Passenger sightings

Hi all.

Monday was a no - TFR day. We got an orange Harmony surface rail diesel coming from old St Helena 8# and heading to the exchange yards at Welkom showground. We did not know this line is still used. Next was RRL on the ore and Sheltam, also on the ore.

On Tuesday we were informed by our TFR friends that the Premier Classes was on it's way to Bloemfontein for the soccer, also that a Tourist class was following behind. We got her at Whites West behind 2x purple 18E's, E 18 406 & E 18 40x, plenty of hooting from the crew. Red stickers on the sides of all the coaches "Getting you to the game." A short while later we got maroon 34 453, heading backside first and one timber truck, coming from the Glen Harmony branch. Near Virginia we noticed a Southbound train, to our surprise the Tourist class train was held back for the containers. This was behind orange E 1413 OFS & SAR maroon E xxxx still with number plates. Finally the Tourist class came along. This was also behind 2x purple 18E's, E 18 405 & 18 402, blue steam car also in the consist.

First sighting on Wednesday was near Odendaalsrus, orange 34 499 & maroon 34 453 on a Kroonstad bound load of mielies, hooting from the crew. The spoorbaan and catenary guys are busy all along the line between Hennenman and Virginia, a temporary speed limit near Kalkvlakte of 30km/h. Near Glen Harmony exchange yard we got Sheltam's 31 class no. 22 and their 32 class no. 2013 crossing each other with loads of ore hoppers.

Thursday. again only RRL and Sheltam. Spoorbaan busy in Welkom station with a road / rail truck on the rails. Heard of large de-railment on Transvaal to Natal main line. All Durban traffic travelling via Free State. Transnet wanted the Kroonstad drivers to take the trains from Bethlehem further but no one has 18 E qualifications. Also heard that they plan to withdraw all 6E's at the end of December at Kroonstad and replace them with 18 E's - all drivers are to receive training.

Friday, telephonic enquires confirmed both tracks at Balfour North closed to de-railment. No idea when the line will open again. We paid a quick visit to Kroonstad, unfortunately no trains from Bethlehem. Blue 34 409 was shunting at the petrol sidings. Off to Leeudoringstad we went, all signals red. First green signal at Makwassie. Just South of Makwassie, a Northbound load of CCR coal trucks behind orange E 1305, E 1453, & E 1570, was directed into the loop. This train had a different looking Telemeter at the back? However the South signals kept displaying red aspects. Then the Northbound signals turned to yellow and then green. A short while later orange E 1165 Cape Western & E xxxx headed past with a load of containers, friendly hoots from the crew. Near Grasslands we caught up to a Southbound load of mielies behind blue E 18 202 & TFR E 18 xxx. Just before Bloemhof we were met with the back of a long Southbound train of ore hoppers. On reaching the front we got blue E 10 019 & SAR maroon E 10 102, uncoupled and moving slowly towards the station. At Bloemhof we found a Northbound load of blue and red tarpaulin covered wagons behind blue E 10 017 & E 10 xxx. Standing alongside this train were SAR maroon E 10 117 & Spoornet maroon E 10 030, with pantos down. There was a female member of the crew standing between the locos, the size of her amazed us that she could fit into a unit's door !! The ore train's loco proceeded to couple up with these two locos to combine them into the Southbound load. Then the Southbound mielie train went past. After that the northbound load left and then the ore train proceeded.

Greetings.
J & J.