Racing steam part 2 Kimberley to De Aar

Here we again see a few more clips of steam on the race track railway between Kimberley and De Aar which had steam locos working along it right up until the final day on 3 April 1992. It was a fantastic time of my life working these mighty big locomotives through the Karoo desert with massive trains. What made it even better was that each crew had their own regular locomotive and due to this we all took great pride in our locomotives as will be seen here in this clip.
Many of the clips also have loads of black smoke pouring out the engines exhaust. This was not normal but most photographers wanted it for their photos and video clips and so us as firemen would simply turn up the speed of the stoker feed into the firebox to make black smoke.
Again most of the footage in this clip was taken by my old friend Ron Cousins who I have not seen since steam ended in 1992

[@dikcasonvdweshuizen3411]

Waarom kan ons dit nie weer gebreuk nie? Dit was die beste vervoer ooit.

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Amazing to see these awesome locomotives flying through this countryside again. Thank you so much for capturing this and sharing it with us all.

[@eisbeinGermany]

and to think how the country is now a hell hole, some rails are all stolen,

[@Isochest]

I could sit there all day back in the day watching these fine locos and their consists pass by!

[@omahas9000]

Rich, just kills me every time I watch. Simply amazing stuff here. Thanks to Ron, too.

[@Adventurescot]

You should have been there in Kimberley with us John and you could have had a few footplate rides ;-)

[@Isochest]

This looks like a bloody wholesome way of living one's life.

[@Adventurescot]

It sure was a great way of living. However, one was at work all the time and never had much time to get away on holiday etc but they were some of the best days of my life for sure!!

[@sydneymartin6941]

No not altogether wholesome but working on the beautiful beasts was absolutely an experience of a lifetime

[@Adventurescot]

We once got charged for speeding with the Red Devil. We were accused of doing 88mph but how true that was I do not know but it was close to that;-)

[@UFEZELA]

What magnificent footage - the STEEL KYALAMI as that route is known among steam afficionados most be one of the greatest rail routes in the world where the big 25's AND the one and only locomotive of its type in the world, David Wardale's unique Class 26 3450, aka THE RED DEVIL - can be taken off their "leashes" and allowed to run like the wind...

[@Adventurescot]

Hi, priming is generally a problem caused with poor water or muck laying on top of the water in the boiler. Instead of steam being carried over thru the steam pipe into the cylinders water and muck are generally carried through. Of course water does not have the same expansion as steam and so the cylinders loose all their power and so speed. Water then gets locked in the cylinders and can cause great damage. I think the problem in this clip with 3411 was a overfilled boiler

[@JamesTaylor-lt9jq]

That 24 working hard is great! Never seen that before.

[@jasonwoodward9883]

Richard - what a surprise to see a "cheeky" 24 (no 3654) racing along the Steel Kyalami - no wonder I love those "cheeky little" 24's as they had what it takes to get from A-B-C without flinching... they sure had guts for their size...

[@Adventurescot]

Yes Jason, those 24s were great machines but 3654 was the best of the class I ever knew. John and I often worked her and simply loved her. 800 tons in tow and as you can see she simply flew along. Sadly she got destroyed by other drivers who took her out and simply were too lazy to take care of her. I think she had her last when a driver took her all the way to De Aar and back and forgot to take a hard grease pump with. All her bushes were destroyed by the time she returned to Kimberley

[@mthokozisimasondo2909]

I truly believe that steam locomotives can still be useful.With technology on disposal,improvements and modifications from coal to coal firing are possible.Coal firing,I have heard,called for constant fire cleaning to keep engine going and fire dropping at the end of the shift.Gas firing can eliminate all that.(2021.07.03-08:51)

[@sureshbhave2540]

lovely

[@Adventurescot]

No, I dont think any are during the steam festival, its just the normal trains running the lines as we did. Now and again we did take other classes out such as the 24.

[@Adventurescot]

I know what your saying. I really need to get this book of mine written. My old driver John Gilberthorpe has everyday he ever worked steam written in his diary and wants me to write a book about us both on the footplate. I could tell you so many stories about that grand job. Some you want to hear but a few others might just scare you;-)) Like most railwaymen we were always up to tricks and playing jokes on each other. Great days indeed. I will get that book out soon;-)

[@crewkerne40]

A book on SA steam by the crews who did the work would always be welcome.

[@andrewboyd8073]

As an American, I wish I was there.

[@TheOntguy]

Great footage - lucky guy !!!!!!!!!!!

[@Adventurescot]

I agree with you, I am a very lucky guy to have done what I did. Great years of my life indeed!!

[@Adventurescot]

No no, that with the 24 behind the 15CA are the normal twice a month enthusiast workings on a Sat. The 24 would work a train down Fri evening and the 15CA which was based in De Aar would work with the 24 back to Kimberley on Sat morning and then the 15CA would work a load back to De Aar in the afternoon. As you will hear in the shot wit them together the 24 is not puffing much, reason being mid-gear Dr Doom was driving her!! Useless driver indeed!!

[@Isochest]

This is how it should be now: Steam locos like these with container trains in tow. Why not?

[@struck2soon]

Any progress on that book yet?

[@frikbrits6335]

When those 25NC's stretches its legs it sounds like a diesel engine ??

[@Adventurescot]

Oh yes, those 25s really could fly. However yesterday I found an old clip of myself on a GMAM garratt with a class 23 coupled up ahead. The 23 driver was in a mighty hurry and pulled us the whole way to Kimberley. The small wheels on our garratt were going like turbines. It was no use us opening the regulator as the steam would not fill the cylinders fast enough. Its on the Frameline DVD "Steam Fever". One of the best SAR DVDs ever produced

[@Spalterbockl]

Richard,I wonder since that scene with the 15Ca and the 24 seemed to be the one going to Belmont with the 24 for the shuttle trips to Skeetbaan.

[@stefaan83able]

thanks for answer but have another question: on a cold start, i mean with cold cilinders, the driver has to pour the condensed water out of the cilindersbefore running then?

[@stefaan83able]

@2:17 what is meant with "priming problems" ?

[@Spalterbockl]

Are these shots taken at the steam festival 1992?

[@Adventurescot]

I think that beast could easily do 80mph if allowed but the problem is the narrow track of 3ft 6". All the 25s were great smooth riding machines and were classed as Cadillac's by most drivers. RD had such fine tuned valves that once you got the speed up you could pull the cut-off back as far as 20% some of the time but you had to keep her wide open otherwise you were screwed. With the fireholes in the side of the box meant no pull on the fire if worked too gently.

[@cw9403]

I rode upfront on one of these beast's back in the day when I was in the army and returning back to base in what was then South West Africa, I can confirm that the loco occasionally hit 100-105kph which I thought was impressive given the rugged swaying ride, single engineer and that was it as the firebox had a screw feeder, think it was De Aar to Upington I think..not sure

[@Adventurescot]

Your sure right there. There at the bottom of each cylinder are the cylinder cocks. These are operated from the cab and whenever a loco stops you should always open them to allow any water to drain. On pulling away you leave them open for a while then close them once all the water has drained. On this clip you will see us on 3488 leaving Orange River very slowly under bridge. Listen and you will hear one cock is leaking but my good driver always took it easy after cleaning fire to get it burning

[@markwilliams4201]

This steam engine pulling the Orange express brings back memories.Spoornet should have kept steam engines on this section not diesels as is today.They have killed the enjoyment many passengers take the train for.Spoorney think before you act in future.....

[@7822welshsteam]

You have my utmost jealousy.

[@stephensmith799]

That priming looks a bit scary....

[@Adventurescot]

Driver Geoff Hall had the blowdown valves open to lower the water level in the boiler that's why it looks so bad

[@stephensmith799]

@@Adventurescot Got that. Boiler got a good blow down out of it 😉

[@DetroitDiesel671]

I love these videos but I hate when they pour on smoke for the photographers... It taints the historical record by creating a belief that steam locomotives polluted more than they actually did, and it can thus affect current heritage steam operations. The 25s are one of my favorite locomotives, I recently got the book "Camels and Cadillacs" and it looks like it will be a good read.

[@Adventurescot]

Yes those 25s were magnificent locos. I have to admit I was bad for making smoke for the enthusiasts. It was just what we did. All this crap in today's world with saving the planet and all from pollution etc was just not thought of in those days. However I think we have much more problem with world human population killing the world than all the steam locos put together ever will have. That book is a great book and explains the 25s really well.

[@sydneymartin6941]

@@Adventurescot Good day to you Sir I was a fireman on the old SAR+H and later on became a dual driver on diesel and electric However my love for steam locomotives has never ever faded although I must admit that I am not a fan of oil burners as it takes away the feeling of pride at being able to put the coal in the right spots thereby creating light black smoke which is not enough to block out the son yet enough to cause the white feather from the safety valves to flow over the locomotive Thanks for this great video