Jan Kempdorp

Hi all.

We paid a visit to the Jan Kempdorp area and can tell you the following.

In the town itself is a 19D no. xxxx standing on a piece of grass, she
still looks quite good.

We have come across some ruined places on our travels and we did not
think something could shock us, but wow Jan Kempdorp station looks
like a war zone, Nothing of value remains, even the reinforcing wire
between the bricks have been ripped / broken out in some places. No
roof or window frames remain, only rubbish and unmentionables lay
strewn every where. Same story at the goods shed. The platform is
overgrown. The nameboards still remain. "Jan Kempdorp 707 Miles form
Cape Town Alt. 3775 Ft. The line looks shiny. Some FZ's were standing
at the silos.

Next stop was at Warrenton. 19D 2688 stands at the information centre
and still looks good, even with numberplates. The road sign still
reads "SAR Passengers". This station is still open and manned. The
station has palisades all around and security let us onto the
platform. The buildings and platforms are neatly kept. An orange and
blue 35 were idling away under the foot bridge. Plenty of staff
chatting on the platform, Also a very long Southbound ore was standing
behind several blue 18E's. There are still porter's trolleys on the
platform.

Veertien Strome " 260 Miles to Johannesburg Alt. 3962 Ft. Junction"
was next, Only nameboards remain on a very overgrown platform. All
signals red.

On towards Camelford. The distances and altitude has been filled in on
the nameboard. An overgrown platform and relay room remains. Some
uplifted track, still all signals were red. No other sightings for the
day.

Now the actual reason for our trip was to go and have look at the
stored steam locomotives at 93 Ammo Depot.

These locomotives are staged INSIDE a SADF army base and access is not
easy. After quite some time and explaining and also having the right
people at the gates and with the right attitude, on both sides, we
were allowed to be escorted into the depot with very, very special
permission. Here we found the following locos 3528, 2742, 3498, 2678,
3409, 2689, 2680, 3130, 3438, 3453, 34?? either 3439 or 3462. We
travelled right through the base and checked all the sidings and these
were the only locos we found. If there are some missing (as in John
Middleton's book) then maybe they are hidden away somewhere else.
There is a yellow shunting diesel and a light blue shunting diesel as
well.

They do not look to good, rust and peeling paint all around. The cabs
have had everything removed, the seats are gone. Bees have moved into
almost all of the steam cylinders and one must tread carefully. Some
smoke boxes are open, some arms are missing a dome ore two are lying
on the ground. Axle boxes have been opened. Most of the exterior
piping and the works remain intact. White paint on the locos clearly
state "DO NOT STRIP / MOENIE STRIP NIE". A bit too late ?? The painted
numbers on the locos are peeling and can't be identified. The tenders
on some of the 25NC's carry different numbers as the locos. The staff
tell us they still receive a train every now and then. Mostly by road
though. These locos basically are in the state of most stored locos
around the country that have now been cut up, unfortunately.

Thanks to the friendly guys at 93 Ammo depot Jan Kempdorp.

Greetings.
J & J.