More sightings.

Hi guys.

34 406 was returning from the branch at Friedesheim with a short load of mielies. This train also cleared the Mondi timber siding before leaving for Kroonstad.

Near Erfdeel 34 453 was heading towards Wesselsbron with an air-braked load of mielies.

In the old Western Transvaal we had quite a good day.

At Bloemhof a North bound load of ore wagons came past behind 4x 10E's. A short while later another 4x 10E's headed South with more ore trucks. Then the Johannesburg bound Trans Karoo made an appearance, about 6 hours late. At least the train looked quite full.

Grasslands saw 2 x orange 6E's heading South on a load of mielies. A short while later 5x 18E's also headed South with a load of CAR wagons.

Close to Kingswood yet another Southbound load, this time empty DLJ's.

Just before Daalder a load of blue "Skiptainers" headed South, the first time we see these on the rails?

At Eersteling a load of coal wagons  headed South behind 5x orange 6E's.

Between Leeubos and Leeudoringstad we got the Blue Train bound for Cape Town, she was about an hour late.

Back in the Free State at  Kalkvlakte a North bound load of Mielies trashed past.

34 406 was staged at Welkom station.

A first for us - ALL the crews waved/hooted.

We have seen "YQ's" of planned goods train between Klerksdorp and Kroonstad, 3 trains a day - both directions, seven days a week. Don't know where they will come from or where they are headed. If they actually run is also open to debate...

Cheers.

Sightings 1

Hi guys.

Quite a lot - so 3 instalments.

Got a load of empty coal wagons heading north near Theron, these wagons come from Transwerk in Bloemfontein. Greetings from the crew.

At Friedesheim we got Eugene Armer and his group of European rail fans. RRL's 31 came past with a load of hoppers for 5 shaft.

E 1588 was staged at Hennenman.

Harmony Surface Rail was caught near their depot.

Again we caught up with Eugene and RRL at the exchange yard near the show grounds. Had a quick footplate ride to Welkom station.

Part 2 to follow.
J & J.

Sightings 3

Hi guys.

RRL's 31 class heading towards Odendaalsrus, seen here near Friedesheim.

We were told that 3x EXXARO locomotives from RRL were heading down to Port Elizabeth to be shipped onwards to the DRC. These diesels left Pretoria on Wednesday morning and due to Transnet pilot problems only reached Kroonstad around midnight. They were supposed to get to Kroonstad at around 1700 and
continue, thus we would have missed them.  We caught them today heading towards Bloemfontein near Kalkvlakte, EXX-3004/5/6. At Bloem, again there were no pilots so it seems the journey is going to be a long one...

At Whites the pick-up from the branch was waiting for the car train to proceed to Kroonstad. At Virginia the stolen handrails are being replaced over the Sand River bridge, hence the wrong road working of the car train.

Cheers.
J & J.

Sightings 2

Hi guys.

E 1461 and orange sister were caught on a northbound  load of empty fuel tankers between Whites and Hennenman.

34 031 came back light loco from the branch at Whites West, hoots from the
crew.

Harmony Surface Rail en-route to their depot.

A north bound load of CAR wagons near Boskuil.

Mielies also heading north near Drie Ruiters.

Yet another north bound load at Kingswood.

Part 3 to follow.
J & J.