1 December 2023 ‘ Steam in South Africa Through 20 Years’ by Roger Griffiths.
On Friday 1st December 2024 24 members and guests attended to listen to Roger Griffiths talk on South African Steam
Roger started by telling us of his time working in Botswana and how he went on many tours organised by the South African Railways. He observed ISF S2 shunter and a Bagnal tank named “Jack” on the colliery railways where the trains were comparable to 2000 tons hauled y 92203.
At Merehead Roger was lucky to meet John Cornish who enabled him to film trains on Botswana and Rhodesia. Many locos had been rebuilt by Resso, despite sanctions on spare parts there was a make do and mend policy. Another highlight was crossing the Pass of Niagara Falls.
We then broke up for refreshments.
For the second part Roger took us to Mafeking to view garrets on shed. A star turn was when a passenger train with smart coaches and clean engine and carrying mail connected with the Union Castle boat.
Roger filmed quite a few locations. He visited Cape town and Durban and had filmed quite a few locations on the Bethlehem line ending at Kimberley with a 25mc 3450 in red livery.
The audience thanked Roger with a round of applause.