How to drive and control steam locomotive, Class 25NC

A crew of two people is required to operate a steam locomotive. The train driver is responsible for controlling the locomotive's starting, stopping, and speed.
The fireman is responsible for maintaining the fire, regulating steam pressure and monitoring boiler and tender water levels.
The story Class 25NC No.3472 in action is told as narrative voices by the guys who drove and fired the locomotives.

[@morambasi]

The smooth riding of that loco at speed is fascinating. The class 25 belongs to best designed modern steam locomotives for sure.

[@Adventurescot]

Oh my golly, hearing my old great buddy Piet chatting takes me back to our days on the footplate together. He and I were a team for a few years in Germiston. The fun and laughter we had on those locomotives is unheard of almost anywhere in todays world. He was a great chap but like so many great steam drivers I worked with he has passed into the world above. However the times he and I had together will never be forgotten. Thanks for posting

[@jnavonoD]

Glorious mechanical engineering. Spent a lot of time with the Umgeni Steam Railway as a kid in the late 80s and early 90s, on a 15AR and 19D ❤

[@colinseggie7620]

Very interesting. Straight from the horse's mouth no frills just facts. Well done!

[@gandalf87264]

WOW! When was this filmed? Do we even have steam locomotives running anymore? I guess not. All the copper piping has probably been stolen off them by now. I used to love those machines.

[@adriannettlefold9084]

I've met a couple of guys who fired and drove Steam in South Africa in the 1990s. I was too late coming to the party, to go from Australia across, but did end up qualifying in 2012 with QR.

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649]

Glad the driver was given a robot voice.

[@russel-nb2fp]

It is a great pity that the reefsteamers shut dowm they really did keep south africas steam history alive

[@agentorange153]

Excellent! I've always wanted to see how a steam train with a mechanical stoker actually works -- this is the FIRST video I've seen of this, almost all of the other videos show engines with hand firing! So, the stoker controls are on the very bottom left, and to start the coal feed you first open the feed screw and then the jets -- right? And I don't know if you would know this, but it would work pretty much the same on a Russian P-36 engine, right?

[@johnfellows2867]

So tragic that Reefsteamers went belly up through no fault of there own !!!

[@mikebledig7208]

There is nothing that comes even close to a steam locomotive. The modern locomotive are just not the same. A steam train talks to you if you really listen.