Glen_Karee_11_921_+_943__NBL_16258_+_16280_1904___18_10_1973.jpg (158278 bytes)

SA_-_Glen_Karee Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. Before it was electrified in 1974, the Kroonstad - Bloemfontein line was the busiest steam-worked route in the Republic with a train in each direction every 15 minutes, day in and day out. One of the best photographic locations was a “kopje” (hill) at Glen Karee, near the summit of a long and arduous climb from Bloemfontein. A big surprise for photographers at Glen Karee on 18th October 1973, was this pair of Class 11 2-8-2, going as hard as possible to keep their ‘slot’ in the timetable, between the heavy, regular traffic. Nos. 11 921 & 943 (NBL 16258 & 16280.1904, respectively) had both completed overhauls at Bloemfontein Works and were hurrying back to their shunting duties in the Transvaal. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

PE_New_Brighton_Yard_Class_11_shunting_24_10_1973.jpg (129499 bytes)

PE_New_Brighton_Yard PE_New_Brighton_Yard. Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. When the writer’s train ran into Port Elizabeth it passed the massive freight yard at New Brighton where no less than TWELVE steam locomotives were seen engaged on shunting duty! They were comprised of Classes S2, 12 and 12R, but among the pilots seen on 24th October 1973 was this Class 11 2-8-2, number unknown, one of 36 built by North British in 1904. The type was unique in that all of them retained their Belpaire boilers, until the last was retired by South African Railways in 1975, but a number served for more years in industrial use. Evidently the Class 11 was a good design! roger.griffiths@hotmail.com