Colenso - Municipal Offices, Fireless "Escom" Bagnall 2571/1937

This image of the "TUGELA" and "ESCOM" fireless engines was taken in the 1980's by Phil Braithwaite at the Colenso Municipal Offices.


This image of the "TUGELA" and "ESCOM" fireless engines was taken in the 1980's by Phil Braithwaite at the Colenso Municipal Offices.


This image taken by Jacobus Marais on 28 Sept 2011. It was posted to the Atlantic Rail fb page.

This March 2008 Google Earth Map shows the location of two fireless steam locomotives in Colenso. Click on Map to enlarge.

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN COPIED FROM THE ESKOM MUSEUM HERITAGE PAGE AND MERELY SERVES TO BACKUP THE INFORMATION IN CASE IT DISAPPEARS:
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TUGELA is a fireless-type steam locomotive. This means that it has no boiler to generate steam. Instead, it has a large insulated pressure vessel holding steam under pressure. These locomotives were suitable for short trips in areas where large steam generating plants were available to recharge the pressure vessel.

Trains hauling coal were brought by the railways to points near the power stations. Each power station was then responsible for the haulage of the coal trucks to its coal staiths.

This March 2008 Google Earth Map shows the location of two fireless steam locomotives in Colenso. Click on Map to enlarge.


NOTE: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN COPIED FROM THE ESKOM MUSEUM HERITAGE PAGE AND MERELY SERVES TO BACKUP THE INFORMATION IN CASE IT DISAPPEARS:
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ESCOM is a fireless-type steam locomotive. This means that it has no boiler to generate steam. Instead, it has a large insulated pressure vessel holding steam under pressure. These locomotives were suitable for short trips in areas where large steam generating plants were available to recharge the pressure vessel.

Trains hauling coal were brought by the railways to points near the power stations. Each power station was then responsible for the haulage of the coal trucks to its coal staiths.

ESKOM, formerly known as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) was the second largest user of fireless locomotives in South Africa. The Iron and Steel Corporation (ISCOR) was the largest user of this type of locomotive. ESKOM employed fireless locomotives at its power stations for almost sixty years.

ESCOM was obtained from W G Bagnall and Company Limited in 1937. It served at Colenso power station until the station was closed in 1984. In 2000, it was still on display outside the municipal offices at Colenso in KwaZulu/Natal.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Type: Fireless
Works No: 2571
Wheel Formation: 0-6-0
Tractive Force (lbs): 14 000
Year of manufacture: 1937

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This information on ESCOM locomotive comes from research material compiled by Mr. Rick Searle, a retired ESKOM employee.