Free State sightings

Hi all.

Only movement today was Sheltam and RRL.

We decided to pay a visit to the remains of the stations between Hennenman and Welkom. At Hennenman the down line is now out of action and being lowered. Still plenty of AY hoppers in the station.

First stop was at Whites West. Here a burnt out re-lay room survives, basically everything inside has been destroyed or stolen. The signal cabin still stands basically also in the same condition as the re-lay room. The remaining signals along the line have also started to disappear.

Next stop was at Mooiveld. Here the line once branched off to the dynamite factory siding at Zomerveldt. Only a through line remains, all other rails have been uplifted. The only reminder of the siding is a short section of rail still in the road at a level crossing. The re-lay room has also suffered at the hands of the arsons and vandals. All telecoms equipment along the line has been destroyed. Only the fibre optic remains on the old catenary masts.

Since our last visit, Kaalvlei has been engulfed by 10 million shacks. the only reminder of this place is the catenary masts that point out the crossing loops. They won't be around for long...

Mothusi has an overgrown platform and a couple of destroyed buildings left. The foot bridge has basically been carried off for scrap.

Reports from Kroonstad state that they have received news of special passenger trains during the soccer. We also heard that a special explosives train was on it's way to Bloemfontein from Kroonstad. A load of containers, origin and destination unknown.

Greetings.
J & J.