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Natal Railway 4-4-0T “Perseverance”
South Africa | 1875 | only one produced
The Perseverance shortly after its delivery
The Perseverance shortly after its delivery
archive South African Railways and Harbours

In 1875 the Natal Railway Company ordered a heavier third engine from Kitson and Company in Leeds, where the “Durban” had been built ten years earlier. With a 4-4-0T wheel arrangement, the new locomotive was significantly heavier than the first locomotives and had a cab in addition to conventional lateral water tanks. It arrived in Durban on January 10, 1876 and was christened “Perseverance”. It had three almost identical sister locomotives that were built for the Trinidad Government Railway.

Before the “Perseverance” entered service, the Natal Government Railways had already been established and so on 1st January, 1877 the locomotive became government property for a payment of £40,000 along with the other two locomotives and all other properties of the Natal Railway Company. For a short time it was used together with its predecessors on the line and mainly transported stone from the quarry to the port. With the gauge change, the use of the “Perseverance” on the rails came to an end, but it remained in the possession of the railway company. They used it in their workshops in Durban until 1887 to drive a sawmill and then scrapped it.

General
Built1875
ManufacturerKitson & Co.
Axle config4-4-0T (American) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase18 ft 4 in
Service weight62,611 lbs
Adhesive weight44,533 lbs
Water capacity494 us gal
Fuel capacity1,344 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area9.9 sq ft
Firebox area50 sq ft
Tube heating area505 sq ft
Evaporative heating area555 sq ft
Total heating area555 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter51 in
Boiler pressure140 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 14 x 20 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power210 hp (157 kW)
Optimal speed15 mph
Starting effort9,147 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
passenger
tank locomotive
last changed: 03/2022
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