Free State news

Hi all.

This morning we travelled to Wesselsbron, got orange 34 028 and blue 34 409 waiting in the station to proceed to Bultfontein with a load of mielies. Lots of FZ's at the silos.

From there it was on past Losdorings and Skoonspruit, plenty of FZ's standing in the yards.

At Shuttesdraai we noticed that 34 048 has been removed from the accident scene, leaving only 34 047 and the damaged rolling stock, the silos had some FZ's. One of damaged the FZ's had a notice pasted on "Under fumigation with Aluminium Phosphide, minimum 5 days off load" - wonder if it will ever see a load again...

At Bothaville we caught a glimpse of Phelophepa still standing in the station, bright red warning lights burning at the rear.

Then it was on to Vierfontein. Last time we visited here we could hardly find the station between all the Eucalyptus trees, now they have all been chopped down, the tree guys are busy all along the line. The station has now completely burnt down and all the corrugated iron has vanished. The safe shows tell-tale signs of extreme heat with blistered paint. The name still stands. We found a short train of "used" concrete sleepers in the yard on DKZ wagons. This is to repair derailment damage just outside the station on the line to Westleigh. The "pulpit" still stands. Both lines, to Westleigh and Bothaville look quite shiny. There were some FZ's at the silos. The transformer room still has an orange SAR Electric Supply Commission notice on it.

We missed the turn off to Karookom, will visit next time.

Mirage was next, the line and loops look shiny, no traffic at the silos. The tree felling guys have set up camp here and all the trees have gone. The Van Schoor hut still stands and is used as housing for someone. Plan 61 & Plan 25 notices are still standing along the line here. The goods platform and line with live-stock loading is very overgrown.

Back in Welkom we caught a blue 35 on the RRL ore heading to the mine at Odendaalsrus.

Greetings.
John & Jacque.