Talk:Natal Railway 0-4-0ST Durban

Natal Railway Company locomotives

The following is an email with additional information received from John N. Middleton:

From: John Nicholas Middleton
To: Andre H Kritzinger
Sent: 18 September 2013 09:08 PM
Subject: Re: [sar-L] Natail Railway 0-4-0WT Natal

Andre

Another area where all is perhaps not entirely clear, Holland got his "Durban" and "Perseverence" mixed up

The following came from Bruno Martin when we excahnged e-mails on the early Natal locos - earlier this year.

2nd loco “Durban” The Natal Mercury reported the landing of the locomotive on 5 August 1865 off the clipper barque “Actaea” *, belonging to the White Cross Line. It was reported to have run under steam for the first time at 2.30 p.m. on 12 October, when the Directors invited leading merchants and the press to the Market Square to celebrate the inauguration of the new locomotive. The locomotive was a small saddle-tank type with a 0-4-0 wheel arrangement. A correspondent of the Natal Mercury provided the following description: “This is a fine and powerful piece of machinery, more massive and adapted to the circumstances of the line. We believe it is about 5 tons heavier and was working under 100 lbs of steam. In appearance it is very different. It has a small cylindrical funnel instead of the American inverted cone; it has water jackets, copper tubes and a more comfortable covered-in place for the driver.” (*sometime also spelled “Actoea”)

The only reference I have to support my claim that 2nd loco was named “Durban” is an extract from a Report of the Natal Railway Company (unfortunately date not noted when photographed at the Local History Museum Durban) which refers to the new loco as the “Durban”. Unfortunately the Natal Railway Company’s Minutes of Directors’ Meetings, Vol.2, 1868-1872, is missing from the National Archives, Pietermaritzburg.

3rd loco “Perseverance”: The Natal Mercury of 12 January 1876 reported “Yesterday some of the material for the Natal Railway Company was landed from the “Parthenia” at the railway wharf. The locomotive caused considerable trouble and after being hauled up ready for heaving over on the wharf, came down with a crash on to the bulwarks, smashing some of the timber. The damage however is nothing to speak of”. It was resolved that the new locomotive be named “Perseverance” at a meeting of the board of directors on 2 February 1876. Source: Natal Railway Company, Minutes of Directors’ Meetings, Vol.3, 18 73-1877, National Archives, Pietermaritzburg.

Now after 1878 when the 3'6" gauge was built, it appears that THREE locomotives were taken over from the contractors (Holland only mentions two), The Railway Report for year ending 31 Dec. 1880, p.JJ72, mentions the 3 locomotives to be taken over from the contractors, then there is the following.

On Saturday afternoon, at the 39th mile a small party of ladies and gentlemen, consisting of Mrs Ridley, Mrs Crawford, Mr Ridley, Mr Crawford and Mr Wallace, the courteous agent of Messrs Wythes & Jackson in command, got into the smart little locomotive Ulundi and travelled most successfully back over all the Inchanga viaducts. Starting from Wallace Town, the favourite engine (quite recovered we are glad to say, from the effects of her recent accident) ran over Viaducts Nos.7, 5, 4, 3 (tested for the first time) 2 and 1 and puffed triumphantly along to Botha’s Hill station.

We do not know the identity of "ULUNDI" but my guess is that it is quite possibly the 1865 Kitson that had been regauged to 3'6". Close examination of the NGR numbering does give a gap which may be Ulundi.

Regards John