Page 81 - Bulletin 8 2004

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The swansong of steam passenger services to Simon’s Town

It can truly be said that South Africa was not far behind the other advanced railway
systems in the world in looking at the benefits of electrification. Plans were afoot

between 1910 and 1920 but the Great War stepped in the way of these.

Recommendations were again made in 1919 for certain sections to be electrified on both
main and suburban lines, Cape Town – Simon’s Town being top of the list for the latter.

Natal, in fact, saw electrification by 1925.

The engines that championed the suburban running at Cape Town, in the last years of
steam suburban passenger work from roughly 1920 – 1928, were the famous Class 6

locomotives. They had first appeared in 1893, primarily for fast main-line passenger

work. When they were eventually replaced by larger, more powerful locos for this work
they became the “maids-of-all-work” in South Africa. It has been said that no more

useful and successful locomotive was ever designed at Salt River. They were fast, easy

to handle, good steamers and had an exceptionally low maintenance cost with long
periods between major overhauls. (Figs. 2.35 - 2.37).

My father had fond memories of seeing his Dad top the bank at Wetton Road crossing

at Wynberg with the evening theatre-goers’ express. The sixth class virtually spewed
out sparks as she flew through over to Kenilworth. In fact, records were broken with

these engines.

My uncle often spoke of the beach outings to Fish Hoek with my grandmother. Grandad

was on duty and they would wait for him to whistle as he rounded the corner to
Clovelly. The children would then scramble to Fish Hoek station to obtain hot water

from the cab for their tea. Granddad would then proceed to Simon’s Town.

“The Invisible Juice” – The Coming of the Electrics

In 1926 the first motor coaches for Cape electrification were tested at the works of

English Electric in England. Thus the winds of change were indeed at hand for the first