Monday 9 March 2009

A bit more "OFS" news

Hi all.

Hot off the phone, "Phelophepa" left Kroonstad, Saturday 07 03 2009
morning after 08h00 for, Bothaville via Westleigh. It will stand there for
a week, then next Saturday off to Wesselsbron/Bultfontein or Welkom.
Have to contact Kroonstad Friday for exact details. These days "YQ's"
not sent out days/weeks before time, but only a day before departure!

Heard of another accident with 2 x 6E1's written off this time around.
[2 x 34's on 27 February 2009], now the 6E1's on 28 February 2009.
The lady driver was struggling to get her heavy load from Kroonstad
to Westleigh, she decided to split the load & take the front part to
Westleigh's small yard. Then return for the part left in the section.
But alas, she came too fast & smashed into her own standing load.
The workmen mentioned that they had to cut the locomotives apart
& the back locomotive from the load. It seems the driver & assistant
were in the front unit & reversed to pick up the load left in the section.

The few Electric & Diesel locomotives still in running order at the 2
locomotive depots are getting fewer as time passes.

Kroonstad staff worried about the lack of traffic in the good old "OFS".

Regards,

John & Jacque.

2 comments:

  1. Are our drivers trained suffiecently. Are the new drivers placed at the helm to soon.This 6E1 accident seems like a total disregard for railway procedures

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  2. This is a hard one to answer without going the political route. As most of the OLD school will say its affirmative action and rushing people into positions before they are ready.

    There could be a number of reasons for the accidents which have nothing to do with the drivers. Lack of permanent way maintenance, signals faulty, poor maintenance on locos and many other factors.

    In the old South Africa things were kept quite, today secrets are safe with the internet and technology.

    Interesting question!

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