Loco. No. 12 - �Chaka's Kraal No. 6�

Locomotive Details:-

Steam locomotive �Chaka�s Kraal No. 6� arrived at the South Tynedale Railway, Alston, Cumbria in September 1988 as a visiting locomotive for the Enthusiasts� Weekend that year. It is a 90 horse power, 0-4-2 tank locomotive, built in 1940 by the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds, works No. 2075. This locomotive was imported from Natal, South Africa, where it had worked on a sugar plantation railway owned by the Gledhow-Chaka�s Kraal Sugar Estates company.

It was built to the design of a similar type which was built in 1933 by the Avonside Engine Company. It arrived in the U.K. in June 1981 after purchase by the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Company and was originally restored to working order with the intention of using it on the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge line at Toddington, Gloucestershire.

Following the fitting of a steam operated air pump, used to operate the train brake, Chaka�s Kraal No. 6 was used on passenger services at Alston, until September 1999 although this locomotive is privately owned.

This locomotive was returned to Toddington, Gloucestershire in December 1999 for overhaul and boiler examination, as its boiler certificate will have expired by then, no decision has yet been reached about whether it is to return to Alston again at a later date.

Photo: Locomotive �Chaka�s Kraal No. 6� photographed at Alston.

Locomotive History:-

This locomotive was supplied new to the Gledhow-Chaka�s Kraal Sugar Estates, in Natal, South Africa and was used for hauling long trains of sugar cane on their 48 mile long railway system. This locomotive was built a design which was originally constructed by the Avonside Engine Company of Bristol, as by 1940 that company had gone out of business and the order was passed to the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds.

Avonside had supplied several locomotives of similar design to the South African sugar industry, but only one to this particular set of drawings; Hunslet were to produce three more of which this was the second. Little is known of its working life, but it would be reasonable to assume that it hauled sugar cane from the fields to the sugar mill. In an industrial locomotive list dated 1963, No. 6 was shown as being �scrapped or sold�, so it would appear to have had a relatively short working life.

An interesting selection of locomotives were used in the sugar fields including articulated and geared types, but there were mass withdrawals at the end of the 1960s when road transport took over. At that time, a number of them came to England and others were preserved in Natal.

Preservation:-

In 1980, the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Company, who were a group of former Dowty Railway Preservation Society members, were looking for a second locomotive, after restoring a Jung 0-4-0 well tank locomotive and approached some of the Natal sugar estates. None had locomotives available for purchase, but one letter received mentioned that the Umhlali County Club had a preserved locomotive, which had become derelict and they were considering disposing of it. The purchase price in 1981 was �570, plus �2,000 for transport and duty to the United Kingdom.

The eventual outcome was that No. 6 was shipped from Durban to Avonmouth for delivery to the Dowty Railway Preservation Society site at Ashchurch in June 1981. Repair and restoration work took place over several years, which was interrupted by a move to Toddington in 1983. A lot of the platework of the locomotive was in poor condition and new water tanks, a coal bunker, cab roof and boiler cladding had to be added. The boiler had suffered from pitting due to long retirement at the country club. It was sent away for thorough repair which included a new smokebox.

By 1987 it was possible to steam test the locomotive, although much work remained to be completed. As it was too heavy for the track at Toddington, it was agreed that No. 6 would go to the Welsh Highland Light Railway at Porthmadog for their transport gala to be staged from 28th to 30th May 1988, where it hauled demonstration freight trains. Fortunately only minor teething problems were discovered which have since been corrected.

It was brought to the South Tynedale Railway at Alston, Cumbria for the 1988 Enthusiasts� Weekend and it remains at Alston on long term loan from the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Company, it is used on passenger train services and it was air braked at Alston using a Polish built steam air pump.

The locomotive was withdrawn from passenger service from Monday 20th September 1999, in preparation for its journey back to Toddington, Gloucestershire for overhaul by its owners, the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Railway.

Dimensions and livery:-

Original dimensions:-
Cylinders = 9� in. (235 mm) x 14 in. (356 mm).
Fitted with Walschaert�s valve gear. Working pressure of 180 per sq. inch.
Coupled wheel diameter = 2 ft 3in. (688 mm). Trailing wheel diameter = 1 ft 7 in. (483 mm).
Coupled wheelbase = 9 ft 6 in. (2,896mm).
Tractive effort at 75% of boiler pressure = 5,989 lbs. (2,717 kg).
Length = 16 ft 4 in. (4,978 mm). Width = 6 ft 8 in. (2,032 mm). Overall height = 9 ft 6 in. (2,896 mm).
Weight = 11 tons 13 cwt empty, 15 tons 7 cwt in full working order.

Rebuilt dimensions:-
Weight = 12 tonnes. Length = 18 ft 6 in. (5,639 mm). Width = 6 ft 6 in. (1,981 mm). Overall height = 9 ft 0 in. (2,743 mm).
Coupled wheel diameter = 2 ft 1 in. (635 mm). Trailing wheel diameter = 1 ft 0 in. (305 mm).
Coupled wheelbase = 4 ft 10 in. (1,473 mm).

Livery:- Mid-Brunswick green, with black frames and wheels, red valve gear and buffer beams.

For more information about the South Tynedale Railway, please contact:-
SOUTH TYNEDALE RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY
The Railway Station, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3JB.
Tel. 01434 381696.��Talking timetable tel. 01434 382828.
Registered Charity No. 514939.

E-mail enquiries - please click on links below:
South Tynedale Railway information - Send e-mail to South Tynedale Railway
STRPS membership information only - Send e-mail to Kathy Aveyard
Tynedalesman information only - Send e-mail to Liesel Metz

This page was last updated on 8th January 2000.
�South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society 2005.

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