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SA_-_George_GEA_4015 Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. George station on 22nd October 1973 as Beyer Garratt GEA 4015 (Beyer Peacock 7182.1946) pauses with the daily Cape Town to Port Elizabeth passenger train which traverses the stunning “Garden Route” on a journey that was timetabled to take some 38 hours. The stop at George was lengthy, as the Garratt took water and had its fire cleaned in readiness for the breathtaking assault that lies ahead, traversing the Montague Pass, en route to an engine change at Oudtshoorn. Distantly seen at left is 2-8-4 No.24 3669 (NBL 26381.1948) which had just arrived with its mixed train, over the beautiful branch line from Knysna. No.3669 was one of a trio of Class 24 stationed at George for working the Knysna branch, the engines being allocated to dedicated crews who kept their charges in what was probably the smartest condition of any South African Railways locomotive. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Power_2x_GEA. Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. The challenging climb from George, over the Montagu Pass in the Cape Midland section, has only one respite for locomotives and their crews. At Power, a ledge was hewn out of the mountainside, level, long and wide enough for a passing loop with water columns at each end. There, trains ascending and descending the Pass could halt for water and cross any opposite movement. On 22nd October 1973 Class GEA Beyer Garratt No.4039 takes water while hauling the daily Cape Town to Port Elizabeth passenger train, as a sister GEA crosses with a freight coming down the Pass. Note that the stop is long enough in time for some passengers to leave their carriages and take a walk, watch the action etc. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Steam in Southern Africa, 1973 – 1999 15 July 1999 and class GEA Garratt 4023 (BP 7190.1946, although all were provided as kits of parts for erection at Uitenhage Works), makes a typically smoky assault on the Montagu Pass with a mixed train, having just emerged from Tunnel No.5. This class of Garratt was prime power for the Montagu Pass services but being hand-fired they were hard work for the firemen! Replacement by stoker-fired Class GMA was progressive through 1975/6, at which point the entire class of 50 GEAs was withdrawn. However, six were sold-on into industrial service around South Africa’s coal fields – this example, GEA 4023 - going to Vryheid Coronation colliery in Natal. Upon its redundancy from there the GEA was taken back by South African Railways as a heritage locomotive, the sole remaining example of its type. Today it languishes in the museum depot at Voorbai. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com