About - Company Information

The objects in this museum are not housed in one building. They can be viewed at various venues throughout South Africa. Some are on loan to, or owned by, cultural bodies and special interest groups. The intent is to preserve these objects for educational purposes, and to be viewed by the widest possible public.

We attach to each object shown here, all that is known of that object. For those requiring a closer inspection of any item shown, a visit to the indicated current location may be necessary.

More antique electric exhibits can be viewed by visiting the Edisonian museum at
http://www.edisonian.com/edisonian001.htm and
http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/


Ionospheric recorder	Wadley receiver	Wire recorder

Current balance	Crystal set	Marconiphone

Lightning recorder	The first integrated circuit?	The beginnings of electronics

Electrical power frequency control	The prototype tellurometer	Early x-ray tube

"ESCOM"	"TUGELA"	"HUNSLET"

"KITSON"	Steam turbine driven DC generator

Painting of Highveld Power Station	Turbine used at Sabie Hydro Station	Compressed air meter

Portable voltmeter	Portable laboratory ohmmeter	Portable temperature indicator

Portable current transformer	Portable wattmeter	Voltage ratio box

Portable low resistance ohmmeter	Phase splitting resistance box	Portable wattmeter

Phase angle meter	Mine telephone	Portable millivoltmeter

Portable voltmeter	Wheatstone bridge	Conductivity meter

Universal galvanometer	Wheatstone bridge	Electrodynamometer

Mercury Arc Rectifier	DC Galvanometer	AC Galvanometer

Turbine condenser vacuum gauge	Demand meter	Time lag relay

Single element instantaneous relay	Three element instantaneous relay	Theodolite

Tally chain	Time lag relay	Universal Potentiometer

Proportional dividers	Planimeter	Pantograph

Current transformer	Current transformer	Current transformer

ESCOM was obtained from W G Bagnall and Company Limited in 1937. It served at Colenso power station until the station was closed in 1984. In 2000, it was still on display outside the municipal offices at Colenso in KwaZulu/Natal.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Type: Fireless
Works No: 2571
Wheel Formation: 0-6-0
Tractive Force (lbs): 14 000
Year of manufacture: 1937

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This information on ESCOM locomotive comes from research material compiled by Mr. Rick Searle, a retired ESKOM employee.

ESKOM, formerly known as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) was the second largest user of fireless locomotives in South Africa. The Iron and Steel Corporation (ISCOR) was the largest user of this type of locomotive. ESKOM employed fireless locomotives at its power stations for almost sixty years.

TUGELA was bought from R W Hawthorne, Leslie & Company of the United Kingdom in 1935. It saw service at Colenso power station until the station closed in 1984. It is rather appropriate that the locomotive was named after the river on whose banks the station was built and from which the station obtained its water. In 2000, it was still on display at the municipal offices at Colenso, KwaZulu/Natal.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Type: Fireless
Work’s No: 3858
Wheel Formation: 0-4-0
Tractive Force (lbs): 11950
Year of manufacture: 1935

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This information on TUGELA comes from research material compiled by Mr. Rick Searle, a retired ESKOM employee.

Hunslet was used to haul coal trains from Modrea railway station to Brakpan power station, a distance of 4km. From 1922, Hunslet served at Vereeniging power station. Hunslet’s nickname was "Mitzi". In May 1953, while stationed at Vereeniging power station, Hunslet was loaned to Vaal power station until Vaal’s DUBS locomotive was repaired.

Hunslet was returned to Vereeniging power station in January 1954. In 1958 Hunslet was loaned to Grootvlei power station, then under construction, to serve as a stationary boiler for steam-cleaning the boiler tubes and steam pipes of the power station’s No 1 boiler. Hunslet was returned to Vereeniging power station again, until the station closed in 1967. With the closure of Vereeniging power station, Hunslet was sent to Rosherville power station. A dedicated locomotive maintenance team, located at Rosherville central workshops, kept Hunslet in first-class condition.

In accordance with conditions first stipulated in the Power Act of 1910 and included in the Electricity Act of 1922, all assets of the VFP were expropriated and taken over by ESCOM in 1948. ESKOM was formerly known as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM).

Originally, Hunslet had coal boxes on each side of the cab. But as these proved to be inadequate, a new coal-bunker was constructed at the rear of the cab in 1946. The old coal boxes became tool-boxes. In summer, as the water in Hunslet’s saddle tank became heated, it caused the two injectors to dribble. This indicated that the water did not condense the steam quickly enough. No such problem was experienced in winter.

Hunslet is on permanent loan from ESKOM to the South African National Railway and Steam Museum in Krugersdorp. A ride on this steam locomotive is still possible. Enthusiastic volunteers operate the museum. Their efforts ensure that Hunslet "steams" for the public approximately twice each year.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Type: Port Elizabeth Harbour Board
Work’s No: 790
Wheel Formation: 2-6-0
Tractive Force (lbs): 11700
Year of manufacture: 1902

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This information on HUNSLET comes from research material compiled by Mr. Rick Searle, a retired ESKOM employee.

Kitson was re-located to serve at Rosherville power station in 1920. From 1920 until 1966, "Kitty" hauled coal trains between Jupiter railway station and Rosherville power station, a distance of 2,4km. After the closure of Rosherville power station in 1966, Kitty was used to haul light loads at Rosherville central workshop and stores. A dedicated locomotive maintenance team, located at Rosherville central workshops, kept "Kitty" in first-class condition.

The Natal Government Railways, the Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Company Limited, and ESCOM made numerous modifications to Kitson.

In 1979, "Kitty" became the first steam locomotive in South Africa (possibly the world) to have completed a century of continuous service. "Kitty’s" feats are legendary in South African steam locomotive circles. Dave Parson, the foreman of the locomotive maintenance team at Rosherville central workshops, states

"I have been on the footplate when Kitty pulled 20 loaded coal hoppers, more that 50 times her own weight, from Jupiter station to Rosherville power station. Many ten shilling bets were won by ESCOM men when South African Railways drivers bet that Kitty could not pull such loads."

Acting on an ESCOM proposal, the South African National Monuments Commission declared Kitty a national monument on the 29 April 1983. It is the first moveable, working machine to receive this distinction. This locomotive is one of the oldest operating steam locomotives in the world. At the inauguration ceremony, Mr Jan H Smith, then Chairman of ESCOM, said of "Kitty." "To me, "Kitty" has always been a link between the past and the future - an example of how dedicated maintenance and the will to preserve can make a chunk of steel a symbol of inspiration which motivates both the young and not so young."

Kitson is on permanent loan from ESKOM to the South African National Railway and Steam Museum in Krugersdorp. A ride on this steam locomotive is still possible. Enthusiastic volunteers operate the museum. Their efforts ensure that Kitson "steams" for the public approximately twice each year. Despite the numerous modifications made, "Kitty" is still resplendent in ESCOM’s familiar brown and gold colours closely resembling the original design.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Type: Natal Government Railways Class 13
Work’s No: 2 269
Wheel Formation: 4-6-0
Tractive Force (lbs): 11080
Year of manufacture: 1879

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This information on KITSON comes from research material compiled by Mr. Rick Searle, a retired ESKOM employee.

More information on Kitson can be found in R.V. Conyngham's book on "The K & S Class Locomotives of the Natal Government Railways".