120

From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
(Redirected from 120 Beddgelert)
120
Type NG15
Original Railway SAR
Number 120
Status Sold
History
Built by Société Anglo-Franco-Belge
Built 1949
Technical
Wheel Arrangement 2-8-2
Locomotives

120 is an NG15 locomotive that was bought in by the Welsh Highland Railway Limited to build up the stock of locomotives ready for potential full line operation. At the WHRL it was tentatively named Beddgelert, taking its name from a previous locomotive that ran on the NWNGR.

History in South Africa[edit]

120 was built by Société Anglo-Franco-Belge for South African Railways (SAR) to their NG15 class 2-8-2 design. 120 is from the second batch of NG15s built in 1949. It carries builder's number 2667.

120 was delivered to Walvis Bay and commissioned onto the Otavi Railway. The Otavi Railway was regauged to cape gauge in 1960 and 120, along with the other NG15s was transferred to Port Elizabeth to work the Avontuur Branch. 120 was withdrawn from service in 1985 due to the declining amount of work for steam locomotives.

Preservation in the UK[edit]

120 was purchased by the the Welsh Highland Railway Limited and was at Gelert's Farm Works by 1994. Rebuilding had started in 1997. The boiler cladding, super heater elements and the dome were removed around that time. The boiler was lifted off the frames. Now reduced to a kit of rusty parts, work is addressing the cleaning up or replacement of each component. Its rebuild was expected to take 2 1/2 years, but progress stopped due to a shortage of funds, and that resources were fully employed rebuilding first Gelert and then Russell, with the Lady Madcap project also proceeding concurrently.

Sale and new plans[edit]

120 was subsequently put up for sale, which was completed early 2009. The intention is to restore it and make available to WHRL.

Loco details[edit]

Builder Anglo-Franco-Belge
Built 1949
Works number 2667
Type Tender locomotive
Wheel arrangement 2-8-2
Driving wheel diameter 34" 864mm
Coal capacity 5½ tons
Water capacity 2860 gallons (13000 litres)
Heating surface 1028 square feet (95.5m²)
Boiler pressure 171 psi (1.18MPa)
Cylinders Two off, 15¾" x 17¾" (400mm x 450mm)
Tractive effort 18820 pounds (83.7kN) at 85% boiler pressure
Length over buffers 54 feet 4 inches (16.56m) inc. tender
Weight in working order 36.6 tons (loco) plus 31.2 tons (tender), total 67.8 tons
Maximum axle load 6.7 tons
Arrived W.H.R. 1994

Edited from information previously on the WHRL site.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Payling, David (2012). Garratts and Kalaharis of the Welsh Highland Railway. Harbour Station, Porthmadog: Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. ISBN 978-0-901848-10-9. OCLC 871303225.