Hi all.
Yesterday we visited Hennenman. Here we had a look at the work being done (not being done...) at the road over rail bridge. The entire line has been uplifted for several hundred meters. Then the ballast is removed and the track bed dropped for about 500mm. If the strike ends soon and the trains start running again, there is going to be a "bottle neck" here. as diesels are used over this section. All signals red.
At Theunissen we got the Southbound signals green. Soon a petrol train came through behind maroon E 1307 & SAR maroon E xxxx. No further TFR movement for the day.
Back in Welkom we got RRL 36 01 at Friedesheim, coming in from Frieddes 5 shaft. Soon one of the 91's came from Welkom and exchanged loads with the 36. The 91 then headed towards the Gold plant and the 36 back towards 5 shaft. We have heard that RRL 91 03 has arrived, also that 91 01 has had an axle break again.
Today we paid a visit to the old Western Transvaal system, seems like they are not on strike ! No less than ten trains were noticed today. All the "older" guys were on the footplate and at operating, all greeted us friendly and it seemed about 20 years ago but for the liveries... Nothing happening here in our area but for the mines. Some guys have told us it is such a pleasure to have someone to talk to and who understands the work on the footplate for a change. (Plenty of drivers acting as assistants.) On the subject of the strike, some monkey with standard three (an economist nogal), on the radio - when asked about the strike, replied: "I did not know that there are still trains running in South Africa !!!!"
First sighting was at Bloemhof with the Southbound signals green. A short wait and a train of ore wagons headed through behind blue E 18 290 & TFR E 18 500.
Next train was near Grasslands, Southbound load of mielies. This was behind 2x SAR maroon units, E 1532 still with UCW makersplates and E 1520 K still with numberplates and UCW plates.
Then between Kingswood and Drie Ruiters we got another Southbound ore train behind, 2x blue 10 E's, leading was E 10 034.
Another Southbound train of ore wagons came past near Boskuil. This time behind 4x blue 10 E's, leading was E 10 042, trailing E 10 005.
Still the Southbound signals kept on showing green aspects...
Between Boskuil and Makwassie we got a white Isuzu bakkie heading past.
On arrival at Makwassie we were greeted by the rear of a very long Northbound load of ore. On further investigation the train turned out to be staged next to the platform with all pantos down and no crew. The train's units were all Spoornet orange E 1406 OFS, E 1421 NATCOR HAULER (covered in a whitish sludge) and E 1217 ST. The leading unit's bogies had 1974 and 1972 SAR/SAS SCAW cast on them.The rail bolster wagon is still standing here. We noticed that the signals on the loop were yellow for the road North. A while later 2x light locos headed back towards Klerksdorp. This was E 1520 and E 1532. Now why these locos did not combine and take the staged train North is anyone's guess.
Between Eersteling and Daalder the Southbound signals were green again. This turned out to be another load of ore wagons behind 4x 10E's, leading was SAR maroon E 10 103, 2x Spoornet maroon and a very faded Spoornet Blue unit.
Close to Leeudoringstad the Northbound signals were green again, yet another ore train behind 4x 10E's, 3 blue and one orange, leading was blue E 10 026. Noted on some of the ore trucks sides was white stencilled lettering "Transnet rail Engineering".
This train was looped and stopped at Leeudoringstad with the Southbound signals green yet again. A very long air braked load of mielies headed past us behind another 4x 10E's leading was Spoornet maroon E 10 015 and three blue sisters, trailing was E 10 032.
This train was kept standing in the station at the signals. Strangely the Southbound signals were also red. Then another Southbound train appeared and was authorised to pass the signals at danger. This was a load of containers and lime behind SAR maroon E 10 115.
After this the Northbound load of ore was also authorised to proceed with the signals at danger. This train was so long that it took over three minutes to slowly pass us by through Leeudoringstad.
Reluctantly we left the main line as the ore train was slowing down and being looped again just after Leeudoringstad.
The two FZ mielie trucks are still standing at Schuttesdraai after the derailment of long ago.
Allanridge has had the Silo's siding cleaned and lifted out of the sand - this line looked as if it could have been near Luderitz.
Greetings.
J & J
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