Past Trains: Death of a Friend

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John Ashworth
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Past Trains: Death of a Friend

Post by John Ashworth »

Photos and captions by Nathan Berelowitz, mid-1980s
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When locomotive scrapping first started, it as tackled by the railways themselves, before such items were put on tender for scrapping. At Capital Park, there was a team of cutters that would tackle the locomotives within the depot confines. Here, a 15F is meeting its fate. The gutted boiler makes an interesting sight for those who are interested in the inner workings. The smokebox tubeplate end can be clearly seen.
When locomotive scrapping first started, it as tackled by the railways themselves, before such items were put on tender for scrapping. At Capital Park, there was a team of cutters that would tackle the locomotives within the depot confines. Here, a 15F is meeting its fate. The gutted boiler makes an interesting sight for those who are interested in the inner workings. The smokebox tubeplate end can be clearly seen.
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These pipes are in fact the steam collector pipes situated in the boiler. Their purpose is to collect the steam generated in the boiler and take it further to the header and elements and finally to the cylinders. The big locomotives with little or no dome are all fitted with these collector pipes. Because of the large boiler size, there is no possibility of the common steam dome, which would house the collector pipe for the steam, so these are designed and fitted at the top inner boiler, and run almost the full length of it.
These pipes are in fact the steam collector pipes situated in the boiler. Their purpose is to collect the steam generated in the boiler and take it further to the header and elements and finally to the cylinders. The big locomotives with little or no dome are all fitted with these collector pipes. Because of the large boiler size, there is no possibility of the common steam dome, which would house the collector pipe for the steam, so these are designed and fitted at the top inner boiler, and run almost the full length of it.
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Stripped cab on the fireman's side. All the boiler mounts have been removed.
Stripped cab on the fireman's side. All the boiler mounts have been removed.
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Front end getting the cut.
Front end getting the cut.
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A neatly dissected boiler. Almost an autopsy being performed.
A neatly dissected boiler. Almost an autopsy being performed.
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A wheel set from a previously cut up 15F lies discarded, while her fellow mate is receiving the scrappers' attention, and soon this wheel set will be joined by others.
A wheel set from a previously cut up 15F lies discarded, while her fellow mate is receiving the scrappers' attention, and soon this wheel set will be joined by others.
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If one could have only foreseen the future. A most valuable piece of metal today, for any heritage railway group, is this smoke box tube plate being removed, after having already been cut half way.
If one could have only foreseen the future. A most valuable piece of metal today, for any heritage railway group, is this smoke box tube plate being removed, after having already been cut half way.
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Angels of Death. Cutters doing their job
Angels of Death. Cutters doing their job
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The disembowelled boiler of the 15F
The disembowelled boiler of the 15F
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One must die so one may live. The 19D in the background carries on with its daily tasks of shunting around the shed, whilst her once shed mate meets a fate that could one day be hers. Fortunately the 19D is 3360 and was purchased by Rovos Rail!
One must die so one may live. The 19D in the background carries on with its daily tasks of shunting around the shed, whilst her once shed mate meets a fate that could one day be hers. Fortunately the 19D is 3360 and was purchased by Rovos Rail!
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A rather unusual shot. The crew just need to appear and drive this Heath Robinson contraption!<br /><br />The complete firebox section of a 15F. This loco was 3101 and the complete cab was purchased by myself and spent many years in my garden at home, before I let it go to the SANRASM group for display.
A rather unusual shot. The crew just need to appear and drive this Heath Robinson contraption!

The complete firebox section of a 15F. This loco was 3101 and the complete cab was purchased by myself and spent many years in my garden at home, before I let it go to the SANRASM group for display.
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The railways crane has just lifted the firebox off its frame. The dangling mechanical stoker shaft will have no more work to do. The next journey will be to the foundry.
The railways crane has just lifted the firebox off its frame. The dangling mechanical stoker shaft will have no more work to do. The next journey will be to the foundry.
21.jpg (51.55 KiB) Viewed 1553 times
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Derek Walker
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Re: Past Trains: Death of a Friend

Post by Derek Walker »

Very sad photographs. I equate these pics with those I have seen of ships being broken up. We create these wonderful complex machines that seeingly take on a life of their own, and one day we pass them to those who dismantle them once again. Their short time with us often creates attachments to humans who mourn when they get scrapped because we know that while it is only a machine, it takes on the personality of those who built it, those who drive/sail it, those who travel on board it and those who care for it. Those of us who are fortunate enough to know them while they are with us cannot explain to those who dont know, and, especially in our modern plastic world we see even less of these creations in our lives, and I fear the next generation will not be able to pass on that which we still remember.
Will somebody one day create a forum dedicated to old ipods and cellphones? sorry. There is just no attraction.
Not quite on the rails.
Check out my train vids. http://www.youtube.com/user/nixops
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