Avonside 0-4-0 Steam Locomotive 1986 of 1926 “Renishaw No2”

This locomotive was built new by the Avonside Engine Company of Bristol for the Crookes Brothers sugar estate at Renishaw, on the south-east coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

At 9 tons 10cwt this locomotive is fairly hefty!

1986 was ordered with a batch of 3 other engines, these went to the Esperanza sugar estates further south. In the 1970s the Renishaw estate was closed and the locomotive was placed on display outside the companies offices where it sat for 45 years. Until being repatriated in 2020. Given the close proximity of the sea, this locomotive has not faired well, there is extreme corrosion everywhere so a full strip down is required. It is privately owned. The photograph below was taken by Eric Angus and is used with permission from the collection of Hannes Paling.