Page 67 - KBHA BULLETIN 8

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and there is, needless to say, much climbing between Cape Town and the Karoo or the
Overberg. The original halt at Glencairn was built in the middle of the beach but had to

be moved to where it is today to avoid the sand problem.

Motive power developments for the line to Simon’s Town

I have already discussed the standard 4’8½” gauge locomotives that worked from Cape

Town to Wellington and Wynberg up to the abolition of the broader gauge in 1881. It is
noteworthy that the broad gauge would have presented tremendous difficulties along

our coastline as well as in the Cape mountains. With a narrow gauge one can achieve far
tighter radius curves and so the 3’6” gauge was opted for. The fact remains today that

none of our larger South African locomotives would be able to go any further than Kalk

Bay because they would simply jam in the curves. In fact, there has always been a
restriction on size of motive power beyond Muizenberg. The first 3’6” gauge

locomotives that made their appearance for Cape suburban work, in 1882, were the
nd
Cape 2 Class, known as the “Wynberg Tanks”. Six were ordered from Nielson & Co.
for use on the Wynberg - Muizenberg run. (Figs. 2.22 & 2.23).

Thus, at the opening of the line to Kalk Bay, one of these engines would have been in

charge, and one of these locos hauled the first train into Simon’s Town on 1 December
1890. They were good engines and popular with engine crews because of their enclosed,

protective cabs. It is recorded in the General Manager’s report of 1889 that engine No.

27, placed in service during March 1888, had run 50,395 train-miles and 58,123 engine-
miles during the year, when stopped on account of worn tyres. The engine had worked

continuously on fast, heavy passenger trains and all of this class were later recorded as
having been excellent locomotives until trains became too heavy for them. Later, a few

were used for shunting and working light trains on the Milnerton branch line and the
Sea Point line.

rd
Early 1889 saw the introduction of the Cape 3 Class 4-4-0 locomotives for use on the
easier sections of the Western system. They were modern and fully up to date and also

began working to Simon’s Town after 1890 where loads were increasing for the Cape