120
| 120 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | NG15 |
| Original Railway | SAR |
| Number | 120 |
| Status | Under restoration |
| History | |
| Built by | Société Anglo-Franco-Belge |
| Built | 1949 |
| Technical | |
| Wheel Arrangement | 2-8-2 |
| Locomotives | |
120 is an NG15 locomotive currently under restoration by its private owner. Originally built for South Africa, it was previously bought by the Welsh Highland Railway Limited to build up the stock of locomotives ready for potential full line operation before being sold.
History in South Africa[edit]
120 was built by Société Anglo-Franco-Belge for South African Railways (SAR) to their NG15 class 2-8-2 design. 120 is from the second batch of NG15s built in 1949. It carries builder's number 2667.
120 was delivered to Walvis Bay and commissioned onto the Otavi Railway. The Otavi Railway was regauged to cape gauge in 1960 and 120, along with the other NG15s was transferred to Port Elizabeth to work the Avontuur Branch. 120 was withdrawn from service in 1985 due to the declining amount of work for steam locomotives.
At the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway[edit]
120 was purchased by the the Welsh Highland Railway Limited and was at Gelert's Farm Works by 1994. Rebuilding had started in 1997. The boiler cladding, super heater elements and the dome were removed around that time. The boiler was lifted off the frames. At the WHRL it was tentatively named Beddgelert, taking its name from a previous locomotive that ran on the NWNGR. Reduced to a kit of rusty parts, work was carried out to address the cleaning up or replacement of each component. Its rebuild was expected to take 2 1/2 years, but progress stopped due to a shortage of funds, and resources were fully employed rebuilding first Gelert and then Russell, with the Lady Madcap project also proceeding concurrently.
Sale and subsequent restoration[edit]
120 was subsequently sold in 2009 and removed from the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. After another change in ownership in 2024 restoration has restarted. The frames were delivered to a sand blasting contractor in January 2025 where they will be thoroughly cleaned and painted prior to inspection.
-
120's frames and tender chassis awaiting shot blasting. -
120's boiler arriving at the shot blasting contractor. -
120's boiler after shot blasting and painting
Loco details[edit]
| Builder | Anglo-Franco-Belge |
| Built | 1949 |
| Works number | 2667 |
| Type | Tender locomotive |
| Wheel arrangement | 2-8-2 |
| Driving wheel diameter | 34" 864mm |
| Coal capacity | 5½ tons |
| Water capacity | 2860 gallons (13000 litres) |
| Heating surface | 1028 square feet (95.5m²) |
| Boiler pressure | 171 psi (1.18MPa) |
| Cylinders | Two off, 15¾" x 17¾" (400mm x 450mm) |
| Tractive effort | 18820 pounds (83.7kN) at 85% boiler pressure |
| Length over buffers | 54 feet 4 inches (16.56m) inc. tender |
| Weight in working order | 36.6 tons (loco) plus 31.2 tons (tender), total 67.8 tons |
| Maximum axle load | 6.7 tons |
| Arrived W.H.R. | 1994 |
Edited from information previously on the WHRL site.
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.