Steam in South Africa - Pt 2 - Bloemfontein to Marseilles & Vailima with Class 25NC &15F locomotives

[@seanmarkruddy]

Hey Tim. Through your lense, I re-lived the tour,... the long hours, night shifts, struggles , water shortages, coaling in the early mornings, and the great new friends we made. It was a rough 14 days for us, but it was worth it. Love your video.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Mark, thank you for everything you and the team did to make this tour happen. It was hard work just chasing the trains, it must have been a herculean task for those on the footplate and the support crew. It was only when I started to edit these videos that I really appreciated what had been achieved in very challenging circumstances, I'm glad I was there to see and record this awesome tour. It's nice to know you enjoyed the video.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Absolute magic Tim. it's been many years since I have viewed such wonders. 30 years or more they are stored on VHS tope somewhere in the loft. Well done here showing us the magic of steam BIG THANKYOU.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Keith, I'm glad you enjoyed it. When I saw this tour advertised, I sensed that it might be the last opportunity to capture these locomotives at the head of freight trains in the majestic Karoo scenery. The infrastructure to support steam has fallen into disrepair and it is likely in future that steam will only be seen hauling luxury trains such as those run by Rovos Rail and even then steam is only used for the first few miles before being replaced by diesel or electric traction. I also have a loft full of VHS tapes, some I filmed and others are professional productions such as those produced by Video 125. I've recorded about half of them to my computer, it's nice to watch them occasionally, it reminds me how much the railway scene has changed. As always it's nice to hear from you. Take care. Tim.

[@TrainLordJC]

Absolutely spectacular footage of those locomotives in magnificent South African scenery. It certainly makes me wish that I was a railfan in 1984 while I was living in South Africa. There are so many superb videos of South African steam locomotives. Thank you for your wonderful filming which seemed very well organised.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it. I'd love to have seen South African steam in the mid 80's, I took up filming with a video camera in the 80's when my children were born, and when they left home I turned my attention to travel and railways. It was a good tour.

[@martinpeter4089]

Wonderful footage, great sound, and good editing! I enjoyed every second of it. Will watch for a second time very soon!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you for your kind comment, it means a lot to me. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@panikrystyna1]

Bardzo piękny film. Tim, dziękuję tobie oraz wszystkim pomagającym dobrym ludziom. To jest taki film dla rozumu i dla serca, Myślę , że przejdzie do klasyki filmów kolejowych. Dziękuję pozdrawiam. 😀

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Halo, saya senang Anda menikmati filmnya. Tur ini terbukti sangat sulit untuk diselenggarakan dan kecil kemungkinannya untuk terulang kembali karena sebagian jalur kereta api kini ditutup dan gerbong-gerbongnya akan segera dibongkar. Orang di balik perusahaan tur tersebut tidak mau mengambil risiko finansial lagi. Saya senang bisa mengabadikan pemandangan menakjubkan ini 😊.

[@struck2soon]

I was fortunate enough to visit the Karoo in 1991 when steam was still in daily use on ‘real’ trains. It was a great experience. (The footplate ride between Belmont and Kimberley was an added bonus.)

[@johnbeck2042]

Lucky boytjie!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, it's nice to hear from you again. I'd love to have visited the Karoo when steam was still in everyday use, it must have been a wonderful experience, especially the cab ride.

[@struck2soon]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Hi Tim, yes indeed it was a great experience. I had travelled there for a friend’s wedding, once that was over I headed to the Northern Cape and Natal to chase steam. Disaster struck on the second day when I left my camcorder on the roof of the hire car! It was in several bits by the time I retrieved it so no video exists of the trip. A few still photos and the memories are still there though.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

​@@struck2soonI know how it felt to break an expensive camcorder, I had a Hitachi 6500E camcorder with a mains and car charger. I plugged it into my dad's Volkswagen camper van in the 1980s not realising the polarity on a Volkswagen cigarette lighter was the opposite way round to an English Ford Camper van, I waited 18 months for it to be returned from the repair shop.

[@struck2soon]

@@Timsvideochannel1 it happens to the best of us!

[@Afriqueleblanq]

I was a pax on the train that had reached 75mph/120km/h between Kimberley and Hopetown. It was hauled by one or two 25NC's. That was almost fifty years ago afaik. Excellent job, Tim.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased you liked the video and that train ride you remember must have been an awesome experience.

[@afriquelesud]

​@@Timsvideochannel1It sure was! I later discovered that it was "my uncle's train" as he was the driver on the next sector, from De Aar to Beaufort West.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@afriquelesud I'd love to have been on that train.

[@rogertemple7193]

An awesome video of trains from South Africa thank you. 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃👋

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed the video 😊.

[@frikwessels9939]

Amacing baie dankie vir dirT. Ek verkang nogak vir dit.

[@johannperaus6890]

Hello Tim! In this heat the fireman will need at least one case of beer (20 pieces) a day👌. When he drinks one beer, two beers evaporate at the same time. Tim, that means he goes home very thirsty in the evening. Not an easy job. Best regards from Hans and cheers🍻🇦🇹.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Hans, the temperature in the mornings was well below freezing, on one occasion minus 7C and by mid day the temperature was between 19C to 25C. The area we travelled around was between 4500 ft (1220 Metres) to 6000 ft (1830 metres) above sea level, with the surrounding mountains being even higher. I'm sure the drivers required plenty of liquid refreshment, although I only ever saw them drinking water, maybe they had a beer at the end of the day. Cheers. Tim.

[@johannperaus6890]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Every now and then I have to tell a joke, grins.

[@struck2soon]

These engines are mechanically stoked, the fireman never breaks into a sweat.

[@johannperaus6890]

@@struck2soon Thanks for this info. 🍻🍻🍻

[@markdyer4518]

Thank you so enjoyed it. That last section of line doesn't see much traffic anymore I think

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it and as far as I am aware the last part of the line to Bethlehem sees no regular traffic.

[@Nathan93Baker]

Great footage.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@StephenMakwale]

Hi Tim I remember the same steam engine from Cullinan to pretoria 😂

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I wish I'd been there to see it, I was late discovering South African steam, this tour showed me what I missed.

[@brendonanderson3612]

The crews really struggled by the looks of it. Maybe was poor water quality causing all the priming. Clouds of white steam may look great for the video, but it’s bad news for the locomotive.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Many of the video sequences were taken in the early morning when the temperature was often below zero causing the steam to look dramatic. As far as I know the water was OK although the coal left a lot to be desired. The drivers deliberately put on a show for the cameras.

[@afriquelesud]

I grew up with 15F, 25NC, GMA/GMAM close by. As a child, often saw the Bongol or 15E.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

You enjoyed a wonderful soundtrack to your childhood 😊.

[@peterlaubscher3989]

I remember visiting Modderpoort in the early 1980s when steam locos were based there

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Wow, that's something I'd love to have seen, this was my first visit to South Africa, I wish I'd visited when steam was still in regular service.

[@peterlaubscher3989]

@@Timsvideochannel1 My fourites were the mini Garratts that used to operate on the Narrow Guage lines in southern KwaZulu Natal.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@peterlaubscher3989 Were they similar to the Garratts on the Sandstone Estates Railways?

[@peterlaubscher3989]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Yes, I think they may be the same locos - the NG line in KZN was closed after severe flood damage many years ago and I assume that some of the locos were rescued by enthusiasts.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@peterlaubscher3989 We have 6 or 7 ex South African narrow gauge Garratts, here in the UK and there is another one running on Australia's Puffing Billy Railway (it was re-gauged to run on the Puffing Billy). It is good that so many have been saved.

[@GeoffreyMokgwetsi]

When exactly was this video shot? Just couldn't continue with my other chores until l watched it up to the end. What sweet memories it brings.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, it's nice to know this video bought back sweet memories. I shot this series of videos between 17th July to 1st August 2024. I haven't finished posting the complete series to KZbin, those that I have posted can be found by clicking on this link - kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5TXhoh_fbtpoKM

[@ThabangMonakale]

Hy team you remind me my father he was working at saar he was shanting in those big engine

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello, I hope the video brought back good memories from the days when your father worked for SAAR, it must have been a wonderful experience to work on those big steam locomotives.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

Locomotives of that size deserve a deeper-toned chime whistle. Maybe a Nathan 6 chime might sound good on a 15f or a 25nc.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

That's an interesting idea.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

@@Timsvideochannel1 I know that some SAR engines did have Nathan 6-chimes, but not many.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@SouRwy4501Productions Thank you 😊.

[@sellier-bellot22]

Pretty barren looking country out there !!!🤔

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Barren, yet beautiful in its own way and surprisingly productive.

[@Steamnz-i6h]

​@Timsvideochannel1 who maintains these massive locomotives?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

That's a tough one to answer, locomotives used to be maintained at Bloemfontein Locomotive Depot. There are a number of locomotives kept there, whilst there is evidence of repair and maintenance around the yard, I'm not sure whether or not they carry out major work or just light maintenance. Many of the engines owned by Transnet have been moved to Sandstones Estates where the 3ft 6ins gauge locomotives are kept on static display whilst the 2 ft gauge locomotives are maintained in the modern workshops and run on the Estates railways. I did notice owner’s plates on some of the engines at Bloemfontein such as "Ian Welch" who also owns and runs 3ft 6ins gauge locomotives in New Zealand. I believe the 25NC &15F locomotives featured in this video are privately owned. Rovos Rail own and repair steam locomotives at their depot in Pretoria, although they are mainly used for arrivals and departures only with the bulk of the journey being in the hands of electric and diesel locomotives due to the lack of steam facilities on the national network. The national operator Transnet owns and maintains steam locomotives that are used for tourist and charter trains. You might find this article interesting - www.news24.com/news24/community-newspaper/noordkaapbulletin/train-tourism-needs-council-support-20230131

[@ianmandy127]

@@Timsvideochannel1I can only speak for the 25nc which was restored and maintained by steamnet2000, and was borrowed for the tour. 3437 will soon return home to beaconsfield locomotive depot.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@ianmandy127 Thank you for the information, I looked up steamnet2000.org.za it's good to see that steam still has a future running tourist trains on the national railways. I have also enjoyed watching videos by this guy - www.youtube.com/@earthfirechannel a lot of the places he features are familiar to me.

[@frikwessels9939]

Ek het self so vir 6 maande gestook en dit saam met Rooi Baard de Wet.

[@gulabchandramandvi9402]

Nice L ooking

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I'm pleased you enjoyed it 😊.

[@Steamnz-i6h]

​@Timsvideochannel1 great video

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Hi Tim, Sth Africa so rugged yet so beautiful, i would have checked out the grass looking out for black mambas, Like oz every thing in Africa can kill you cheers Bob.😱🪱🦁🐃🦏🦛

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Bob, The Karoo was awesome, 4 to 6 thousand feet above sea level, yet fertile and capable of reasonable crop yields. The only wildlife I saw was birds, a couple of ostriches, a warthog and the occasional herd of deer. The temperature range at the time of my visit (Winter) was as low as minus 7C in the morning rising to 19 - 25 C by mid-day. There were no flies or annoying insects.

[@afriquelesud]

Black mambas live much further North. 😊