SAR 2-8-2 No. 17
Ficksburg, Free State, South Africa 		Location: Sandstone Steam Railway
Status: Operational
Related Notes
Photo Copyright © Daniel SIMON
Here are the notes for SAR No. 17, a 2-8-2 located in Ficksburg, Free State. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.
Posted: Jan 8, 2023 @ 03:01:40 by Dale W Fickés
This was built new in 610mm gauge.
Posted: Aug 9, 2018 @ 13:08:49 by Robin R Beck
One of three locos designed & built for the South African Railways to operate on the 600mm gauge Otavi Railway in South West Africa. They became the NG15 class . 19 more were to follow, totalling 21 class members built from 1931 to 1958. SAR 17 was built in 1931 and worked on the Otavi line until 1961 when the whole class was moved to Port Elizabeth, South Africa to operate on the 24 inch railway going from Port Elizabeth to Avontuur. SAR 17 was the first of the NG15 class. Can now be found operating on Sandstone Estate, Ficksburg, South Africa.

The Otavi mine, at Tsumeb, South West Africa (the present Namibia) was rich in copper, lead, zinc and traces of gold & silver. A 600mm railway was built from Tsumeb to the port of Swakopmund 350 miles away. The First World War saw the first 100 miles of track destroyed. Later it was rebuilt as 42 inch gauge. The railway continued to operate with all transfers being done at Karabib. The whole line was rebuilt as 42 inch in 1961.

The Port Elizabeth to Avontuur railway was a 170 mile 24 inch railway finished 1906 allowing fruit & vegetables to be railed to and exported from Port Elizabeth docks. Passenger trains ran until 1940s. After that freight trains still ran often with a passenger coach. The guards van also had compartments for passengers. From 1973 a class of 21 diesels also started operating this line, taking over from the NG15 class. When the traffic was heavy in May to September fruit & veg season steam locos would also operate. Most traffic had changed to road transport by the late 1980s effectively making steam and diesel locos redundant. Only a Limestone quarry at Loerie supplied stone to Port Elizabeth until 2001, keeping a section of the line working. The Apple Express tourist train used this 45 mile section for years.