South African Class 25NC 4-8-4

81 ft 4+11⁄16 in (24,808 mm)
♥ 95 ft 1+11⁄16 in (28,999 mm) ​ • Engine38 ft (11,582 mm) • Leading6 ft 10 in (2,083 mm) • Coupled15 ft 9 in (4,801 mm) • Trailing5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) • Tender♠ 32 ft (9,754 mm)
♥ 45 ft 10 in (13,970 mm) • Tender bogie10 ft (3,048 mm)Length:
​ • Over couplers♠ 91 ft 6+9⁄16 in (27,903 mm)
♥ 107 ft 6+1⁄16 in (32,768 mm)Height13 ft (3,962 mm)Frame typeCastAxle load18 LT 14 cwt (19,000 kg) ​ • Leading21 LT 2 cwt (21,440 kg) • 1st coupled18 LT 10 cwt (18,800 kg) • 2nd coupled18 LT 14 cwt (19,000 kg) • 3rd coupled18 LT 12 cwt (18,900 kg) • 4th coupled18 LT 9 cwt (18,750 kg) • Trailing22 LT 12 cwt (22,960 kg) • Tender bogieBogie 1:
♠ 51 LT 6 cwt (52,120 kg)
Bogie 2:
♠ 54 LT 5 cwt (55,120 kg) • Tender axle♠ 18 LT 1 cwt 2 qtr (18,370 kg)Adhesive weight74 LT 5 cwt (75,440 kg)Loco weight117 LT 9 cwt (119,300 kg)Tender weight♠ 105 LT 11 cwt (107,200 kg)Total weight♠ 223 LT (226,600 kg)Tender typeEW1 (3-axle bogies)
EW2 (3-axle bogies)Fuel typeCoalFuel capacity♠ 18 LT (18.3 t)
♥ 19 LT (19.3 t)Water cap.♠ 10,500 imp gal (47,700 L)
♥ 11,200 imp gal (50,900 L)Firebox:​ • TypeRound-top • Grate area70 sq ft (6.5 m2)Boiler:
​ • TypeDomeless • Pitch9 ft 1+5⁄8 in (2,784 mm) • Diameter6 ft 4+1⁄8 in (1,934 mm) • Tube plates19 ft (5,791 mm) • Small tubes158: 2+1⁄2 in (64 mm) • Large tubes40: 5+1⁄2 in (140 mm)Boiler pressure225 psi (1,551 kPa)Safety valveRoss-popHeating surface:​ • Firebox294 sq ft (27.3 m2) • Tubes3,059 sq ft (284.2 m2) • Arch tubes37 sq ft (3.4 m2) • Total surface3,390 sq ft (315 m2)Superheater:
​ • TypeMelesco • Heating area630 sq ft (59 m2)CylindersTwoCylinder size24 in × 28 in (610 mm × 711 mm)
bore x strokeValve gearWalschaertsValve typePistonValve travel7+3⁄8 in (187 mm)Loco brakeVacuumCouplersAAR knuckle
Performance figures
Tractive effort45,360 lbf (201.8 kN) @ 75%
Career
OperatorsSouth African Railways
ClassClass 25NC
Number in class50 original, 87 rebuilt Class 25
Numbers3401-3450, 3452-3510, 3512-3539
Delivered1953-1954
First run1953

The South African Railways Class 25NC 4-8-4 of 1953 was a class of steam locomotives built between 1953 and 1955 for the South African Railways (SAR). The Class 25NC was the non-condensing version of the Class 25 condensing locomotive, of which ninety were placed in service at the same time. Between 1973 and 1980, all but three of the condensing locomotives were converted to non-condensing and also designated Class 25NC.[1][2]

Manufacturers

L.C. Grubb
25NC 3405 Builders Plate
25Nc 3437 Builders Plate

The Class 25NC non-condensing and Class 25 condensing 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotives were designed by the South African Railways (SAR) under the direction of LC Grubb, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the SAR from 1949 to 1954, in conjunction with Henschel & Son of Kassel in Germany who designed the condensing apparatus and the condensing tender of the Class 25 sister locomotive.[3] Between 1953 and 1955,eleven Class 25NC locomotives were built by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) and numbered in the range from 3401 to 3411 while 39 locomotives were built by Henschel and numbered in the range from 3412 to 3450.[4][5][6]

Characteristics

The Class 25NC was superheated and used piston valves actuated by Walschaerts valve gear. Timken roller bearings were used throughout, including on the three-axle tender bogies, the coupling and connecting rods as well as the crosshead gudgeon pins, while the locomotive's leading bogies and coupled wheels had Cannon-type axle boxes. Compared to earlier SAR practice, a novelty was the adoption of mechanical lubrication. A sixteen-feed lubricator was driven off the expansion link trunnion. The cylinders and frames were cast in one piece by Commonwealth Steel Company in the United States. The steel cylinders and steam chests were fitted with cast iron liners. Being entirely mounted on roller bearings, very little effort was required to move these locomotives.[1][7][8][9][10]

The Alligator type crossheads were split on the vertical centre line and clamped on to the end of the piston rods, which had three coned rings engaging in grooves in the crossheads. The original coupling rods differed from the usual in being three separate rods, thereby doing away with four knuckle joints and pins.[1]

The multiple-valve superheater header was of the Melesco type. The boiler was fitted with four Ross-pop safety valves, each 2+1⁄2 inches (64 millimetres) in diameter, and two Hopkinson boiler blowdown cocks on the firebox wrapper, one on each side. Feedwater was delivered to the boiler by two Friedmann vertical type non-lifting injectors, each with a capacity of 5,200 imperial gallons (23,600 litres; 6,240 US gallons) per hour.[7]

The locomotive was equipped with a Type EW1 tender which was equipped with a mechanical stoker of which the engine was mounted on the tender. The tank had a water capacity of 10,500 imperial gallons (47,700 litres; 12,600 US gallons) and the coal bunker a capacity of 18 long tons (18.3 tonnes; 20.2 short tons). The tender frame was also a one-piece steel casting and was a water-bottom frame, with the frame itself forming the bottom of the tank instead of being a separate tank and frame as in previous designs.[1][11]

Teething troubles

Soon after entering service, problems were experienced with failing connecting rods, big end bearings breaking up as well as cracks developing in the motion girder of the Alligator crossheads. After investigations by SAR engineers with assistance from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the crossheads, slide bars and coupling rods were modified. The crossheads were converted to the multiple-bearing type with single guide bars while the three independent coupling rods were replaced with the more conventional single coupling rod with knuckle joints.[1][12][10]


When new, the tapered Timken crankpin roller bearings soon became notorious for throwing their lubricant onto the underside of the boiler, from where it ran down to the lowest point and dripped onto the coupled wheel tyres along the way. This manufacturer's fault also applied to the Class 25 and was one of the reasons for the reputation of both classes of being slippery. Timken managed to resolve the problem before all their bearings had been replaced, but by then about two-thirds of the locomotives had already been fitted with redesigned coupling rods with SKF crankpin ball bearings.[10]

Service

The Class 25NC initially served on the unelectrified mainlines from De Aar via Kimberley to Welverdiend. They were pooled from their introduction and were run through from De Aar to Welverdiend and vice versa, recoaling at Warrenton. After electrification was extended from Welverdiend to Klerksdorp, they ran from there to De Aar, still recoaling at Warrenton. Later they also worked from Kimberley via Bloemfontein to Harrismith in the Free State while some joined the Class 25 condensers on the line from De Aar via Beaufort West to Touws River.[4][13]

When the line south from De Aar was dieselised between 1973 and 1974, the Class 25 condensers working there were moved north to work the section from De Aar to Kimberley, where they replaced twenty-two Class 25NCs which were then relocated to Bethlehem in the Free State. From 1982, Class 25NCs also replaced Class 19Ds and Class GMAM Garratts on the line from Warrenton via Vryburg to Mafeking.[14]

Class 25 rebuilding

Along with the Class 25NC, ninety Class 25 condensing locomotives were built as part of the same order, one by Henschel and the rest by NBL. The condensing apparatus for these engines and their condensing tenders were designed and patented by Henschel.[1]

Between 1973 and 1980, all but three of the ninety Class 25 condensers were converted to non-condensing locomotives and reclassified to Class 25NC, the exceptions being numbers 3451, 3511 and 3540. The number plates of some were copied and recast with the additional "NC" for "non-condensing" squeezed in next to the existing "25", which resulted in a lopsided class indication on their cabside plates. Locomotives with all four characters neatly in line and centred were therefore usually identifiable as original Class 25NCs.[2][15]

In the process, their Type CZ condensing tenders were also rebuilt to ordinary coal-and-water Type EW2 tenders by removing the condensing radiators and roof fans and replacing it with a massive water tank. Since the Type CZ tenders were built on single cast steel water-bottom frames it was impractical to attempt to shorten them, which resulted in the rebuilt Type EW2 tenders with their long round-topped water tanks. Locomotives with these rebuilt tenders were soon nicknamed Worshond (Sausage dog or Dachshund).[14]

The Class 26 Red Devil

Between 1979 and 1981 no. 3450, the last Class 25NC to be built, was rebuilt to the sole Class 26, the Red Devil, at the SAR workshops at Salt River, Cape Town. The primary objectives of the project were to improve the combustion and steaming rate, to reduce the emission of wasteful black smoke and to overcome the problem of clinkering.[16][17][18][19]

This was achieved by the use of a Gas Producer Combustion System, which relies on the gasification of coal on a low temperature firebed so that the gases are then fully burnt above the firebed. These extensive modifications justified reclassification and the locomotive became the first and only Class 26, although the locomotive's original Class 25NC number was retained.[16][17]

Preservation

The following is a list of 25NC and 26 class that have survived into preservation.

Most are still owned by the Transnet Heritage Foundation. None except the class 25Nc 3437 & 25Nc 3482 (and it only for the winter months) are mainline certified as of 1 January 2019.

Number (*EW2 tenders) Works number Transnet Heritage Foundation / Private Leaselend / Owner Current Location Notes
3404 NBL 27290 Transnet Heritage Foundation Germiston Locomotive Depot
3405 NBL 27291 Private Quainton Railway Society[20] Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, England Repatriated 1991
3407* NBL 27293 Private Greg McLennan Worcester Locomotive Depot
3410 NBL 27296 Transnet Heritage Foundation Transnet Heritage Foundation Bloemfontein Locomotive Depot Selected as Transnet Heritage Foundation representative of the class (National Collection)
3411 NBL 27311 Transnet Heritage Foundation Museum Kimberley station
3422 Hensc 28741 Transnet Heritage Foundation Cape Town station
3432 Hensc 28751 Private Mainline Steam Heritage Trust[21] Auckland, New Zealand Exported 1996
3437* Hensc 28752 Private Oscar Sabitini Kimberley Locomotive Depot

Passed boiler test June 2023

Operational

3441* Hensc 28760 Transnet Heritage Foundation Steamnet 2000 Kimberley Locomotive Depot
3442* Hensc 28761 Private Rovos Rail Capital Park Locomotive Depot Named Anthea
3454* NBL 27314 Transnet Heritage Foundation Mainline Steam Bloemfontein Locomotive Depot
3457* NBL 27317 Transnet Heritage Foundation Steamnet 2000 Kimberley Locomotive Depot
3467 NBL 27327 Transnet Heritage Foundation Steamnet 2000 Kimberley Locomotive Depot
3472 NBL 27331 Transnet Heritage Foundation Germiston Locomotive Depot
3476 NBL 27336 Transnet Heritage Foundation Mainline Steam Waterval Boven
3480 NBL 27340 Private Rovos Rail Capital Park Locomotive Depot Scrapped
3482 NBL 27342 Transnet Heritage Foundation Steamnet 2000 Kimberley Locomotive Depot Passed boiler test June 2023

Operational

3488* NBL 27348 Private Sandstone Estates[22] Sandstone Estate, Ficksburg
3496 NBL 27356 Transnet Heritage Foundation Sandstone Estates[23] Sandstone Estate
3501* NBL 2731 Transnet Heritage Foundation Kimberley Locomotive Depot
3508 NBL 27368 Private Mainline Steam Heritage Trust[21] Auckland, New Zealand Exported 1996
3533* NBL 27393 Private Rovos Rail Capital Park Locomotive Depot Named King Zog
3536 NBL 27396 Transnet Heritage Foundation Sandstone Estates[23] Sandstone Estate
3537 NBL 27397 Private Kimberley Locomotive Depot
3450 Hensc 28397 Transnet Heritage Foundation Ceres Railway Company[24] Royal Cape Yacht Club Operational

Project Zimbabwe

During 1988 a severe motive power shortage was experienced by the National Railways of Zimbabwe and discussions with South Africa revealed that numerous class 25NC 4-8-4, had been recently withdrawn from service and were available for either hire or purchase. NRZ decided to investigate the purchase of 20 to 25 of these locomotives for a short-term basis. A team of three were sent down from Bulawayo inspected 50 locomotives at Warrenton and De Aar.

A list of 28 locomotives was submitted from which it would be possible to choose 20 to 25, or any lesser number which might be needed

Category A (locomotives with 5 or more years before heavy overhaul)

3404, 3410, 3422, 3428, 3438, 3442, 3445, 3453, 3457, 3459, 3479, 3504, 3508, 3519

Category B (needing heavy repairs by 1993–1994)

3412, 3424, 3464, 3473, 3475, 3490, 3498, 3507, 3518, 3520, 3537

Category C (needing heavy repairs by 1992)

3439, 3446, 3515

The project did not materialise but several did survive into preservation.

Works numbers

The locomotive numbers, builders and works numbers are listed in the table. On the builders' works lists, all the locomotives are shown as having been built in 1953. All tenders bore the same works number as the engines they were built with, except the sixty tenders which were built by Henschel for condensing engines which were built by NBL. These sixty tenders were allocated Henschel works numbers.[1][11][25][26]

Class 25NC 4-8-4 Non-Condensing
Builders, Works Numbers, Tender Builders & Rebuilding

Loco no 		Builder
 Works
no 		Tender
Builder 		Tender
Works no 		Rebuilt
Date from class 25 to class 25nc 		Date and Place Scrapped
3401 NBL 27287 2007 Bethlehem
3402 NBL 27288 1986 Bloemfontein Works
3403 NBL 27289 2007 Bloemfontein
3404 NBL 27290
3405 NBL 27291
3406 NBL 27292 1983 Bloemfontein Works
3407 NBL 27293
3408 NBL 27294 2007 Bethlehem
3409 NBL 27295 2010 Jan Kempdorp
3410 NBL 27296
3411 NBL 27311
3412 Henschel 28731 2007 Bloemfontein
3413 Henschel 28732 2007 Bethlehem
3414 Henschel 28733 2008 Krugerersdorp
3415 Henschel 28734 2007 Bethlehem
3416 Henschel 28735 1983 Bloemfontein Works
3417 Henschel 28736 2016 Worcester
3418 Henschel 28737 2007 Bethlehem
3419 Henschel 28738 2007 Bethlehem
3420 Henschel 28739 2007 Bethlehem
3421 Henschel 28740 2007 Bethlehem
3422 Henschel 28741
3423 Henschel 28742 1993 De Aar
3424 Henschel 28743 1993 De Aar
3425 Henschel 28744 2007 Kimberley
3426 Henschel 28745 2007 Kimberley
3427 Henschel 28746 2007 Kimberley
3428 Henschel 28747 1993 De Aar
3429 Henschel 28748 1993 De Aar
3430 Henschel 28749 1993 De Aar
3431 Henschel 28750 2007 Bethlehem
3432 Henschel 28751
3433 Henschel 28752 1985 Bloemfontein Works
3434 Henschel 28753 1993 De Aar
3435 Henschel 28754 2007 Warrenton
3436 Henschel 28755 1993 De Aar
3437 Henschel 28756
3438 Henschel 28757 2010 Jan Kempdorp
3439 Henschel 28758 2007 Warrenton
3440 Henschel 28759
3441 Henschel 28760
3442 Henschel 28761
3443 Henschel 28762 2007 Kimberley
3444 Henschel 28763 2007 Kimberley
3445 Henschel 28764 2007 Warrenton
3446 Henschel 28765 2007 Warrenton
3447 Henschel 28766 2007 Kimberley
3448 Henschel 28767 2007 Kimberley
3449 Henschel 28768 2007 Kimberley
3450 Henschel 28769 Class 26 Red Devil
3452 NBL 27312 Henschel 28780 1976-09 1993 De Aar
3453 NBL 27313 Henschel 28781 1977-11 2010 Jan Kempdorp
3454 NBL 27314 Henschel 28782 1977-06
3455 NBL 27315 Henschel 28783 1975-09 1993 De Aar
3456 NBL 27316 Henschel 28784 1976-07 2007 Kimberley
3457 NBL 27317 Henschel 28785 1978-01
3458 NBL 27318 Henschel 28786 1975-01 1993 De Aar
3459 NBL 27319 Henschel 28787 XX 2007 Warrenton
3460 NBL 27320 Henschel 28788 XX 2007 Kimberley
3461 NBL 27321 Henschel 28789 1975-10 1983 Salt River
3462 NBL 27322 Henschel 28790 1979-12 2007 Warrenton
3463 NBL 27323 Henschel 28791 XX 1987 Bloemfontein Works
3464 NBL 27324 Henschel 28792 1976-10 2007 Warrenton
3465 NBL 27325 Henschel 28793 1975-06 1993 De Aar
3466 NBL 27326 Henschel 28794 1976-04 2007 Kimberley
3467 NBL 27327 Henschel 28795 1979-07
3468 NBL 27328 Henschel 28796 XX 1993 De Aar
3469 NBL 27329 Henschel 28797 1979-05 2007 Kimberley
3470 NBL 27330 Henschel 28798 1975-06 1993 De Aar
3471 NBL 27331 Henschel 28799 1976-05 1993 De Aar
3472 NBL 27332 Henschel 28800 XX
3473 NBL 27333 Henschel 28801 1976-07 1993 De Aar
3474 NBL 27334 Henschel 28802 1979-04 2007 Warrenton
3475 NBL 27335 Henschel 28803 1976-06 2007 Bloemfontein
3476 NBL 27336 Henschel 28804 1979-06
3477 NBL 27337 Henschel 28805 XX 2007 Warrenton
3478 NBL 27338 Henschel 28806 1978-08 2007 Kimberley
3479 NBL 27339 Henschel 28807 1979-05 2016 Bloemfontein
3480 NBL 27340 Henschel 28808 1975-05
3481 NBL 27341 Henschel 28809 1975-10 2008 Dal Josafat
3482 NBL 27342 Henschel 28810 1979-02
3483 NBL 27343 Henschel 28811 1975-11 2007 Kimberley
3484 NBL 27344 Henschel 28812 1978-05
3485 NBL 27345 Henschel 28813 1976-11 2007 Kimberley
3486 NBL 27346 Henschel 28814 1976-12 2007 Kimberley
3487 NBL 27347 Henschel 28815 1974-11 1993 De Aar
3488 NBL 27348 Henschel 28816 1976-08
3489 NBL 27349 Henschel 28817 1977-03 2007 Warrenton
3490 NBL 27350 Henschel 28818 1976-05 2007 Warrenton
3491 NBL 27351 Henschel 28819 1975-02 2007 Warrenton
3492 NBL 27352 Henschel 28820 1974-11 1993 De Aar
3493 NBL 27353 Henschel 28821 1975-11 2007 Kimberley
3494 NBL 27354 Henschel 28822 1975-11 2010 Jan Kempdorp
3495 NBL 27355 Henschel 28823 1979-12 2007 Warrenton
3496 NBL 27356 Henschel 28824 1978-08
3497 NBL 27357 Henschel 28825 1975-02 1993 De Aar
3498 NBL 27358 Henschel 28826 1977-01 2010 Jan Kempdorp
3499 NBL 27359 Henschel 28827 1975-06 2007 Kimberley
3500 NBL 27360 Henschel 28828 1978-02 2007 Kimberley
3501 NBL 27361 Henschel 28829 1979-08
3502 NBL 27362 Henschel 28830 1976-02 2007 Kimberley
3503 NBL 27363 Henschel 28831 1975-05 2007 Warrenton
3504 NBL 27364 Henschel 28832 1977-09 2007 Warrenton
3505 NBL 27365 Henschel 28833 1981-10 2007 Kimberley
3506 NBL 27366 Henschel 28834 1974-12 1993 De Aar
3507 NBL 27367 Henschel 28835 1976-10 1993 De Aar
3508 NBL 27368 Henschel 28836 1977-03
3509 NBL 27369 Henschel 28837 1976-02 1993 De Aar
3510 NBL 27370 Henschel 28838 1978-04 1987 Bloemfontein Works
3512 NBL 27372 1974-10 1993 De Aar
3513 NBL 27373 1974-07 2007 Bloemfontein
3514 NBL 27374 1976-09 2007 Kimberley
3515 NBL 27375 1975-08 1993 De Aar
3516 NBL 27376 1979-04 2007 Kimberley
3517 NBL 27377 1976-03 2007 Kimberley
3518 NBL 27378 1977-02 2007 Bloemfontein
3519 NBL 27379 1977-02 2007 Warrenton
3520 NBL 27380 1976-03 2007 Warrenton
3521 NBL 27381 1977-04 2007 Warrenton
3522 NBL 27382 1975-12 1993 De Aar
3523 NBL 27383 1975-09 1993 De Aar
3524 NBL 27384 1979-10 2007 Warrenton
3525 NBL 27385 1976-08 2007 Kimberley
3526 NBL 27386 1979-01 2007 Kimberley
3527 NBL 27387 1978-06 2007 Kimberley
3528 NBL 27388 1976-06
3529 NBL 27389 1976-02 2007 Kimberley
3530 NBL 27390 1975-04 1993 De Aar
3531 NBL 27391 1979-11 2007 Warrenton
3532 NBL 27392 1978-10 1987 Bloemfontein Works
3533 NBL 27393 1978-03
3534 NBL 27394 1976-05 2007 Kimberley
3535 NBL 27395 1979-02 2007 Kimberley
3536 NBL 27396 1978-11
3537 NBL 27397 1975-12
3538 NBL 27398 1978-08 1987 Bloemfontein Works
3539 NBL 27399 1979-10 2007 Warrenton

>

Illustration

  • NBL-built no. 3411 relieving electric units on a northbound Trans-Karoo at Beaufort West, Cape Province, 26 June 1966
    NBL-built no. 3411 relieving electric units on a northbound Trans-Karoo at Beaufort West, Cape Province, 26 June 1966
  • NBL-built no. 3410 Paula making its way to the water tanks at Springfontein in the Free State, c. 1995
    NBL-built no. 3410 Paula making its way to the water tanks at Springfontein in the Free State, c. 1995
  • Preparing Henschel-built no. 3440 to be hauled to Pretoria for restoration by Rovos Rail, Beaconsfield, 25 August 2007
    Preparing Henschel-built no. 3440 to be hauled to Pretoria for restoration by Rovos Rail, Beaconsfield, 25 August 2007
  • Henschel-built no. 3422 Bergrivier, converted to oil-firing, with two type X-20 water tenders on the Union Express, c. 2002
    Henschel-built no. 3422 Bergrivier, converted to oil-firing, with two type X-20 water tenders on the Union Express, c. 2002
  • SAR-rebuilt Red Devil no. 3450, shortly after being rebuilt to the only Class 26, Pretoria, 25 April 1981
    SAR-rebuilt Red Devil no. 3450, shortly after being rebuilt to the only Class 26, Pretoria, 25 April 1981


References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  2. ^ a b South African Railways and Harbours Locomotive Diagram Book, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge Steam Locomotives, 15 August 1941, as amended
  3. ^ £27 Million Motive Power Order for South African Railways Railway Transportation March 1952 page 43
  4. ^ a b Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. pp. 10–11, 77–78. ISBN 0869772112.
  5. ^ North British Locomotive Company works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser
  6. ^ Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow
  7. ^ a b South African Railways 25NC Class Locomotives Railway Gazette 15 May 1953 pages 568/569
  8. ^ Condensing Locomotives for South Africa Railway Gazette 26 February 1954 pages 237-240
  9. ^ Pivnic, Les (1970). S.A.R. Class 25NC 4-8-4. South African Transport, October 1970. pp. 548-550.
  10. ^ a b c Soul of A Railway, System 1, Part 4: Touws River to Beaufort West. Introduction par 4, Caption 3. (Accessed on 27 November 2016)
  11. ^ a b South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 August 1941). Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte, Steam Locomotives/Stoomlokomotiewe. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. pp. VIII, 6a-7a, 20-21, 28-28A.
  12. ^ Information supplied by R.S. Loubser, son of M.M. Loubser
  13. ^ Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 26: Braamfontein West to Klerksdorp (home signal) by Les Pivnic, Part 1. Caption 36. (Accessed on 6 May 2017)
  14. ^ a b Durrant, AE (1989). Twilight of South African Steam (1st ed.). Newton Abbott: David & Charles. pp. 107–109. ISBN 0715386387.
  15. ^ Frieda steam forward alone Diamond Fields Advertiser 27 March 1986
  16. ^ a b Gas Producer Combustion System (GPCS)
  17. ^ a b The Ultimate Steam Page
  18. ^ South Africa's Red Devil The Railway Magazine issue 963 July 1981 pages 317/318
  19. ^ Steam Locomotive Development in South Africa Continental Railway Journal issue 64 December 1985 pages 39-43
  20. ^ 25NC Class 4-8-4 No 3405 Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
  21. ^ a b Mainline Steam, Auckland Locomotives International issue 97 August 2015 page 30
  22. ^ Ex SAR no: 3488 North British 27348/1954 Sandstone Estates
  23. ^ a b Railway Storage facility for 3'6" locomotives and rolling stock Sandstone Estates
  24. ^ Locomotives Ceres Railway Company
  25. ^ Condenser fitter Albie Bester's reminiscences
  26. ^ Sabatini, Richard (2006). South African Locomotive Tender Classification, Compatibility & Allocation (1st ed.) Richard Sabatini, Kimberley, January 2006. pp. 21, 38

External links

External videos
video icon South African Steam: Trans Karoo Steam Finale: 2nd Last Run – March 1997 A short video featuring the second last run of steam on the Trans Karoo Express on 15 March 1997. The locomotives are Class 25NC no. 3422, a regular on the Trans Karoo, and Class 25NC no. 3407, a relatively rare engine on this train. The other two regular locomotives, nos. 3404 and 3476, were not available as they were being spruced up for the final run the following week. (Time 4:36)
External videos
video icon Class 25NC 3533, 5 October 2009 Rovos Rail's Class 25NC 3533, converted from a Class 25 condenser, enters Capital Park yard on 5 October 2009, in the process of turning The Pride of Africa around on the Capital Park triangle. (Time 1:00)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to South African Class 25NC 4-8-4.
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