Passenger sightings

Hi all.

Monday was a no - TFR day. We got an orange Harmony surface rail diesel coming from old St Helena 8# and heading to the exchange yards at Welkom showground. We did not know this line is still used. Next was RRL on the ore and Sheltam, also on the ore.

On Tuesday we were informed by our TFR friends that the Premier Classes was on it's way to Bloemfontein for the soccer, also that a Tourist class was following behind. We got her at Whites West behind 2x purple 18E's, E 18 406 & E 18 40x, plenty of hooting from the crew. Red stickers on the sides of all the coaches "Getting you to the game." A short while later we got maroon 34 453, heading backside first and one timber truck, coming from the Glen Harmony branch. Near Virginia we noticed a Southbound train, to our surprise the Tourist class train was held back for the containers. This was behind orange E 1413 OFS & SAR maroon E xxxx still with number plates. Finally the Tourist class came along. This was also behind 2x purple 18E's, E 18 405 & 18 402, blue steam car also in the consist.

First sighting on Wednesday was near Odendaalsrus, orange 34 499 & maroon 34 453 on a Kroonstad bound load of mielies, hooting from the crew. The spoorbaan and catenary guys are busy all along the line between Hennenman and Virginia, a temporary speed limit near Kalkvlakte of 30km/h. Near Glen Harmony exchange yard we got Sheltam's 31 class no. 22 and their 32 class no. 2013 crossing each other with loads of ore hoppers.

Thursday. again only RRL and Sheltam. Spoorbaan busy in Welkom station with a road / rail truck on the rails. Heard of large de-railment on Transvaal to Natal main line. All Durban traffic travelling via Free State. Transnet wanted the Kroonstad drivers to take the trains from Bethlehem further but no one has 18 E qualifications. Also heard that they plan to withdraw all 6E's at the end of December at Kroonstad and replace them with 18 E's - all drivers are to receive training.

Friday, telephonic enquires confirmed both tracks at Balfour North closed to de-railment. No idea when the line will open again. We paid a quick visit to Kroonstad, unfortunately no trains from Bethlehem. Blue 34 409 was shunting at the petrol sidings. Off to Leeudoringstad we went, all signals red. First green signal at Makwassie. Just South of Makwassie, a Northbound load of CCR coal trucks behind orange E 1305, E 1453, & E 1570, was directed into the loop. This train had a different looking Telemeter at the back? However the South signals kept displaying red aspects. Then the Northbound signals turned to yellow and then green. A short while later orange E 1165 Cape Western & E xxxx headed past with a load of containers, friendly hoots from the crew. Near Grasslands we caught up to a Southbound load of mielies behind blue E 18 202 & TFR E 18 xxx. Just before Bloemhof we were met with the back of a long Southbound train of ore hoppers. On reaching the front we got blue E 10 019 & SAR maroon E 10 102, uncoupled and moving slowly towards the station. At Bloemhof we found a Northbound load of blue and red tarpaulin covered wagons behind blue E 10 017 & E 10 xxx. Standing alongside this train were SAR maroon E 10 117 & Spoornet maroon E 10 030, with pantos down. There was a female member of the crew standing between the locos, the size of her amazed us that she could fit into a unit's door !! The ore train's loco proceeded to couple up with these two locos to combine them into the Southbound load. Then the Southbound mielie train went past. After that the northbound load left and then the ore train proceeded.

Greetings.
J & J.

some more sightings - Part II

some more sightings

Hi all.

The first sighting for the week was at Welkom station, RRL on the ore. Just before Virginia we caught the empty car train, to the coast, heading over the Sandriver bridge. This was behind SAR maroon and orange 6E's. At Theunissen we got blue 35 278 shunting the maize traffic at the silos. This loco comes from Bloemfontein and also shunts at Brandfort. This train had one of the rudest drivers, we have seen this old chap before and he never greets, we pity his assistants... At Brandfort we got the spoorbaan busy on the line. Staged in the station area we found orange E 1688 OFS & SAR maroon E 1639, pantos down, no crew. This was a load of FZ's and petrol tankers. Then, between Theron and Theunissen we got a Southbound passenger train behind orange E 1417, blue steam car and a full rake of Shosholoza Meyl coaches and twin diner. This train looked completely empty. Operating informed us that it was a special SWC train from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein. One of the Tourist trains that have been withdrawn for the soccer. Last sighting was again at Welkom station, here we got all RRL's locomotives, moving in and out of the station on ore.

Again on Tuesday RRL were the first sightings. All the silos in our area had mielie trucks and the small Senwes shunters were quite busy. No trains were seen. Between Protespan and Bultfontein we got the spoorbaan busy on the track. Later a white road/rail truck came into Bultfontein station on the rails.

The only sighting on Wednesday was near Brandfort. A Southbound train of empty rail - bolsters behind orange E 1236 & SAR maroon E 1639 "Kaap" headed past at a leisurely pace, a friendly hoot from the crew. The Spoorbaan were still busy at Brandfort. We also paid a quick visit to "Creamery" siding just outside Winburg. The line is completely overgrown and a Pine tree of several meters high has grown in the middle of the per-way.

The first train on Thursday was a long load of mielies coming in from Bultfontein which we got at Friedesheim. This was behind blue 34 039 & 34 409. The train came in very slowly due to safety because of theft of rails and fasteners. Next we got maroon 34 453 & orange 34 499 shunting the silos at Schuttesdraai. The last train was a Northbound load of ore behind maroon & blue 10 E's near Makwassie.

Friday's first sighting was Harmony surface rail, exchanging ore hoppers with Sheltam. The only other train was a Southbound load of containers near Kingswood behind orange E 1415 OFS & E 120x.

Greetings.
J & J.

Sightings and S.M. news

Hi all.

We got TFR 18 522 & blue E 18 xxx on a Northbound load of containers near Eersteling, friendly hoot from the crew. Quite a few well-wagons in the consist. Next near Grasslands we got another Northbound train, this time a load of ore behind blue E 18 200, TFR E 18 xxx and blue E 18 xxx. We found Spoorbaan guys all along the line busy with maintenance on the rails between Leeudoringstad and Christiana.

One of our connections at TFR in Kroonstad told us they had a meeting on Thursday to discuss the specials for the SWC. They had a list of trains that filled up an A4 sheet of paper. ALL the specials were cancelled except for four...

Later we phoned another friend at Shosholoza Meyl. He told us they were running several hours late on the Komati due to signals. He also mentioned that 3/4 of the specials were cancelled due to no passengers.

Special greetings.
J & J.

Sightings - Part III

Sightings - Part II

Sightings

Hi all.

Coming back in the wee hours of Monday morning we caught 2x Southbound goods trains near Virginia. Later we also caught the Johannesburg bound Algoa and Amatola. Later in the day we caught a glimpse of 2x TFR 18E's bringing a petrol train into Gunhill from Bethlehem. Near Hennenman we got Spoornet maroon 34 453 coming back light loco from Welgelee.

On Tuesday all movement was RRL.

We paid a visit to the Heilbron - Arlington line. Basically all the stations/sidings/halts on this branchline are in the same state. All the nameboards remain, overgrown goods platforms, some uplifted loops. No more roads exist to these places and walking some distances is the way to go. The SAR service roads are still protected by closed gates and signs but the roads are LONG gone... The line shows signs of traffic, it is shiny in some places, other places have grass squashed onto the rails but the biggest give-away is diesel oil on some sleepers at Riemland.

Again Wednesday the only movement was RRL. Theron was visited. Since our last visit the station building has been broken down / flattened and only a re-lay room survives together with an overgrown platform and yard area with some uplifted track.

At Hennenman the Spoorbaan were busy on both the up and down lines.

The first sighting for Thursday was Sheltam's 31 class.

Just before Bloemhof we got blue E 10 022 & blue E 10 xxx on a Northbound load of Lime. Next, near Grasslands we got 6x 10E's on a long load of Southbound ore trucks. Leading was blue E 10 041, Spoornet maroon E 10 003, Spoornet maroon E 10 xxx, 2 x blue 10E's and trailing orange E 10 021, friendly greetings from the crew. Then at Kingswood the Northbound Lime train crossed with a Southbound load of brand new CAR wagons resplendent in grey with TFR logos on them. This was behind 4x blue 18's. E 18 048, E 18 xxx, E 18 256 and E 18 228 NATCOR ONE. When this train passed we noticed orange E 1447 Cape Northern shunting mielie trucks at the silos. The first time we got three trains at Kingswood. Near Drie Ruiters we got a Southbound Luxrailer trolley, hooting from the crew. Near Boskuil the pick-up from Kingswood caught up with us. Then just before Leeudoringstad we got Southbound E 18 101 & E 18 063, both blue on a load of DZ's. Last sighting for the day was blue E 10 012 on a Southbound load of lime near Leeubos.

Friday at Welkom station we got 2x RRL 91's and their 36 on ore waiting to proceed towards Friedesheim. Soon blue 34 409 came in from Frieddes with a load of empty timber trucks. The driver pushing back a little to allow us to pass over the blocked level crossing.

At Theunissen we found the Northbound signals green. Operating informed us a goods was 5 minutes away. This turned out to be a load of mielie trucks, petrol tankers, empty container trucks and two "weigh bridge test wagons. Motive power was 3x orange 6E's, leading E 1356, E 1236, trailing E 1151. Friendly hoots from the crew.

Greetings.
J & J.

Jan Kempdorp - part 4

Jan Kempdorp - part III

Jan Kempdorp - part II

Jan Kempdorp

Hi all.

We paid a visit to the Jan Kempdorp area and can tell you the following.

In the town itself is a 19D no. xxxx standing on a piece of grass, she
still looks quite good.

We have come across some ruined places on our travels and we did not
think something could shock us, but wow Jan Kempdorp station looks
like a war zone, Nothing of value remains, even the reinforcing wire
between the bricks have been ripped / broken out in some places. No
roof or window frames remain, only rubbish and unmentionables lay
strewn every where. Same story at the goods shed. The platform is
overgrown. The nameboards still remain. "Jan Kempdorp 707 Miles form
Cape Town Alt. 3775 Ft. The line looks shiny. Some FZ's were standing
at the silos.

Next stop was at Warrenton. 19D 2688 stands at the information centre
and still looks good, even with numberplates. The road sign still
reads "SAR Passengers". This station is still open and manned. The
station has palisades all around and security let us onto the
platform. The buildings and platforms are neatly kept. An orange and
blue 35 were idling away under the foot bridge. Plenty of staff
chatting on the platform, Also a very long Southbound ore was standing
behind several blue 18E's. There are still porter's trolleys on the
platform.

Veertien Strome " 260 Miles to Johannesburg Alt. 3962 Ft. Junction"
was next, Only nameboards remain on a very overgrown platform. All
signals red.

On towards Camelford. The distances and altitude has been filled in on
the nameboard. An overgrown platform and relay room remains. Some
uplifted track, still all signals were red. No other sightings for the
day.

Now the actual reason for our trip was to go and have look at the
stored steam locomotives at 93 Ammo Depot.

These locomotives are staged INSIDE a SADF army base and access is not
easy. After quite some time and explaining and also having the right
people at the gates and with the right attitude, on both sides, we
were allowed to be escorted into the depot with very, very special
permission. Here we found the following locos 3528, 2742, 3498, 2678,
3409, 2689, 2680, 3130, 3438, 3453, 34?? either 3439 or 3462. We
travelled right through the base and checked all the sidings and these
were the only locos we found. If there are some missing (as in John
Middleton's book) then maybe they are hidden away somewhere else.
There is a yellow shunting diesel and a light blue shunting diesel as
well.

They do not look to good, rust and peeling paint all around. The cabs
have had everything removed, the seats are gone. Bees have moved into
almost all of the steam cylinders and one must tread carefully. Some
smoke boxes are open, some arms are missing a dome ore two are lying
on the ground. Axle boxes have been opened. Most of the exterior
piping and the works remain intact. White paint on the locos clearly
state "DO NOT STRIP / MOENIE STRIP NIE". A bit too late ?? The painted
numbers on the locos are peeling and can't be identified. The tenders
on some of the 25NC's carry different numbers as the locos. The staff
tell us they still receive a train every now and then. Mostly by road
though. These locos basically are in the state of most stored locos
around the country that have now been cut up, unfortunately.

Thanks to the friendly guys at 93 Ammo depot Jan Kempdorp.

Greetings.
J & J.

Gautrain advert

While travelling around parts of South Africa for Fifa 2010 World Cup. Leaving King Shaka Airport in Durban, one is confronted with a large advert for Gautrain.

While I find it very positive that Gautrain has pulled all the stops to get the message out there about this new train service. Its very disappointing that Durban has money to build a new airport, new stadium complex, endless shopping and housing developments. Freeway widening, new fly overs and the list goes on. But no money for any new railway lines, no new trains, limited investment in the railway infrastructure.

One can only hope that the Gautrain will bring positive thinking in the future for the rest of the industry.