Not a very busy week.

Hi all,

Not a very busy week.

We got orange E 1453 & SAR maroon E xxxx, at Bosrand, heading light locos to Kroonstad, this probably was the return working of the Southbound Orange Express tourist. Maybe the last one ever...

Orange 34 499 was seen heading towards the exchange yards at the show grounds with a load of Lime for the Welkom mines.

Near Drie Ruiters a Northbound load of Lime headed past behind TFR E 18 605, TFR E 18 xxx and a blue sister. Hoots from the crew. Next, near Grasslands, 4x 10 E's headed North on a load of ore wagons, this was behind blue E 10 040 "Newcastle", Spoornet maroon E 10 006, blue E 10 010 & blue E 10 017. Shortly, on this trains heels, we got SAR maroon E 1610 & orange E xxxx on a short load of mielies, the pick-up. Then the surprise of the day. The Northbound signals were green for kilometres before Christiana, so something was coming. Just North of Christiana we got the ,almost 10 hours late Premier Classe, running behind 2x orange 35's. Leading was 35 672. She was going at an incredible speed trying to make up time, short hoots from the driver. Dust spoiled any photos. On phoning CTC Klerksdorp were told that the "So genaamde grootkoppe in Johannesburg" [So called big bosses] had failed to arrange the necessary electric motive power yesterday. This resulting in no electric locomotives being available and diesels having to be substituted plus the necessary crews obtained. Also mentioned that the power car had also given problems and had to be be seen to at Kimberley. (Now we know the REAL reason.)

We have not noticed RRL's 36 class lately, has anyone seen it somewhere else??

Greetings.
J & J.