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Steam Locomotion in the 21st Century

The Recent History of Steam Locomotive Development

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.

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.

ACR 141 grate

ACR No. 141
Modified grate showing pinholes which allow a much smaller proportion of primary air than a normal grate.

ACR 141 parts

ACR No. 141
Front end components awaiting reassembly at Port Shepstone.

ACR 141 front end

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).