Natal North coast news.

Hi all.

We left Welkom Friday afternoon for the North coast.

As usual we took the Kaallaagte road all along the line, no trains. We did however notice an old sandstone platform that now has a corrugated iron store on it, the old Kaallaagte platform.

Near Harrismith we admired the large concrete viaducts on the main line. Again in the veld the old allignment and platforms from the old line are still visible. Rivierdraai is no more, here the line to Industriqua branches off, the line seems overgrown and unused.

The first trains we saw was at Cato Ridge - Metros.

Saturday was spent visiting several Metro stations from Stanger down to Durban, all are neat. Did not see too many Metros. Stanger had a staged Metro set, 3 orange 36 classes and some goods wagons.

At Shakaskraal we noticed what looked like the bridge maintenance train, there was also a bridge piece lying on the platform. A 6E and a short load was staged there.

Tongaat also had a staged Metro set, a long load of coal wagons and a couple of DZ's.

At Compensation we caught orange 36 246 & 36 2XX heading through light loco.

Sunday was spent with only Metros on the North Coast.

Monday we visited Verulam with quite a high viaduct just before the station.

Canelands was visited next and we caught a Metro heading through. Then 2x orange 6E's headed through on a pick-up. Not to long after that another Metro. Then a blue 6E leading a SAR maroon sister headed through on a load of coal. Before we left another Metro came past.

On Tuesday we left the North Coast and headed inland to Kranskop. The station building still stands and is occupied by locals. There still is a Station Master sign on the wall. ALL the point tumblers have been removed / stolen. The goods shed still stands and the track looks rusted. Cattle were grazing in the goods yard area.

From here we moved on to Greytown. Almost all the halts along the line have had their nameboards removed / destroyed. We noticed several timber trucks standing at various sidings along the line. The line does not look to bad.

Greytown in destroyed. This "dead end" station has not seen a train for years and the line now completely by - passes it. The only name we found was Greytown PX. Some timber trucks were standing a way off in the goods yard.

From here we headed down the line. Same story all the way. New ballast on some sections.

Our plan was to have lunch at the Station Masters Arms in Mooiriver - but this has closed. Mooiriver does not look to bad. The signal cabin has been vandalised. Goods shed still stands with a TFR sign on the wall. The signal was green inland, but we could not wait to long.

Next was Winterton and then on to Bergville. Again the station is used as a house and washing was hanging all over the platform. Plenty of concrete sleepers are stacked in the station area and some lengths of rail. No sign of any traffic / goods trucks along the line.

From there we had a stop for lunch at Little Switzerland, over Oliviershoek pass, via Golden Gate and to Bethlehem, which was devoud of any traffic. All the loops in the station have been uplifted. Just before Meets we found a Bethlehem bound mielie train behind 2x orange 6E's.

No other sightings.

Greetings.
John & Jacque.