Wayne Nauschutz - SouthAfricanRailfans: Visiting Locomotive

While operating heritage equipment can be fascinating and great fun things don't necessarily always go to plan. The morning of Sunday, 09 April 2017 was no exception but fortunately, quick thinking saved the day... and the trip, twice!

On a typical running day, the platform at Monument station is a hive of activity with the locomotive roadworthy being one of the first tasks of the day. After a thorough inspection by the driver, it became painfully apparent that there was something very wrong with 879 and the trip would not be possible.

With few options available someone suggested using a CRC locomotive instead of cancelling the trip. After some enquiries, permission was granted which saw some of the crew piling into their cars to go light up 19D 3321. Ceres Rail stage in Unity yard just a stone throw away from Monument station and had done a trip the previous day. A warm locomotive would be quicker to light up the problem being locating a compressor at 7 a.m. on a Sunday without any prior arrangement. Despite minor setbacks, the locomotive finally arrived at Monument station facing the wrong direction. Tender first departure for Stellenbosch had never been done before at AR and a 19D hadn't visited Stellenbosch in more than a decade.

It's a pity I couldn't be line side for such a rare opportunity as conditions for photography would be ideal. Due to our late departure from Monument, it was decided to leave Stellenbosch an hour later as well. Meaning the low afternoon sun would be superb and the locomotive would be running smoke box first!

Sadly, the locomotive failed again under similar circumstances some two weeks later and again I wasn't able to line side.

ISO 100, 1/320 sec. f/8 at 18 mm

After lunch I had some time to kill so did a walk around of the locomotive.

ISO 100, 1/250 sec. f/8 at 34 mm

Once a large class consisting of 268 units the South African Class 19D worked throughout the SAR and were suited to a variety of different tasks. Today there are five dotted around the country that have valid boiler tickets.

ISO 100, 1/250 sec. f/8 at 30 mm

Good thing I decided to go take my photographs when I did... as can be seen in the photograph my window of opportunity was closing rapidly.

ISO 100, 1/250 sec. f/8 at 34 mm

ISO 400, 1/60 sec. f/5 at 18 mm

The two smaller gauges at the bottom of the image are for oil firing and are not found on the usual coal-fired versions of this locomotive.

ISO 100, 1/250 sec. f/9 at 33 mm

Nothing to give the year away this photograph could have been taken in the 1960s.

ISO 200, 1/640 sec. f/8 at 75 mm

With the coast clear the crew have now started their run around via the platform line.

Metro guard Gawie le Roux has taken his position for the short trip down to the points.

ISO 200, 1/640 sec. f/8 at 75 mm

Torpedo tenders are so much more photogenic from this angle.

ISO 200, 1/500 sec. f/8 at 29 mm

Now in the passing loop, the locomotive is reversing back towards the train.

ISO 200, 1/800 sec. f/8 at 35 mm

Gawie has now left his perch on the front of the locomotive to assist the driver with the coupling distance and to make the necessary connections.

ISO 200, 1/800 sec. f/8 at 36 mm

Coupled and ready for the off. We continued to wait for another Metro to pass before the train could be moved to the platform line for passenger boarding.

ISO 200, 1/500 sec. f/8 at 80 mm

Presented with this very rare opportunity I tried a variety of settings and lens combinations. Would like to have changed the angle too but the catenary and polls narrowed my options.