Some rare photographs from 1937, depicting Class NGG16 No: 86 at the Cockerill works in Belgium have recently been discovered by Sandstone.

The shots are typical of the era when locomotive manufacturers took a “works” shot of each loco built. The loco was always in grey primer with the background generally etched out in white as with these pictures.

Although Beyer Peacock are the most well known of Garratt manufacturers, the first 12 Class NGG13 units were built by Hanomag with the next order for four locos being placed with Soc. John Cockerill of Belgium for delivery in 1937. Although originally classified NGG13 they were fitted with roller bearings on the carrier axles and subsequently re-classified as Class NGG16 and were the first of 34 examples built.

Interestingly John Cockerill was born in Lancashire in 1790 but the family, who were involved in the weaving trade, moved to Belgium in 1799. John was one of three sons and on his father’s death he was the driving force in the business. He realized that steam was the new power and in the early 1830’s he set up a factory in Seraing in Belgium. He died in 1840 but by 1844 the company had produced its 100^th steam locomotive. Soc. John Cockerill were leaders in their field for some time. They produced 3272 locomotives in all and built their last steam loco in 1949. The company still exists today as Cockerill Mechanical Industries and still produces diesel locomotives. They may be the longest surviving manufacturer of locomotives in the world.

NGG16 No: 86 was the second of the batch of four (SAR NG85 to NG88) and is works number 3265 of 1937. This leaves only seven more locos to be built by 1949 if the number of 3272 is correct but this is possible with World War 2 only two years away and the destruction that Belgium suffered during it as well as the fact that Cockerill produced other types of equipment.

Today No: 86 survives at Sandstone, although in un-restored condition, along with sisters, 85 and 88. Number 87 being in the UK. The locomotive worked most of its life on the Harding branch but ended its days at Umzinto from where it was sold to the Century City Rail Project in Cape Town. This project was stillborn and the loco was acquired by Sandstone in 2002.

Our sincere thanks to Sir William McAlpine
for making these photographs available from his archives.

A further update on NGG16 No: 86

Following on from the “works” pictures of Cockerill NGG16 No: 86, David Payling sent us another pic and some interesting information. Our thanks to Leith Paxton for the use of the picture and to David for the information.

From: DAVID PAYLING
Sent: 18 October 2008 18:33
To: Joanne West
Subject: More on John Cockerill

I attach an enlarged scan of the cab side plate of NG86, from a high resolution scan of the SAR photo in Leith Paxton's collection.  It has three interesting features.

The number is shown as "86" rather than the later version of "NG86."

The class is given as NGG13 rather than the later "NGG116."

The railway name is given in the Dutch "Afrikanse" rather than the later "Afrikaanse" or Afrikaner spelling.

It might be worth a higher resolution scan of your four works photos of this engine to see whether we can come up with any other interesting details.  It would certainly be a help to my friends at Boston Lodge (Welsh Highland Railway) who are struggling at the moment with the pipe runs and detail on NG87.

With kind regards
David