South African Railways Class NGG13 & NGG16 2-6-2+2-6-2

Updated - 15th May 2006

These two classes of Garratt locomotive, which are virtually indistinguishable from one another, formed the core of the SAR narrow gauge locomotive fleet with 12 examples of NGG13 and 34 of NGG16. All bar one example of NGG13 (number 59) survive to this day either in South Africa or overseas.

The first 12 examples were built as NGG13 between 1927 and 1929 by Hanomag in Germany being designed in consultation with the SAR and were the most powerful engines (in terms of tractive effort) to run on the narrow gauge. They became the basis of the standard narrow gauge Garratt design for the next forty years. With the success of these engines, the SAR decided that any further units would be to the same design.

In 1937 a further four locomotives were supplied by Cockerill of Belgium. Initially classified as NGG13 they were reclassified as NGG16 as all the carrying axles had roller bearings. Subsequent locos were supplied by Beyer Peacock including seven for the Tsumeb Copper Corporation in South West Africa, later taken over by the SAR when the SWA narrow gauge was converted to 3’6”. The final eight locos were actually built in Johannesburg by Hunslet Taylor as no overseas manufacturer could supply, and were the last Garratt locomotives built in the world.

There were numerous detail differences between the batches, particularly in the style of tanks. The Tsumeb examples had an increased coal capacity and no water space in the rear bunker while the Hunslet Taylor units had mechanical lubricators. There were also some boiler differences with the turrets being placed differently. As with many other SAR classes the boilers were swapped around so some NGG16 have NGG13 boilers and vice versa.
With ten examples of these narrow gauge icons in the collection, the NGG13/16 engines form the largest single class at Sandstone. Three are in working order being numbers 49, 113 and 153.

The NGG13/16 class Garratts weigh over 61 tons in working order and are nearly 49 feet (14,9m) long.

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An NGG16 in its original factory condition at Beyer Peacock, Manchester.

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Alfred County Railway modified NGG16 No. 141 en route to harding in February 1990