GEA 4032 Sir Lowry's Pass station, October 1974

[Steve Appleton]

Posted on behalf of the photographer, Dennis Mitchell:

Mountain Warrier in Crisis.
This is a loyal warrior in crisis. he has won this battle many times before but the times and conditions of the battle are changing. Management no longer see him as their champion. They have been corrupted and swayed by the diesel salesman!
So while this warhorse has many more battles left in him, his life is being cut short by a management that no longer has faith in his ability to win the war. With a lack of maintenance and spare parts, he will be dead within a year.
Pictured in October 1974, he is in full regalia ready for the battle with the mountain, unaware that his commanders are selling him out to a bigger foe than the mountain -- the diesel.
GEA 4032 Sir Lowry's Pass station, October 1974.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Excellent pic's. Keep em rolling.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

What a beast to fire. Hand firing up the mountains in the poor condition they were in at that stage!! Remember them slogging up Montague pass.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Did those beasts not have mechanical stokers?

[Dylan Knott]

If only the GMAM's succeeded them.

Also odd that some gave more than 20 years service after this in Industrial use! 4023 at George was ex-Industry.

[Derek Walker]

And the million dollar question... where did she go from there? was she one of the few that still survive? or did she become yet another statistic??

[Dylan Knott]

4023 is on display at the Outeniqua Transport Museum, George. Was operational up until 2 or 3 years ago.
4003 is at Witbank and derelict and 4022 is at Millsite.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Last year whilst visiting the George museum I snapped some pics of the Garratts outside. I remember her working tirelessly at the George festival some years ago.

[Derek Walker]

And here is 4022 at Millsite, with the now scrapped coalstage behind it.

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