This locomotive was built by the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) in Glasgow in 1958 under sub contract from Beyer Peacock in Manchester for the South African Railways. It also carried the Beyer Peacock works number 7829 as well as the NBL one of 27772.
For details of class GMA and GMAM go to Class GMA and GMAM.
At some stage the locomotive was sold to the Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Company following the need of the company to replace its original tank locomotives with more suitable motive power for the extended mainline being built to serve the new shafts.
When the Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Company (REGM) resumed full-scale operations in the early 1970s, it was necessary to replace its original tank locomotives with more suitable motive power for the extended mainline being built to serve the new shafts. This locomotive then became REGM No 5 following its purchase from South African Railways.
The locomotive spent two decades as part of the Transnet national collection kept at Bloemfontein behind locked gates but was one of four locomotives kept outside the property and was vulnerable to scrap thieves. This gave rise to concerns by the owners – the Sandstone Heritage Trust.
at Ficksburg which is the home of the Sandstone Heritage Trust. The transportation of the 160 ton locomotive was undertaken using a 19 axle lowbed trailer. The convoy, which included multiple escort vehicles, took a full day to cover the 210km from Bloemfontein. After missing the turn-off to the farm, the lowbed had to continue another 20km to Fouriesburg, where the road widened enough to allow it to turn around.
There are no plans to restore the locomotive to operate on the main line in the near future so the locomotive will remain as a static display. The 24km line at the farm is a different gauge to the locomotive.
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Preserved British Steam Locomotives 