South African Railways class 25NC 3488 working up Modder River bank 1991

Here we see a clip of one of SARs mighty class 25NC 4-8-4s working a 1300ton train load of grain up the steep bank from Modder River and then getting up speed on the more level track past Spytfontein on its way to Kimberley in 1991

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[LifeofRail]

Hi Lurch125

3511 was a preserved class 25 condenser. She is still standing in Kimberley and is not in too bad condition but has never steamed since taht time I fired her in 1992. Have you seen the video clip on Youtube? She was recently removed from the shed area and placed with other preserved locos in Kimberley but like many SAR locomotives very little is safe in that country nowadays. Hopefuly one day one of the good preservation groups will get hold of her and she will steam again.

[PrentonPimp]

Beast! It's a crying shame that these locos are still being cut up...

[LifeofRail]

Good news is that this loco 3488 was my regular locomotive while I was based in Kimberley and I was determined to save her. We saved her and now she is standing at Reefsteamers in the old Germiston loco shed. Bad news is that nothing appears to be safe in SA when it comes to preservation as the government seems totally agains saving history.

[dwkcamman611]

Nice!!!

[SteffanLlwyd]

Imagine what Richard Trevithick would say if he could see this!

[leaderofearth]

@Lurch125 I am a volunteer with Mainline Steam in Auckland New Zealand. In our Auckland Depot we have 2 class 25ncs and a GMAM stored.

There is talk of getting the GMAM going again, but I am not sure how far away that is, and I understand that the 25's are too heavy to run on our lines so I don't know what will happen to them long term.

[pwalpar]

Nice presentation

[Lurch125]

I'm wondering was No 3511 a Class 25

Condensing locomotive preserved at all

After steam ended or was it scrapped could you be able to find out if you can also i heard that there are some S.A steam locomotives preserved in New Zealand too by a group called Mainline Steam.

[1961sd]

What a shame to be scrapping such fine machines, just like here in the states the only steam left was saved by certain R.R.'s. We should have done as the English and saved more, just as the English and South Africa we still have huge coal reserves that sure looks nice compared to mid east oil. As I understand Mr. Porta's Red Devil was an incredible machine, I'm sorry I never saw it, I'm even sorrier that they aren't standard power today. I state this as a Railroader, not just a fan. Thank you.

[Isochest]

But this is a good part of South African history. Steam Rail has a foreign exchange generating capability. South Africa has a good steam heritage. As usual, politicians care only for themselves and not for the wellbeing of their fellow countrymen:-((((

[PrentonPimp]

That is good news about 3488 - My wife is from Kimberley, so I visit Beaconsfield every year, and it's very sad to see so many steamers missing each time I return.