North British Locomotive Company   Works No 21717 – SAR 821

This locomotive was built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in 1919 for the South African Railways (SAR).

For details of class 16C locomotives go to Class 16C

During 1936 the coupled wheel diameter was enlarged to 63 inches and the boiler operating pressure raised to 200 psi.

The locomotive was reboilered with a standard boiler type designed by A.G. Watson as part of his standardisation policy. Several alterations to the engine frames were necessary to accommodate the new boiler. The frame had to be altered to suit the new wider Watson cab with its slanted front to allow access to the lagging which covered the flexible stays and stay caps on the firebox sides. The locomotive was then reclassified as class 16CR.

This is one of the locomotives that sold for industrial use after being taken out of service. It was employed at the St Helna Gold Mine where it became SHGM No 1.

Production at the mine started in 1951 and steam locomotives continued to operate at the mine until 2002.

The locomotive is privately owned by the Sandstone Heritage Trust and the locomotive is based on the Sandstone Estate.

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