Sightings - Part II

Sightings.

Hi all.

We caught a glimpse of the car train heading towards the Reef at Hennenman behind 2x orange 6E's.

Orange 34 499 was heading through Besempan on a load of mielies next stop was at Wesselsbron. From Brandfort to Theunissen the Northbound signals were green but no trains. Operating informed us that the Spoorbaan guys were busy on the line and the signals had been set up for their movement - "Geen treine vandag meneer..." At Vetriver we discovered an ancient fencepost with CGR on it but no date.

Near Kromellenboog we got a Northbound load of ore (110 wagons) behind 4x 10E's, leading was Spoornet Maroon E 10 046, blue E 10 xxx, Spoornet Maroon E 10 xxx and orange E 10 021. A long hoot from the crew. The next train was a short load of mielies heading South near Britten. Strangely this was behind 4x 35 class diesels. Leading was blue 35 239, Spoornet Maroon 35 xxx, orange 35 xxx and Spoornet Maroon 35 238. This driver was unfamiliar and slowed down, probably thinking speed trap! Just North of Bloemhof we got a Southbound load of containers behind orange E 1671 & orange E 1359. A few weeks ago we reported on a unit cow-catcher lying line side at Boskuil. This is still lying here - minus the patent buffer - which has gone AWOL... On closer investigation a round indentation can be made out, the size of a vehicle rim. At the nearby level-crossing we found plenty of motorcar parts. "Moenie met treine speel nie - hulle maak donners seer!" Close to Drie Ruiters another Southbound load of containers sped past, plenty of empty container wagons stenciled COEGA in the consist. Upfront was blue E 18 193 NATCOR & 2x TFR sisters. Hoots from the crew.

Our connections at Shosholoza Meyl tell us that the JHB - CTN - JHB Premiere Classe still runs behind 2x 35 class diesels all the way to Cape Town and back, but they break down quite a lot en-route...

Got orange 34 028 at Hennenman, with the return working of the Welgelee pick-up, a short load of mielies. Then a short while later a white Luxrailer trolley headed South. From Eensgevonden to Theron we followed orange E 1288 & Spoornet maroon E1405 on a Kroonstad bound train of mielie trucks and petrol tankers, friendly greetings from the crew. The spoorbaan were busy at Brandfort and some guys were busy at the Theron Substation.

We have heard that a 70 wagon Manganese ore test train was run from Kroonstad to Ladysmith behind 4x 6E's. Hope this becomes regular.

Orange 34 499 brought a load of timber into Friedesheim.

At Christiana Southbound blue E 18 165 NATCOR IMEX, leading two blue sisters came through on a load of fine coal. Hooting from the crew. Near Makwassie blue E 10 050 and TFR sister also heade South on a load of Lime. At Leeudoringstad we got a long load of ore wagons heading South behind 5x 6E's, leading was E1608, 3x orange and 1x SAR maroon following behind. Greetings from the crew. The Spoorbaan were busy just North of Leeudoringstad. The FZ is still standing at Regina with a "Not for traffic" truck card. This has been here for almost a month now.

Greetings.

J & J.

Kumba Iron Ore diesel #4

Logan sent me a picture of the Kumba Iron Ore diesel #4 parked at the depot. Note the air-conditioning unit mounted on the roof.

Click here for his report.

Sightings

Hi all.

Not much this week.

Got orange 34 058 heading towards the exchange yards at the showgrounds with a short load of Lime tankers for the mines.

Heading South near Kingswood we got SAR maroon E 1610 & orange E 1469 on a load of containers. Later near Leeudoringstad another Southbound load came past. This time Lime, behind TFR E 18 624 & blue E 18193. Greetings from the crews both times.

At Hennenman Southbound orange E 1346 & orange E 1305 came past with a load of beer trucks from Rosslynn to Kimberley, could not make out the contents on the truckcards. Later neat Virginia the empty car train headed towards the coast behind 2x orange 6E's, leading was E 1329.

Normal Sheltam, Harmony and RRL working were seen.

Greetings.
J & J.

Vereeniging area

Hi there all, Spent Sunday morning at Bijlkor yard as well as Leeuhof yard. Bijlkor yard was packed with traffic. Lots of lime wagons and steel carriers and coal and ore wagons both loaded and empties. 3 class 38 locomotives were preparing to leave the yard with a train of empty coal wagons returning to Saaiplaas. This yard also receives about 2 full 100 wagon ore trains a day. Leeuhof yard not too busy, a class 36 were busy shunting crm wagons in and out of the workshops. Also found a Kumba iron ore diesel locomotive parked at the diesel depot, just before I left three 6E's left the yard with a train of empty steel carrier wagons heading to the Potch side. A class 18E also left the depot heading to the Bijlkor yard. Leeuhof depot also received a lot of Kroonstad drivers and train assistants. Spoke to one train assistant and he informed me that there is not enough work at Kroonstad for all of them. There is a rumour that they are busy with ore train testing on the Kroonstad to Ladysmith line. Does anyone know any more about this?

Regards
Logan Stone

Blue Train sightings - Part 4

Blue Train sightings - Part III

Blue Train sightings - Part II

Blue Train sightings.

Hi all,

Early on Saturday morning we got a call. The Blue Train over nighted in Kroonstad. Said to depart 07h24 or 08h24. Got dressed and off to Geneva to await arrival. Another call stated a RRL 33 class and another 34 Class diesel to proceed before Blue to Bloemfontein. Nog a call stated struggeling with vacuum on two diesels. Blue to depart 08h24.

At 08h50 took photographs at slight curve between Geneva and Holfontein of Blue. Friendly wave from crew, including Pilot. Quick run to Hennenman second road over rail bridge, a 15 km/h speed restriction still in force here due to lowering of tracks under bridge and poor condition of both lines. Again good photographs, this time a hoot. Then an even faster dash to the new large concrete viaduct over Sand River for more shots. On way back CTC advised Diesels just at Bosrand. Off to Hennenman again, good shots in speed restriction area. Spoornet Maroon 34 650 with blue "LOG" on side hauling RRL 33 01. Noticed vacuum problem. A long piece of domestic drain down pipe, running length of drivers side running board, connected to 2 NW wheel carrying trucks with a clamp to first truck. All sounding bad with flat wheels. Speed around 30 km/h to Bloemfontein. A quick dash to the Ventersburg road over rail bridge, more shots, waving and short toots from crew.

Returned through mine area to Sheltam. All Cabooses now gone except one still in Gulf Red and Quaker Grey in shed. Plus two small Diesel Hydraulics. Told other two hauling ore.

Greetings,
J and J.

Sightings - part III

Sightings - part II

Sightings.

Hi all.

Got orange 34 058 turning on the tri-angle at Wesselsbron after completing the shunting. She then left light loco towards Losdorings.

Next was orange 34 499 coming in backside first. This is a dead give-away that this was the Welgelee and Glen Harmony pick-up. The load was FZ's and timber trucks.

At Regina a FZ was busy being attended to after having run a hotbox. At Makwassie the truckload of fine coal was still standing in the station area, although closer to the silos now. The Western Transvaal mainline does not stop with its interesting sightings. At Boskuil we got orange E 1586 heading North at a leisurely pace. At first it looked like it was just the unit, but then a yellow handrail appeared. This was TransNamib diesel no. 465. This diesel was showing some bad accident damage, with no cow-catchers, heading to Koedoespoort for repairs we suspect. Completely unrelated, about 500m down the line a complete unit cow-catcher was laying alongside the tracks. Something must have happened in the last couple of days since our last visit. At Drie Ruiters a long Northbound load of ore came past behind blue E 10 035, TFR 10E, SAR Maroon 10E and another blue 10E. Friendly hoots from the crew. Then, at Christiana, another Northbound load came past. This time a long train of Lime behind orange E 1570, Orange E 1547 & orange E 1227 Cape Northern. Again a friendly hoot from the crew. Just North of Britten SAR Maroon E 1610 & orange E xxxx came past with a load of LP Gas, Manganese Oxide, Lime, Cement and a couple of runners in the form of FZ mielie trucks and timber wagons. Just South of Bloemhof this train crossed with a Southbound load of ore wagons. This was behind 4x 10E's, leading was SAR Maroon E 10 112, Blue 10E, SAR Maroon 10E & another blue 10 E.

Wesselsbron had 2x Anhydrous Ammonia tankers and a runner standing next to the goods shed.

Got orange 34 031 at Welkom today with the Friedesheim shunt. Got the return working again later in the day?

Kroonstad had three visitors. A brand new Luxrailer inspection trolley, a road / rail truck and a new Catenary maintenance vehicle. These came from Port Elizabeth en-route to Ermelo. 80 Liters of diesel from PE to Kroonstad. The trolley's dashboard started to smoulder 200 Km from PE. A short circuit in the wires, several Kilometers later the door handle rattled off! So much for AA / BEE workmanship!!!!

Whites all signals showing green aspects, 13h30, call to TCO, he stated "Manne niks nie" Chaps nothing. Signals set up for a train sometime today. Also mentioned recently while relieving at Hennenman, he had a goods train at 23h05. No other trains until 06h00 and again nothing the next nights, full 12 hour shift. Says can't believe that this is happening. Petrol tanker train cancelled, the few petrol tankers offered, now coupled to last goods train of the day or night.

Received confirmation of "YQ" that the Blue Train is expected to pass Hennenman between 08h30 and 09h30 on way to Bloemfontein for a Rugby Test. The Phelophepa health train is leaving Kroonstad just after midnight for Bethlehem.

Shosholoza Meyl news, staff state off record, no other trains - except those currently running - for another two weeks.

Greetings.

J & J.