26 3450 Red Devil Steam locomotive

Here we see a clip taken of my driver John Gilberthorpe and myself working the wonderful South African Railways class 26 locomotive back in 1990 when she was still in regular service.
The clip is taken from the video Steam Fever which was produced by Ron Nell productions and is still available to buy

[@Isochest]

Brilliant footage. Richard and John have made a great contribution to the rail industry and railways' cultural heritage. Something to be proud of.

[@Yellowstone216]

Its speed when it’s hauling those coaches at the end is insane!

[@Adventurescot]

We were running a bit late after being stopped by signals at Kraankuil so my great driver John Gilberthorpe let her rip. We made up the 11 late minutes and arrived into De Aar on time

[@steverob7637]

You, indeed were a lucky man - being able to combine your hobby with the job!

[@rossbryan6102]

QUITE A NICE EXHAUST SOUND, KUDOS TO THE VALVE SETTER!! KEEP THEM ROLLING BROTHERS!! 👍👍

[@Mason58654]

The legend in steam that tried to make it viable for the future. Too bad SAR treated it half-heartedly.

[@sydneymartin6941]

The men and their magnificent machines Thank you

[@jmcvlam]

That highballing at the end... can't get enough of it.

[@randymusselman4504]

Richard, thank you for sharing this, in the last clip, the RD sounds like a John Deere twin pulling tractor, the sharp cracks of its exhaust really are pronounced here! It’s really flying! Cheers! Wish someone would give her some love and they let her loose on the Karoo again. Randy, Wyoming, Delaware US

[@struck2soon]

Great bit of footage there Richard. Happy memories, just a shame what has happened to steam in SA over recent years. Including the Red Devil too unfortunately.

[@stephensmith799]

Wow! Thanks👍👍👍

[@tardis9326]

Thanks Richard. Brilliant footage Kr Tim surridge

[@Sowerbylads]

Certainly were the golden years. It's quite evident the two of you gelled to make a fantastic team.. Terrific video 👍🏻

[@Adventurescot]

Golden years for sure. John and I were a great team. It was almost like father and son. Both of us had steam in our blood and got on like a house on fire. I could not have asked for a better driver

[@Adventurescot]

I dont think he sells copies anymore. Best trying Ebay etc. If you really get stuck I can perhaps send a DVD of it to you

[@tardis9326]

​@Adventurescot that would be very very kind of you if you could. Of course let me know what costs would be incurred and I will reimburse you upfront via bank transfer. Thanks again Tim

[@jacqueso8424]

Great video there guys. Immaculate scenery found nowhere else. Hopefully in future i can be in the Cape to actually see 3450. I have a working model made by Erik Bekker. Im hoping to know if i can get the sound files for making the model digital. Kindly let me know if this is possible, would be greatly appreciated

[@johnarnehansen9574]

I suggest subtitling this video in Various languages!..

[@OlafLouw]

Mooi bring heimwee

[@andrewrussell4707]

Thanks for sharing

[@JonAschenbrenner]

I'm just glad Red Devil got saved. The most efficient Northern on the planet deserved to live on. Hard to believe she's 71 years old now!

[@Adventurescot]

your not joking. Lets hope she remains in preservation forever. I am so glad I worked her so many times in steam days. She was a great loco to work

[@JonAschenbrenner]

@@AdventurescotI can imagine and I envy you. The only Northerns that could hold a candle to Red Devil's efficiency are the S1 Niagaras and the S2 Super Niagara from the old New York Central Railroad. They were only around for 11 years in service and Red Devil was in service for 50 years. She was as old as some of the 4-4-0 Americans like General and Jupiter when they were withdrawn.

[@Adventurescot]

@@JonAschenbrenner yes that's very true. I have models of Red Devil and Niagaras etc and love the lot of them. I often think the 25s on SAR were copies of the Niagras but have a feeling it was the opposite way around. Think the Niagaras were copies of the 25NCs. These big SAR Northerns just went forever. They would fly along that narrow gauge track at hi speed all day & night without any problem. I loved working them

[@JonAschenbrenner]

@@Adventurescot How can the Niagaras be copies when the Class 25 Northerns came along almost 10 years after the NYC made their Super Northerns?

[@Adventurescot]

@@JonAschenbrenner no no, I don't mean they are copies in the respect that one copied another. What I mean is that so many modern parts were put into these two classes of locos that are virtually the same design. Pistons with the 5 or 6 piece rings, single slidebars, roller bearings etc. Both were extremely ultra modern machines and had many very similar designed parts

[@JustSomeNonsonsene]

Well more new streams locomotives are being built then since the final days of steam, and more of these old beauties are now in working order now, including this scarlet bastion, so steam may yet have a future

[@dennisyoung4631]

Yes, this one has *SOOT!*

[@trisrush9155]

Fantastically innovative and under appreciated engine! Absolutely awesome!