Kroonstad - Bethlehem update

Hi all.

Left Welkom this morning for Bethlehem and Kroonstad.

First stop was at Hennenman, a few FZ mielie trucks, an orange air-braked van for shunting personnel and the runaway caboose were standing in the station area. Passengers waiting on the platform was the evidence of a very late running economy train to Johannesburg. All the signals were red.

Next stop was Ventersburg, old RTS depot.

Then we had a short stop at Senekal, still no evidence of any trains although operating states the line is open and does see at least one train a week.

Bethlehem station has the Shosholoza Meyl palisade but access to the platform was granted, the ticket office was open but no-one at home. The station building, a lovely sandstone one looks quite good, although "To Let" signs are all over the windows. The platforms were clean but plenty of weeds are growing on it. The board still reads " Bethlehem. Junction for / Bloemfontein, Kroonstad, Durban, Frankfort." New concrete sleepers have been laid on the line next to platform two. The last time we were standing on the platform we were waiting for the crew to take us to Kroonstad on BTS safari from Natal. The Economy Trans Orange was only due here tonight at 21:30.

A quick detour to the yard, one container train with 3x 6E's upfront - pantos down, also plenty of petrol tankers and staged electrics. The coal stage is gone and as you know all the staged steam locos - infact all that was standing at the loco was one 36 class shunter. There is a DE short standing at the entrance of the old carriage and wagon work shops.

Meets was visited next - only a nameboard left, all else has been demolished. Most tracks, even the one into the silos look rusted.

We saw the line disappearing into the only one of two tunnels in the Free State between Meets and Valsriver. Come what may there was no way we could get close to the tunnel without some serious walking.

Then it was on to Valsriver, 316 Miles to Durban, 5218 Ft above sea-level. The station has been demolished, the goods shed still stands and some track has been uplifted. The yard area is very overgrown and the tracks look rusted, except for the main line, which is shiny.

Next was Kaallaagte, 1642m above sea-level. Here too as all along the line to Kroonstad the station building is no more. Almost the entire goods yard has been lifted. Basically only the line into the silos remain. The goods shed still stands with an inaccessible line to it. Got Transnet working along the line here.

Then it was on an almost non-existent road past Ooreenkoms, just a name, on towards Arlington. Same story here - no more station building, the corrugated iron goods shed is also disappearing. Under the foot bridge we found the board "Arlington. Junction for / Lindley - Petrus Steyn - Heilbron - Wolwehoek - Senekal - Marquard." Not one of those places can be reached by a passenger train anymore, except Wolwehoek on the mainline. The line from Heilbron has been uplifted. And the line from Senekal to Marquard has since been closed. The line to Heilbron looks very rusted, but again operating stated that the line is open and still sees traffic. Three years ago we got a train at Petrus Steyn, since then our visits have not been so lucky again.

Now we were sick of gravel roads, so we opted for tar to Lindley and Kroonstad - big mistake, as the tar road was worse than the gravel road due to sinkholes - not potholes !! We gave Lindley a miss, on our last visit the station was ruined, so if it is still standing probably not much left. The line runs close to the road and looks very rusted.

The stations along the main line are demolished in any case, so we gave them a miss - will visit them some other time.

Picked the line up again near Steynsrus, This station as the others, Wonderkop and Featherstone are no more. Caught the pick-up near Patrysdraai behind one SAR maroon 6E and a short load of mielie trucks heading for Bethlehem.

Went through a refreshing thunderstorm in Kroonstad, no movement and the industrial sidings look disused.

On the way back we got the pick-up heading for Kroonstad behind a Spoornet maroon 34 class with a short load of FZ's going through Bosrand.

Geneva still stands, although now CTC controlled from Kroonstad.

Holfontein is destroyed.

This trip just confirmed the run down state of our railway system and the dwindling rail traffic...

Back in Welkom we saw the RRL ore haulage behind a blue 35 class heading for Odendaalsrus.

Sighting greetings.
John & Jacque.