South African Class 26 4-8-4

South African Class 26 4-8-4 No. 3450 Red Devil
The Red Devil at Pretoria, 25 April 1981
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer South African Railways (David Wardale) Builder South African Railways Serial number Henschel 28769 Model Class 26 Build date 1981 Total produced 1
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-4 (Northern)  • UIC 2′D2′h2 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) ​  • 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)  • Tender bogie 10 ft (3,048 mm) Length: ​  • Over couplers 91 ft 6+9⁄16 in (27,903 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 232 LT (235,700 kg) Tender type EW1 (3-axle bogies) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 20 LT (20.3 t) Water cap. 10,500 imp gal (47,700 L) Fuel consumption 700 km (430 mi) range Water consumption 230 km (140 mi) range 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: ​  • Heating area 1,014.3 sq ft (94.23 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 24 in × 28 in (610 mm × 711 mm) bore x stroke Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type 310 mm (12.2 in) Piston Valve travel 156 mm (6.1 in) Valve lap 55 mm (2.2 in) steam lap 4 mm (0.16 in) exhaust lap Loco brake Vacuum Couplers AAR knuckle
Performance figures Maximum speed 160 km/h (100 mph) Power output: ​  • Starting Maximum recorded 3,350 kW (4,490 hp) @ 75.5 km/h (46.9 mph)  • Continuous Probable absolute 3,750 kW (5,030 hp) @ 100 km/h (62 mph) Tractive effort: ​  • Starting 231 kN (52,000 lbf)  • Continuous 166 kN (37,000 lbf) @ 25% adh.
Career Operators South African Railways Spoornet Class Class 26 Number in class 1 Numbers 3450 Official name L.D. Porta Nicknames Red Devil Delivered 1981 First run 6 February 1981

The South African Railways Class 26 4-8-4 of 1981, popularly known as the Red Devil, is a 4-8-4 steam locomotive which was rebuilt from a Class 25NC locomotive by mechanical engineer David Wardale from England while in the employ of the South African Railways. The rebuilding took place at the Salt River Works in Cape Town and was based on the principles developed by Argentinian mechanical engineer L.D. Porta.^[1][2]