Edited 08 Nov 2019 23:46, 2 years ago, edited by M636C

Under the agreement for cancelling the last 3  locomotives and accepting 3 complete but  in parts and another 2 as incomplete locomotives was the provision that only 42 locomotives would ever operate at one time. That is, NSWGR were prevented from building another 3, 6043,6044 and 6045 as they did with the 81 class. The boiler units of the 3 complete locomotives, 43, 44 and 45 were used and I think I have seen a photograph of the builders plate from one of these on a locomotive.
I don't know why BP were so difficult over this, their order books were full at the time and they went on to build another 300 locomotives themselves and subcontracted a large number to other builders because their shops were at capacity. The SAR GMA/M class followed on from the NSWGR 60s, followed by the RR 16A and 20th classes, some for Angola, and finally the EAR 59 class.
I scored 95%, not knowing where 3214 ended up.
A very enjoyable quiz.

It seems that the NSW Government were the ones concerned with limiting the number of locomotives in traffic.
I can't see how Beyer Peacock could enforce an agreement not to use locomotives delivered complete...
(Refuse to supply the 46 class still on order?)

I recall seeing a Garratt at Enfield which had a steel oval plate in place of the usual Beyer Peacock builder's plate.
It had a four digit number starting with "7" welded on it.
In those days as a poor student I couldn't afford to take a photo of something just because I didn't understand it.
But my memory suggests that the number was the builder's number of a locomotive numbered above 6042.

Weren't the SAR GO class among the last built?

I had looked up preserved locomotives on line a few days before doing the quiz, so knew where 3214 was...

Peter

Since the cab numbers were often changed at overhauls, the builder's numbers might have been a convenient way to track which boiler was where, and this might have extended to locomotives thar didn't actually carry plates.