That's a condensing SAR Class 25. It was called the "Puffer that never Puffs". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_25_4-8-4

One of the reasons SA abolished steam was because the great locomotive builders of Europe had ceased making them, and they couldn't buy new ones from India or China either. The SAR Class 26 was designed to address this, but it was too little too late. In the case of electric traction, at least you can get power from coal-fired power plants.

@@masonallenbuskirk5648 that i do understand very well. but with diesel prices going skyhigh and the constant -loadshedding - i n SA, one wonders... Or does SAR have their own power grid and can assure always electricity?

@@benediktmorak4409 I don't know as I'm not South African, but on a final note, without being too sanguine, the biggest reason why steam was abolished in all places was because of meddling politics.

@@masonallenbuskirk5648 i mean i also can understand the logistics and costs behind all that. it needs not only the engineer and fireman to drive a loco. there are still more men behind that. the night team to start the fires in the locos, the night shift that is. the people who tend to the coal bunkers, the water pumps, the oil depot. with diesel or electricity it is easier. one man, one press of the button and the loco works - instantly -. and when one had Diesel locos like the Soviet - Ludmilla- with up to 6000 horsepower and ONE MAN operation, it is easier to understand the - economics - to change from steam to electric or diesel. BUT from the looks of it, steam will once more play its role on the rails. most probably not as much as - before - but for sure more than now...

@@masonallenbuskirk5648 You mean those coal fired power plants that continuosly plunge SA into darkness twice a day for years?.