RED DEVIL - Restoration - Final Steam Test and Transfer
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- * Audio has been overwritten during the time elapse and testing in the yard. This was to avoid creating any copyright infringements.
In the last episode of the Restoration series, the day we all have been waiting for has finally arrived. The mighty Red Devil makes its return to the rails after being in storage for almost fifteen years. The restoration crew do final checks and adjustments, including setting the safety valves, reverser and attending to a number of steam leaks. Once the roadworthy is complete the locomotive departs for its journey back to Cape Town. Western Cape, South Africa.
Músic by e-soundtrax: bit.ly/2CCbCAB ***
South African Class 26, No 3450 affectionately known as the Red Devil originally started life as a standard class 25 Non-condenser built by Henschel in 1953, works number 28769.
The class initially suffered a number of teething problems with their connecting rod bearings and valve gear. This led to a redesign of the cross-heads and the fitment of larger bearings from other manufacturers.
The NCs soon went on to prove themselves as some of South Africa's most capable and reliable mainline steam locomotives with many seeing service well into the early 1990s. They are still considered one of the largest non-articulated narrow gauge steam locomotives ever built.
Political motivations, strategic locomotive reserve or the looming oil crisis are a discussion for another time and place. I believe it worth mentioning that the Red Devil existence can almost exclusively be attributed to David Wardale, Livio Porta and the many workshop and footplate personnel that took interest in the project and not necessarily the SAR.
Wardale's work was met with a fair amount of resistance from the SAR hierarchy with many believing the project to be a waste of time and money on traction that they already considered obsolete. Many also believed that steam had reached its full potential and weren't keen to accept that their own work could be improved upon. If it wasn't for Wardales's rather ask for forgiveness than permission approach the project most likely would have seen untimely demise.
With that being said the Red Devil wasn't perfect, prototypes seldom are, but it proved the principles were sound and the hope was that it would lead to the development of an entirely new class designed from the ground up deploying those principles.
Despite the time and effort invested in its creation, the Red Devil was simply too complicated and soon fell out of favour with maintenance and footplate crews. Many of them simply refused to learn how to operate it correctly and this quickly lead to a false perception that the locomotive was a poor performer and no better than a standard 25NC.
With Wardale leaving the SAR and nobody to look after it, crews took it upon themselves to remove many of the modifications some of which were specially manufactured. There are however a number of structural modifications that could not be removed and these are still visible on the locomotive today.
Wardale's book is a must-read for any serious enthusiast, if not for the story, read it for the truth. The improvements done during its conversion ultimately lead to 28% coal saving, 30% water saving and a 43% increase in drawbar power. During its peak, the Red Devil had a maximum power output of 5030 hp at 100km/h.
3450 has been in storage for nearly two decades but has now been leased by Ceres Rail Company that have moved the locomotive to Worcester for restoration. Western Cape, South Africa.
List of improvements.
- Lempor exhaust.
- Addition of ten super heater flues and elements.
- Larger super heater header salvage from GMA.
- Feed water heater.
- Lengthened smokebox.
- Improved cylinder and valve lining lubrication system.
- Piston valves.
- Articulated valve spindles.
- Valve liner cooling system.
- Streamlined steam ports.
- Herdner starting valves.
- Altered Walschaerts valve gear.
- Enlarged steam chests.
- Improvement steam pipes
- Improved pistons
- Improved piston and valve rod packings.
- Improved insulation.
- Variable stroke lubricator drive.
Further Reading: Red Devil -en.wikipedia.o...
Ceres Rail Company - www.ceresrail.c...
Fellow enthusiast and videographer Piet Conradie filmed the locomotive a little further down the line. His clip can be viewed at th-cam.com/video/1kRKFLzw3iQ/w-d-xo.html
Thank you Wayne. you trully did a great job! As steam loco enthusiast I would very much like to see a condensing steam engine restoration. I love their particular sound! Was the RED DEVIL previously a condensing engine?
Speaking now about something else, I invite you to watch the following videos from my channel:
1. Steam in Romania at the beginning of the 1970s and in 1995;
2. Steam in South Africa in the 1980s;
3. Steam in Eastern Europe by the end of 1960s;
4.Steam in Eastern Europe in the 1990s;
5.CFR Steam Locomotives at Budapest[15 July 1996];
6.Baldwin-built CFR 140.117 at Budapest in 2004.
7. And not least but last, the Rail Away episodes shot in Africa(Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe(.
Greetings from central Romania!
Thank you Cornel, I only saw your reply now. You have some very nice content on channel. To answer your question the Red Devil was never a condenser. The RD is number 3450 the last of the original non condenser's. The first condenser is number 3451 and 90 of them were built.
5
Jinunon
😥😤😠ngy
@@zubairkhair8659 what's the problem dude why are you angry?
Saw this Engine in a book once. Impressed to see it's still running today.
In storage now. Thanks for watching.
Absolute M-A-G-I-C!!! I remember in the early 80's being in Bloem after only being in the country a couple of months and from the hotel heard the eerie steam whistle. Gosh! A steam train thought I and a mad dash (on foot) to the station whereupon the magnificent 'Red Devil' was about to depart into the night... Goose bumps all over again - BIG thanks to EVERYONE for keeping this treasure running and sharing video. Sincerely Nigel L. Rotherham
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Beautiful engine and camera work. I'm impressed they are running it on coal.
South Africa never ran steam engines on oil. In fact one of the reasons they kept steam around for so long was they had domestic coal reserves but very little oil, and with increasing pressure from international sanctions they didn't want to be dependent on foreign imports.
So I take it you're somewhat of a rail fan? That's so cool!!
Notice how small an amount of exhaust smoke there is. That's efficiency, almost no unburnt fuel, because of L D Porta's work on secondary air admission, to improve the combustion.
@@ericjamieson same with the UK
Well done to all those involved with the restoration and keeping us involved with regular video updates. Looking forward to seeing her ride the rails with beautiful South Africa backdrops. Cheers from Train Lord in Australia.
Thank you.
I’m from Adelaide too. And I love trains. Especially a little blue tank engine that shall remain nameless for copyright reasons. Hey what’s your favourite locomotive from South Australia? Y’know, the SAR that Red Devil *isn’t* from.
Id like to see this locomotive run in the United States of America
harry Bobb : that will be difficult. The US mostly runs on standard gauge (4ft 8.5in). South African gauge is 3ft 6in.
I had the honour to take part in that first epic three day journey, moneys well spent, stunning !!
Monty (2 year old) really liked your train video. Thank you.
Wow, what memories! I was the engineer in charge of its conversion from a 25-class NC to the renamed 26-class, in Salt River Mechanical Workshops of the then South African Railways in 1980-81 - Johan Slabbert
Thanks Johan. That's very interesting. Were you involve during the trials?
Thanks for 'A Transport of Delight' ! I'm a third generation SAR&H employee. My Dad, Fred Donkin was the last worker of the Natal Government Railways when he went on pension after 46 years service ending at Durban Station
Its clearly in your blood! Thanks for watching.
So the Red Devil is finally back! Well done on that restoration she looks beautiful!
Been a long time coming!
What a true beauty, this old girl represents the pinnacle of steam technology. I cant belive that this loco is finally operational again! I cant wait to see more of her in action!
I live in the US, & ive always been fascinated with 3450. I remember reading about it in a book and since then I could never forget it. She reminded me much of the NYCs Niagara 4-8-4s
Thanks Wayne, its so nice to see this beast come alive again. My grandpa used to be an engineer on these old steam locos and I'll always have a fond affinity for them.
Pleasure and thanks for watching.
Thanks for putting that up , the way it's been filmed is awesome. I I did a lot of volunteer work at Steamrail Victoria (Australia) in the 90's, and the video brought back some brilliant memories of lighting up R761 for the first time after 2 years of fire box repairs. There's nothing like see you hard work bearing fruit, and the smiles on people's faces when they see their favorite locomotive is going again.
Thanl you Juzzy. Steam preservation clearly has the same on people everywhere. We has great fun back in the Atlantic Rail days.
Great video. Great loco. Had a good look around it in Cape Town, in November 2018, and March 2019, before my ship sailed for Brazil. She is a beauty. Thanks for sharing
Thank you.
It’s a amazing to see how many years these engines have been on the rails and are still chuffing.
Proof of what an enduring idea the steam locomotive really was.
I agree with that.
That's because they're properly built. And looked after!
Cy
Oh thats a beautiful train. A very nice shade of red too. Very good restoration I must say. Running very well too. Glad steam is on a comeback.
Wow that was a quick restoration, wonderful to see her alive again.👍
Indeed!
the Red Devil is definitely in my Top 10 of most beautiful steam engines
Have you seen the New Zealand Ka942 with streamlining. That's a wonderful looking locomotive. Without the streamlining it still is impressive.
Also a one of its kind prototype.
Fantastic achievement. A wonderful locomotive. Stunning filming. I am so glad this locomotive hasn't gone the way of so many, a victim of scrap thieves. Long may it steam. I hope to see it working in the future, money permitting. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for watching.
Le beau et grand spectacle de la maintenance des locomotives a vapeur
Une chorégraphie ,un ballet
J'aime ce gère de vidéo
Ce sont des documentaire⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Watched with some nostalgia from Patagonia. The Waaihoek, Mostertshoek and Winterhoek mountains are so beautiful with snow!
Beautiful place. Pity its in such turmoil.
Very impressive and gorgeous locomotive -glad she is still running . Wales UK.
Yeah, was a long wait. Thanks for watching.
Beautiful engine. Certainly a Red Devil.
That it is!
She is beautiful and so great to see her on the rails again. Thanks for the share and have a wonderful week. Take care.
Thank you.
I'd like to be there with these guys doing this job☹👍👏👏👏
Super! Thanks for watching.
Oh my word! She is gorgeous!! What a glorious machine! Well done gentlemen! Well done!
I like the fact that examples of the largest non articulated narrow gauge locos are still in existence. The Denver and rio grande K28, K27, and K36 2-8-2 mikados and this 4-8-4 loco :-D
Big machine on narrow track. Awesome.
Many people worldwide are happy to see this loco return
Wow thank you for sharing such marvellous peace of art, can't wait to see it again...
Thanks Elbey.
Just think what would be possible with microprocessor control. Glad to see the Return of the Red Devil!
G0IMB...... everything does NOT need electronics attached to it.
Good to see history come alive again
Congratulations and well done to all involved, a masterpiece of engineering lives again.
Thanks for watching.
This is a dream come true. I have seen this loco when I was a kid. Well done to all. Where is the loco now.
Storage in Cape Town.
What a Beauty, Speed Queen and a “Lady in Red” - just love it😊
Wow , she's impressive ! Thanks for sharing . Wales UK , land of narrow guage .
What a machine! High-Tec of the finest. It showed what steam engines are able to, if you construct it well and if you give them a chance. It´s a shame it had no future and stayed an unicate.
Terrible waste. What might have been... Thanks for watching.
NICE!!
I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE FIRST SCENE WITH THE RED DEVIL STANDING IN FRONT OF THE DISTANT BLUE MOUNTAIN!!
THE CHASE ALONG THE HIGHWAY REMINDS ME OF THE TIME I CHASED UNION PACIFIC 844 GOING EAST OF NORTH PLATTE NEBRASKA ON HIGHWAY 30!
IT DIDNT LAST LONG HOWEVER ,
WHEN THEY OPENED THE THROTTLE AND MADE 80 MILES PER HOUR!
Thanks for watching.
Really nice to see one of hte later steam engines of the world get restored, especially since there apparently only one Class 26 ever built (I could be wrong though, but its what I got from Wikipedia)
I wish I could see some steam here in Canada but I think they're all in storage or scrapped now. Enjoy your steam engine! Take care of it!
www.kettlevalleyrail.com Search excursion steam railways in Canada. Don't be so pessimistic! Railways built this country, and now it's rebuilding some railways!
Also look up Kamloops heratage railway.We run a rebuild 4-8-4 .The 2141.But we don't have much track.To heavy for mainline of CP or CN
Jip, the only one. Thanks for watching.
Nicely made video. It's good to see steam locomotives from around the world. Thumbs up!
Excellent work for Red beauty Queen. Thanks.
Thanks for watching.
Brilliant !!! Our best locos in england were the 9Fs..this one is fantastic😝❤
Thanks for watching.
One Of the most beautiful steam locos there are.
I have never seen this engine before, but it's beautiful!
Amazing that a loco so big operates on 3'6" track.
I agree. Love the look.
@@WayneSA85 I did see a Beyer Garrett in operation in South Africa once. I also noticed that the gauge may be small, but the track is very heavy duty.
A wonderful locomotive, thanks for showing us this video.
My uncle was part off the crew who converted the red devil. He is n steam train fitter from the old salt river days. He said he fitted the turbine if some one knows what it means. He still has old fotos and the last steam engine they build . Blink stefaans.
Great history. All gone now.
Wundervoll,ein Fantastischer Anblick
Thank you very much sir for this vdo...i feel my child day....really nice sir...thanks again
Thanks for watching.
Making its first main line trip all on its own? In any other country it would have been accompanied by a diesel and a wagon with tools and spare parts. What a wonderful view!
The cape region in South Africa is serviced by diesels that could be considered vintage themselves.
Impressive engine with an impressive performance. Especially when one considers it's narrow gauge..! (even better than our own NZR Ja class)
a thing of beauty is joy for ever, congratulations on your restoration and your beautiful engine, and wonderful scenery. I hope every went well and the engine behaved its self and is running well.
Thank you.
Nice one Wayne. I look forward to seeing her out on the rails myself.
Thank you Matt.
Wonderful stuff guys. Congratulations and thank you to all of you involved. South Africa rocks!
Thank you.
It's nice hearing the mechanical sounds of the GE U15C here. :)
Wow. Great job to make this beauty of past reborn.
Lembrança de meu pai aqui no Brasil ✋
Oee of the most beautiful engines alive today!
it's great to see such a beautiful 4-8-4 back in action, she looks great! awesome video!
Thank you.
This Steam engine reminds me of Southern Pacific beautiful job on the restoration someday I will have to fly across the ocean to watch the seam engine take to the rails thank you for sharing this video!
I don't really see it... Other than being red, there really isn't anything in common with SP... It looks more like an NYC Niagara to be honest
Thank you.
What a beautiful beast!
Thanks for watching.
bx
I like classic trains. The smoke was very comforting.
unbelievable ...what a beautiful machine of its time!
Thanks Wayne. A brilliant bit of video work, a lesson to all the other TH-camrs.
Thank you Martin.
Beautiful train! I have also one video of the red devil...Thank you! Best Regards from Germany, Railherbie
Thank you Railherbie! I'm a tradesman and was involved in the restoration. I have a video series on my channel regarding the return to steam. I've watched your video and thoroughly enjoyed it. All the best.
I am proud just to see these guys in this work👍👏 really I do👍❤
Beautiful and that young people , is part of what led to all our modern technology.
Now that is one beautiful northern steam locomotive!
I agree. Thanks for watching.
it's beautiful 👌
What a breath taking engine and coal tender would have love to see her flying on an open countryside running wide open i bet that would be a sight to behold. thanks
Agree, they were the speed demons of their time with speeds in excess of 110kph often achieved.
They DO that right here ! What, are you blind !?
It appears to be a very fine locomotive👍
Nice. Age of Steam. It's how we got here from there...
True story.
Excellent training. Awesome machine. Cheers!
Cool video! I find it neat that the locomotive ended up going down the main line without any tool car or water car behind it!
We don't have a tool car or water car on our steam locomotives in the UK either
The way we roll... it does come back to haunt us every now and then. Thanks for watching.
Beautiful locomotive👌
Thanks for watching.
All steam loco,s big or small are beautiful just some more than others, with the possible exception of those merchant navy class in the UK, they are a bit ugly, haha lol.
@@barryphillips7327 their streamlining was removed completely in the 1950s...that's why they have their appearance
The reverse suprised me. Chucka-chucka choo-choo smokes pipe like an old man that's what I call machines....
Agree. Thanks for watching.
Beautiful locomotive, beautiful scenery....👍👌👏😍
amazing. Thank you for the movie
Superb video; thank you for sharing !!!
Thanks for watching.
Wow, love it! Thanks for sharing...
That's a nice looking train I must say.
She is a beautiful beast.
Great footage driving alongside the track! Is the engine in regular excursion passenger service these days? Where is it located and operated out of? Cheers!
Thanks for comment. Sadly not, had repeated problems with its superheaters and boiler tubes. Currently stored in Cape Town.
日本の蒸気機関車とは違うカッコ良さがあって良いと思う👍COOL！
That's a gorgeous looking engine.
Eine sehr schöne Dampflok :)
Congratulations to Engineer Livio Dante Porta !!!!
Great pity. The SAR wouldn't invite him to see it. Thanks for watching.
Bloody beautiful lads. Well done, very well done.
Thank you.
superb video thanks for sharing !
Thanks for watching.
Very Nice ! Thumbs up and be safe out there also.
Thanks for watching.
@@WayneSA85
You are welcome also.
What a beautiful steam train absolutely beautiful looking engine, pristine.
That it is.
That is a good looking machine right there.
Wow, From 9.48 it's best pictured of a running steam engine .
Thank you for an excellent video, informative and entertaing. Look the chase scene at the end but it was far to short. The Red Devil is one of the most beautiful Locomotive on Earth.
Thank you.
Oh YYEEESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS is what second gen steam can look like if its given the chance.
More like third or fourth generation i think (Chapeleon' s high superheat and work preventing undesired heat losses in the valve chests and before that the super-high pressure work for example the D&H John Jervis)
I totally get where you're coming from. It's just a shame it didn't catch on sooner. I mean, between the advancements on this along with poppet valves and one-piece cast frames, every day - use mainline steam probably would have had another thirty or forty years in it. I'd put one of those up against a modern diesel any day.
Great idea, wrong era unfortunately. Thanks for watching.
Great video, beautiful locomotive
Awesome, thanks for such a great capture.
Hi Wayne! Superb video with great camera work, detail and scenary! I like much it! Fantastic restoration work and report! Greetings from Italy. Hallo, Stefano :-)
Hi Stefano. Thank you and glad you enjoyed it.
That is James from Thomas the Tank Engine show. I love the nice red coat.
Da habe ich doch vor Begeisterung Tränen in den Augen bekommen..
Wow pure magic
Thanks for watching