A fine late 19th Century 5½in. gauge brass, steel and mahogany model of Railcar No. E5, 'Little Eastern', Eastern System, Cape Government Railways, South Africa, 1885

Details

A fine late 19th Century 5½in. gauge brass, steel and mahogany model of Railcar No. E5, 'Little Eastern', Eastern System, Cape Government Railways, South Africa, 1885
with brass bound, mahogany lagged, brazed copper vertical firetube boiler with fittings including water gauge with shut-off cocks, level test cocks, pressure gauge, Ramsbottom safety valve, blower, injector, whistle, clack and blowdown valves. The channel section chassis is fitted with twin outside cylinders with inside Stephenson's link reverse, single bar type crosshead guides, the tapered connecting rods with bolted and wedged big ends, hand operated brake gear to all wheels, hand feed pump, injector and whistle. The bogie is fitted with compensated suspension with working leaf springs and all wheels are of brass, the rear water tank is mounted below the chassis and two tanks (counter balance weights) are fitted above the bogie, with cowcatcher and wooden buffer beams. The mahogany bodywork is panelled as in full size practice, with opening door, glazed windows opening vertically, mahogany seating, brass railed observation platform with gates either side, the framed roof built up of screwed mahogany planks with shaped corners and gutters, the whole finished in polish and lacquer (some old minor damage, fire grate missing)
-- 18¼ x 331/4in. (46.3 x 84.5cm.)

Lot Essay

HISTORICAL NOTE

South African Railways and Harbour Magazine, June 1951, p.398

The 'Little Eastern' was built at the East London Locomotive Workshops in 1885. It was used mainly to convey the then Divisional Superintendent, Mr J.D. Tinley, over the System and also for pay-trips. At times the trolley was hired out to the public at the price of eight first class fares and took from five to six passengers.

The driver and fireman of this trolley were unprotected from the weather and worked in the open during trips. Welsh coal had to be used on account of the small size of the firebox. Needless to say this trolley gave endless trouble during trips so that it was most unpopular with drivers and firemen.

It is thought that the railcar was taken out of service by 1905 and scrapped about 1909. The builder of the model is not known.

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