Built for the Tongaat Sugar Company of South Africa by WG Bagnall for £2775, the loco entered service there in 1946, and was named 'Charles Whytock', after a director of the sugar company.
Built for the Tongaat Sugar Company of South Africa by WG Bagnall for £2775, the loco entered service there in 1946, and was named 'Charles Whytock', after a director of the sugar company. By 1963 it was in use as a stationary boiler. Some time later the loco was plinthed. Purchased for preservation along with sister engine Sinembe around 1993, the two locos were stored at the Gelert's Farm Works on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway until 1997 when they were moved to Middlesborough for restoration.
After extensive restoration work, the loco was sold to an owner who brought it to Woody Bay in the spring of 2014 to complete the restoration including the fitting of vacuum and steam brakes. It was used on several occasions until major boiler repairs were required.
Back in 2019 the loco was purchased by a consortium of L&B Trust Members who have commenced bringing the loco back to working condition for operation on the L&B.
Remarkably, six of the thirteen Tongaat 4-4-0Ts survive: four in the UK including the sister engine of Charles Whytock, Isibutu, and one in Texas (Simpola), while the sixth (Mono) still survives but is in poor condition in South Africa.
During an extensive overhaul, which included the manufacture of a new boiler, the decision was taken to rename the loco 'Sir George Newnes', a famous British publisher, who played a significant role in the creation of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.
The loco is due to return to revenue-earning service during August 2024.
Bagnall 2819 Specification |
|
| Cylinders | 10x15in |
| Driving Wheel Diameter | 2ft 6in |
| Leading/Bogie Wheel Diameter | 1ft 7in |
| Fixed Wheelbase | 3ft 6in |
| Total Wheelbase | 13ft 0in |
| Heating Surface tubes (sq ft) | 338 |
| Heating Surface firebox (sq ft) | 25.3 |
| Heating Surface Total (sq ft) | 363.3 |
| Grate Area (sq ft) | 6.5 |
| Working Pressure (psig) | 160 |
| Tractive Effort @ 85% WP (lbs) | 6800 |
| Water Capacity (Gallons) | 450 |
| Fuel Capacity (cu ft) | 16 |
| Weight Empty | 14tons 10cwt |
| Weight in working order | 18tons 5cwt |
| Overall Length | 20ft 9in |
| Overall Height | 9ft 3in |
| Overall Width | 6ft 8in |
| Rail Level to Centre of boiler | 5ft 0in |