The South African Railways Class NG3 4-6-2T of 1907 was a narrow-gauge steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal. In 1907, the Natal Government Railways placed six Pacific type narrow-gauge steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they retained their engine numbers, but with an "NG" prefix added. When a system of grouping narrow-gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced somewhere between 1928 and 1930, they were designated Class NG3. Natal's narrow gauge By 1906, the Natal Government realised that light railways were essential as feeders to open up fertile districts which were distant from the existing main- and branch lines, particularly when the intervening stretches of country were difficult from an engineering point of view. The second narrow-gauge railway in Natal was constructed from Esperanza at Umzinto on the South Coast via Ixopo to Donnybrook. The residents of Alexandra County and the Ixopo Division had been pressing for a railway for years. These counties were only tapped by the Railways at their extreme edges. The eastern edge of Alexandra County was served by the South Coast line, which had reached Umzinto in 1900, while the extreme western border of the Ixopo Division was served by the Underberg and Kokstad lines which had reached Donnybrook in 1905. Between these two lines for a distance of with the upper end of the district at above sea level, means of communication were very difficult. Since the cost of a Cape gauge line across this terrain was considered prohibitive, the farmers accepted the narrow-gauge railway which was offered. The line was officially opened to traffic on 3 June 1908 by his excellency the Governor of Natal, Sir Matthew Nathan. It was long from Esperanza where it met the South Coast line at Umzinto, to Donnybrook where it met the Underberg branch. A branchline from Ixopo to Madonela was added and completed on 2 February 1914. Manufacturer Commonly known as the Hawthorn Leslie Side Tanks, the second batch of narrow-gauge locomotives of the Natal Government Railways (NGR) were built to the design of NGR Locomotive Superintendent D.A. Hendrie, based on his earlier design of the Hunslet 4-6-2T locomotives of 1906. An order for six of these locomotives was placed with Hawthorn Leslie and Company. The locomotives were similar in appearance to the earlier Hunslet Side Tank, but with larger water tanks