Streamlined locomotives
of the world
Alan (Fred) Pipes and a Beyer-Garratt
This is me in front of a huge beautiful Beyer-Garratt articulated loco from South Africa at Manchester's fabulous Museum of Science and Industry, not far from my home town of Bury, Lancs (or is it still in Greater Manchester?) – terminus of the East Lancashire Railway. Although this one is not streamlined, others did have streamlined front tenders.
This Class GL 4-8-2 2-8-4 loco, number 2352, was built by Bayer, Peacock & Co Ltd in Gorton, Manchester for South African Railways in 1930. The first two GLs, 2350 & 2351, were built in 1929 and were so successful that another 6 were ordered, of which 2352 was the first. It initially worked the coal trains from Durban to Cato Ridge on the Natal main line, then from 1938 the Glencoe – Vryheid route, and later the Stanger – Empangani route. It was withdrawn in 1972 and returned to Manchester in 1984.
Despite its 3ft 6in gauge, this 90ft loco had a tractive effort of 89,130 lb @ 85% boiler pressure and could haul a 1200 ton train up a 1 in 50 gradient.
A complete list of all Garratt locomotives:
users.powernet.co.uk/hamilton/source.html
The world's first Beyer-Garratt, the historic K1 is being restored. The restoration is taking place in Birmingham and the locomotive will work on the Welsh Highland Railway when it is complete.
Here are some sad pictures of a crashed Beyer-Garratt of Rhodesian Railways.
