It's a natural progression for a ship enthusiast to enjoy steam engines. After all, the steam ship and steam engine do share a common heritage. Both are now endangered species, and the remaining examples that still exist in South Africa are few and far between. I recall as a child making many trips down to Bethlehem with a steam engine in front and those beautiful wooden coaches. I remember travelling from Warrenton to Jan Kemp Dorp in a steam engine powered train when I was in the army. I recall looking for cables under 12 inches of soot in the steam loco depot in Germiston when I was newly qualified as a Telecomms Electrician. I am not new to steam, I grew up with those engines thundering past our house in Mayfair, they always fascinated me, and they always will.
I decided to put up these pages because of what I saw at a steam locomotive storage area in Randfontein. It was one of the sadder places I have ever been to, and yet walking amongst those sleeping loco's I could sense that there was still hope that they would one day move again. Some have been there for years, and their chances of preservation is so small. But, I live in hope.
Please excuse the weather in some of the photographs, some of these pics were taken in January and February 2009, and the weather was not interested in photography. Please bear in mind, I am not a loco Identification fundi. If you have any corrections, additions or pics please contact me via the Contact Page. And, as usual, some images will open in a new window.