I miss those huffing chugging days and that melodious loud steam whistle.

Wow Awesome... The beautiful mechanics of steam power....

To see British built locos still operation is amazing well done to all concerned brilliant

Some wonderful footage there.

Amazing footage :)

3:19 What does the power of this loco come from?

@masonallenbuskirk5648

Жыл бұрын

That's a condensing SAR Class 25. It was called the "Puffer that never Puffs". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_25_4-8-4

South Africa has to import nearly all its crude or diesel or petrol Electricity? read a SA newspaper and you will know about load shedding - from ESKOM the power -gigant-. So, SAR should take good care of its steam locos and even have new ones built. At least they will run,. because coal there is no problem. And water? -Condenser - locos were built before. And worked well. Suppose with new technology they will work even better.

@masonallenbuskirk5648

Жыл бұрын

One of the reasons SA abolished steam was because the great locomotive builders of Europe had ceased making them, and they couldn't buy new ones from India or China either. The SAR Class 26 was designed to address this, but it was too little too late. In the case of electric traction, at least you can get power from coal-fired power plants.

@benediktmorak4409

Жыл бұрын

@@masonallenbuskirk5648 that i do understand very well. but with diesel prices going skyhigh and the constant -loadshedding - i n SA, one wonders... Or does SAR have their own power grid and can assure always electricity?

@masonallenbuskirk5648

Жыл бұрын

@@benediktmorak4409 I don't know as I'm not South African, but on a final note, without being too sanguine, the biggest reason why steam was abolished in all places was because of meddling politics.

@benediktmorak4409

Жыл бұрын

@@masonallenbuskirk5648 i mean i also can understand the logistics and costs behind all that. it needs not only the engineer and fireman to drive a loco. there are still more men behind that. the night team to start the fires in the locos, the night shift that is. the people who tend to the coal bunkers, the water pumps, the oil depot. with diesel or electricity it is easier. one man, one press of the button and the loco works - instantly -. and when one had Diesel locos like the Soviet - Ludmilla- with up to 6000 horsepower and ONE MAN operation, it is easier to understand the - economics - to change from steam to electric or diesel. BUT from the looks of it, steam will once more play its role on the rails. most probably not as much as - before - but for sure more than now...

@godfreyberry1599

Жыл бұрын

@@masonallenbuskirk5648 You mean those coal fired power plants that continuosly plunge SA into darkness twice a day for years?.