South African Class 25NC 4-8-4

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	4-8-4 (Northern)
Driver	2nd coupled axle
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.	30 in (762 mm)
Coupled dia.	60 in (1,524 mm)
Trailing dia.	30 in (762 mm)
Tender wheels	34 in (864 mm)
Minimum curve	275 ft (84 m)
Wheelbase	♠ 81 ft 4+11⁄16 in (24,808 mm); ♥ 95 ft 1+11⁄16 in (28,999 mm)
• Engine	38 ft (11,582 mm)
• Leading	6 ft 10 in (2,083 mm)
• Coupled	15 ft 9 in (4,801 mm)
• Trailing	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
• Tender	♠ 32 ft (9,754 mm); ♥ 45 ft 10 in (13,970 mm)
• Tender bogie	10 ft (3,048 mm)
Length:;
• Over couplers	♠ 91 ft 6+9⁄16 in (27,903 mm); ♥ 107 ft 6+1⁄16 in (32,768 mm)
Height	13 ft (3,962 mm)
Frame type	Cast
Axle load	18 LT 14 cwt (19,000 kg)
• Leading	21 LT 2 cwt (21,440 kg)
• 1st coupled	18 LT 10 cwt (18,800 kg)
• 2nd coupled	18 LT 14 cwt (19,000 kg)
• 3rd coupled	18 LT 12 cwt (18,900 kg)
• 4th coupled	18 LT 9 cwt (18,750 kg)
• Trailing	22 LT 12 cwt (22,960 kg)
• Tender bogie	Bogie 1:; ♠ 51 LT 6 cwt (52,120 kg); Bogie 2:; ♠ 54 LT 5 cwt (55,120 kg)
• Tender axle	♠ 18 LT 1 cwt 2 qtr (18,370 kg)
Adhesive weight	74 LT 5 cwt (75,440 kg)
Loco weight	117 LT 9 cwt (119,300 kg)
Tender weight	♠ 105 LT 11 cwt (107,200 kg)
Total weight	♠ 223 LT (226,600 kg)
Tender type	EW1 (3-axle bogies); EW2 (3-axle bogies)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	♠ 18 LT (18.3 t); ♥ 19 LT (19.3 t)
Water cap.	♠ 10,500 imp gal (47,700 L); ♥ 11,200 imp gal (50,900 L)
Firebox:
• Type	Round-top
• Grate area	70 sq ft (6.5 m2)
Boiler:;
• Type	Domeless
• Pitch	9 ft 1+5⁄8 in (2,784 mm)
• Diameter	6 ft 4+1⁄8 in (1,934 mm)
• Tube plates	19 ft (5,791 mm)
• Small tubes	158: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm)
• Large tubes	40: 5+1⁄2 in (140 mm)
Boiler pressure	225 psi (1,551 kPa)
Safety valve	Ross-pop
Heating surface:
• Firebox	294 sq ft (27.3 m2)
• Tubes	3,059 sq ft (284.2 m2)
• Arch tubes	37 sq ft (3.4 m2)
• Total surface	3,390 sq ft (315 m2)
Superheater:;
• Type	Melesco
• Heating area	630 sq ft (59 m2)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	24 in × 28 in (610 mm × 711 mm); bore x stroke
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Valve type	Piston
Valve travel	7+3⁄8 in (187 mm)
Loco brake	Vacuum
Couplers	AAR knuckle

Type and origin
Type and origin
	♠ Type EW1 tender – ♥ Type EW2 tender
Power type	Steam
Designer	South African Railways; (LC Grubb)
Builder	Henschel & Son; North British Locomotive Company
Serial number	Henschel 28731-28769; NBL 27287-27296, 27311
Model	Class 25NC
Build date	1953
Total produced	137

South African Class 25NC 4-8-4
South African Class 25NC 4-8-4
	3410 at Sannaspos Free State in July 1999
Power type
Type and origin
	♠ Type EW1 tender – ♥ Type EW2 tender
Power type	Steam
Designer	South African Railways; (LC Grubb)
Builder	Henschel & Son; North British Locomotive Company
Serial number	Henschel 28731-28769; NBL 27287-27296, 27311
Model	Class 25NC
Build date	1953
Total produced	137
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	4-8-4 (Northern)
Driver	2nd coupled axle
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge
Leading dia.	30 in (762 mm)
Coupled dia.	60 in (1,524 mm)
Trailing dia.	30 in (762 mm)
Tender wheels	34 in (864 mm)
Minimum curve	275 ft (84 m)
Wheelbase	♠ 81 ft 4+11⁄16 in (24,808 mm); ♥ 95 ft 1+11⁄16 in (28,999 mm)
• Engine	38 ft (11,582 mm)
• Leading	6 ft 10 in (2,083 mm)
• Coupled	15 ft 9 in (4,801 mm)
• Trailing	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
• Tender	♠ 32 ft (9,754 mm); ♥ 45 ft 10 in (13,970 mm)
• Tender bogie	10 ft (3,048 mm)
Length:;
• Over couplers	♠ 91 ft 6+9⁄16 in (27,903 mm); ♥ 107 ft 6+1⁄16 in (32,768 mm)
Height	13 ft (3,962 mm)
Frame type	Cast
Axle load	18 LT 14 cwt (19,000 kg)
• Leading	21 LT 2 cwt (21,440 kg)
• 1st coupled	18 LT 10 cwt (18,800 kg)
• 2nd coupled	18 LT 14 cwt (19,000 kg)
• 3rd coupled	18 LT 12 cwt (18,900 kg)
• 4th coupled	18 LT 9 cwt (18,750 kg)
• Trailing	22 LT 12 cwt (22,960 kg)
• Tender bogie	Bogie 1:; ♠ 51 LT 6 cwt (52,120 kg); Bogie 2:; ♠ 54 LT 5 cwt (55,120 kg)
• Tender axle	♠ 18 LT 1 cwt 2 qtr (18,370 kg)
Adhesive weight	74 LT 5 cwt (75,440 kg)
Loco weight	117 LT 9 cwt (119,300 kg)
Tender weight	♠ 105 LT 11 cwt (107,200 kg)
Total weight	♠ 223 LT (226,600 kg)
Tender type	EW1 (3-axle bogies); EW2 (3-axle bogies)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	♠ 18 LT (18.3 t); ♥ 19 LT (19.3 t)
Water cap.	♠ 10,500 imp gal (47,700 L); ♥ 11,200 imp gal (50,900 L)
Firebox:
• Type	Round-top
• Grate area	70 sq ft (6.5 m2)
Boiler:;
• Type	Domeless
• Pitch	9 ft 1+5⁄8 in (2,784 mm)
• Diameter	6 ft 4+1⁄8 in (1,934 mm)
• Tube plates	19 ft (5,791 mm)
• Small tubes	158: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm)
• Large tubes	40: 5+1⁄2 in (140 mm)
Boiler pressure	225 psi (1,551 kPa)
Safety valve	Ross-pop
Heating surface:
• Firebox	294 sq ft (27.3 m2)
• Tubes	3,059 sq ft (284.2 m2)
• Arch tubes	37 sq ft (3.4 m2)
• Total surface	3,390 sq ft (315 m2)
Superheater:;
• Type	Melesco
• Heating area	630 sq ft (59 m2)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	24 in × 28 in (610 mm × 711 mm); bore x stroke
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Valve type	Piston
Valve travel	7+3⁄8 in (187 mm)
Loco brake	Vacuum
Couplers	AAR knuckle
Tractive effort
Performance figures
Tractive effort	45,360 lbf (201.8 kN) @ 75%
Operators
Career
Operators	South African Railways
Class	Class 25NC
Number in class	50 original, 87 rebuilt Class 25
Numbers	3401-3450, 3452-3510, 3512-3539
Delivered	1953-1954
First run	1953

The South African Railways Class 25NC 4-8-4 of 1953 was a class of steam locomotives built between 1953 and 1955 for the South African Railways (SAR). The Class 25NC was the non-condensing version of the Class 25 condensing locomotive, of which ninety were placed in service at the same time. Between 1973 and 1980, all but three of the condensing locomotives were converted to non-condensing and also designated Class 25NC.