Lack of Free State news - Part 1

Hi all.

On Monday we got blue E 1357 & orange E xxxx on a load of petrol tankers heading North through Karee.

Tuesday was orange 34 058 & SAR maroon 34 453 between Welkom and Whites, going full lick near Kaalvlei on a load of mielies. The diesels sounding incredible.

Today, on making inquires at local FS Signal Cabins, we were told. "Manne daar loop niks vandag nie". Chaps nothing running today. PWI team stopped working at Hennenman. Whites TCO closed his station, after 15 hour shift, too tired.Beaconsfield yard, only Yard Master said to be on duty.Passenger trains ceased running on Sunday. RRL were stuck in Welkom station this morning due to lack of a TCO at Kroonstad. They needed to move their locos onto the main line for re-fuelling. Without RTW - no movement. At about 0930 a TCO pitched up and they could carry on. We were later told that only two trains ran on the main line, one was the container train, nothing on the branch. We were told to fill our vehicles up as the pipeline is also striking and no fuel trains are running. Filtering through, lower graded staff fed up that managers receive large performance bonuses and if they leave service, they receive hefty severance packages. Where as lower grades receive only there pension and leave payments. Heard over the radio that the Durban Johannesburg corridor is virtually void of trains, so is Orex. The Coal line is closed for maintenance so not affected. Eastern Cape Metros were standing as TFR supply their locomotives.

First visit was Fendyke. Only a crossing loop, name and re-lays rooms remain. All signals red,

Just before Bloemhof we got very faded blue E 10 xxx on a short load of South bound mielie trucks.

At Makwassie we got SAR maroon E 1352 "N" & SAR maroon E 1520 "K", still with numberplates. They were busy shunting FZ's at the silos. The triangle's stop block is busy disappearing.

Later on we got them heading through Leeudoringstad, light locos back to Klerksdorp.

Had a lovely visit from Boon, Lana & Jan. Great to have them here and chat away, also visited museum.

Stay away greetings.
J & J.