South African Steam Festival 1991 - Part 1.

Filmed by Chinarail1 (Peter Crush of Hong Kong ) from 30 Sep- 4 Aug 1991. The steam tour boarded SAR vintage sleeping car rolling stock, departing from Johannesburg station before heading to Kimberley where renowned railway and wild-life artist , the late David Shepherd took delivery of 4-8-2 Class 15F locomotive No. 3052 built by North British Locomotive Works in 1944. The locomotive , City of Germiston but renamed Avril ( after David’s wife) had been gifted to Shepherd by SA Railways. The engine is now preserved at Sandstone in the South Africa’s Eastern Free State province. Shepherd may be seen on the video at the Kimberly hand-over ceremony towards the end of Part 1 ( tape counter 0.35 minutes)

[@Adventurescot]

Oh wow, this clip brings back many memories. I recognise many people from drivers I worked with to enthusiasts and organisers of the trips and all. I was a fireman in Kimberley at the time and on the start of the festival loco inspector Pat Abbott and myself brought up all the engines to Kimberley station. In your photo I am on the green class 6 nearest your camera chatting to others on the footplate. All these engines and people were my life for many years. That's also me waving from the class 6 as we departed the station. I really enjoyed this clip, thanks for posting

[@Chinarail1]

Thanks for the kind comments. I am pleased that you were able to recognize yourself and former colleagues in the video film. By posting this on KZbin before I myself go to the "Great locomotive scrapyard in the sky" I have hopefully ensured the footage will out-survive me. Unfortunately for so many others who share my hobby, taking photograohs and films of trains, when they pass away their work ends up in a rubbish skip because few poeople now have the TV equipment for playing back old VCR tapes.

[@godfreyberry1599]

Lots of water has passed under the bridge since 1991 - sure hope those magnificent machines are still around and preserved. Thanks for sharing this time capsule.

[@Chinarail1]

Thanks for the kind comments. Much more encouraging than the previous post from Conor Graaf complaining that the video clips are "disjointed'. It was never intended to be documentary but I thought these filmed records of "steam" days gone by should be available for public viewing rather than disappearing for ever without trace when the origional video tapes are thrown out in a dump truck after my demise. There was quite a lot of effort ( and expense) getting these old videotapes converted to digital format, then edited and uploaded but all some of these youngsters can do is repond with a comment "a bit disjointed" .......

[@rudolfhough6226]

I had my first exibitions with The Brush With Steam railway festiville and was very proud to have my work exibited alongside that of David Shepard. Happilly ,at least 3 of my works are still in collections somewhere although they sold only after the Festaville. Unfortunately there is no market left for railway subjectmatter nowadays but still it is good to see the locomotives and balcony coaches i have grown up with and worked on in my life.

[@tims1542]

Beautiful to see 3407 looking so splendid and proud. I last saw the shell of her at Worcester station minus any "jewellery". I wonder what may become of whats left of her. Thanks for the footage. Kind regards Tim Surridge

[@conorgraafpietermaritzburg3720]

A bit disjointed.

[@Chinarail1]

This is not a documentary. It is historic amateur film recording an event which took place over 30 years ago. In order to preserve this record it has been uploaded to digital format for anyone who wishes to see it. 23 other peiple were interested enough to look at it. You didn't have to. Nobody forced you.