Bloemfontein_shed_pilot_23_3286_Vrystaat__BM_10958_1938__12_10_76.jpg (143045 bytes)

SA_-_Bloemfontein_depot_pilot Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. Around the world most locomotive depots employed a “shed pilot,” often a small and/or elderly engine seeing out its working days on quiet, general shunting duties around the engine shed. Not quite so with Bloemfontein depot’s pilot! This huge and magnificently turned out Class 23 4-8-2 No.3286 “Vrystaat” (Berliner Maschinenbau 10958.1938) was no longer employed on main line duties - in fact the Class 23s soon would be extinct - but No.3286 would see out its days by piloting in style! The date was 12th October 1976 and note the row of locomotive tenders in the background. A year or two previously they were coupled to redundant Class 16DA Pacifics and 15E poppet valve 4-8-2s, all of which had been scrapped, with the tenders being retained for unknown, other purposes. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

SA_-_Agtergang_23_3300_12_7_99.jpg (112915 bytes)

Steam in Southern Africa, 1973 – 1999 At the entrance to Agtergang station on South African Railways’ Cape Midland main line, 4-8-2 Class 23 3300 (BM 10999.1938), passes a very confusing set of signals. In the distance the Outer Home signal is at “danger”, while the centre Start signal says that the line is clear in the opposite direction from which the train is approaching! The date was Monday 12 July 1999 and the train was working under a system of “permissive ticket” enabling signals to be ignored. Photo and scan Roger Griffiths; roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

Kroonstad_Classes_15F_+_23_11_10_76.jpg (144269 bytes)

Kroonstad_Classes_15F_&_23. Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. For the years before 1974, Kroonstad engine shed shared with Bloemfontein depot, the enormous traffic over the main line between both towns, predominantly with Class 15F and 23 4-8-2s. In 1976, electric locomotives were working Kroonstad - Bloemfontein, but the former’s depot still maintained a large stud of Classes 15F and 23 for the line west to Klerksdorp and numerous shunting and pilot duties. In the early evening of 11th October 1976, 15Fs and 23s are lined up simmering, waiting for their next tasks. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com