In this well-known CSAR publicity photo intended to show how engine size had increased from the earliest ZASM times, we have a diminutive 14-tonner by Emil Kessler posed alongside a Beatty class 8 (CSAR class L1 No 438, SAR class 8B 1129) named after the Secretary of State for the Colonies and arch-imperialist, Joseph Chamberlain. One of these little 14-Tonners would be mounted on a plinth on Pretoria Station as a National Monument and later removed to the S A Railway Museum in Johannesburg. The move to Johannesburg was appropriate because, tiny as they were, they started the pioneer rail service on the Reef.

Apologies for the poor quality of this photo but it is historically valuable in that it shows the original Pretoria Station that was situated roughly where “Pretoria B” was provided in the 1960s for additional platforms to accommodate local EMU services. The train standing at the platform is headed by one of the CSAR 9th-class Pacifics and in the 6-carriage rake behind the tender no two coaches are the same! In this remarkable assortment, the second-last vehicle is an NGR balcony saloon! Tucked away to the left is a NZASM 46-tonner making smoke!

This photo has considerable additional interest: the building on the right-hand border is the old Victoria Hotel which many years later would serve as the headquarters for Rohan Vos’s Rovos Rail before he moved his operation to Capital Park. In front of the Hotel are several goods wagons and a crane standing in a goods yard situated roughly where the new station gardens were situated when Pretoria got its magnificent new station building designed by Sir Herbert Baker in 1911/12. I imagine that credit for the new Herbert Baker building must go to the CSAR who obviously planned the improvements before Union in 1910.

Sometime before 1910 a 9th-class Pacific No 601 (SAR 728) was posed with a rake of side-door suburban coaches. Note the steam turbo-generator mounted just ahead of the chimney for the electric headlamp. CSAR also experimented with carbon-arc headlamps while some engines retained paraffin lamps – the latter on engines for secondary duties. What on earth that "hinged half-moon" sort of canvas cover is on the headlight is unknown to us. Also, it appears the turbo-generator may have been fitted with a silencer. Both suggestions came from Peter Micenko and we'll stick with them until one of youse comes up with a better explanation (as usually happens).

In 1904 the CSAR took a massive leap forward in their engine and rolling stock development with the introduction of the 10th- and 11th-class locomotives and some remarkable coaches for local express and long-distance service. Here is one of the chocolate and cream-liveried “Parlour Cars” for service on the Limited Express between Pretoria and Johannesburg. Observe the closed vestibules with concertina connections and the appropriate use of panoramic windows! Coaches of this calibre made the CSAR a world-class railway.

While the outside of the parlour car might be described as tastefully glamorous (except perhaps for the somewhat garish "1st") the interior was an epitome of Edwardian decor. There was no skimping of luxurious appointments: pressed-metal ceiling, Venetian-glass lampshades, mahogany-lined walls, Wilton double-shuttle carpets and stuffed horsehair armchairs that would not have looked out of place in the exclusive (no ladies!) Pretoria Club. Even the parcel racks got the treatment. These new CSAR vehicles were just as roomy as coaching stock running on 4ft 8 ½ in gauge in other parts of the world – in fact even more spacious than British coaches on the wider gauge. As for comfort, one could not have asked for more!

Les and Charlie are working together on this project to convey to future generations the essence of a once magnificent transport network in South Africa - the South African Railways or SAR.

https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-1 Cape Western, based in Cape Town

https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-3-1 Cape Midland, based in Port Elizabeth

https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-5 Orange Free State, based in Bloemfontein

https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-7-1 Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg

actually it was referred to as "trainwreck" for some reason in the school kitchen. Nobody liked it except for the very young. They'd eat almost anything.

My favorite rail related dish is pâté chinois.

Sounds like the description for Hamburger Helper.

>>132227

> A bit of a struggle.

Hard to watch. Can't imagine someone on RZD could possibly allow something like this. Ouch.
Although we have and more epic grades.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHIAjMs5Mrg

>>132245

Cool vid. Impressive cut, must have been a big job excavating it.

How does this thing still justify its existence? It must be expensive to keep such an old and tiny system working.

>>132266
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Subway
Daily ridership 34,950 (2013/2014)
It may be tiny, but it's still busy!

>>132266
If it weren't for the subway, those poor people would have to walk the streets alongside the local neds, and we can't be having that, can we?

>>132254
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_view_screen

Now I know. Thnaks

Strange, I've never seen those on any NS locos. Must be primarily used in areas where it snows a lot or rains heavily

>>132261
Snowplows will sometimes have them, and very rarely locomotives meant for snow-heavy areas will have them.

>>132263
>>132261

Only 'Murkan engines I've seen these on are UP (ex-SP) geeps for snowplow/icebreaking service on Donner Pass.

>>132265
that's literally what i was thinking of, but I couldn't find a photo of them.

>>132267

certainly took me a hot minute to track one down.

lol, trains and alcohol.

Reminds me of the 50th anniversary beers

The Premium Malts is definitely one of my favourite "drink in bulk" beverages though. Even if expensive. Worlds better than the beer flavoured water that is Asahi!

Jim Beam had a whole set of these, back in the day...

>>132213

Beer boxcar collections are making a come-back

there were a handful of vendors at the latest show pushing tables full of 'em

>>132180

>Nite Train, passenger seat

bad. end.

>>132218
they never left
Tyco, Bachmann, Life-Like,Roundhouse, Athern AHM, Atlas & IHC use to have a whole mess of them
Also http://greenwayproducts.com/greenway-products/beer-cars/ makes beercars too

>>132180
Oh Night Train, for when you wanna get really drunk but don't want to spend much

>>132257

You'll wake up feeling like a train hit you.

>>132257

What? Nine thousand?

I was there some time ago. There is a bustitution out of Union Station on that line. I can't recall why; just that it made my trip to Little Tokyo a bit more compicated than need be.