Scenes of preserved steam operations in South Africa during an all Steam festival in 1989. Credits go to Goodheart Productions (This video is for Entertainment Purposes Only)
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.
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.
@@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?
@@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.
@@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...
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 :)
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.
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.
@@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?
@@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.
@@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...
@@masonallenbuskirk5648 You mean those coal fired power plants that continuosly plunge SA into darkness twice a day for years?.
3:19 What does the power of this loco come from?
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