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South African Winter Steam
This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful steam train videos ever made. The cameraman has captured in all their glory South Africa's steam trains in the winter of 1988, with the steam exhaust billowing white against the blue sky, in a background of the hills of South Africa. The video opens with class 25 NCs, huge 3' 6" gauge elephant eared 4-8-4s with enormous tenders, hauling goods trains, including a pair double heading.
Next comes a series of fascinating views of the condensing type class 25, with their unique sound faithfully captured. There is no exhaust beat, but instead the whine of the turbines and fans. Signals, both pointed and fishtail arm, give the "clear" indication for a condensing 25 to accelerate from a station, with the smoke box turbine blower full blast for the grade ahead. There are excellent views alongside pacing with a talk on the operation of the loco. Included are views of taking water cleaning fire and boiler blowdown.
A segment on the east coast of Natal follows, with 2ft gauge class 16 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratt first close-up in the yard, then on the Banana Express passenger train. Another class 16 is covered on a log train, with some rather violent slipping. Kimberley depot follows where two 4-8-4s, "Blue Devil" and "Red Devil" the most modern steam on SAR are featured, in the yard and on a goods, with views from every angle. Next is featured Vryheid Coronation colliery in north of Natal, first at the loco shed where the 9 mile branch leaves the SAR line, with a 4-8-4 Nth British tank engine and the last remaining ex SAR DA garratt 4-8-2+2-8-4. See coaling the garratt, then scenes out along the track working hard. On then to Natal Anthracite colliery where a 4-6-2+2-6-4 garratt is well covered along the line and in the colliery.
The final sequence is at Bloemfontain, Kimberley depot at dawn, and goods trains powered by 25NC locos. There are views from atop the tender, cab scenes including the mechanical stoker and of course lineside views including exchanging tokens at speed. There is an especially memorable view of lovely reflections in mirror-like water, of a doubleheader passing over a bridge. Each segment is filmed from a variety of angles including, often, from overhead.
Duplicated in Australia directly from 1" tape. PQ A.