South African Steam Locos For Sale.

A Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch pacific would probably struggle with Network Rail' s loading gauge!

 

3' 6" and 4' 8½" are the track gauges, not the loading gauge.

 

They'd have no problem on HS1. Do wonders for Kentish tourism.

 

Indeed, I misunderstood your previous post. I though it was odd that you referred to the track gauges as loading gauges! But the point is that even though the South African engines are narrow gauge, they are mostly so enormous that, even if the rails had been laid to the standard gauge, the engines wouldn't fit our confined loading gauge.

The same applies to Continental and American locos and rolling stock; even though they use the same track gauge as us, their rolling stock is much bigger than ours. One can't help wondering how big the South African locos might have been if standard gauge had been used...

 

Now there's a thought! Perhaps there's still time to incorporate a heritage stretch into HS2...

 

What we should be talking about is the gauge envelope, since the loading gauge applies to the overall height and upper height. There are other factors- roof and side profiles and, a particular difference between UK and most overseas systems, width below platform level.
In fact, the gauge envelope is not standard in the UK and never was. We have, at Mangapps, a M&GNR adjustable loading gauge which has a cast iron plate showing the maximum heights for loads travelling over the main pre-grouping railways; the variation being between 12' 8" on the Metropolitan, up to 13' 9" on the Midland and the GN.
When we bought our Canadian Pacific caboose, we had intended to use it to accommodate our collection of Canadian railwayana, but were surprised and delighted to find that it was not far out of gauge as regards width. Height (16' over the cupola) could have been a problem, but we had no bridges or tunnels, so we have been able to operate it with minimal adaption.

 

The South African loading gauge accepted stock 13 feet high (the same as the UK), but up to 10 feet wide (rather than about 9 feet wide in the UK). The Cape 7th Class in NRM Shildon is considerably less than that, perhaps more similar in size to a British 0-6-0 tender engine. Passenger stock was nearer 9 feet wide, so a SA carriage would be very similar in size to its UK counterpart.

It should be remembered that SA steam was not all Class 25s and GMAMs. One of the sad aspects of the current situation is the way that a plethora of historic types, with strong British links are affected. This includes the 16CR pacific 809, which was once a Royal Train engine. And the less said about the historic carriages in SA the better!

 

Thats all very nice , saving a locomotive in full working order . But what will be its fate ? As i suggested earlier , stuffed and mounted on a short length of track ,no chance of running again un loved , back in old Blighty.

 

As the locos are 3'6'' how many will be going to New Zealand?
Ray.

 

You have a better suggestion ?

 

Why should it be unloved? If I lived in Darlington I'd be only too pleased to help keep it looking good. As has been said above, anywhere must be better than leaving it to the fate that has already befallen so many of the other supposedly preserved locos in South Africa.

 

A previous poster has commented that although the track gauge is the same, there are loading gauge issues where South African engines are concerned. I don't know whether this applies to all types of engine or just the bigger ones.

 

...... and some from Zimbabwe IIRC. I was trying to make the point, that before whining about the 19D coming to 'blighty' where it may or not run, our friends from 'down under' may like to put their hands in their pockets!
Ray.

 

Let's hope that they do. But there's no reason why anyone in the UK, or elsewhere in the World, can't help out financially if they've got the ability to do so.

 

I'll send a bit of money the NBLoco groups way. 19Ds have an important story to tell in UK loco building and more importantly, are the locos that got me into steam in the first place when I went on holidy to south africa circa 1997. Having seen many stuffed and mounted in the UK, a very young version of me was amazed to see the death throws of SA steam.