South African Class FC 2-6-2+2-6-2

The South African Railways Class FC 2-6-2+2-6-2 was a single experimental Modified Fairlie articulated steam locomotive, designed and built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1924 for Colonel F.R. Collins, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the railway, who wanted experience of an articulated type similar to the Garratt. Delivered in February 1925 as number 2310 and later renumbered 670, it was a Double Prairie type with superheating, 7-inch piston valves worked by Walschaerts valve gear and a plate frame, and it was classed FC because the FA and FB classes were never used. Its boiler, cab and bunkers sat on one rigid frame carried on two engine units by pivots. It worked on the Cape Midland System and gave good but not outstanding service, because the 63-foot frame overhung badly on sharp curves, the overhangs caused metal fatigue and the pivot bearings wore quickly. No more were ordered, and the sole locomotive was scrapped in 1939 after only fourteen years of service. A one-twelfth scale model by Twinning Models Ltd. was displayed at the Museum of Transport in Glasgow.