Free State sightings on Wednesday.

Hi all.

Today, again the first sighting was RRL 91 class on a load of ore at Welkom station.

Near Kalkvlakte we got a Northbound train of Ammonium Nitrate and petrol. This was behind orange E 1343 "OFS" and another two orange sisters.

Next stop was at Theunissen, here we found the Spoorbaan busy on the points at the North end of the station. Orange 34 043 was standing at the signal cabin, the crew chatting to the TCO.

We paid a visit to Vetriver. Here we stumbled upon a very neatly kept graveyard of about forty graves just to the North of the station. The biggest tombstone has "Canada" on it. All the graves are from 1902 February to May. "Died of disease", others Enteric, are on some of the crosses... Probably water from the river ?

The station's cabin is still locked - but access has been gained through the old semaphore signal wires entrance underneath the platform. Everything is now destroyed. The weeds have basically taken over the platform and station area. Bees have moved into the old chimney in the ticket office.

While heading towards Brandfort we noticed a Southbound train. We decided to wait for it at Houtenbeck. Somebody is staying in the old cabin, thus the place is still intact and standing, although it reeks of smoke. Here we found old pilot working forms and a 2001 "Platform" magazine on the floor. Also picked up a key ring "Houtenbeck Loods".

Soon SAR maroon E 1613 and a blue sister came through on a load of mielies and containers.

No further trains.

Greetings.
J & J.