140
| 140 | |
|---|---|
 At Glanypwll, May 1997 | |
| Type | NGG16 |
| Home Railway | WHR |
| Original Railway | SAR |
| Number | 140 |
| Status | Awaiting Overhaul |
| History | |
| Built by | Beyer Peacock, Manchester |
| Built | 1958 |
| 1997 | Acquired for WHR |
| Technical | |
| Wheel Arrangement | 2-6-2+2-6-2T |
| Length | 49 ft 2 in |
| Locomotives | |
140 is an NGG16 Garratt locomotive that that is awaiting rebuild for use on the Welsh Highland Railway.
History in South Africa[edit]
140 was built by Beyer Peacock of Manchester for South African Railways to their 2-6-2+2-6-2T NGG16 Garratt design. This loco was one of the fourth batch of seven NGG16s (no.s 137 - 143) built in 1958. These were the last steam locos built by Beyer Peacock, which were originally ordered by the Tsumeb Copper Corp of South West Africa in 1958 but when its line was altered to Cape Gauge, South African Railways took over the order. It carries the works number 7865.
140 entered service on the Natal branches in 1958. At this time it carried plates that erroneously carried the number "E140" instead of the correct "NG140". The correct plates were later fitted. Although not first placed on the 93 mile long Ixopo branch (from Umzinto to Ixopo / Donnybrook), it became a long term resident of that line. According to the November 1965 Natal System locomotive returns, 140 and 143 were in service on the branch at that time (together with No.s 85, 86, 112, 113, 114, 115, 126, 129, 131 and 139). As the image shows, 140 was still on the branch 10 years later.
In 1985 140 was selected to haul an exhibition train around a 2 km circuit of track in Durban. The exhibition was organised by the Royal Society of South Africa, whose initials (RSSA) were painted on the bunker side.
In 1987 140 was sold to a consortium of Swiss enthusiasts. They moved it to the newly formed Alfred County Railway, which had taken over the operation of the Port Shepstone - Harding line in that year. The locomotive was repainted into panelled red livery, that of the Tsumeb corporation which these locomotives would have carried when built.[1] 140 was in traffic with ACR by 1988 and was a regular performer on timber trains until they were dieselised. 140 remained in traffic until 1994 when the boiler certificate expired. Following this she was put in store at Paddock where FR Driver the late Evan Davies saw her in 1996. Here the locomotive is believed to have been the victim of a vandal attack in which majority of its brass and copper was stolen.
Preservation in the UK[edit]
140 was sold to the FR Trust by its previous owners for just £100. It was imported to the UK early in 1997 and arrived at the Glan-y-Pwll depot in Blaenau Ffestiniog in the April of that year.
140 was displayed at the 1997 FR Gala and was then stored at Glan-y-Pwll on the FR until it was dismantled for transport and moved to Dinas in February and March 2005. At Dinas the power units and boiler unit are stored and worked on separately, the boiler unit standing on ambulance bogies. Here a volunteer group began the task of restoration.
Use of parts on the WHR[edit]
The boiler and hind bogie from 140 have now entered service as part of 143, in June 2011. The boiler overhaul has been fast-tracked and in October 2009 it was sent to Pete Waterman's LNWR works at Crewe. Boston Lodge is currently working at full capacity.[2]
The boiler was returned after re-tubing. It was fitted, together with its rear bogie to 143 during late 2010.
The rear bunker from 140 was moved to Boston Lodge in the hope it would be used on 143, but after inspection it was decided to fabricate a new rear bunker. The front tank, cab, and front bogie remain at Dinas. The other 'spare' bogie ex 143 is stored at Boston Lodge minus cylinders.
The cradle from 140 has been shotblasted and painted in spring 2011 ( together with the old boiler from 143).
Gallery[edit]
-
The power units and boiler unit were separated on the 19th Feb 2005 for the move from Glan-y-Pwll to Dinas. Moel Hebog was used to shunt the front end power unit at Glan-y-Pwll, seen here following separation -
The rear power unit is seen in the workshop at Dinas under repair -
The boiler unit was moved on its ambulance bogies to the running shed temporarily for display during SuperPower weekend. It is seen here being shunted by Castell Caernarfon at Dinas. On the same day the boiler was inspected
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.
- ^ Fisher, Ben. "NGG16 no. 140". The Welsh Highland Railway Project. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ WHR e-group posting 45960 by Mike Hart