Free State news

Hi all.

On Thursday we caught orange 34 048 leading 34 047 at Wesselsbron, heading for Bultfontein. Also caught one of Harmony's locos on the old St Helena system, light loco only, heading towards the exchange yard near the showgrounds.

Yesterday we visited Theunissen station and the old loco and coaling stage. The coaling stage has track lifted and is very overgrown. The triangle is still there but is no longer used as the Winburg line is closed.

Then we headed for Kareefontein on the Winburg branch, this took some finding as the service roads are no longer visible. Eventually we found the halt, no more name board left. The loop next to the goods platform has been uplifted / stolen as has the point tumbler on one side. We always carry a points key with us just in case of locked gates and the like. The old 1955 SAR brass Chubb lock on the other points took some hammering but eventually opened and we could throw the points for the loop - something which probably hasn't been done for years, the wooden sleeper disintegrated with this movement, hence no trains due to maintenance as reported before. A fence has been erected over the line here. The line is very overgrown all the way but at least still intact. Found a rail on the loop "Cape Government Railways 1891".

Then it was back to Theunissen and just missed a Northbound goods going at quite a speed. We only caught up with her at Welgelee, 2x orange 6E1's leading was E 1321. The load was scrap trucks of CALJ, BALJ and SMLJ, stencilled on the side of some of the wagons were "Not for service". The train was going at such a speed that we struggled to keep up on the service road. We followed her to Virginia and across the Sandriver bridge. The river was flowing quite strong after all the good rains we had and the water was a muddy brown colour, thus the name Sandrivier. The train started slowing down and at Hennenman was stopped - the driver probably being reprimanded over his high speed with a load of scrap wagons. From here on the train left at a walking pace towards Kroonstad.

Greetings.
John & Jacque.