North West Sightings - Part 1

Hi all.

First sighting for the day was at Leeudoringstad. Here the Khakiebosse have also taken over the station platform, at least the station building is still standing. An almost right time Tourist Trans Karoo headed through en-route to Johannesburg behind SAR maroon E 1467. Again the train did not look too full. She was stopped at Leeudoringstad for a red signal, probably something ahead in the section. Slowly she departed, extra car carrier in front of the normal one.

Next train was a very long Northbound ore train, near Eersteling, behind 4x very faded blue 10E's, leading was E 10 028. Friendly hoot and wave from the crew. No matter how many times we witness this - you have to be moved by this sort of thing... Thousands of tons of steel going at almost 100km/h...

Just before Makwassie we found out where the train load of concrete sleepers had disappeared to. They are all lying along the line for several kilometres. The old sleepers have all got chips out of them, definitely a derailment.
At Makwassiespruit we took a stroll over the bridge. The one side of the gangway is loose and would not be a nice place to stand if a train sped past. Someone is busy opening the pipes over the bridge to steal the cables, we found a hacksaw blade and fresh saw marks on the protective pipe. They won't get their saw blade again without a diving suit.

Another Northbound ore train, near Boskuil, sped past behind another 4x blue and red 10E's, leading was Maroon E 10 031.

Then just after Kingswood another Northbound load of containers went past behind 3x orange 6E's. Leading was E 1204 "Cape Western". Greetings and hooter from the crew.

We got a long block load of mielies just North of Bloemhof. This was behind orange E 1200 "Southern Transvaal and SAR maroon E xxxx "Newcastle". Strangely this train had a marker on the leading unit.

Just South of Bloemhof we got our first Southbound train. She was standing at the signals. The load was quite a long load of fine coal. Up front were orange, E 1633 orange E 1377 and SAR maroon E xxxx.

Last sighting for the day was at Bloemhof. Southbound pick-up on a load of mielies behind orange E 1236.

Greetings.
J & J.