Cosmos season on the Highveld

Cosmos season on the Highveld

Each year in mid- to late March, large areas of the Highveld are covered in pink and white Cosmos flowers in full bloom, heralding the onset of autumn. These are often found alongside country roads and railway lines. This year, the display of colour was especially good along the railway between Delmas and Ogies in Mpumalanga, which is also one of the busier main lines in South Africa today. For anyone interested in seeing modern traction in action, this line is certainly well worth a visit, with or without the cosmos! Until two years ago, the stations along this section had fully operational semaphore signals, but sadly these are all gone now, replaced by CTC colour lights and the stations closed.

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A trio of class 18E's with a westbound freight near Kendal, surrounded by cosmos in full bloom. 28 March 2009.

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A colourful trackside display greets four class 18E's approaching Dryden with a westbound coal train. In the distance a pair of orange 6E1's wait in the station. 28 March 2009.

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Three class 6E1's near Dryden with westbound coal. A lucky combination of different liveries - E1579 in Spoornet orange, E1404 in Spoornet brown/maroon and E1610 in original SAR red. 28 March 2009.

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6E1's E1708 & E1410 crossing a small culvert between Dryden and Argent with an eastbound freight. E1708 is still in the original Spoornet orange livery with blue and white striping along the lower body sides. 28 March 2009.
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Cheers
Eugene Armer