3 1/2 inch gauge SAR Class 15F

A 3 1/2 inch gauge South African Railways Class 15F 4-8-2, built in South Africa by a highly experienced engineer with several other locomotives to his credit, including an LNER B1 and GWR 15XX.

Large, powerful locomotives in full size, when scaled down from Cape gauge to 3 1/2 inch they come out truly huge - slightly larger than a 5 inch gauge 9F (and just as heavy, it's a substantial two man lift!)

This one has come to us from the family of the late builder; along with his other engines it hasn't been run in several years. The chassis is free to turn, the engine runs on air.

The boiler has had a hydraulic test with new certification issued - the only thing noted were a couple of firebox stays forming slight beads which will take up under steam.

The regulator and most of the backhead fittings leak profusely, as well as the main steam pipe unions. The steam reverser is unreliable on air, although we suspect it may be more effective on steam.

Paintwork is, in the main, good although with some minor wear and a small area of paint loss around the top of the outer firebox cladding.