South African Steam. A day on the George - Knysna. 1986

Recorded during a 1986 steam enthusiast's tour, not special trains but ordinary branch line workings of the day. The SAR line from George along the Indian Ocean coast though hills and past lagoons to Knysna was undoubtedly one of the county's most scenic. At the time of our visit all traffic was in the hands of the lightly built but modern class 24 2-8-4 with the Vanderbilt 'torpedo' tenders. At the time it was claimed the infrastructure wasn't capable of supporting double headed trains, so if a second loco was required, it was cut into the train further back as seen towards the end of the video. I gather this line has since fallen on hard times and maybe even closed, if so, it is a terrible shame. Towards the end of SAR steam operation, all of a sudden, GMA Garratt's appeared which appeared to defy the previous ruling on weights.

[@Adventurescot]

Thanks for sharing these clips. This was to be my last stamping grounds as a fireman on SAR. So sad to think the line and the locomotives and all are now history.

[@calliepohl8977]

Best history of my childhood days..wich i had one of them of my own.I just 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡 a steam locomotive. especially the 15 f. Thanks for this beautiful clips.

[@sydneymartin6941]

Hi I have a great love 4 steam engines Am so proud to have been a part of that history and listen no bells to mess up the sound

[@quhitcorse1943]

great video and record of a now gone historical railway.Thanks for post.
Shame on SPOORNET for turning their backs on steam tourism in a country desperate for tourists and hence jobs

[@BartBusschots]

A lovely collection of clips - great to see such big steam engines out in the wild earning their keep!

[@andrewthacker114]

Good clip thanks

[@basilschwegmann7395]

Sure wish they would reopen this line, I am sure it benefitted all aling the route.

[@Preyser123]

I love the whistle of the loco featured 14 minutes and 19 seconds into the video. Does anybody know which loco it is?

[@pearlyhumbucker9065]

This should be SAR Class 24

[@geoffreyford7288]

Naoline was Class 24 no.3669 I don't know the number of the other Class 24. Interesting the 2nd loco in middle of train was basically the for the final climb up to George. They often split the train into two at the bottom and take first section up and come back down light engine for the 2nd section

[@corneliusfourie8540]

Poep