Sightings - Part I

Hi Guys.

The first train we got this morning was at Leeudoringstad. This was a load of North bound containers, she sped past behind Spoornet maroon E1461 & SAR Maroon E xxxx, greetings from the crew. Soon the signals were green again to the North, this time a load of wine tankers and more containers, this was
behind SAR Maroon E 1509 & two more SAR Maroon sisters, hoots from the crew. (The second unit still carries number plates). Here we enquired about the blue train from CTC at Klerksdorp and were told that she was running a hour late. We were also told that CTC at Vereeniging has closed and is now done
by Leeuhof.

At Makwassie we found a staged load of Lime behind blue E 18 254 & blue sister. New warning labels have been attached in four languages, with Afrikaans ook nogal! - "Before removing jumper cables, first ensure that batteries are switched off" "Wanneer oorlaaikabels verwyder word, maak seker batterye is afgeskakel". While standing around the North facing signals turned green again and TFR E 18 657, E 18 675 & E 18 xxx rushed by with a load of AZLJ hoppers, hoots from the crew. Just South of Makwassie a lone unit was standing? This turned out to be blue E 18 349. This loco must have failed and was left here. Even more warning labels were found on this loco's doors. "Danger watch your fingers and hands". I have caught my finger in a loco door and it's EINA!! Here CTC told us the Blue was now 90 minutes
late...

At Kingswood we got a South bound load of mielies behind SAR Maroon E 1544, blue E xxxx & E 18 349, the failed unit at Makwassie.  Greetings from the crew. Here were told that the Blue Train was now 2 hours late. Time was going to get the better of us so we decided to return to Makwassie and then
back home.

Finally she sped past at Makwassie station behind blue E 14 104 & blue E 14 110, plenty of hooting from the crew.

The other photos are of typical Western Transvaal scenery along the line.

Cheers.
J & J.

Cape Town bound Trans Orange speeding past Kalkvlakte almost on time!

Steam locos being cut up.

Hi guys.

Noticed today that the three steam locos standing at old FSG mine are being cut up.

Cheers.

Between Bultfontein and Protespan, returning to Kroonsatd.

Welkom station RRL 1205 - Part 2

Hi Guys.

Have a look what arrived over the weekend, apparently here for only a short while to perform some tests on her. Will keep you updated.

Cheers
J&J

Welkom station RRL 1205 - Part I

Hi Guys.

Have a look what arrived over the weekend, apparently here for only a short while to perform some tests on her. Will keep you updated.

Cheers
J&J

Erfdeel, Wesselsbron pick-up heading back to Kroonstad.

Trans Orange.

Hi guys.

On the 1st of October 2012 the Trans Orange started running again. Last week she was on time, today, she started at 4 hours late arriving at Kroonstad, Control Point 1, Gunhill yard. (IMG0340a,0341,0348).

While waiting for her the Algoa arrived - she was running 6 hours late!

After the turn around at Kroonstad station, we set chase and caught up with the South bound Orange at Holfontein (0351), now she was 5 hours late. The driver was trying to make up time and she sped past at an incredible pace.

Finally just after Whites we got her again, only a blur as she flashed by (0367).

We missed two goods trains because of the TCO at Kroonstad, this guy could only tell us: "I don't know..."

Cheers.
J & J.

Just South of Bosrand, train of scrap wagons heading towards Bloemfontein.

Sightings

34 906 shunting at Friedesheim.

2x 6E's at Gunhill Control Point 1, before departure to Bethlehem.

Odendaalsrus, RRL's 31 class heading to Frieddies 1 shaft.

Sightings

Hi guys.

As you can see, the Virginia - Glen Harmony branch is now history, completely uplifted but for a couple of hundred meters at Virginia itself. Quite sad as this now officially closes the chapter on the old Free State
mainline alignment  completely... The scrap metal thieves will soon start removing parts of the two bridges and the sleepers will be smashed to get to the steel re-enforcing.

The 2x 6E's are heading towards  Kroonstad between Hennenman and Holfontein.


The 34 returning "gat eerste" is the Welgelee pick-up at Virginia. She also shunted the ballast siding here. To the right of the train the last bit remaining of the Glen Harmony line can be seen.

The 36 class is leaving Odendaalsrus station with a load of empty ore hoppers to Freddies 1#, this loco is on hire from TFR to RRL.

Cheers.
J & J.

Sightings

Friedesheim timber shunt, this is actually the return working of the Bothaville pick-up.

2x light 34's heading back to Kroonstad after taking a load to Bultfontein, this photo is as Wesselsbron.