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Steam Locomotion in
the 21st Century
The Recent History of
Steam Locomotive Development
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Alfred County Railway 2-6-2+2-6-2
No.s 141 & 155
Updated 7 February 2022
Alfred County Railway 2-6-2+2-6-2
No.s 141 & 155
photo courtesy of Phil Girdlestone
Garratts Number 141 and 155,
former South African Railways class NGG16,
were extensively modernized by Phil
Girdlestone in the 1980's on the Alfred
Country Railway. Modifications closely
followed those applied to the larger Cape
gauge Class 26 "Red Devil", including a GPCS
firebox, Lempor exhaust, improved
lubrication, and improved valves. The photos
below show some details of the modifications
made to the no. 141.
ACR no. 155 survived into preservation and
was restored, the work completed in June
2021. Read more on Sandstone Estates page
here: http://www.sandstone-estates.com/index.php/railway-heritage-58/2ft-narrow-gauge |
ACR No. 141
Lempor exhaust stand and partially assembled
"master mechanics" self-cleaning spark
arrestor |
ACR No. 141
Assembled Lempor exhaust; front spark
arrestor screen has been removed for
inspection. Note radiused lower arrestor
screen to smooth gas flow. |
ACR No. 141
Proportional feed lubricator drive; note
absence of drifting and by-pass valves as
proven on "Red Devil" |
ACR No. 141
Curved wall Kordina, separating exhaust from
front and rear engines rather than right and
left cylinders as on a conventional steam
locomotive. |
ACR No. 141
Lempor chimney; secondary spark arrestor was
fitted after locomotive had been in service
for some time as a double safeguard against
spark emissions which are greatly reduced by
the GPCS. |
ACR No. 141
Inside of firebox showing secondary air
inlets on right side of firebox. |
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ACR No. 141
Showing firebox secondary air
inlets from the outside. Note spark
arrestor screen box covering the inlets
and swirl plates to help promote turbulent
mixing of the combustion air and gasses
inside the firebox.
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ACR No. 141
Modified grate showing pinholes which allow
a much smaller proportion of primary air
than a normal grate. |
ACR No. 141
Front end components awaiting reassembly at
Port Shepstone. |
ACR No. 141
Front end during reassembly following
overhaul in 1997. Several details normally
"hidden" on Garratts are visable in this
view due to front tank being removed. |
ACR No. 141
Lempor exhaust "mixing chamber" (missing in
photo above). |
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