A.E. „Dusty“ Durrant
South African Railways class 16E Pacific No. 859 "Bloemfontein" heads a fast freight at Rietwater OFS - 8th February 1969. Six of these impressive passenger locomotives, with six-foot driving wheels and rotary cam valve gear, had been introduced in 1936 to work principal express services out of Johannesburg. When new rolling stock increased train loading beyond their capabilities, they were transferred to the Orange Free State system. Undoubtedly the fastest machines on South African rails, their final mixed-traffic duties hardly demonstrated their potential! No. 859 had been built by Henschel under works number 22588/1935
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