George, Entrance to Transport MUSEUM, SAR Class 7A No 1009

This 2016 image is courtesy of the photographer Laurie Mulrine; it was 1st posted here:  SAR Class 7A: no. 1009, Outeniqua Transport Museum, George, Western Cape. 22.11.2016.

This SAR Class 7A engine No 1009 is plinthed at the street entrance to the OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM in George. This blog has more entries about this museum:

1. Entrance to Transport MUSEUM, SAR Class 7A No 1009 (THIS ENTRY)
2. OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM 1/4
3. OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM 2/4
4. OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM 3/3
5. OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM 4/4

SAR 7A #1009 as she appeared on 21 Feb 2011


SAR 7A #1009


SAR 7A #1009


SAR 7A #1009

This engine was built as works number 4928 by Neilson & Co in 1896 for the Cape Government Railways. (CGR). The Class 7 in general was withdrawn in 1972.

SAR Class 7A engine no 1009 in super-shine condition as she appeared at Oudtshoorn Station in Nov 1979 - photo (c) HG Graser, Hersbruck as published in Steam Safari Nov. 1979: part 4 (German text)

Oudtshoorn 1984 - Photo: Sue Lawrence; source sa-transport

This engine was first plinthed at the Oudtshoorn station, but was later moved to George to be a gate guard at the OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM.


photo taken by Piet Conradie on 26-11-2001.

The Class 7 were the main goods locomotives for the last 20 years of the CGR, the design prepared in 1890 by H.M. Beatty.


photo taken by Piet Conradie on 26-11-2001.

The first 38 engines became SAR Class 7; the next batch of 26 engines were built by Sharp, Steward and Co., Neilson, Reid and Co and Dübs and Co between 1896 and 1901. They differed from the earlier order by having a larger boiler and an eight-wheeled tender.


2004 Photo: Christo Kleingeld; source sa-transport

The first Class 7 locomotives were commissioned by the Cape Government Railways and delivered by Dübs & Co of England in 1892. Follow-up batches were built by Sharp, Steward & Co, Neilson, Reid & Co, and North British Locomotive Company. They had a wheel arrangement of 4-8-0, coupled wheels of 3'6 3/4" (1086mm diameter and Stephenson link valve gear. The engines were originally powered by saturated steam, but many were later reboilered and converted to use superheated steam. Modifications such as larger boilers, increases in cylinder diameters and larger cabs resulted in the reclassification of the locomotives as Class 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E and 7F.


2004 Photo: Christo Kleingeld; source sa-transport

The SAR Class 7A engine number series were 988-1031.

All the locomotives in this series originally used saturated steam, had plate frames and Stephonson's link motion.

Specifications for the SAR Class 7A are here.

Also look-up the entry for Keetmanshoop where Class sister engine SAR Class 7A no 1011 is plinthed.

Lichtenburg, North West Agricultural Museum part 2, ex-SAR Class 11 no 946

.

This locomotive is on display at the North West Agricultural Museum (formerly the Andries Beyers Agricultural Museum) located at Melville Street-South in Lichtenburg.


6 Sept 1997 photo: André Kritzinger

Note the Belpaire firebox design.

North West Agricultural Museum, ex-SAR Class 11 no. 946.
This locomotive was built by North British Locomotive Co as works no 16283 in 1904.

The SAR Class 11 became extinct operationally during April 1975. By that time 15 engines of the class had been sold and sometimes resold for industrial use. This locomotive displayed at the museum was sold to Blue Circle Cement Co, Lichtenburg. This company operated an extensive system serving the Springbok Pan cement works and quarries. In 1991 the line was connected to the SAR at the north end of Lichtenburg station and ran 3 km to the cement works, continuing 8 km to the quarry loco shed (alongside the Lichtenburg-Mareetsane minor road) where the steam loco was stored with an "out of use" status in 1991. The main line to the quarries continued a further 42 km.

The out-of-use locomotive was later donated to the NWest Agricultural Museum in Lichtenburg.


6 Sept 1997 photo: André Kritzinger

Despite its popularity elsewhere in the world, the 2-8-2 "Mikado" type never caught on in South Africa, and the SAR Class 11 is the only one in which this type was built in quantity. They were very advanced for their time. Their design resulted in a very free and modern sounding exhaust. So excellent were their features that 80 years after building, nearly half of the class were still hard at work in industrial use, surely a world record.

These 2-8-2 locomotives were designed by P.A. Hyde for goods workings on the Reef for the Central South African Railways (CSAR). Thirty-six engines, delivered by the North British Locomotive Co in 1904, had Belpaire fireboxes, were superheated with Walschaert's valve gear and plate frames. They, in fact, proved to be too heavy for the track and bridges, and the engines had to be held in store for almost a year while these were strengthened.

In the SAR Class 11 engines were numbered No's 912-947 correlating with no's 700-735 in the CSAR (Central South African Railways).

They were initially used on the Reef between Germiston and Witbank until the arrival of more powerful engines relegated them to local workings. During the 1940 they were transferred to Kimberley and Port Elizabeth where they performed similar tasks until withdrawn in 1975.

Another SAR Class 11 locomotive no 942 is plinthed at Witbank station.

Picture of sister engine No 947 from the past.


photo: Leith Paxton : Class 11 2-8-2 [ex CSAR 11th class] No. 947 [NBL 16284/1904 - ex CSAR 735] at Sydenham Loco Depot (Port Elizabeth) 3 July 1966

Goto North West Agricultural Museum part 1 (SAR Class 19D no. 2711)

Sources:

• Twilight of South African Steam - AE Durrant - David & Charles 1989
• Industrial Locomotives in South Africa 1991 - Middleton & Williams
• Railways of Southern Africa Locomotive Guide 2002 - John Middleton.
  

Kaalfontein - Esselen Park College, SAR Class 15CA no's 2802 & 2804

.
Two 4-8-2 SAR Class 15CA locomotives, engines no's 2802 & 2804, are plinthed at the SPOORNET Esselen Park College, located at Kaalfontein, Gauteng province.


SAR 15CA #2804 - 1994 photo courtesy Richard Niven


#2804 June 2009 photo courtesy Kevin R Wilson-Smith.

Locomotives SAR engine no's 2802 & 2804 were built by Breda (Breda Elettromeccanica & Locomotive SpA, Milan, Italy) respectively as works no's 2237/1929 and 2239/1929. The Breda company was founded by Ernesto Breda [1852-1918], on the site of an existing Milanese workshop - The locomotive builder name "Ernesto Breda" was introduced in 1886. [NOTE: This name is not to be confused with another "Breda" locomotive builder which was named 'MachineFabriek "Breda" voorheen Backer & Rueb', located in Breda, Netherlands.]


#2804 June 2009 photo courtesy Kevin R Wilson-Smith.

A short time after their introduction, the Class 15C frames began showing signs of cracking. Accordingly a similar locomotive, differing mainly in the design of the frames under the firebox, was ordered from the American Locomotive Co (Alco).


#2804 - This 2009-09-21 photo kind courtesy of Andre Kritzinger. This photo was first posted here in Andre's South African Steam Locomotive Album.

Twenty-one of this type were delivered in 1926 classified Class 15CA, the "A" indicating the manufacturer, Alco. Further orders of the 15CA were placed with Alco and Baldwin of the USA, Breda of Italy and the North British Locomotive Co. Eighty-three engines in all were delivered between 1926 and 1930 as follow:

SAR Nos Builder Date
2039-59 Alco 1926
2072-73 Alco 1926
2074-77 Baldwin 19292801-10 Breda 199
2811-39 North British 1929
2840-57 North British 1930

#2802 June 2009 photo courtesy Kevin R Wilson-Smith.

AE Durrant wrote in his 1989 publication "Twilight of South African Steam" published by David and Charles:

"The 15CA was a direct development of the 15CB, the 'A' suffix designating Alco, which built the first batch. In most major details and dimensions the locomotives were identical to the CB version, except for the rear framing. Whereas the CB's had straight-through bar frames from buffer beam to drag box, the CAs reverted to something akin to the Hendrie arrangement, with a cast cradle connecting the main frames to the wide-spaced sub-frames embracing the ash pan. Theoretically it gave more ash pan space, but later locomotives with larger grates reverted to the straight-through frame arrangement."


#2802 June 2009 photo courtesy Kevin R Wilson-Smith.

"During their long lives, the 15CAs have been allocated everywhere from Cape Town to the Northern Transvaal, with the exception of the Cape Eastern and Midland systems. The class remained intact until 1973, since when only a handful have been withdrawn. From 1973 to 1978 all were in the Eastern Transvaal, stationed mainly at Pretoria and Witbank, between which they worked the main line until electrification. After that, most remained at those two centres, replacing older engines on shunting duties, for which they are very popular being powerful, sure-footed, and low on maintenance. Other sheds in the Eastern Transvaal system were Pietersburg, which used them on main line work to Tzaneen and Messina, and Breyten which had a few for heavy shunting. A passenger duty they retained until the end of the service in 1983 were the local trains between Pretoria and Cullinan, which they performed with great vigour."


SAR 15CA #2802 - 1994 photo courtesy Richard Niven


#2802 June 2009 photo courtesy Kevin R Wilson-Smith.

"After 1978, when the Koedoespoort works closed to steam repairs, their overhauls were transferred to Pietermaritzburg, which was also given an allocation of them for shunting, these remaining until Natal lost its remaining 3ft 6in steam in 1983. The Natal 15CAs went to the Cape Northern system for shunting to Mafikeng, Beaconsfield and De Aar, this system building-up to a maximum of 26 locomotives in September 1983. However, at Mafikeng they were found too heavy for the track, and dispersed to the Transvaal. From April 1984, the Eastern and Western Transvaal systems were renamed Northern and Southern Transvaal respectively, a geographically more logical nomenclature originally suggested by the author twelve years earlier, in Steam on the Veld."


#2802 June 2009 photo courtesy Kevin R Wilson-Smith.


#2802 - This 2009-09-21 photo kind courtesy of Andre Kritzinger. This photo was first posted here in Andre's South African Steam Locomotive Album.

The Western/Southern Transvaal started to receive 15CAs in March 1983, and had by 1989 built up to 39 of the class stationed at Germiston and Kaserne, where they had replaced 12ARs and S1 classes. In 1989 it was expected that they would remain on heavy shunting duties virtually to the end of steam.

Preservation. No 2055 has been preserved outside Rustenburg station and No 2850 has been reserved for the National Railway Museum.

Industrial. No 2807 and No 2839 have been sold to Rustenburg Platinum Mines, via Dunn's.



Click on this view to enlarge.

The two SAR Class 15CA locomotives are plinthed at the SPOORNET Esselen Park College located adjacent to Kaalfontein railway station, Gauteng province. Kaalfontein railway station is about 7 km northerly from Kempton Park.


Esselen Park 26° 2'4.39"S 28°15'9.07"E

Sources:

• Twilight of South African Steam - AE Durrant - David & Charles in 1989.
  

Germiston - loco shed, SAR Class 12R No 1947 "Rosie" (before moved to Reefsteamers)

.

This entry tells the very sad story of a once shiny "ROSIE", who is presently referred to as "RUSTY ROSIE".

This locomotive is SAR Class 12R engine no 1947 which was built by Balwin Locomotive Works, Davenport, Iowa, USA as works no 52754 in 1920.

On 30 Dec 2009 Jon Stanley from Berowra Heights in NSW Australia wrote: "I can shed a bit of light on the use of Class 12R Rosie as Germiston station pilot. She was used from about 1974 to 1981 or 1982 when she was replaced by 12AR 1535 Susan. I think 1535 carried the name Rosie for a while before becoming Susan. (This explains why the plinthed loco at first had the new name "Vicky" - Piet) Before 1974 an S2 no 3789 (I think) was used on this duty. The station pilot was always kept in immaculate condition. PS: I stumbled across your website while browsing today - it brought back many happy memories although it is sad to see the state of many of the relics of the steam era."

In the 1980's she was plinthed next to the Loco Shed in Germiston.


1980 photo - 12R #1947 courtesy Richard Niven - The locomotive carried the name "Rosie".


Sept 1985 - 12R #1947 photo courtesy Richard Niven - The locomotive now plinthed at the Germiston locomotive shed initially carried the name "Vicki".


Feb 1987 - photo by Dennis Summer - 12R #1947 still carried the name "Vicki"

The Class 12 locomotive was the first South African Railways design. It was designed as a 4-8-2 goods engine by Mr D.A. Hendrie, who was the SAR's first Chief Mechanical Engineer. The Class 12 was built by the North British Locomotive Company, and was placed into service between 1912 and 1922.

The original Class 12 was intended for heavy coal traffic on the Germiston-Witbank run, and spent most of their first years on this section before posted to other centres in South Africa. Thet were also used around Ladysmith in Natal. As these locomotives required new boilers, they were given the standard No 2 boiler, and reclassified Class 12R.

In 1920 an additional 30 locomotives to the Class 12 design were delivered from Baldwin. Because their leading bogie had a longer wheel base, it was decided to classify them as Class 12B. When they were rebuilt with the standard No 2 boiler, the opportunity was taken to reclassify them as Class 12R too. Obviously engine no 1947 belonged to this batch.

There Baldwin locomotives were placed in service on the Cape Midland working on the main line out of Port Elizabeth where they largely remained until withdrawn in 1982.


03 May 1988 - photo courtesy Richard Niven - 12R #1947 now again carried her old "ROSIE" name, and she was still kept in supershine condition as Richard noted.


1996 photo courtesy Richard Niven who noted: "Dumped on a plinth and slowly being stripped by thieves."


Oct 1998 photo courtesy Richard Niven. By this time the Germiston shed had become derelict, the picture tells it all, and the demise of 12AR #1947 was complete.


March 2003 photo courtesy Richard Niven against the background of the stripped shed. Little but the hulk of the once proud locomotive remained.

Eventually Reefsteamers came to the locomotive's rescue, and moved her to their premises.


04-04-2006 photo: Nick Newport


2006 photo: Barend Botha

#1947 stood for about 2 years in this position at the Reefsteamers shed, was then, in early 2008, moved into the shed, to keep her deterioration in check while awaiting restoration.



These pictures appear with the Reefsteamer newsletter which you can read here.




This late 2009 picture kind courtesy Derek Walker shows Rusty Rosie's in her resting place.


May 2010: 12AR #1947 has been stripped down for restoration by ReefSteamers. Photo: kind courtesy Derek Walker.

Class 12R 4—8—2 Rebuilt from classes 12 and 12B

The following is an excerpt from Twilight of South African Steam - by AE Durant - David & Charles 1989:

"The Class 12 built new for SAR, was the logical development of the Hendrie class 3B, and had the same features, but enlarged throughout. The class 12B was almost identical, but had a slightly longer bogie wheelbase; they were built by Baldwin in America, plate frames and all! When rebuilt with Watson standard boilers, this minor difference was ignored, and in latter years all locomotives were class 12R."

"During the relevant period (from 1973 to 1989) they (the Class 12R) were allocated to three systems, and used almost entirely on shunting duties. Those on the Cape Midland were stationed at Sydenham, Port Elizabeth, for shunting in the docks and in New Brighton marshaling yard, plus much trip working in the area. Right at the end, No 1505 was put into good fettle for an enthusiasts’ special, and thereafter kept for such duties. Until the Uitenhage suburban trains were dieselised, it had a nice little job on a single out-and-back suburban run to Uitenhage."

"Those in the Orange Free State were at Bloem­fontein and Bethlehem, entirely for shunting, while the large contingent in the Western Transvaal were mainly at Germiston and Springs, plus one or two at Krugersdorp, again mainly for shunting. For several years one Germiston locomotive was kept in immaculate condition as a passenger station pilot, and was a familiar sight to regular travellers." [Derek Walker suggests: "It is possible that the pilot loco was "Susan", (1535 12AR) - she was the pilot Loco at Germiston too, that's where I got to know her in 1985/1986]

"The Springs locomotives were the most widely traveled, and were often used on local goods work on the branch to Nigel and Heidelberg, plus other trip workings in the East Rand area. Additionally, some were sub-shedded to Saaiwater and Vandyks­drift in the Witbank coalfield, and frequently ran along the electrified main line with short loads to and from the home shed at Springs, where washouts took place."

"It was in 1974, when Hendrina power station experienced some sort of failure in the middle of midwinter peak demand, that coal had to be urgently transferred from Hendrina to other power stations, using the shunters from Vandyks­drift. At the time these were classes 12R, 12A and 12AR, which for their last time engaged in the coal haulage for which they were designed."

"In 1980, during a peak in Zambia’s perpetual motive power crisis, ten 12Rs were hired to ZR (see Chapter 4), but were soon returned to SAR. Surpris­ingly few 12Rs found their way into industrial service, despite their evident suitability, this being largely a matter of becoming available at times when the industrial market was already saturated with other often less suitable locomotives."

Preservation. At present (1989), No 1505 locomotive has been put aside for preservation.

Industrial. The following 12Rs have been sold into industrial service:

SAR Industrial user

1510 Umgala Colliery, Utrecht No 7
1511 Middelplaas Manganese SLOOl
1515 Tweefontein Colliery, later to Witbank Consolidated Coal Mines
1863 Middelplaas Manganese SLOO2
1865 Middelplaas Manganese SLOO3
1936 Enyati Colliery, later Western Holdings GM No 8

Number series.

1494—1501 North British 1912
1502—1509 North British 1913
1510—1519 North British 1915
1859—1878 Beyer Peacock 1922
1931—1960 Baldwin 1920 (ex-class 12B).

Source:

1. Railways of Southern Africa - Locomotive Guide 2002 (John Middleton)
2. Twilight of South African Steam - by AE Durant - David & Charles 1989.

Krugersdorp - SANRASM, "Kitty" (National Monument)

23 October 2008 photo courtesy Franzois Oosthuizen

A mobile South African national monument, yes on wheels, is resting in the Museum railway yard at SANRASM, Krugersdorp. This Kitson locomotive was, in 1983, the oldest running steam engine in South Africa. She was doing so for more than 105 years! Kitson is on permanent loan from ESKOM to the South African National Railway And Steam Museum (SANRASM) in Krugersdorp. Unfortunately SANRASM seems to be unable to care for the monument in a way that the little workhorse deserves ...


2009 photo courtesy Derek Walker : To see what Kitty currently looks like, please visit Derek's "Kitty" page, where he photographically surveyed the once proud little engine.

In 2008, the RSSA made a R5000 cash donation, to SANRASM, towards the cosmetic restoration of the Kitson and Hunslet ex-ESKOM National Heritage Locomotives.


2009 photo courtesy Derek Walker - see Derek's "Kitty" page

She was built in 1879 by Kitson & Co, Leeds, England, as work's no 2269.


2009 photo courtesy Derek Walker - see Derek's "Kitty" page

Kitson 2269/1879
4-6-0T

A Brief History of "Kitty"
This information on KITSON mostly comes from research material compiled by Mr. Rick Searle, a retired ESKOM employee, but Paxton & Bourne also fill in some of the gaps ...

This Kitson locomotive was, in 1983, the oldest running steam engine in South Africa. Built in Leeds, England, in 1879. Only 7 of these Kitson engines were made, and they were numbered 8-14. This engine was Kitson No 13. They were built for the Natal Government Railways, this engine operated there as No 13 from 1879 to 1910 grouped in the Class "K&S" - their class being named after their makers Kitson & Co and Robert Stephenson & Co - the latter company supplying 30 engines of this design. [exNGR No's 8 - 14, 16 - 26 and 29 - 47.]

These locomotives were used on the main-line trains out of Durban, displacing the earlier Beyer, Peacock 2-6-0T. They were occasionally fitted with small four-wheeled tenders, which increased their fuel-carrying capacity when required to work long distances.

Under SAR Administration, in 1910, this engine was classed under SAR Class C with road number 62. Specifications for the SAR Class C may be found here. In the SAR the Class C had road numbers 62-76, which mean only 15 engines survived from the NGR Class "K&S into the SAR.


Kitson c. 1940 as "VFP No 1" before the rear bunker was fitted - Photo Dave Parsons Collection - see Sandstone Rail Heritage page

In 1913, the locomotive started her industrial service as "V.F.P. no 1" with the Victoria Falls Company. The Victoria Falls Power Company Limited( VFP) was established in 1906, and was later renamed the "Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Company Limited". Eskom itself was established by an act of parliament in 1922, but used the excellent facilities, and infrastructure of the VFP, until it absorbed the VPF, in 1948, to become the national supplier.

The Victoria Falls Power Company (VFP) bought "Kitty" from South African Railways in 1913. VFP paid £600, and hauled "Kitty" from SAR Durban workshops to Modrea railway station. Until 1920, "Kitty" served the VFP by hauling coal trains from Modrea railway station to Brakpan power station, a distance of 4 km.

Kitson was re-located to serve at Rosherville power station in 1920. From 1920 until 1966, "Kitty" hauled coal trains between Jupiter railway station and Rosherville power station, a distance of 2,4km. After the closure of Rosherville power station in 1966, Kitty was used to haul light loads at Rosherville central workshop and stores. A dedicated locomotive maintenance team, located at Rosherville central workshops, kept "Kitty" in first-class condition.

Kitson poses in 1946, now fitted with a rear coal bunker - Photo Dave Parsons Collection - see Sandstone Rail Heritage page

In accordance with conditions first stipulated in the Power Act of 1910 and included in the Electricity Act of 1922, all assets of the VFP were expropriated and taken over by ESCOM in 1948. ESKOM was formerly known as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM).

Dave Parsons and Kitson in 1952 - Photo Dave Parsons Collection - see Sandstone Rail Heritage page

The Natal Government Railways, the Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Company Limited, and ESCOM made numerous modifications to Kitson.

• The rear portion of the frame was extended, the coal bunker moved to the rear of the cab, the custom built toolboxes removed and the discarded coal bunker converted into a toolbox.
• The rear portions of the side water tanks were lifted away from the frames and were extended towards the front of the engine. This necessitated some modification to the steam chests.
• The vacuum brake ejector was replaced by a Dreadnought ejector
• The bottle type lubricator was replaced by a Eureka lubricator.
• The oil headlamp, which had been replaced by an electric headlamp, was restored except for the replacement of the wick by an electric globe.
• The original bell-type buffers were replaced by standard SAR knuckle couplers. Kitty was re-boilered in 1927, and again in 1952.

Kitson in steam in 1975 celebrating 150 years of railways - Photo Dave Parsons Collection - see Sandstone Rail Heritage page

In 1979, "Kitty" became the first steam locomotive in South Africa (possibly the world) to have completed a century of continuous service. "Kitty’s" feats are legendary in South African steam locomotive circles. Dave Parson, the foreman of the locomotive maintenance team at Rosherville central workshops, states: "I have been on the footplate when Kitty pulled 20 loaded coal hoppers, more that 50 times her own weight, from Jupiter station to Rosherville power station. Many ten shilling bets were won by ESCOM men when South African Railways drivers bet that Kitty could not pull such loads."

Acting on an ESCOM proposal, the South African National Monuments Commission declared Kitty a national monument on the 29 April 1983. It is the first movable, working machine to receive this distinction. This locomotive, at that time, was one of the oldest operating steam locomotives in the world. At the inauguration ceremony, Mr Jan H Smith, then Chairman of ESCOM, said of "Kitty." "To me, "Kitty" has always been a link between the past and the future - an example of how dedicated maintenance and the will to preserve can make a chunk of steel a symbol of inspiration which motivates both the young and not so young."

In 1984, after being in continuous service for 105 years, "Kitty" was still going strong. The last of the SAR's own Class C locomotives were finally scrapped in 1940.,

Kitson at Rosherville in 1985 - Photo Dave Parsons Collection - see Sandstone Rail Heritage page

Kitson is on permanent loan from ESKOM to the South African National Railway And Steam Museum (SANRASM) in Krugersdorp.

In 1998 a ride on this steam locomotive was still possible. Enthusiastic volunteers operated the museum. Their efforts ensured that Kitson "steamed" for the public approximately twice each year. Despite the numerous modifications made, "Kitty" was still resplendent in ESCOM’s familiar brown and gold colours closely resembling the original design.

Unfortunately "Kitty" is not steamable in 2009.

"Kitty" had been used in various film productions over the years. One example is on sa.transport.co.za - 3 photos taken at BADPLAAS in 1995 by Richard Niven - look here for the pictures under "Kitson No 13".

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Type: Natal Government Railways Class 13
Work’s No: 2269
Wheel Formation: 4-6-0
Tractive Force (lbs): 11080
Year of manufacture: 1879

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Much of this information on KITSON comes from research material compiled by Mr. Rick Searle, a retired ESKOM employee.

More information on Kitson can be found in R.V. Conyngham's book on "The K & S Class Locomotives of the Natal Government Railways".

1983 First Day Cover

In 1983 this first day cover was made - only 2000 were issued and most were bought by Eskom employees.

This engine was christened "KITTY". On the 29th April 1983 "KITTY" became South Africa's only moving national monument. In 2009 this this steam engine is on show at the railway museum yard in the Krugersdorp SANRASM museum site .

A Drawing of "KITTY"

This drawing has been sourced from sa-transport-co.za. It appears in a brochure commemorating “Kitty”, the oldest operating steam locomotive in South Africa, declared a National Monument on 29 April, 1983. [KITTY AND HER SISTERS - THE ESCOM LOCOMOTIVE STORY, Author: Jorgensen, A A, Publisher: Ixopo and District Historical Society]


photo: Eskom's heritage page.

Photos from the past

Some very interesting historical photos and detail about Kitty may be found on these Sandstone pages. "Kitty" is on the most well known of the Eskom locomotives, “Kitson”, a 4-6-0T locomotive built originally for Natal Government Railways which became South African Railways “C” Class No: 62. It was built by Kitson & Co. of Leeds in 1879 as works number 2269. It is a registered National Monument. The locomotive is now at the SANRASM site near Krugersdorp where it was sent on loan by Eskom along with a number of other Eskom locos in 1993. At that time it was the oldest locomotive, in working order, in South Africa, but is now out of use.

Movie Clips from June 1998

Trevor Staats has posted two movie clips of Kitty in action on Friends of the Rail Video Clips

• June 1998: Kitty departs the SANRASM site, banked by 6A 454
• June 1998: Another view of Kitty hauling a SANRASM train, banked by 6A 454

Sources:

• Locomotives of the South African Railways - Paxton & Bourne - 1985
• Industrial Locomotives of South Africa - Middleton & Williams - 1991
  
• Eskom Heritage Webpage.
• Derek Walker's "Kitty" page
• Drawing from sa-transport-co.za
• Movie Clips by Trevor Staats