This huge engine is one of a class based on a German design which was originally built for service in South West Africa (now Namibia). This inheritance is particularly marked by the very large tender which, as well as 2860 gallons of water, can carry up to five and a half tonnes of coal.
The standard gauge for South African Railways is 3'6", though there has been considerable mileage at 2'. This example of the class worked widely over the narrow gauge lines until 1961, by which time the major routes had been re-gauged to the standard.
There remains a group of relatively minor lines serving the fruit growing areas of the Drakensburg escarpment in Natal and The Cape. One of these lightly laid, tightly curved lines penetrates the Langkloof Valley in the Cape and it is to here that all members of the NG15 Class were transferred.
The line is some 150 miles long, running from Port Elizabeth on the coast to the remote Avontuur in the mountains. It traverses some magnificent scenery, but is only busy during the harvest season of the Cape apples.
In spite of its large size and weight, this locomotive is remarkable for its light axle load of less than 7 tons.
The rebuilding started in spring '97. The boiler cladding, super heater elements and the dome were removed. The boiler has been lifted off the frames. Now reduced to a kit of rusty parts, work is addressing the cleaning up or replacement of each component. The rebuild was expected to take 24-30 months but progress has paused. This is due in part to shortage of funding, but mostly because mechanical engineering resources are currently fully employed rebuilding firstly and then , with the project also proceeding concurrently. Therefore the locomotive was moved offsite so that work could recommence.
