South African Railways 25NC 3467 De Aar to Kimberley 1992,MPG

[SteffanLlwyd]

There's a tremendous sense of the power of the locomotive here on this vid. Thanks. I've only managed a cab ride on two 0-6-0 saddle tanks at Snowdown Colliery in Kent UK.... back in the 1980s ...max 8mph on about twenty empty 4-wheel 16T capacity trucks. What amazed me was the simple tools needed to keep the locos running: pillar drill, big plein hammers, a welding set and assorted wrenches. All gone now.

[mabhekaphansi]

Beauty is the only word.

[Engineer5344]

awsome, yea i cannot see you or anyone else havin to hang bomb a 4-8-4 just to get over the road in record breaking time. thats just asking for a death wish.

[Engineer5344]

now is she a hand bomber or did she have a mechanical stoker.

[LifeofRail]

Oh No!! This mighty 4-8-4 was a mechanical stoker machine. These locos had 75sq/ft grates and wanted the coal right up at the front of the firebox. One could keep up with the shovel but before too long you would be wishing for the end of the journey. Although saying that, I once had a driver who said "all steam trains are mechanically fired, only problem is that some of them can talk"!!!