Sightings

Hi all.

Coming back in the wee hours of Monday morning we caught 2x Southbound goods trains near Virginia. Later we also caught the Johannesburg bound Algoa and Amatola. Later in the day we caught a glimpse of 2x TFR 18E's bringing a petrol train into Gunhill from Bethlehem. Near Hennenman we got Spoornet maroon 34 453 coming back light loco from Welgelee.

On Tuesday all movement was RRL.

We paid a visit to the Heilbron - Arlington line. Basically all the stations/sidings/halts on this branchline are in the same state. All the nameboards remain, overgrown goods platforms, some uplifted loops. No more roads exist to these places and walking some distances is the way to go. The SAR service roads are still protected by closed gates and signs but the roads are LONG gone... The line shows signs of traffic, it is shiny in some places, other places have grass squashed onto the rails but the biggest give-away is diesel oil on some sleepers at Riemland.

Again Wednesday the only movement was RRL. Theron was visited. Since our last visit the station building has been broken down / flattened and only a re-lay room survives together with an overgrown platform and yard area with some uplifted track.

At Hennenman the Spoorbaan were busy on both the up and down lines.

The first sighting for Thursday was Sheltam's 31 class.

Just before Bloemhof we got blue E 10 022 & blue E 10 xxx on a Northbound load of Lime. Next, near Grasslands we got 6x 10E's on a long load of Southbound ore trucks. Leading was blue E 10 041, Spoornet maroon E 10 003, Spoornet maroon E 10 xxx, 2 x blue 10E's and trailing orange E 10 021, friendly greetings from the crew. Then at Kingswood the Northbound Lime train crossed with a Southbound load of brand new CAR wagons resplendent in grey with TFR logos on them. This was behind 4x blue 18's. E 18 048, E 18 xxx, E 18 256 and E 18 228 NATCOR ONE. When this train passed we noticed orange E 1447 Cape Northern shunting mielie trucks at the silos. The first time we got three trains at Kingswood. Near Drie Ruiters we got a Southbound Luxrailer trolley, hooting from the crew. Near Boskuil the pick-up from Kingswood caught up with us. Then just before Leeudoringstad we got Southbound E 18 101 & E 18 063, both blue on a load of DZ's. Last sighting for the day was blue E 10 012 on a Southbound load of lime near Leeubos.

Friday at Welkom station we got 2x RRL 91's and their 36 on ore waiting to proceed towards Friedesheim. Soon blue 34 409 came in from Frieddes with a load of empty timber trucks. The driver pushing back a little to allow us to pass over the blocked level crossing.

At Theunissen we found the Northbound signals green. Operating informed us a goods was 5 minutes away. This turned out to be a load of mielie trucks, petrol tankers, empty container trucks and two "weigh bridge test wagons. Motive power was 3x orange 6E's, leading E 1356, E 1236, trailing E 1151. Friendly hoots from the crew.

Greetings.
J & J.