Image shows class 26 3450 "Red Devil" being towed away from Monument Station in Cape Town, South Africa today - for overhaul to operating condition.

The locomotive is one of two required for a new service that will operate from Cape Town to Woolsley where a lighter 19D class will take over for a journey to a small hamlet called Ceres. The branch line line was mothballed many years ago by the SAR.

http://www.ceresrail.co.za/

One 19D is already in service on the branch line with a second under active overhaul in Voorbai.

The second large loco it is believed will be a 15F number 2915 chosen because it is an oil burner to be used on burn ban days. At least one of the 19D was also chosen for the same reason.

Steam operates on the weekends. During the week diesels operate on container fruit traffic to Cape Town docks which has been taken away from road trucking.

There is a lot more information here

https://www.facebook.com/groups/667566803390024/

Including overhaul images of the 19D's

Oh.....and the Rand is currently at about 16 to the USD.

TH

Thanks Trevor - the interesting question for me is if it will retain all of its innovations or will it be made more like a stock locomotive. I think we didn't learn as much as we could have before it was withdrawn.

The honest answer is that a lot of the features installed under Mr. Wardale were removed and the loco is a pig to drive and fire today.

I currently do not know what the scope of work being done will be and further conclude that this loco has been chosen because of it's tourist draw - any 15F / 25NC would do the job.

It should draw a lot of international tourists too.

TH

Trevor,

I saw Red Devil on display in 2012 when I took the excursion to Simon;s Town. Topic drift - are they still running those trips?

Wesley

Yes....as far as I know.

That is an Atlantic Rail operation whereas all discussed above is from the newly formed CRC who have purchased two 19D and a 19B from THF and leased the two big loco's also from THF on the eve of the finalizing of the 60 loco THF "A" list which will result in mass scrapings of steam locos not listed - in South Africa this year.

TH

This is good news. I hope it's restored to full Wardale spec.

Does this leave an opportunity for other than scrappers to acquire a South African locomotive? I know of two in the US under private ownership. I think we could squeeze in a few more perhaps.

Yes there are a lot of opportunities to purchase Cape Gauge (42") steam locomotives right now. With the rand at 16 to the dollar and global scrap prices depressed - very cheaply to.

A 25NC 4-8-4 weighs 223 long tons (328,700 lbs)

TH

IF anyone is seriously interested, I have the contacts. A few purportedly "preserved" steamers over there have been repeated victims of scrap thieves, vandals, etc. and more closely resemble scrapyard hulks than preservation. I'm sure deals could be struck.......

I specifically have a list here that includes a 25NC, a 19D, a GMAM, two 15F, and a GCA plundered by copper/brass thieves in November..............