NOTE: This blog also has an entry about the Paarden Eiland steam running shed which may be read together with this Salt River Railway Workshops entry.
SAR Class 8D 4-8-0 "Cape 8th"
The Cape Government Railways (CGR) 8th class was conceived as a mixed-traffic locomotive equally suitable for goods or passenger work. They were designed by H.M. Beatty and had larger driving wheels than the 7th class. The 4-8-0 examples were actually based on a pair of 2-8-0 engines imported by the CGR in 1901 from the American Locomotive Co, which later became the SAR Class 8X. While they retained the bar frames of these engines, Beatty added a bogie to improve the ride. The first order from the CGR consisted of 23 locomotives delivered by Neilson, Reid and Co in 1902 and 1903 and were placed in service throughout the colony. They became SAR class 8.
The Cape Government Railways (CGR) second order of 8th class was delivered in 1903 by Neilson, Reid & Co, and the North British Locomotive Co. These 38 engines differed only slightly from the original order, and were classified Class 8D on the SAR.
This is what no 1200 looked like way back in October 1973 when she was photographed by Roger Griffiths in Paarden Eiland.
Currently we do not have a picture of this plinthed locomotive. If anyone can help with a picture of this engine, please contact me!
Google Earth March 2008 view -- click on picture to enlarge
From a March 2008 Google Earth view, I assume that the locomotive is still plinthed at the Salt River Railway workshops. To get permission to view the engine, would probably require first passing quite a bit of bureaucracy .
1968 at Mason's Hill depot, Pietermaritzburg
Photo: nmsi National Railway Collection
No 1200 was built in 1903. South African Railways class 8D locomotive number 1200 at Mason's Mill, South Africa, 1968. This engine was later plinthed at the Salt River Workshops.
+Leith+Paxton+Class8D.No.1200PaardenEiland+9June+1970.jpg)
9 June 1970 photo: courtesy Leith Paxton - No. 1200 taking a break at Paarden Eiland shed.
+Leith+Paxton+Class8D.No.1200PaardenEiland+20June1970.jpg)
20 June 1970 photo: courtesy Leith Paxton - No. 1200 waiting for her next task at Paarden Eiland shed.
+Ted+Polet+August+1974+1200+on+truncated+piece+of+track+outside+Salt+River+steam+running+shed_filtered.jpg)
August 1974 photo: Courtesy Ted Polet (who took this picture while off-duty as an officer on a cargo ship visiting Cape Town harbour.) A much restored no 1200 is seen here on a truncated piece of track outside the Paarden Eiland steam running shed.
In Dec 2009 Ted wrote as follows: "On your blog I found a query for a photo of no. 1200. I have a very old one, dating back 35 years (August 1974). I photographed no. 1200 which was on a truncated piece of track outside the Paarden Eiland steam running shed, then full of GEAs, 14CRs and 19Cs. The GEAs and 14CRs were used on the Sir Lowry's Pass line, and the 19Cs on the line to Kalbaskraal and Saldanha (I think). These usually had the huge 'torpedo' tenders inherited from the last batch of 19Ds."
"If my memory is right, no. 1200 was on the South side of the western approach tracks to the shed. The repair works used to be further West from the steam shed. I'm not sure whether the building on the satellite view is the running shed or the works, but perhaps you know better as I haven't been back since the 1970s. I don't have any idea of the loco's current state. No. 1200 was in company with Class 7A no. 987 (now at Matjiesfontein Transport Museum - Piet) and Class 8 no. 1132 (apparently scrapped - Piet) but I'm not sure it was in the same place in the yard. I'm not certain whether the other two have survived. If you can use the photo, please do."
"The tale of my two visits to South Africa can be found on my website here. Click on the Africa archive in the index, then open Cape Town (2), to see photos of the preserved engines back in 1974. If you're interested there are a number of film clips on the S.A. pages, showing my 8mm film with dubbed sound, much of it recorded on site. Regards Ted Polet, Leiden, Netherlands."
SAR Class 8D 4-8-0 "Cape 8th"
The Cape Government Railways (CGR) 8th class was conceived as a mixed-traffic locomotive equally suitable for goods or passenger work. They were designed by H.M. Beatty and had larger driving wheels than the 7th class. The 4-8-0 examples were actually based on a pair of 2-8-0 engines imported by the CGR in 1901 from the American Locomotive Co, which later became the SAR Class 8X. While they retained the bar frames of these engines, Beatty added a bogie to improve the ride. The first order from the CGR consisted of 23 locomotives delivered by Neilson, Reid and Co in 1902 and 1903 and were placed in service throughout the colony. They became SAR class 8.
The Cape Government Railways (CGR) second order of 8th class was delivered in 1903 by Neilson, Reid & Co, and the North British Locomotive Co. These 38 engines differed only slightly from the original order, and were classified Class 8D on the SAR.
This is what no 1200 looked like way back in October 1973 when she was photographed by Roger Griffiths in Paarden Eiland.
Currently we do not have a picture of this plinthed locomotive. If anyone can help with a picture of this engine, please contact me!
Google Earth March 2008 view -- click on picture to enlarge
From a March 2008 Google Earth view, I assume that the locomotive is still plinthed at the Salt River Railway workshops. To get permission to view the engine, would probably require first passing quite a bit of bureaucracy .
Pictures from the past:when engine no 1200 was still in steam
1968 at Mason's Hill depot, Pietermaritzburg
Photo: nmsi National Railway Collection
No 1200 was built in 1903. South African Railways class 8D locomotive number 1200 at Mason's Mill, South Africa, 1968. This engine was later plinthed at the Salt River Workshops.
+Leith+Paxton+Class8D.No.1200PaardenEiland+9June+1970.jpg)
9 June 1970 photo: courtesy Leith Paxton - No. 1200 taking a break at Paarden Eiland shed.
+Leith+Paxton+Class8D.No.1200PaardenEiland+20June1970.jpg)
20 June 1970 photo: courtesy Leith Paxton - No. 1200 waiting for her next task at Paarden Eiland shed.
+Ted+Polet+August+1974+1200+on+truncated+piece+of+track+outside+Salt+River+steam+running+shed_filtered.jpg)
August 1974 photo: Courtesy Ted Polet (who took this picture while off-duty as an officer on a cargo ship visiting Cape Town harbour.) A much restored no 1200 is seen here on a truncated piece of track outside the Paarden Eiland steam running shed.
In Dec 2009 Ted wrote as follows: "On your blog I found a query for a photo of no. 1200. I have a very old one, dating back 35 years (August 1974). I photographed no. 1200 which was on a truncated piece of track outside the Paarden Eiland steam running shed, then full of GEAs, 14CRs and 19Cs. The GEAs and 14CRs were used on the Sir Lowry's Pass line, and the 19Cs on the line to Kalbaskraal and Saldanha (I think). These usually had the huge 'torpedo' tenders inherited from the last batch of 19Ds."
"If my memory is right, no. 1200 was on the South side of the western approach tracks to the shed. The repair works used to be further West from the steam shed. I'm not sure whether the building on the satellite view is the running shed or the works, but perhaps you know better as I haven't been back since the 1970s. I don't have any idea of the loco's current state. No. 1200 was in company with Class 7A no. 987 (now at Matjiesfontein Transport Museum - Piet) and Class 8 no. 1132 (apparently scrapped - Piet) but I'm not sure it was in the same place in the yard. I'm not certain whether the other two have survived. If you can use the photo, please do."
"The tale of my two visits to South Africa can be found on my website here. Click on the Africa archive in the index, then open Cape Town (2), to see photos of the preserved engines back in 1974. If you're interested there are a number of film clips on the S.A. pages, showing my 8mm film with dubbed sound, much of it recorded on site. Regards Ted Polet, Leiden, Netherlands."
A Class 8D sister engine
1970 photo: courtesy Leith Paxton - No. 1223 [NR 6300/1902 - ex CGR 788] (8DS External admission p/valves) - at Bloemfontein Loco Depot 22 March 1970.
Piet, I can't find your email address. I have pictures of this engine (from 1985) and many others included in an album by Bernard Horn. I'm going to be listing the photos on eBay and wanted to ask you permission to use your site's informations on the trains that match mine (citing your blog), and to offer to send you any and all jpeg photos that I've got (72 photos, all SAR, mainly steam locomotives). Best, Neal centralcape@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteLet's all bring back our old steam train the steam trains children love to see it back permetly running I love to ride on the old steam train
ReplyDeleteOld salt River where they use to build an repair trains must remain closed permanently .no more it had its days pls don't reopen it close it down we going to
ReplyDeleteWastedomonrnan we can
The imployment at salt River. Works don't employ work There so end IT OVERV
ReplyDeleteI feel that fix up salt River work shops ok only visit the site not work there put trains there as models an crains models then our grand children can see how trains was build in the old days there could be kids who leave 🏫 can take up the trade build trains railway got lots of opportunities to I'm procer Ur skills If u interested it's pity I left there so meny years ago I was very young at the time now retired at the end of of my working at the hospital now end of September this year
ReplyDeleteYou know this I find out when I work at one of the work ship the artersen told me in work shop 12he told me mark u know there so much the young person can take up A trade hear once u pass Ur we writting test u can make it Ur life time work this teach u to ipe no Ur mind an learn at building trains u can then repair Ur own car an spray paint train then u can lear to do Ur car sssv
ReplyDeleteI use to work at S.A.R railway we we called those years as south African rail ways .the salt River work shops was that time very busy repair trains spray paint trains our trains at the time was very neat clean tidy now days it look very unsafe our colour of our train where red an gray now not nice it look eye site sore ni CD e
ReplyDeleteSo why must our trains look like our seats get that scolly cut out seat with knive spray paint our trains very bad it's better
ReplyDeleteI love to see the build houses there now it no use reopen the place all our train go to bellviel to be repaired they lrepair trains there that place closed now leave it closed. To old so repair the place shoe our grand children how our trains us to get repaired an painted
ReplyDeleteWhen I was just left school 1973 then 1974 I started to work at salt River work shop 12 that was so bad with noise that u cant take it every thing was so loud u have to shout to to.formam what u.wamt
ReplyDeleteTo. Say shopf 11 was always busy loug they make train wheels those train wheels are heavy big
I was year 18 years old an my dad took me to poul showed in cape town there u had to go write an attitude test to see where they can fit u.then I was told mark rae u must go to salt river works shop to go work there then I when to staff office they to go work there at the time it was work shops alot .shop 12 was very loud u could not even hear ur self it was very loud
ReplyDeleteI got pair of boots overals shop 12 there was safty boots then they show where which work shop u can slot In
ReplyDeleteI remember salt river work shops was always busy there if you want to do a reade u can' an u can do so much when I just left school.that time year 1973 year 1974 that was my first work I got I had to go to Paul shower building 🏢 cape town there u gas to write a attitude test to see where u can fit in I end up in the work shops my first work shop was shop 12 very load shop I had to go over to the person u can't even gear ur self the work shops was very loud fr all the work was done shop 10 the wood work shop shop 4 the black smith shop an shop 9 was making train breaks there u use to get black with work good work
ReplyDeleteShop 12 was very very load that shop I had to go over to the artazan chat to him .shop 16 they use to spray paint trains all those work shops busy then they put me in the messager work I got my own cycle I use to deliver post to work shops write out clock cards then I left to work as porter at groote schuur hospital as porter I'm retired fr work I get sassa I love to go visit the work shops if I'm aloud I love to go visit the old work shops we use to get the hooter that use to hear at home 🏠 then we know they are on duty an lunch time let the hooter blow again that be nice
ReplyDeleteTo the salt river work shop c e o I love to get a pass to enter the work shops I love to take my step grand children then an my wife to shop what we use to do .how we use to work there do they still spray paint the trians ect thank um.n.rae
ReplyDeleteI miss the old salt river work shop when I left school the year my dad took me to poul shower building there at the time u fill in application to work for s.a.r .then I was told go to salt river u must report there u start 07:00 to 5.00 then I went in was told go to shop 12 there very loud then I work there it long I went to groote shuh
ReplyDeleteGroote shuur porter then ilieft gsh back rail ways. I was told shop 11 it it was fun work there it all the past
Shop 12 salt river rails as I can still hear the loud sound of working with hot ribbits it was so loud if u want to say u go eat u must go over to ur forman I want to go eat the hooter use toa blow it loud horn then if y want to go out must get a pass then out if u late for work u get a yellow conery late R 75 get taken off ur pay
ReplyDeleteI was told to go to shop 10 the wood work shop work there then shop 16 spray paint shop where we had to put masking tape to not paint over the wood work in side the trains some times I find R 400 there that some drop. Why they must of travil fR the forman use to give us eotm to do sweep out the sorm zhop
ReplyDeleteThen they decide to let me be a messager on the bikecycal deliverymail I was very good at it ride on a cycal around salt river works
ReplyDeleteI use to make out clock cards every week mon to fry then collection for to be at hr for time how they worked if late for work .
Then I was told we send you to shop 9 foundery shop where they make train breaks shop 9 f u work there u think u working on the gold mine it's hot. The mold of the breaks for the trains was in a mold then they pour hot melt nettal T u must wear gloves or using have hands it's very hot there
ReplyDeleteThat the last time I been there I love to go see the old place show my wife how we use to work if I can get a passing be very very happy for one Saturday morning if they will alow me .I don't just rock up there no let me know who do I go see I take my id it will come up I did work at the place I left there'd 1964 from school if the s.a.r say cone an fresh ur pass the. Fine I will anjoy it lots of good memories now
ReplyDeleteWhen u end ur dAys work u could shower there then go clock out put ur clock card in by the clock ⏰ they must reopen the work place lots u can do take up a trade spray painting wellding an lots more u must put ur mind to it.lets give south Africa good start reopen the place all those who can't find work let them clean ups the place paint it out get all those machines to work again created jobs for the home less people give them work open agency privet company go clean up then noa one should be on the street of carpet town any more it's a good way to build south Africa again then work is there get these homeless off our street for good they can stop, psoe sleep in the streets of cape town. .they can suport family with the waves get .they can provide money but food on there table reopen salt river works cleanup repair all the work shops then u see work there just get people to fix the places
ReplyDeleteIf we stop crime lies salt river works shops can still be the heart beat of cape town reopen the work shops an start to let these young people become hard working class people in south Africa not depends on hand out in our streets see even the bible say no work no eat u must work hard u must be able to be productive work hard for ur family salt river works are still the best place .to work hard work any can suport ur family put food on ur table lazy ness sick
ReplyDeleteMark south Africa should start a work agency to get people from all ages to work at salt river works shops that once thrive of building trains clean up the place paint the place out make it look good again all the old offices an all the work shops to be cleaned out well then once that done pay them people who want to work there .let them gain knowledge how we use to work in the 1970s let them back there working spirit let's support our family . there's always work at salt river work shops try it out no harm trying
ReplyDeleteSalt river work shops as I can remember .that shop 12 was one of the most loudest work shops they use to redo train wheels an crains use to lift heaven metals wheels heavy machine an old staff member from there now no more there I met him in Victoria hospital I was a porter there he said rae after u left the work shops started to closed down they an go visit the old place u see it look bad offices look bad every thing up side down place place needs a revamp reopening fot staff to paint let our grand children see how the trains was build make it in to a business place sale cakes trains sets model of the place so when they put it up in there corrage they see how it all was now gone just a ghost place .it sad to see once alive place now go e
ReplyDeleteSalt river works shops became a ghost work shops no more repairs it's not in s good shape all the offices there in the work shops are badly damage .an the canteen closed no More it's just gone.if u go walk in side u just see old crains stand there that was once working no more
ReplyDeleteIf they don't want to reopen it .build houses for the community city council home 🏡 then it can be good use for all ways .but just leave it like that is not a good I dear why then build a big shopping mall will luma park fun. For the whole family
ReplyDeleteIf we look back how salt river works use to work hard get a trade .now what will happen to all those who want to learn open salt river to learn trade south Africa got a lot of good future be we let it all go down the drain meny want to.learn south Africa has home to selfish self centered self righteous wicked meny has got every way to learn but now days cell phone ps lap top sit home no drive at all all they want to do sit hole not self MOTi vation begging in streets stealing breaking in homes hi jacking murders ect
ReplyDeleteI feel every time I past the old salt river work shops from cape town by car or by rails it so tun down why don't they build big shop mall or city council home s for the needy call it salt river work shops city council home 🏡
ReplyDeleteTo reopen it has as build our own trams for cape be town then trams can be build like they use to fi with trains they can build new trans an the rails then ther will be jobs for every one
ReplyDelete