Chasing "SMOKEY"

In 1979 my brother and I were chasing narrow (3 ft 6 in) gauge steam in the Orange Free State, South Africa. One of our favorite encounters was with "SMOKEY" hauling the day-time passenger train on the 190-mile run from Bloemfontein to Bethlehem.

Here SMOKEY has stopped at a rural station, a number of passengers have gotten off the train, and the 4-8-4 is working hard to get the 14-car train underway again on the grade







Named SMOKEY by her assigned crew, the engine is classified by South African Railways as class 25NC 4-8-4 number 3415, built by Henschel in Germany in 1953, one of 50 engines built by both North British and Henschel. With 60 inch drivers and 225 psi boiler pressure the 25NCs could put on a good turn of speed, but had a reputation for being somewhat slippery on mountain grades. But we did not note any traction problems with SMOKEY and her heavy train on the long climb to the summit at Retiefsnek near Bethlehem





(to be continued)