Frankfort Station SAR GF No 2380 before re-steamed

Jimm Yarrow recently provided an image of this 4-6-2+2-6-4 Garratt locomotive, SAR Class GF No. 2380, when in the early 80's, it was plinthed in front of the Frankfort railway station.

This locomotive was built in 1927 by Hanomag as their works no 10522.

According to Paxton & Bourne, the SAR GF class was designed for working both passenger and goods trains on branch lines. The initial order for 37 locomotives in this Class was executed in 1927 by the German firm Hanomag, which followed with a 2nd batch of 18 engines in 1928. A third order for 10 locomotive was fulfilled by Maffei later in 1928. At the time this was the most numerous locomotive in any SAR Garratt class, until the Class GMA/M engines appeared on the scene.

Superheated, these engines have bar frames and use Walschaert's valve gear.  These useful engines saw service on many lines in Natal, the Transvaal, Free State and Eastern Cape before the last one was withdrawn by 1979.

The good news is that No. 2380 was taken off the plinth, and re-steamed again to haul charter trains around the start of the new millennium.

Image above: Class Garratt GF 'Billy' No. 2380 Steam Locomotive at the Albert Falls Siding while doing a steam special on a South African public holiday - 16.12.2004 Photo: (c) Michael Cookson as published on Panoramio.

No. 2380 is in the good care of the Umgeni Steam Railway (USR) and many images are available on the web - showing her on run-pasts for photographers - for example:

• The USR photo gallery
• The Railpictures 2380 gallery

June, 1996: It's a long time since a genuine "stimela" (steam train or steam loco) has passed this way and Umgeni Steam Railway's GF No 2380 really attracts interest as she passes through typical rural countryside, dotted with huts. RailRog's image sourced here.


The rolling hills of Natal posed a challenge to the railroad builders in South Africa. GF Garratt No 2380 works hard climbing the 3% grade (1 in 33) between Arnold's Hill and Baynesfield with a short mixed train. Michael F. Allan's image sourced here.


May, 2003: GF Garratt No 2380 crosses the 3 arch bridge as it leaves Deepdale for Donnybrook. Alan John Crotty's image sourced here.

As far as I can establish, the current status, in Dec 2014, is that No. 2380 has now for a number of years been awaiting re-tubing and replacement of steam elements.

More information about: SAR GF Class on wikipedia.