2-6-2+2-6-2T NGG16 Garratt design. This was the first of the second batch of NGG16s built in 1939 and was the first of the class to be built by Beyer Peacock Ltd at its Gorton works in Manchester (the first batch came from Cockerill of Belgium). It carries the works number of 6919.
It was put to work on the Avontuur line in Cape Province It was one of the few Garratts to remain on the Avontuur line following the arrival of the NG15s in 1961. Following the arrival of the class 91 diesels it was transferred to the Natal in 1973. It worked on the Umzinto - Donnybrook line until it was withdrawn from service in 1985. At the time of closure in 1986, locomotives No. 87, 109, 113 and 153 were on shed at Ixopo. The four locomotives were donated to Midmar Historic village who were to build a narrow gauge railway. In the event 109 never made it to Midmar and instead ended up in storage at the Springs Railway Depot, about 40 miles east of Johannesburg.[1] 87 later found its way to the WHR whilst the other two locomotives are now owned by the Sandstone Heritage Trust.
Preservation in the UK[edit]
The locomotive was purchased from South Africa by the Stirland family of the Exmoor Steam Centre in 1995. It arrived at Bratton Fleming on 3 July that year, becoming the first NGG16 to return to the UK.[2]
On 6 July 2009 it was announced that the locomotive had been purchased from the Exmoor Steam Centre for service on the Welsh Highland Railway by the Peter Waterman Trust and was to be restored by the London & North Western Railway Company at Crewe. It arrived at LNWR Crewe on 16 October 2009 for fast track overhaul.
Parts of this locomotive were displayed during 2010. This locomotive is owned by Peter Waterman and was intended to run on the WHR when the rebuild was complete. However, due to Government cutbacks, the funding for the apprenticeship programme was cancelled so all work on the locomotive was stopped. In January 2014 most of the locomotive was delivered to Dinas for storage.
In 2018 109's components were removed from Dinas and taken to Peak Rail in Derbyshire.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Payling, David (2012). Garratts and Kalaharis of the Welsh Highland Railway. Harbour Station, Porthmadog: Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. ISBN 978-0-901848-10-9. OCLC 871303225.
- ^ "NG/G16 Garratt No.109 purchased for service on Welsh Highland Railway by Peter Waterman Trust". Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ Thomas, Cliff (2018). "Narrow Gauge Track Record". The Railway Magazine. 164 (1410): 80.