South African Railways 15f class 1989

I had the good fortune to spend ten weeks in South Africa in 1989 when steam still worked some regular goods traffic. The running shed at Springs 50 klms east of Johannesburg had a number of 15f's who worked daily goods - one of which was 15 klms south to the industrial town Nigel.
These scenes show these over worked and under repaired engines as they fulfilled their last call to duty. Within months the shed was closed. Five days a week in the early morning a train would make the journey to spend the whole day shunting and return late in the afternoon. Note the sound of one engine with just three exhaust beats!

[@DaleSchultz-mixmox]

As I kid I remember SA steam locos almost always slipping wheels.... even shunting in Durban harbour. Were the engine drivers just showing off/ scaring the kids I wonder?

[@jimmyat460]

They sure did do a lot of reverse running.

[@anilpille189]

Old Memories of Steam locomotive

[@johannvanaardt7221]

Amazing.. Springs is my hometown, my father was a train driver and could well have been driving one of these at the time.

[@Paul-ul7dz]

A lot of wheel slip and locomotives going everywhere in reverse lol

[@quhitcorse1943]

wonderful record of a passed age

[@andrewdutoit9571]

Beautiful, those days never to be repeated.

[@mpeterll]

I think the 15F looks so much better with the big 6-axle tender.

[@gordonvincent731]

Where were these steam engines built, and by who?

[@allanwilson8161]

Why are so many of them running tender first ?

[@lancewalton4807]

Great footage

[@MarlonVanderLinde]

This is something you don't (won't?) see everyday :'(