Sightings

Hi guys.

Welkom station is being cleaned up. Don't know why. All the beautiful trees in front of the station are now gone...

We have been told that there is now a daily mielie train on the Westleigh - Orkney line.

Harmony surface Rail near the exchange yard with Sheltam.

34 093 at the ballast siding in Virginia.

Sheltam at 4 shaft with a load of ore ex 5 shaft en-route to the exchange yard.

CS 90 is still on track for November/December 2013 between Kroonstad and Bloemfontein.

Cheers.
J & J.

Return trip to P.E and back

Hi all
Spent this weekend travelling down to Port Elizabeth by train from JHB. Train 73011 left jhb on time. No trains were seen between Vereeniging and Kroonstad. 2 Class 34 diesels came by in Kroonstad station with a load of grain heading to Gauteng side, hopefully they'll be heading to the Westleigh branch.No trains at all between Kroonstad and Bloem. All most stood for an hour at Whites due to signal failure. Bloem station busy, 1 Class 34 pass with petrol, containers and grain to Springfontein. East London passengers also arrived behind 2 class 18Es. Just out of Bloem crossed containers, another cross with cement.Several crossings through the night,All the way to Port Elizabeth, crossed 4 trains from Rosmead to Port Elizabeth, manganese empties, containers, grain. Train arrived 3 hours late. On the return we crossed 3 x manganese ore trains,1 container,1 car train,1 empty load of rail bolster wagons. This all between PE and Rosmead. Noupoort looking empty, only Shozalosa Meyl diesel in the depot area,Spotted only the return car train the next morning at Virginia, load of coal between Rooiwal and Heuningspruit, mixed goods between Koppies and Rooiwal, timber, petrol. The Mainline from Noupoort to Port Elizabeth has seen a massive increase in traffic, I remember about 8 years ago, we crossed about 2 or 3 trains on a trip. Thanks to Coega now and increase in Manganese exports.

Regards
Logan Stone

RRL Welkom

Hi Guys.

I have just returned from Welkom station to see RRL's new arrival.

They left Cor Delfos yesterday at 09:00 and due to TFR pilot problems at Leeuhof and Sasolburg they only arrived here this morning at 01:30.

This loco is going to be here for a month for tests. It is going to do the Dar es Salaam trip for Rovos Rail I am told. Had some foot plating while the other drivers were getting some training. The 35 07 is clearly stuck over "RM****P01".

Some more news from the Westleigh - Orkney line is that early next we can expect 3x 120 truck coal trains per day on this line, increasing as the output of the mine does. Kroonstad are getting class 43 diesels for this.

Cheers.
J & J.

Sightings

Hi Guys.

Got a load of empty petrol tankers returning to Kroonstad near Virginia, first time behind 4x 6E's.

The Bothaville and Wesselsbron pick-ups were combined at Welkom and staged, time up. This load was still standing here this afternoon minus the diesel.

34 906 was returning with the Bothaville pick-up at Rooiblom / Ancona, hoots from the crew. If you look behind the roof line of the train on the curve shots, you can make out where the now uplifted leg of the tri-angle was.

Protespan saw the Bultfontein pick-up waiting for the spoorbaan to clear out of the way before proceeding.

The ballast tamping machine is busy on the Welkom - Whites section.

Two photos of Harmony Surface Rail at the Gold plant.

Sheltam at Erfdeel 4 shaft loading waste rock.

Some news from the re-laid Westleigh - Orkney line is that the line to the old power station is also to be re-laid. Coal is going to be mined again at the old colliery.

Cheers.
J & J.

Sightings

Hi guys.

Lots of trains were missed and the photo opportunities were bad...

RRL are hiring a 35 class from TFR in Kroonstad again. Their 31 needs some repairs to the compressor. I have heard that one of their own 35's is coming this way soon. Also that a "bigger" Queensland diesel is being sent this way for testing? Will see soon enough.

Harmony Surface Rail near the diesel depot.

The hired 35 at Welkom station and the Hercules taking fuel.

RRL's 31 near Friedesheim, then the Hercules near the Show grounds.

Another HSR loco near the Gold plant.

Virginia ballast shunt.

Mielies heading through Virginia en-route to Kroonstad, pity they planted a street light in front of the unit !!

Then what's left of the old side door suburban coach at old Brand loco shed. Don't think this will be here for much longer, the surrounding area is being demolished. One bogie has a spoked wheel and dates to 1918.

Les - can you identify which year the different emblems on the windows come from?

Cheers.
J & J.


Hi Jacque,

As with coaching stock liveries, the emblems also didn't change spontaneously but I can provide a rough guide as to when the different types were used.  You need to bear in mind that older emblems remained in use if the window glass was still serviceable.
So the older emblems didn't suddenly disappear when the new emblems were brought into use.

Image 3170 - Introduced from 1927 - 1950 and retained where still serviceable.

Image 3171 - Introduced 1950s in SAR Shops as replacements.

Image 3172 - Introduced from 1910 - 1927 and retained where still serviceable.

Image 3174 - Introduced from 1950 (imported stock) up until final orders for coaching stock from UCW by SATS.


Cheers

Les