Tweetup On Rails with Gautrain - Part II

In this batch of pictures, there is an interesting recording vehicle. Does not look like a Plasser vehicle. Anybody know more?

Here is a funky video from the event filmed on a cell phone.

http://www.zoopy.com/video/3m17/tweetuponrails-gautrain-ride

Tweetup On Rails with Gautrain

These pictures were sent to me from a person who joined the Facebook and tweeters on Gautrain.

The FB page of Gautrain is highly recommended. They keep you up to date with information, pictures and video. And allows you to interact directly.

This is from Gautrains Facebook page:

Around 200 twitterati and Gautrain Facebook fans enjoying a ride on the Gautrain. Reportedly the biggest tweetup to date.

New Rhodesfield Station

Some pictures taken from the Business express heading towards Pretoria. The Rhodesfield Metro Station and Gautrain interchange is really taking shape. Note one of the Gautrain Electrostars parked at the Station. Wonder why Tubular track was not chosen for the Metrorail station. Surely it would have made sense to upgrade now rather than later.

More pictures to follow from the other side of the interchange.

Class 7E's now in purple livery.

First we saw 6E's and 18E's with Shosholoza Meyl livery, then some class 35 diesels. Jez Smith was in Kimberley recently and visited Beaconsfield Depot and spotted class 7E # 7068 and # 7031 painted in the new livery from PRASA. He also noted that he only saw the locomotives working on passenger trains. Thanks for the pictures Jez!

One wonders when the blue train will get class 14E's painted in the correct livery? Possibly due to the fact that the class belong to TFR and not PRASA?

Moses Mabhida Station - Part II

In August 2009, I stopped at the site and photographed the progress of the new station. According to contacts, the station is on schedule and will be finished in March 2010. The station posed many challenges as track alignment, overhead changes, signalling and station construction had to be done while keeping the railway open as this is a very busy section on the network servicing one of the large townships and the north coast.

Trying to get latest pictures of the station.

Moses Mabhida Station

Moses Mabhida Station is a brand new station built on the North side of Durban Station, effectively at the end of the staging yards. The station is built next to the new world cup football stadium - Moses Mabhida. Here are some artists impressions of the new station from the ARUP group.

Rovos Rail

André Kritzinger visited Rovos at their Capital Park depot / Station. Some random shots from André, including the new 2nd hand electrics. Have heard various rumours that TFR give them hassles when running the electrics on legitimacy grounds. Its about time new legislation is passed allowing private operators to work on the TFR network like many other parts of the world.

Rovos Rail do amazing things considering all the hurdles they always have put in front of them.

Durban Station revamp - Part II

Have been sent some more pictures of the Upper area of the Station in Durban.

Purple Class 35's

Photographed in Bloemfontein, freshly painted and serviced. Apparently these will be the only two painted in the purple Shosholoza Meyl livery.

Blue Train- Class 12E's

A number of people have asked me what happened to the class 12E locomotives since they no longer pull the Blue Train. A source had told me that they were staged at Koedoespoort. André Kritzinger photographed the 5 units parked on a siding. I had heard romours that the 5 would eventually be converted, similar to a class 18E. André always has his finger of the pulse!

Durban Station - the revamp.

This picture was taken last week of the refurbished Durban Station. When I was there in October, it was an ugly building site. The new look is wonderful and I hope to get more pictures of the completed station soon.

Quick visit to Braamfontein workshops

Some interesting vehicles seen at Braamfontein Rolling stock. Had heard of Casspir like vehicles having worked in the Apartheid era on the rails around the Reef. Later on I saw a picture of a similar vehicle which is plinthed at a railway Museum in Namibia. Was never able to locate or find out what happened to the reef armoured patrol vehicles. Until I was given these pictures. The vehicle is painted in Metrorail livery which was a surprise. So it has obviously seen action in recent years. Anybody got pictures of this vehicle around the Reef?