Class S1, No 379, Millsite, October 6, 1974

[Steve Appleton]

Posted on behalf of the photographer, Dennis Mitchell:

After arriving in Johannesburg on Saturday night, 5/10/1974, we awoke bright and early and with Frank Cage (loco inspector, Germiston) and the museum curator at JHB station, we travelled to Krugersdorp and Millsite shed.

This MONSTER was probably the first South African loco I'd seen up close. And I thought "If this is a shunt loco, how big are the mainline locos?" There is just something about these engines I can't put my finger on... Is it the framing which reminds me of a class 38 4-6-2? Is it because they are home grown... like the 38s? Or is it the sense of brute power in that big boiler and small drivers? Anyway I was impressed. Later that day, we saw them barking up a storm in the Germiston yard!!
Class S1, 0-8-0 No 379, Millsite 6/10/1974, slide M 607.

[Derek Walker]

I remember the S Class locos hurtling around Germiston banging goods wagons together (I assumed they did that because they could), and was saddened to see this example in you know where.

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