Re: South Africa...4-8-4's ????

You are correct that they tended to get moving somewhat abruptly. I know a guy who was down there in the late 70's who rode a commuter train out of Port Elizabeth(I saw some in 1977 but did not ride). Anyway he has some awesome recordings from stop to start. You hear the train stop at a station, doors opening and closing(lots of doors cause they are those English style commuter cars with doors all along the side. Then after all the gets quiet, you here the conductor blow his whistle. A couple seconds later the 15AR 4-8-2 is litterally storming out of that station, and is going all out until its doing 60 or thereabouts which doesn't take too long. Then she shuts down the throttle, they drift to a quick stop at the next station, and the entire sequence is repeated. Its a thrilling departure time and again. One of the best steam recordings I have heard on tape. This was a case of keeping the schedule and the engine was being put through its paces like it was intended to do! I always enjoy steam where there seems to be a real purpose when the engineer pulls the throttle, and the train means business!!! I rode some fast steam (including cabs) of German engines in the early 70's but they didn't quite have the excitement as the South African engines.
Greg