Hi all.
Hopped into the Landy and headed from Welkom to the Western Transvaal. More trains on that section than here on the Free State main line. First sighting for the day was RRL 91 class on a load of ore heading towards Welkom.
We remembered that the Blue Train is supposed to leave Pretoria at 08h50. On enquiring when she was expected at Klerksdorp, we were told that right time was 13h32. We then phoned Coligny for more details, but being told "Nie op my trajek vandag nie, probeer Potchefstroom". Not on my section today try Potchefstroom. Here we were advised to try CTC Vereeniging. Then we were told the Blue Train was travelling via Sentrarand due to the Pretoria accident. On contacting Sentrarand, told "Nou eers naby Springs", now only near Springs. 10h32. To join the Vereeniging line at Skansdam then via Leeuhof, Fochville, Potchefstroom onwards. Will be running late.
No trains all the way from Welkom to Orkney. Some mielie trucks at Allanridge and Schuttesdraai, none at Bothaville. Allanridge had some DZ's standing in the station.
First train on the main line was 2x blue 10Es hauling a short load of Southbound ore hoppers near Harrisburg. E 10 024 & E 10 017.
Our next sighting was just South of Leeudoringstad. This was a Southbound load of BA / CA trucks, DZ's and Lime tankers. Up front were 3x 18 E's, 2x blue and 1x TFR livery. Leading was E 18 352. We got this train again just before Makwassie. Here it started raining softly and it got quite chilly.
Just North of Grasslands we got a Northbound load of ore hoppers going at speed. This was also behind 3x 18E's, 2x blue and 1x TFR livery.
Between Bloemhof and Grasslands we got blue 35 217, heading North with only one tarpaulin covered truck.
Bloemhof station area was overflowing with mielie trucks. Of interest was a short load of which the truck cards read; "From Wolmaransstad silo to Maseru bridge." We had an interesting chat with TCO Klerksdorp. He told us that the line from Makwassie to Wolmaransstad is still open. Work is being done to widen the road / rail bridge near the squatter camp at Wolmaransstad. When completed this line will probably be re-opened to Ottosdal. Still traffic on the Klerksdorp to Ottosdal line and then onwards to Vermaas. Strange another TCO had just mentioned he works the signals only and has no knowledge of lines opened or closed. He also mentioned that the maize could go via Kimberley / Bloemfontein or via Klerksdorp / Fochville / Kroonstad / Bethlehem. (We were told recently by a TCO that the line from Bethlehem to Balfour North is actually still open.) If the Orkney - Vierfontein line was not uplifted, this traffic could have come via Westleigh.
At Bloemhof a Northbound load of mielies came through behind 2x 6E's, one orange and one SAR maroon.
We found out that the Blue Train was on it's way. Between Kingswood and Grasslands the load of mielies we got at Bloemhof was re-routed onto the loop. This was to cross a South bound load of B - bogies and Lime, going at full lick. The load was behind 2x Spoornet Maroon 10E's, leading was E 10 015, a friendly hoot and wave from the crew.
Near Kingswood there is a temporary speed limit of 30km/h, new ballast has been laid.
We followed the Northbound mielies on the dirt road next to the line. As soon as she picked up speed she was slowing down to be looped again at Kingswood. This time to cross a South bound load of containers. This was behind 2x orange 6E's, E 1580 & E 1407.
We followed the mielies to Boskuil, quite strange to see an orange 6E bearing down on you in the Landy's rear view mirror !!
Operating informed us that the Blue Train has just left Leeudoringstad and was on it's way to Makwassie. Just after Makwassie we spotted the Blue. This train travels at such a pace that we only got ahead of her near Grasslands.
Just South of Grasslands she sped past , the roof of the Landy making a perfect vantage point high above all the trackside khakiebosse. She glided past behind 2x smart looking 14E's, E 14 110 & E 14 107, greetings from the crew with short blasts of the hooter. We remember seeing the Blue Train hundreds of times at Worcester, what was different was that the roar of the generator car's engines could not be heard as usual. We followed her to Bloemhof at quite a pace.
The long haul back to Welkom started and the last sighting for the day was RRL's 91 class at Frieddes 5# getting the hoppers loaded with ore.
We had great co-operation from the many CTC/TCO offices we contacted to get the latest train movements. Have contacts from Pyramid South, Sentra Rand, Union, Kimberley, Bethlehem, Bloemfontein, Noupoort plus most in-between offices. Staff know us, others when hearing our interest, helped - all most helpful with latest train movements on the sections they control.
Greetings.
J & J.
