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Posted: **07 Jun 2011, 11:33**

Posted for the photographer, Dennis Mitchell:

Just a few from the greatest steam show I ever saw (being too young to have seen the great American locos). South Africa in the '70s was a steam paradise, but it was obvious the diesel and electrics were there to stay.
This railway in an area of roughly Queensland, N.S.W. and maybe a bit of South Australia, had locos on 3' 6" gauge as big as our biggest, that could run at high speed and pull huge loads; that made you wonder why we had standard gauge -- the SA loading gauge was 10' 4" wide and 13' 2" high compared to our 9' 9" wide and 13' 10" high. and they MOVED. Mainline average speeds were around 90 km/h and branch about 60-65.
The 4-8-2 was a South African favourite with over 1,400 in about 25 classes. In 1960 there was 2,742 steam, 76 diesel and 472 electric locos. By 1970 it was 2,473 steam, 379 diesel and 1,112 electric and in 1980, 1,702 steam 1,398 diesel and 2,344 electric. So you can see it was no small concern. You had to see it, but to me it was the greatest show on earth.

Posted: **08 Jun 2011, 18:34**

These are interesting photos.
The description of picture 1 and 2 is almost the same, except the place where the pictures were taken. Is this correct?

When I read the description of picture 5 with the 15Fs I was surprised that there is written that the passenger coaches were on the rear of the train.
What was the reason to put the coaches at the end of the train instead behind the locos?
Wouldn't it be easier for the driver to stop the train with the coaches behind the locos near the platform instead at the rear?
Because the coaches are at the rear, how did they handle it at that time to stop the coaches at the platform?

Sorry for so many questions. :-)

Posted: **09 Jun 2011, 07:29**

If I remember rightly the rule book says that freight wagons are behind the loco because they are heavier; lighter coaches are at the rear.

Posted: **09 Jun 2011, 09:52**

The descriptions are as provided by Dennis. The first two photos are of the 16CRs at Port Elizabeth and the same caption refers to both.
Many branch line halts do not have platforms, so the stopping position would not have been a problem. Where platforms do exist, the train would most likely have been stopped in position by a "stop" hand-signal given by the station master, local shunter or the train's guard.

Posted: **10 Jun 2011, 11:01**

Thank you for your explanations.
Okay that there are maybe no platforms is not was I really way thinking about.
The signal by hand was also my idea after I had posted my questions.

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SAR: When steam was king, by Dennis Mitchell

SAR: When steam was king, by Dennis Mitchell

Re: SAR: When steam was king, by Dennis Mitchell

Re: SAR: When steam was king, by Dennis Mitchell

Re: SAR: When steam was king, by Dennis Mitchell

Re: SAR: When steam was king, by Dennis Mitchell