Sightings

Hi all.

First sightings for 2011 - lets hope the traffic picks up...

We missed the Friedesheim timber shunt somewhere between Welkom, Friedesheim and the mine exchange yards ?? It was already on its way back to Kroonstad after all our efforts trying to find it.

At Bloemhof we got the station packed with goods trucks. Orange E 1360 OFS and orange E xxxx were shunting at the far end of the station close to the silos. We headed through an incredible thunder storm near Harrisburg. On phoning operating at Klerksdorp, to find out why there were no trains, they told us there is no traffic this time of the year. Also that the Blue Train had just departed from Klerksdorp and a goods was coming in from the branch at Makwassie, this we missed. While waiting for the Blue we were worried that the thunder storm was going to get to us before the train. Later we heard that the bridge we had passed over earlier was closed and under water. The Blue was caught near Orkney behind orange E 14 110 and orange / grey E 14 002, hoots from the crew.

All the ore haulages were back to normal again this week. Two of RRL's 91's are in their "shed" undergoing repairs, one has its engine removed.

The Spoorbaan were busy in Virginia station.

Orange 34 031 was seen heading the timber train through Mothusi, later we got this train at Friedesheim and at Welkom. At Theunissen we got a white inspection trolley heading South. At Brandfort SAR Maroon E 1537 and orange E 1343 OFS headed through light locos en-route to Bloemfontein.

A quick visit was made to Protespan station, the old loading platforms still stand as does the Van Schoor hut. A piece of rail in the platform edge dates back to 1890.

After all the lovely rains all the bridges and culverts along the lines are flowing with water.

Greetings.
J & J.