A day at "Bosrand"

Hi all,

Five rail "nuts" departed from Riebeeckstad at 10h00 via the
various mines railway systems & Virginia, Whites, Hennenman to
Bosrand. At 10h15 we met our first train, a Sheltam hauled empty
ore train on it's way to "Saaiplaas" no. 4 shaft. A friendly wave &
hoot from the driver. Then onwards to the lovely old main line girder
bridge now carrying the Glen Harmony line arriving there at 10h39.
Then onto Whites, Hennenman & Bosrand. A call to Kroonstad
operating told no trains till the afternoon in both directions.

Arrival at Bosrand 11h30, two fires lit & leisurely walk around & chat
whilst sitting on the "up" line. By now the fires were just right, plenty
of wors & chops on the roosters. Then the great aroma of braaing meat
floated over the Vrystaat vlaktes.

After a tasty meal, Jacque noticed that the "down" signal had a green
aspect showing, at 14h45. A call to Kroonstad advised a goods train was
ready to depart Gunhill yard to Bloemfontein. At 14h40 the approaching
train could be heard coming up the incline towards Bosrand. Then it came
into view. A very audible notching down heard. The driver & assistant worried,
"Who are these persons in reflective jackets". A friendly wave & acceleration
past us, on recognising the photographers. 6E1's 1553 & 1669 sped past with
a very long string of loaded "Maersk" refrigerator containers, a large number of
empty SLJ's bringing up the rear. Quite a few "square" wheels heard. Only a quarter
of a marker hanging on a piece of wire completed the train. Had a telemeter on.

We started to pack up and arrived home at 16h00 after a lovely hot 25c windless
day.

Braai greetings,

John, Jacque, Steven, Dawid & Gert.