More Free State news

Hi all,

Yesterday we got orange 34 043 shunting ore hoppers
at Virginia, the rest of the load was standing in the station,
consisting of mielie trucks, probably the pick-up.

Our Saturday started with an early wake up call from
Eugene just after six, telling us that the Phelophepa had
left Bothaville at 06h12 via Allanridge & Whites. He had
spoken to the driver who had told him that this route was
chosen to eliminate a turn around at Kroonstad. The train
would then be in the right direction for the platform at Thaba
Nchu.

We got ready for a morning of train chasing & met up with
Eugene & crew at the Kroonstad/Hennenman crossing.They
went ahead of us to Whites. The TCO at Whites advising us
that this train was due to pass Whites at 08h20. We arrived
at Whites just to catch the train on the curve from Whites West
to Whites under the road over rail bridge at 08h18. We all gave
chase and stopped at Geneva station. A very short while later the
Phelophepa sped past with blue 34 406 upfront. On looking to the
north we saw the Tourist "Orange Express" coming south.
She was behind orange E 1543 & a SAR maroon 6E still
with number plates, all in Shosholoza Meyl colours.

Then off we sped again & caught up with the train as it rounded
Bosrand curve. We went straight to Kroonstad station via our,
skelm road.

Here we met Eugene & crew for the first time face to face. They
informed us that the second diesel has been removed from the
accident spot at Schuttesdraai. Whilst awaiting the train at
the station an orange 36 class passed through the station from the
direction of Westleigh. Orange E 1717"Natcor" and SAR maroon
E 1595 and orange E 1165 "Cape Western" were standing in the
Station area.

We phoned TCO and were advised that the train was being turned
on the large triangle in Kroonstad yard. We all discussed this news!
The train had been especially sent via the Whites route, that it would
be in the correct direction for the onward journey to Thaba Nchu. Why
turn it around again?

After a while the train was propelled into the station yard by the same
blue diesel that had hauled it from Bothaville. The train manager got
off & said he could not explain why the entire train had been turned
around again. He had arranged the Whites route the previous day to
eliminate it at Kroonstad. With this turn around the train would be
staged at Thaba Nchu incorrectly, with the clinic section not next to
the platform but near the old water tanks, the staff section would be
next to the platform. He was not too happy. They would try and turn
her again at Bloemfontein.

Orange E 1376 & orange E 1395 coupled up for the journey to
Bloemfontein.

After the train had departed we all said goodbye to each other, Eugene
& crew going to Westleigh & back to JHB all along the line, to Koppies.

We left at speed to catch up with the train, again on reaching the Bosrand
curve we spotted the white coaches among the green thorn trees. Here
we came across 2 x 34 diesels 1x blue and 1x orange hauling a load of
grain trucks, the TCO confirming it came off the Bultfontein branch line.
We sped along again to our amazement we caught up with 4 x 35 class
diesels, 35 068 blue, 35 034 blue, 35 ??? orange and 35 053, the two back
ones looking in a very sad state. The TCO informing us that these were
on their way to Bloemfontein. Could these locos not have taken the
Phelophepa to Bloemfontein ? We then stopped at the Holfontein level
crossing. We contacted Eugene who said they were at Heuningspruit &
that they were pacing the 36 class we had seen at Kroonstad station,
which had a 33 class in tow, with a few empty container trucks used for
brake power.

After the 35's had cleared the CTC section to Hennenman, we saw the
"White" train approaching at speed. With the regulation two long blasts
on the locomotives siren, it swept pass us at the crossing, the coaches
just a blur.

From there it was back to Riebeeckstad & Welkom station to see what
movements there were. We had just arrived, with lots of lightning & thunder
& a very heavy down pour to follow. When the Odendaalsrus bound ore
haulage came in. This was behind blue 35 259. After the rain had stopped
we were informed that the opposite working had just left Odendaalsrus,
we waited and at 13h30 it trundled past with the sun shining again.
This was behind blue 35 257. RRL's own two locos were standing staged.
We were told that within about a week the new line would start operating.
They had an inspection trolley trip with the Rail Safety Regulator and they
seem to be happy. RRL have also obtained a 36 class diesel and they
might open a depot / shed in part of the old Welkom Goods shed.
Also heard that Grindrod have acquired shares in RRL.

A very interesting Saturday morning with eight different train movements
on main & branch lines as well as station yards.

Productive greetings,

John & Jacque [Not forgetting Eugene & crew].