The unique 4-8-4 class 26 # 3450 "Red Devil" (Transnet National Collection) is leased by the Ceres Rail Company and made operational again since last year. The world most powerful narrow gauge (Cape gauge 1067 mm or 3 ft 6 in) steamlocomotive is in the Worcester North depot during the night. The locomotive was built in 1953 as class 25NC by Henschel/Germany for the South African Railways (SAR). From 1979 to 1981 it was heavily rebuilt by mechanical engineer David Wardale from England while in the employ of the South African Railways. The rebuilding took place at the Salt River Works in Cape Town and was based on the principles developed by Argentinian mechanical engineer L.D. Porta. Using both mechanical and electronic indicating equipment, the Class 26 # 3450 recorded 4,492 indicated horsepower (3,350 kilowatts) on tests between Pretoria and Witbank, a world record for a narrow gauge locomotive. According to the dynamometer car, this was then developing 3,787 equivalent drawbar horsepower.
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)
