Sightings

Hi all.

We got blue 34 409 returning light from Friedesheim after shunting the Mondi timber sidings.

Near Henneman orange E 1316 OVS & orange E xxxx came past with a Southbound load of containers. Gunhill yard was visited. Not too much traffic. Orange 34 043 and orange shunting van were standing on one of the loops. The row of staff cabooses seems to be getting longer each time we visit. While in the yard the Southbound car train came past behind orange E 1421 Natcor Hauler & orange E 1262. A quick visit to Kroonstad station revealed empty tracks. Then another Southbound load appeared, containers and petrol tankers, behind Spoornet maroon E 1405 & orange E 1283. A visit to the petrol sidings saw blue 34 409 idling away under a tree with plenty of petrol tankers filling up the sidings. Could not help to think back 20 years when all this was 15F hauled... Spoornet maroon 34 067 & orange 34 499 came past on a load of Kroonstad bound mielies near Kaalvlei. The Spoorbaan were busy at Friedesheim. Heard that catenary was stolen again at Arlington.

RRL, Sheltam and Harmony surface rail were seen as usual. Something we have never mentioned is all the little Senwes diesel shunters at the silos busy with moving the FZ's.

Wesselsbron's silo siding is being given a good amount of maintenance.

We found the Spoorbaan busy at Bloemhof. Near Grasslands blue E 10 039 & TFR E 10 xxx headed South on a load of Lime trucks. Close to Boskuil we got 4x 10E's heading South on a long load of ore hoppers. Soon after this another Southbound load came past. This time behind 5x orange 6E's on a load of coal hoppers. Leading was E 1452 Cape Northern. The catenary was down again at Boskuil and plenty of bobaan guys were busy. Makwassie was full of mielie trucks. Near Daalder blue E 18 352, blue E 18xxx & TFR E 18 508 headed past light towards Makwassie.

Orange 34 028 was spotted at Whites with a return working of mielies from the Sandveld. Plenty of hooting from the crew. At the petrol sidings near Gunhill we got blue 34 406 shunting the tankers. Orange 34 058 was busy on shunting duties in the yard. Then we got the surprise of the week. Between Gunhill and Bosrand a Northbound passenger train made its appearance. All sitter coaches in Shosholoza Meyl livery with a twin diner. Up front was purple 35 213, orange 35 xxx and being hauled dead orange E xxxx. Operating told us this was the weekly Johannesburg - East London - Johannesburg working. The unit had failed and she was running very late - that's why we got this train, it normally runs in the hours of darkness. They said that this train had still been running all the time?? Can't vouch for that. Funny, the only train from / to the Eastern Cape and it looked totally empty.

While on the subject of Passenger Trains, we have received the following from a reliable source, but NOTHING is official.

It seems that the only Premier Classe train to remain is the JHB - CTN - JHB train, times and days remain as is.

The Trans Karoo Tourist is now only going to run 3 times a week both ways. Wednesday, Fridays, Sundays, Mondays fall away.

The Algoa Tourist between JHB - PLZ - JHB will remain as is 2 trips a week, times and days remain as is.

The Economy / Lala class train routes will still run but have also been cut back.

The Trans Natal Tourist is not coming back.

The Tourist Orange Express between CTN - DBN - CTN is gone; the Lala class will still run, now twice a week.

Please NOTHING IS OFFICIAL; this is what we have been sent.

Does not look good...

Greetings.

J & J.