25916_Germiston1.jpg (162364 bytes)

4-8-2T locomotive No. 25916, one of 42 built 1929 to 1955 by North British for industrial use in South Africa. Reefsteamers depot, Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa. 2018-08-17. Meanwhile this locomotive has been purchased and preserved by North British Loco Preservation Group (UK). tobias b köhler

25916_Germiston2.jpg (161797 bytes)

4-8-2T locomotive No. 25916, one of 42 built 1929 to 1955 by North British for industrial use in South Africa. Reefsteamers depot, Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa. 2018-08-17. Meanwhile this locomotive has been purchased and preserved by North British Loco Preservation Group (UK). tobias b köhler

Chislehurst_14CRB_1769__MLW_58645_1918__on_frt_21_10_76.jpg (143994 bytes)

Chislehurst_14CRB_1769. Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. Climbing steeply north from East London, Cape Eastern section, 4-8-2 14CRB 1769 (MLW 58645/1918), battles through Chiselhurst with a heavy freight train, on 21st October 1976. Less than two years later electrification brought the end of steam working at East London. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

IND_Apex_Colly_ex_SAR_4R_1555__NBL_20229_1913__on_loan_from_Dunns_16_10_1973.jpg (158625 bytes)

SA_-_Apex_Colliery Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. South Africa’s Transvaal and Natal provinces abound in coal mines, most of which employed steam locomotives over sometimes, extended systems, to move coal between pithead, washery and exchange sidings with the main line. One such mine is seen here: Apex Colliery, Transvaal, on 16th October 1973, with ex-South African Railways Class 4AR 4-8-2 No.1555 (NBL 20229.1913) with its train of wagons, loading coal from a conveyor-fed bunker. The engine was not owned by Apex, whose two regular locomotives both needed repairs so the 4AR was on loan from Dunns Locomotive Works at Witbank. In fact, Apex would soon after purchase the 4-8-2 from Dunns and on a visit to Dunns’ works in October 1976, 4AR 1555 was observed under repair; its final fate is as yet, unknown. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

Mission_GF_2401__Han_10543_1928__17_7_99.jpg (134259 bytes)

Mission_GF_2401_Mission. Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. Dawn on 17th July 1999 on the branch line from Cape Town to Caledon and Bredasdorp, in the Western Cape. 4-6-2+2-6-4 Beyer Garratt GF 2401 (Hanomag 10543/1928), approaches Mission station with a mixed train for CapeTown. Sixty-five of this very successful, mixed-traffic Garratt were delivered 1927 - 1928, by three German manufacturers; they worked over most of South Africa, but especially, Natal. No.2401 now resides in the Outeniqua Transport Museum at George. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

SA_-_Cambridge_14CRB_1994_21_10_76.jpg (149242 bytes)

Steam in Southern Africa, 1973 – 1999 The railway line from East London, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, climbs heavily up to the inland plateau, through an area once populated in part, by German émigrés. The gradients caused the smaller-wheeled classes of steam locomotive to be used for the quite intensive service to Queenstown. Here 4-8-2 Class 14CRB 1994 (MLW 60549.1919), makes a brisk start away from the station of Cambridge, in East London’s suburbs with a train from Queenstown. The date was 21 October 1976 and the line of white coping stones upon which your scribe (and his fellow travellers) were standing, was a portent of things to come. Extended platforms were being put in as part of an electrification scheme, completed a year or two later, writing finis to such energetic displays. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

SA_-_De_Aar_museum_6A_454__5R_781__6J_641.jpg (159723 bytes)

Steam in Southern Africa, 1973 – 1999 The double-track main line between De Aar and Kimberley was THE magnet for steam enthusiasts from all over the world. Frequent, heavy freights, interspersed with some passenger workings, were hauled by a few Class 25 4-8-4 condensing locomotives, but mostly by Class 25NC 4-8-4, in single and often, double-harness. The locomotive depots at De Aar and Beaconsfield, Kimberley were the centres of operation for the line, with most emphasis upon De Aar. These photos show the sheds and trains on the main line, nicknamed the “Steel Kyalami” after the South African Gran Prix circuit. This was simply because trains were worked with maximum effort and although the formal line speed limit was 55 mph (88kph), that speed was frequently exceeded, sometimes by a considerable margin! Shed foreman at De Aar for many years was a Mr Watson and he personally collected a large number of historical locomotives for an open-air museum beside the depot. Here is a picture of just three of the “gems” (L-R): 4-6-0 6A 454 (D 1895), 4-6-2 5R 781 (VF 2775.1912) and 4-6-0 6J 641 (NR 1902); the fine condition in which all the exhibits were maintained is evident. Sadly, with Mr Watson’s retirement and the run-down of De Aar depot this superb collection of relics – some unique – was scattered around South Africa. Since then some have succumbed to scrapping by metal thieves while the rest are in daily danger of being similarly treated – such a shame! 15 October 1976. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

SA_-_Kaserne_st_pt_30_10_76.jpg (151558 bytes)

Steam in Southern Africa, 1973 – 1999 The city of Johannesburg was surrounded by large freight yards, one of the biggest being at Kaserne. So many shunting locomotives were employed there that a separate engine shed was provided, adjacent to the yard, to service the shunters. Kaserne depot is seen here on 30 October 1976 and presents a classic picture – the dirt, the overhead coaling plants, barrows of sand, ash pits and in the distance, overhead watering gantries. Things were quieter in the yard over the weekends so this Saturday visit found no fewer than 35 locos present, of classes 12R, 12AR, 14R, S and S1. In the left distance can be seen one of the huge deposits of “tailings” from decades of gold mining underneath the city; they were a feature of Johannesburg, even close to the city centre. Many have since been removed because modern extraction methods have enabled more gold to be taken out of what was once considered worthless rubbish. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

SA_-_Kaserne_st_pt_S1_3808_+_3818_30_10_76.jpg (127421 bytes)

Steam in Southern Africa, 1973 – 1999 A close-up of two, Class S1 0-8-0 shunting locomotives at Kaserne on 30 October 1976. S1 3808 and 3818 (NBL 27268 & 26278.1948 respectively) belonged to a class of 37 engines that featured large boilers and tenders carrying 6000 gallons of water and 11 tons of coal. As such they could be employed all day in the yards returning only in the evenings for servicing. Their high boiler capacity and adhesive weight ensured they could handle 2000 ton block trains with ease and economy. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

S_Africa_-_Montagu_Pass_7A_1007__N__4459_1892__+_7B_1056__NR__5829_1900__16_7_99.jpg (156849 bytes)

Steam in Southern Africa, 1973 – 1999 South Africa’s railways abounded with dramatic and scenic lines, one of the best being from George on the “Garden Route’s” Indian Ocean coast, ascending the Montagu Pass to a 600 metre summit at the appropriately named Topping. After leaving George the railway twists and turns through forest, then leaves the tree line for a very dramatic mountainside stretch, where the line literally runs on a small ledge, with numerous tunnels and curves – superb! With 206 years of service between them 4-8-0s 7A 1007 and 7B 1056 emerge from Tunnel No. 5 on 16 July 1999, with a special train for Camfer. 7A 1007 was delivered to the Cape Government Railway in 1892 (Neilson 4459) while her sister came from Neilson, Reid (5829/1900). 7B 1056 had a chequered history, being built for the Imperial Military Railway (IMR) specifically for work supporting the British Army during the Boer War. When that conflict ended the IMR became the Central South African Railway, the loco going to the new entity before being ceded to the Cape Government Railway and then SAR. Nowadays the Montagu Pass line sees sporadic freight workings, but the only way of having a passenger ride is by an also sporadic, small, battery-electric railcar. Sic transit gloria mundi! Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com.