Hi all.
We had a quick trip to Bloemhof this morning.
As we were approaching the road over rail bridge to visit the station, the Dune Express went underneath us, heading North behind one SAR maroon 6E. After our station visit we left and at the same bridge the Northbound Trans Karoo Tourist went under us. Again just missing her. This was also behind a single SAR maroon 6E. We also found Plasserail welding the tracks just South of the station.
We then headed back to Wesselsbron. There were plenty of mielie trucks in the station and at the silos but no movement. From there we headed past Tierfontein, Willemsrus and Protespan, all the silos had plenty of mielie trucks standing in the area.
On arrival at Bultfontein we found blue 34 037 & 34 409 just about to leave for Kroonstad with a load of mielies.
Recently we spoke to the guys at the Kroonstad diesel depot. They informed us that there are plenty of trains with the mielie traffic. Even a special extra goods train is run almost everyday to clear the maize traffic.
The two diesels that were involved in the head-on collision at Schuttesdraai a while back are standing at the diesel depot scrapped / staged. Said to be R 35 million worth of damage. Amazingly the driver has still not had her disciplinary hearing yet ??
Chilly greetings.
John & Jacque.
Picture taken at Bultfontei
Hi there guys,Wow today have been the first day i saw this site,Excellent photos.Have been to the Kroonstad electric loc depot a couple of weeks ago,Are you guys living around the area?Im here in Vereeniging.Seems to me there is still a lot of traffic on the branchlines out of Kroonstad,I visited Dover about 2 weeks ago and all of the catenary into the yard has been removed with only the two loops and mainline have catenary left,They were removed before being stolen.Allso saw Greenlands is closed now.Are there still maize traffic on the Vereeniging-Kroonstad mainline,at the silos?Thanks for the info and photos,keep um coming,
ReplyDeleteHi Logan
ReplyDeleteWill pass your message onto John & Jacque. The two live in the Free State and chase trains a few times a week.
What about some reports from you?
Craig
Logan, this was the reply from John & Jacque:
ReplyDeleteThere still is plenty of maize traffic at all the silos along the line.
Kroonstad electric depot serves the line main line Northwards to Johannesburg and
Southwards to Bloemfontein as well as the main line Eastwards towards Bethlehem.
The diesel depot supplies locomotives for the branches form Westleigh to
Vierfontein and Bothaville. Also from Whites to Bultfontein and to
Bothaville. The Virginia - Glen Harmony line is also there responsibility.
They also supply hire locos to RRL at Welkom.
All the stations between Kroonstad and Vereeniging are to be closed some time
when CTC is introduced.
Cheers.
J & J.