25NC 3430 & 3436, Grt Nthrn Experience, 1980, 1985

[Steve Appleton]

Posted for the photographer, Dennis Mitchell:

Just a couple of those big northern 4-8-4s of the South African Railways. Their 3,600 hp and 54,000 lb tractive effort on 3' 6" blew this Aussie away (and stunned the Queenslanders)!

Pic 1. This is class 25NC No 3430 "Sharon" leaving the water stop at Orange River at the spot where "you could fall over, trip the shutter and still get a decent shot! Even an Aussie could do it". Climbing up the grade to Kraankuil in typical NC style. 1980.

Pic 2. Class 25NC No 3436 "Molly". The loco of top link and number 1 driver at De Aar, Faan Willers, is being prepared to take out the R.S.S.A. special "The Trans Cape Limited" south of De Aar to Noupoort. Beside, sister 3434 looks on. She is wearing all her regalia including the South African Coat of Arms and, if Faan Willers was "King of the Road", then she was certainly his "Queen". De Aar loco, 5 April 1985.

[Chris Janisch]

Look how clean 3436 is. You cannot beat this level of dedication. We will never again see locos turned out like this again, and she was in regular traffic too.