Talk:South African Class 16DA 4-6-2 1928

Feedback on 16DA service from Les Pivnic
Dear Andre

I need to offer a correction with regard to your operating background concerning the class 16DAs.

This correction would apply to the Paxton/Bourne book as well.

It is the wide-firebox version that I am referring to specifically - engines 874 - 879.

When these locos were placed in service in 1930, they were stationed at Kimberley Loco and worked the Union Limited/Express both south to Beaufort West and north to Johannesburg. They were never stationed at Braamfontein Loco. They worked into JHB - serviced at Braamfontein Loco and then worked back to their home depot in Kimberley - not Beaconsfield which had not been built yet.

When the 16Es arrived in 1935, the wide-box 16DAs remained in service on the express trains in company with the 16Es. The 16Es were also stationed at Kimberley Loco and worked through to Johannesburg and south to Beaufort West.

In 1939/1940, when the air-conditioned stock was placed in service on the Union Limited/Express service between Cape Town and Johannesburg, all the 16DAs and 16Es were transferred to Bloemfontein from where they continued to work passenger trains including the Orange Express.

Regards

Les Pivnic