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Natal Government Railways class F
South African class E
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South Africa | 1902
10 produced
NGR F No. 1, later SAR E #87
NGR F No. 1, later SAR E #87
South African Railways

The ten locomotives of the NGR class F were built for the Natal South Coast where frequent reverse running required a tank locomotive with a symmetric wheel arrangement. G.W. Reid had already rebuilt a single class G 4-6-0T locomotive into the 4-6-4T class H. Since this was a success, Reid designed the class F that was most likely the first class of locomotives ever that was built as 4-6-4 from the start. With the founding of the SAR, they became class E and were mostly used for shunting service. In World War I, two came to German South West Africa that recently had been occupied by South Africa. In 1926, the boiler pressure of the locomotives was reduced from 175 to 160 psi. They spent their last years on the Cape Midland System and were withdrawn in 1937.

General
Built1902
ManufacturerNeilson & Co., Reid & Co.
Wheel arr.4-6-4T (Hudson) 
Gauge3 ft 6 in (Cape gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length32 ft 3 1/4 in
Wheelbase25 ft 7 1/4 in
Rigid wheelbase7 ft 9 in
Service weight87,696 lbs
Adhesive weight57,344 lbs
Axle load20,160 lbs
Water capacity1,297 us gal
Fuel capacity5,040 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area12.7 sq ft
Firebox area70 sq ft
Tube heating area803 sq ft
Evaporative heating area873 sq ft
Total heating area873 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter39 in
Boiler pressure175 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 15 x 22 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power350 hp (261 kW)
Starting effort18,880 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
passenger
freight
tank locomotive
last changed: 07/2025
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