Bloemhof today

Hi all.

We had a trip to Bloemhof today. No trains on the way there or back along the route.

On arrival at Bloemhof station we noticed the South bound signal was green. A while later SAR maroon E 1603, sped past, leading orange E 145??? (too dirty) with a friendly hoot from the crew, on a load of empty DZ's. Behind the orange 6E was immaculate blue E 7?04, probably heading back to the Northern cape after an overhaul on the Rand ?

We then headed to Schweizer-Reneke. We last visited this area in 2005. 19D no.2682 stands in the town. Last time she still looked good, all the brass / copper fittings were still there, the cab fittings were intact and both numberplates were on the cabsides. Today she is a rusting hulk of steel, almost everything has been stripped, including the numberplates. Now we think the numberplates has been "removed" by someone other than a scrap metal collector ????

The station is still being used as a day-care centre for toddlers, so it still stands, it is completely fenced in as to keep the kids of the lines.. The platform is overgrown. The corrugated goods shed still stands intact, fenced off with an electric fence, used by someone we think. Plenty of mielie trucks were standing in the station area.

Back at Bloemhof station we noticed that the Northbound signals were green this time. A longish wait later, orange E 1305, leading SAR maroon E ???? still with numberplates, headed trough on a load of hoppers covered with orange tarpaulins "Lime Acres" and lime tankers.

Sighting greetings.
John & Jacque.