SAS-SAR Vol 6 No 1

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An electronic magazine with focus on railways in Southern Africa with a pinch of South African Railway History. Contact: uloliwe@gmail.com

Transcript of SAS-SAR Vol 6 No 1

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EDITION: JANUARY 2015 VOL 6 NO 1

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WELCOME

CONTENTS WELCOME ................................................................................................................................................... 2

CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................. 2

WELCOME ................................................................................................................................................... 6

PRASA: BAD SERVICE DELIVERY ............................................................................................................. 6

‘n Klip in die bos? ...................................................................................................................................... 7

SOUL OF A RAILWAY ................................................................................................................................. 7

TRANSPORT HISTORY ............................................................................................................................... 8

Elephants & Railways ............................................................................................................................ 8

Donkeys ................................................................................................................................................ 9

SAP donkeys in the Namib .................................................................................................................... 9

Other donkey transport ........................................................................................................................ 10

Cattle & Oxen ...................................................................................................................................... 10

The police and oxen ............................................................................................................................ 12

1946: Police Animals ........................................................................................................................... 13

SAR & Horses ..................................................................................................................................... 13

Horse & mule drawn Police vehicles .................................................................................................... 15

WEPENER’S PERAMBULATIONS............................................................................................................. 16

20150109 ................................................................................................................................................ 16

20150109 (1) .......................................................................................................................................... 20

BOMB ATTACK: 1986: GLENCOE STATION: BILL DEYZEL..................................................................... 24

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS ............................................................................................................ 26

Francois Mattheus .................................................................................................................................. 26

Blue Train ............................................................................................................................................ 26

Bill Deyzel: Bethlehem Station ................................................................................................................ 30

Class 21 & 15087 ................................................................................................................................ 31

Danie Botes ............................................................................................................................................ 32

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Glencoe Railway Station...................................................................................................................... 32

Dannhauser Station ............................................................................................................................. 34

Hattingspruit ........................................................................................................................................ 35

Wasbank (Old NGR style) ................................................................................................................... 36

Swinburne ........................................................................................................................................... 37

Harrismith Station ................................................................................................................................ 38

Newcastle ............................................................................................................................................ 41

Schalk Claasen: Trains in the Mist .......................................................................................................... 43

Deon Kotze: Bergrivier ............................................................................................................................ 44

Johannes Botha: Droëbult ....................................................................................................................... 47

Piet Engelbrecht: Rhino .......................................................................................................................... 48

Fabian Maans ......................................................................................................................................... 48

Nicky Grobbelaar .................................................................................................................................... 49

Class 11E ............................................................................................................................................ 49

Class 19E’s ......................................................................................................................................... 49

Jaco Haasbroek: Koffiefontein ................................................................................................................ 51

Koffiefontein memories ........................................................................................................................ 52

Juan Raubenheimer: AFRO 4000 (PRASA) ............................................................................................ 55

Jaco Haasbroek: De Aar ......................................................................................................................... 56

Jacobus Marais: Lions River ................................................................................................................... 58

Broken pantograph .............................................................................................................................. 59

Bennie Matthee ....................................................................................................................................... 60

Adrian Maytom: What is this? .................................................................................................................. 63

Martin Nel ............................................................................................................................................... 64

18E’s ................................................................................................................................................... 64

Class 7E .............................................................................................................................................. 64

6E’s: Cape Town Station: PRASA ....................................................................................................... 65

Morné Olivier .......................................................................................................................................... 66

SAR in N-scale .................................................................................................................................... 66

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Narrow Gauge: Port Elizabeth ............................................................................................................. 68

Loerie .................................................................................................................................................. 68

Near Van Stadens ............................................................................................................................... 69

St Alban’s ............................................................................................................................................ 71

Thornhill .............................................................................................................................................. 72

Paul Mills ................................................................................................................................................ 73

Schalk Claasen ....................................................................................................................................... 74

Export .................................................................................................................................................. 76

David Settle: Nuwekloofpas .................................................................................................................... 76

2012: Blue Train: Cape Town ................................................................................................................. 77

Andre Stone Logan: Leeuhof .................................................................................................................. 79

Japie Terblanche: Train Spotter / Treinbekruiper ........................................................................................ 82

Metro 2015-01-16 ................................................................................................................................ 82

Business Express ................................................................................................................................ 86

Running numbers ....................................................................................................................................... 88

1st Rovos of 2015 with Jaco Holtzhausen at the helm .......................................................................... 89

Pantographs ........................................................................................................................................ 90

Heritage Railway Magazine..................................................................................................................... 91

Hennie Heymans shared Heritage Railway Magazine's photo................................................................. 91

A Railway Police Story re Above: Ronnie Coetzee .............................................................................. 92

FRIENDS OF THE CHOO-CHOO .............................................................................................................. 92

Difference between 20Eand 21E ............................................................................................................. 93

BRUNO MARTIN: BRIEF VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA ................................................................................ 94

BRUNO MARTIN: RHODESIANA ............................................................................................................ 106

VISIT TO LOURENS STURGEON ........................................................................................................... 114

Photo of AA-25 No 276 ...................................................................................................................... 115

C-22 – built by Lionel Penning ........................................................................................................... 115

Class 7, Class C-16 (Johan Hattingh – brass); Protea and Kitchen Car ............................................. 115

Other models ..................................................................................................................................... 115

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Diagrams: L Sturgeon ........................................................................................................................ 116

AA-25 No 267 .................................................................................................................................... 116

A-24 “Protea” ..................................................................................................................................... 116

ANTIQUITY: UIT DE OUDE DOOS .......................................................................................................... 117

1863 Greenpoint – Cape Town: Horse tram .......................................................................................... 117

1900: CGR: The Milnerton - Cape Town Train ..................................................................................... 118

1904: The arrival of former President SJP Kruger’s body in Cape Town ............................................... 118

S-24: NO 6407: LOURENS STURGEON.................................................................................................. 119

No 6704: The “Hulse”-coach ................................................................................................................. 119

S-24: No 6407 (HBH) ............................................................................................................................... 133

THE CHERRY ON CAKE! ........................................................................................................................ 134

Noel Welch: Eastern Cape .................................................................................................................... 134

20E at Cookhouse ............................................................................................................................. 134

Forsaken at Cookhouse..................................................................................................................... 135

POST BOX ............................................................................................................................................... 136

SAS-SAR Vol 5 No 13: Dr Richard Clatworthy ...................................................................................... 136

The Prodigal Photo: Richard Clatworthy................................................................................................ 137

OF CHEF’S AND SUMPTUOUS MEALS ON WHEELS: H van Shaik ...................................................... 141

NEXT ISSUE & GREETINGS ................................................................................................................... 144

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WELCOME

Welcome to the first SAS-SAR Magazine of this year. At our age the important things are, in my view: health, wealth and happiness. This I wish for you! I love simply love trains and that is why I share this magazine with you. I have loved trains ever since I can remember.

PRASA: BAD SERVICE DELIVERY Old Alex Faria, my friend of many years, had decided to move to the Cape when he took pension. Sean Faria, his son had to attend a wedding in Krugersdorp. Alex thought it would be an excellent idea to do some “father & son bonding” etc. Alex was promised that I would pick him up at the Krugersdorp Railway station. They departed from Cape Town and the train started to run late. Early on Friday morning Alex sent his first sms:”The train manager says we are running 2 hrs and 20 min late.” From Pretoria I kept track of the Shosaloza Meyl’s progress. Well, when Alex and I estimated that the train would be in Krugersdorp within the next two hours I departed for Krugersdorp. I arrived in Krugersdorp at 13:50 and Alex reported that they were near Krugersdorp. Some other people and I waited for the train. … We still waited for the train…. On the way to Krugersdorp we had been in thunderstorm and the skies cleared. … We waited for the train…. Great white cumulus nimbus clouds rose up in the air, a beautiful scene! The sun came down burning with a vengeance! … And we still waited for the train…. After about 90 minutes I could not stand the inviting aroma of the bakery’s fresh bread. So I bought a hot loaf for six rand. Can you believe it? R6-00!!! In spite of my diet I shared the hot loaf without butter with my two new friends. The area around Krugerdorp’s station is run down. I wonder why? I started to look around. It is such a lovely area with an historical ambience. We had to seek shelter against the sun at the local taxi rank. The street was filthy! The taxi rank was filthy. The railway station was filthy! The lovely stone retaining wall showed burnt marks of recent winter fires! Some dressed stone were missing. The little municipal garden was full of weeds – never mind “boetebossies”! The lawn was overgrown. After waiting so long I had to use the toilet at the station. No toilet in sight for “men” never-mind “gentlemen”. I was directed to the “Ladies”. “Use it, but close the door”, said an officious person. Being an old policeman I was wary, just now I could be charged for crimen injuria! Good Heavens what a filthy toilet. Thank God I was a man! Many passengers were waiting. Not enough seating place. O yes, mindful that our other car had been stolen, I preferred to be near my little car. But we took turns to sit on the barrow in the shade on the platform or to be within sight of our car. I started to sms Alex. By now they were about, he guessed, 20 kms from Krugersdorp, they moved and stopped and nobody on the train had any idea why they had stopped in the veld! After waiting a “day” the train arrived at just before 17:00 – remember it had to be here at 11:20. Oom Koos told me he had been sent to Ashton police station during the Second World War and there the Sergeant told him: “Kosie, my Boy, always remember there are two classes: First class and No class!” Oom Koos and I have never forgotten the old man’s wise and true words.

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Well I wish PRASA and Mogale City would take a leaf out of the old Sergeant’s book about the classes. “Everything must be first class!” I need to go to Cape Town and Durban soon. Will I take the train? “Yes!” This reminds me, in the 1990 I had to travel by train from Hennenman to Port Elizabeth to fetch my new subsided police vehicle. When I got into the train with my family, my friend who took us to the station remarked: “I am sure that you hope the train brakes down, so that you could be longer on the train?” I guess you know what I replied!

‘n Klip in die bos?

I would like to throw a stone into a bush and would like to see what jumps out? We are quick to denounce the people who stone the trains or torch the stations. But have we taken the time to find out what drives them to do it. Many commuters work long hours, the catch early trains and when they are frustrated they vent their anger on the trains or anybody they think is responsible. With the frequent break downs and late trains there is little amusement or luxury on or near a platform. I seem to remember in the old days we had cafeteria’s and bars on station platforms, where are they now? Where are the benches? Why no clean toilets. Why not better communication between passengers and PRASA? Why must we be satisfied with “no class”????

SOUL OF A RAILWAY

Soul of A Railway© by Les Pivnic and Charlie Lewis Les and Charlie are working together on this project to convey to future generations the essence of a once magnificent transport network in South Africa - the South African Railways or SAR. Introduction The SAR was divided into nine systems as follows 1. Cape Western based in Cape Town 2. Cape Northern based in Kimberley 3. Cape Midland based in Port Elizabeth 4. Cape Eastern based in East London 5. Orange Free State based in Bloemfontein 6. Natal, based in Durban 7. Western Transvaal based in Johannesburg 8. Eastern Transvaal based in Pretoria 9. South West Africa, based in Windhoek Charlie is doing systems 1 to 4 while Les is doing systems 5 to 8. Thanks to those who have supplied photos, in particular to Pierre de Wet with whom we shall be collaborating in the distilling of this series for eventual publication, to Bruno Martin for the maps and to Robert Wilson of Melbourne for inspiring us to attempt something similar to his FAPs with "the other SAR". Please visit SOAR owned Les Pivnic and Charlie Lewis at: https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home

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TRANSPORT HISTORY

Elephants & Railways

Western-Transvaal Diamond diggings

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SAS-SAR 1940-07-886 SAS-SAR 1942-04-xli

Donkeys

SAP donkeys in the Namib

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Other donkey transport

Kakamas 1933-12-1415

Cattle & Oxen

Narrow Gauge: Brits West to Hartebeespoort Dam

More information wanted, please

Jose Burman: Early Railways at the Cape

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SAR Magazine 1938-07-862 SAR Magazine 1938-07-869

Army oxen were shod, I have seen their hooves in a museum which is a set of inverted “V”s for each hoof.

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From the then SA Police magazine Justitia, 1962 Feb: 47

The police and oxen

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1946: Police Animals

As the SAR and mechanical transport expanded the need or animal transport in the SAP decreased. Mules

were used to draw carriages and fodder.

We must endeavour to do everything in our power to get the railways back on the right track; the alternative

is too ghastly to contemplate. Our railways and our ample reserves of coal should be declared to be of

national strategic importance.

Instead of giving handouts, why don’t we say: employ poor whites who may be employed as cleaners of our

trains? Install pride in the railways because it is of national importance!

SAR & Horses

SAR Magazine 1934-04-447

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Horse & mule drawn Police vehicles

1914 at Hillbrow 1922 at PMB Justitia 1965-6-53

Later even awaiting trail prisoners were transported by train between a police station and the magistrates

court.

1922 at Pietermaritzburg (Justitia 1965-6-45)

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WEPENER’S PERAMBULATIONS

20150109

Hi Guys.

Between Whites and Hennenman, the Algoa returning to Johannesburg, running only 10 hours late. No one

knows the reason - "Sy het laat gekom van die Suide..." This train looked empty and not a single person in

the diner, only the sleeper coaches seemed to have some passengers, even the sitters were

empty, strange for holiday season... By the look of the open windows, the air-con does not seem to be

working, also did not hear the generator running.

Harmony Surface Rail at Steyn 4 shaft, waiting for a load from Sheltam to arrive.

Leaving Friedesheim, heading towards Welkom and Kroonstad, the return working of the Wesselsbron

pick-up.

At Virginia this BFX bound train was standing failed. Have a look at the nice garden on the platform where

Northbound passengers must join / leave the train. How thoughtful of PRASA not to trim the trees to give

shade and shelter for the passengers waiting for 10 hours or more for their trains to arrive, if they do... Took

a drive over the platform from one end to the other, Virginia is now deserted operating wise, only

Shosholoza Meyl at the ticket office, sometimes, no security.

Lastly at Theron, a sole survivor still stands locked up... Also - doesn't the station yard look pretty, hey Oom

Les ??!!

Cheers.

J & J

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20150109 (1)

Hi guys.

Friedesheim and 34 093 on the timber shunt.

Grindrod approaching Friedeheim with a load of empties for Freddies 1 shaft at Odendaalsrus. There was

another Grindrod working waiting to cross with this train standing in Friedesheim, this was a load of ore

from Freddies 5 shaft.

34 409 leaving Losdorings, the silos are visible to the right of the diesel, a load of mielies bound for

Kroonstad.

On Tuesday at around 14:00 we noticed passengers standing on Virginia's station platform, all signals were

red. Operating told us that a special train from Johannesburg down to Cape Town was standing in

Kroonstad station.

This was a train for the birthday party of our corrupt government at our expense...

On enquiring when she would leave we were told that they have a problem with passengers that boarded

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the train, without permission, and they need to be removed first, by the police... An hour later we phoned

again to be told that the passenger problem was sorted but now there was a loco and crew problem...

Another hour passed and this time we were told that the loco and crew problems were sorted BUT - the

entire train was going to be turned around for reasons only known to them... perhaps someone was a bit

tired of being baked in the sun sitting in his compartment and this of course justified to turn the entire train

around, delaying it even more...

This can be done on the large tri-angle leading to the ERS running shed or they could try it on the balloon

that runs from Gunhill through the industrial area to North yard, have a look on Google maps.

Needless to say we abandoned trying to get this train and don't know if they ever reached Cape Town...

Eugene sent me the YQ (train no. 971203) and according to this info the train left Johannesburg as ECS at

08:00 and ran through to Sasolburg, arriving at 10:31, stopped for an hour, where the first passengers were

loaded.

She arrived at Kroonstad at 14:06 for a crew change and was supposed to leave 20 minutes later.

No mention of passengers in the YQ.

At 15:00 she was supposed to get the passengers at Virginia. 16:23 ETA at Bloemfontein for crew

and passengers and loco change.

Kimberley should have been reached at 19:40 for crew, locos, C&W and water.

Departure Ronaldsvlei, 20:30, locos.

Arrival De Aar 23:23, departure 23:30

Beaufort West departure 04:10, locos and crew.

Laingsburg, 07:20, crew change.

Worcester, departure, 10:20, crew.

Arrival Cape Town platform 24, 13:25.

The train than goes for a pit inspection, we joined old Boon's train on many occasions for this trip to the

coaching yards while the other passengers took to the streets in Cape Town. The ECS must then be

staged at platform 24.Train no. 917204 to depart Cape Town at 22:00 on Sunday 10 January 2015.

Depart Worcester 01:00, crew.

Beaufort West departs 07:45, loco and crew.

Hutchinson, depart 09:45, crew.

Arrival De Aar 11:40 depart 12:00, crew.

Ronaldsvlei, depart 15:12, crew and locos.

Kimberley, departure 15:42, water and C&W.

Arrive BFX 18:27 depart 19:02, passengers, crew and locos.

Virginia 21:14, passengers.

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Kroonstad 22:25, crew.

00:50 arrive Sasolburg, depart 01:50, passengers. (ECS)

Arrive JHB 04:22.

Maybe she is running several hours late again and she comes past in daylight!!

Cheers.

J & J.

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BOMB ATTACK: 1986: GLENCOE STATION: BILL DEYZEL

Bill Deyzel Paar fotos vir Danie Botes. Daar is die “X” waar daai bom ontplof het op Glencoe.

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Hennie Heymans Wanneer het die bom ontplof? Wie se bom was dit? Vertel bietjie meer, Bill Deyzel

Christel Bernardo Herselman the explosion at the Glencoe Railway Station on the 20th

September 1986.

See Annexure “A” – for the full story - HBH

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FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS

Francois Mattheus

Blue Train

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Brackenfell, Dinsdag 13 Januarie 2015

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Above: A nice action shot of the last bogie. Below: The Premier Classe

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Bill Deyzel: Bethlehem Station

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Class 21 & 15087

Bill Deyzel Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe

You, Japie Terblanche, Chris Oelofse, Flash Pelcherand 3 others like this.

Hennie Heymans Philmar du Plessis wie se rytuig is 15087? 1 hr · Like · 1

Philmar du Plessis Hennie, dit is “Trein Dinamika” se rytuig. Die rytuig meet koppelaarkragte, remdruk en nog ʼn paar meganiese metings. Wat hier gebeur is dat die nuwe loko’s moet ge-escort word tot by Pyramid (die loko’s word getou met 18E's). Vir die 1ste 80km, beweeg hulle in blokke van 10km/h en klim hulle uit elke 10km of so en monitor bearing, wiel temperatuur ens. van die nuwe loko’s. Wanneer hulle tevrede is met stabiliteit, dan word die spoed verhoog tot 60km/h vir die res van die rit na Pyramid.

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Danie Botes

Glencoe Railway Station

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Dannhauser Station

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Hattingspruit

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Wasbank (Old NGR style)

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Swinburne

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Harrismith Station

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During the Anglo Boer War my grandfather and his siblings and his mother were sent by the British forces

from Harrismith to the Ladysmith Concentration Camp, then called “Tin Town”. The NGR line then only

went as far into the Free State as Harrismith. They were Bethlehem burgers. From Bethlehem to Harrismith

was by oxwagon.

Later the NGR-line from Ladysmith – Harrismith – Bethlehem – Kroonstad was built and completed by the

NGR.

During 1947 the Royal Family visited Harrismith station then spick and span!

Harrismith was a busy

station; there is a branch

line to Warden and a

branch line to the

industrial area.

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Newcastle

The “new” station was built out of town.

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Elanslaagte

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Great battles took place between Boer and Brit at places like Elandslaagte, Ladysmith, Bethlehem and Harrismith but I assure our readers during the time of the NGR, IMR, CSAR and South African Railways the stations looked smart and most were ready for a “surprise inspection.” Vandalism and neglect of our stations reflect negatively on our patriotism… I can’t help to think what do our visitors on the Blue Train and Rovos Rail think, when they see the neglect and vandalism? When one goes over the borders of South Africa the little stations (and the big ones) are neat and tidy – even in Namibia.

Schalk Claasen: Trains in the Mist

Schalk Claassen

5 January at 14:44

A rare sight ... Shosholoza Meyl hauled by two Spoornet 18e's. This was a charter train for the funeral service of Senzo Meyiwa at Moses Mabida Stadium. Seen in Boughton Balloon Pietermaritzburg on Sat. 1 Nov. 2014.

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Deon Kotze: Bergrivier

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Johannes Botha: Droëbult

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Piet Engelbrecht: Rhino

Between Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa at km 25.

Fabian Maans Train T71008 crossing Train T17011 at Touwsrivier

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Nicky Grobbelaar

Class 11E

Class 19E’s

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Nicky’s Babies

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Jaco Haasbroek: Koffiefontein

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Buckets, Fire, Red, for the use of ...

Koffiefontein memories

Jaco Haasbroek Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe 14 January at 19:08 · Weet nie of Koffiefontein ooit 'n groot stasie was nie, maar nou gaan daar minder as niks aan nie.

Anna Christina Pretorius, Philmar du Plessis, Japie Terblanche and 46 others like this.

Grant Fryer Kan jy miskien ‘n koppie koffie daar kry?

Jaco Haasbroek Jy moet net self skink.

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Martin Nel Nou die Saterdag is ek met 'n groep mense met 'n bus daardeur oppad Orania toe. Toe kon jy nie die fontein sien nie. Die hele dorp se kinders het met klere en al daarin gespeel terwyl ma's en pa's oorkant die straat sit en partytjie hou.

Jaco Haasbroek Die ketel se "alignment" is ook uit, mis die koppie heeltemal. Kan sien die mense daar is nie baie trots op hulle dorp nie, die leë bottels en vullis het in die strate gelê. Ok, dit was die dag na Kersfees wat ek daar deur is, so dalk was dit nog van die feesvierings.

Johann Pretorius Ek het al baie rond gery maar ek het nog nie by boere-troos-fontein uit gekom nie. HA HA HA

Piet Viljoen G Netjiese stasie gewees toe ek daarheen gewerk het vanaf Springfontein . Nie baie besig gewees nie. Net een trein per dag.

Barrie Brackenridge Netjies maar nie groot nie so ken ek hom familie het daar gebly

Hennie Heymans Gedurende die 1940's is talle Ossewabrandwagte daar geïnterneer - bv adv John Vorster, genl Hendrik van den Bergh - hulle is daarheen per trein vervoer

Elize Ebersohn Koffiefontein het 'n pragtige gholfbaan en 'n paar netjiese gastehuise en diens uitstekend. Julle kan dit gerus besoek.

Rene Van Wyngaarden Ja, as kind was die naam baie bekend. En 'n man wat daar was het groot aansien onder sy tydgenote gehad.

Harry Potgieter Nee Koffiefontein was nie ʼn groot stasie nie, die spoorlyn het vandaar af na De Beers se myn toe geloop +-4 km vanaf die stasie daar was ook ʼn driehoek om die loko’s om te draai terug na Springfontein toe die trein no’s 973/974 dit was in 1966 tot ek daar weg is in1973 ek sal graag wil weet wie was Piet.

Piet Viljoen G Ek was drywer op Springfontein. Het die laaste geskeduleerde Trein met stoom trekkrag op daai lyn gewerk. Die lokomotief was ʼn 19 D 2753

Harry Potgieter Hi Piet watter jaar het jy daar gewerk en as wat ʼn drywer of ʼn stoker ken ons mekaar.

Piet Viljoen G Ek is daar weg in die1984

Harry Potgieter Dankie dis na my tyd eks 1973 daar weg na Greytown toe as drywer en het af getree in 2002.

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Andries Meiring ek het op daai pad gewerk as ʼn treindrywer vanaf 1988 tot 2000 op die diesels ( afgelos ).

Jaco Haasbroek Dit moet 'n belewenis wees as mens daar in Fauresmith loop en hier kom 'n diesellokomotief die straat af. Wat was die spoedlimiet deur die hoofstraat?

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Andries Meiring Jaco Haasbroek 10 km/h

Lappies Labuschagne het daar en Fauresmith afgelos as SM

Piet Viljoen G 10 kpu !

Juan Raubenheimer: AFRO 4000 (PRASA)

17 January 2015 Table Bay

Juan, how about a diagram of the AFRO 4000, please?

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Jaco Haasbroek: De Aar

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“... if you are on the SAR ... we will meet at De Aar ....” Now only wide open spaces...

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Jacobus Marais: Lions River

Jacobus Marais; Lions River 29-12-14

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Broken pantograph

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David Settle

David Settle Ek het hierdie paar in die Kaap geneem

Japie Terblanche Mag ek dit save asb?

David Settle Natuurlik

Japie Terblanche Dankie, as iemand dalk ʼn foto van1595 het plaas dit asb

David Settle Ek sal nou nou pics kry

Japie Terblanche Waw my dag is gemaak, amper soos daai dag in 1975, toe ek die plastiek van die sitplekke afgetrek het/BAIE DANKIE.

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David Settle Dis my plesier

Japie Terblanche Een van my permanente hardloop nommers/al 5 is lokomotief nommers

Marius Ackerman Nog die mooiste

Leon P Prinsloo Julle manne praat so met heimwee in jul stemme oor elektriese loko’s. Eish! hoe moet ek voel oor 2966, 3987 en al die ander 15F's en dollies en 24 klas stoom loko’s wat ek gestook en gedryf het? O wee ek is wragtig besig om oud te word.

Japie Terblanche JA daarvan kan ek ook n paar nommers byvoeg van my dae op BETHLEHEM,ek het as kortgat ondergewig te hard gewerk om ook hulle nommers te vergeet

Leon P Prinsloo Dit was harde werk maar dit was goeie dae en niemand kan dit van jou af wegvat nie. 14 hrs · Like · 1

Fabian Maans Os het hulle oorgevat by oom Bennie op Touwsrivier..

Pienaar Heyns My eerste rit op 'n loko aan die begin van my loopbaan was op E 472, die enigste rooi 5E1 wat Soutrivier gehad het, buiten die 9 bloues. Drywer was Willem Lotze en Pankop Matthee. Eerste rit as drywer alleen was op E1152. (glygat). Hierdie 1500 reeks is nogal redelik betroubaar en trap lekker vas. Jul moet hul geniet, wees net geduldig met die ou susters.

David Settle

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Martin Nel

18E’s

18E 670, 708 & 699 met 35 gelaaide CCR-trokke Brackenfell op 26 Des 2014. Dankie aan die drywer vir die fluit:

Class 7E

Klas 7E2-7166 net noord van Driesusters

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6E’s: Cape Town Station: PRASA

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Morné Olivier

SAR in N-scale

Hello oom Hennie, Pics soos versoek. Die loko’s kort nog numbering en logo, en die grain hoppers ook. Groete, Morné Olivier

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Narrow Gauge: Port Elizabeth

Loerie

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Near Van Stadens

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St Alban’s

Some of the equipment has been acquired for other purposes.

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Thornhill

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Paul Mills

1889 Dubs-built SAR Class A, SAR No. 103, outside awaiting restoration at Outeniqua Transport Museum, 05 Jan 2015. Arrived from Witbank Aug 2014.

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·

You, Japie Terblanche, Jade Wilson, Nerina Skuy and 20 others like this.

Hennie Heymans Thanks Paul Mills.

Michael Anthony Abdo Wish I could be part of the restorations.

Franciscus Boshoff Michael you can come fix it. 11 hrs · Like

Michael Anthony Abdo I really would like that give me any info when, where, and I be there.

Schalk Claasen

Schalk Claassen Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe, 5 January 2015

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A special and welcome visitor to Durban ... The Blue Train passing the old Booth station near Durban, 16 Nov. 2014. You, Japie Terblanche, Jade Wilson, Francois Mattheüs and 22 others like this.

Japie Terblanche Smart,thanks 5 January at 23:03 · Like

Raymond Howard Pragtig hoop dit bly so mooi. Net die units moes blou gewees het.

Japie Terblanche Schalk Claassen, mag ek hom asb save?

Schalk Claassen Ja oom, met liefde. Christiaan Schutte was die drywer.

Japie Terblanche Dankie Mater

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Export

Grindrod sitter-coaches, Maydon Wharf Durban, 16 Nov. 2014. There were 9 coaches, beautifully refurbished and awaiting delivery.

You, Japie Terblanche, Jade Wilson, Pieter van Rooyen and 26 others like this.

Martin Nel Schalk, weet jy waar Grindrod hulle gaan aanwend? 5 January at 16:20 · Like

Piet Stroebel Glo in die kongo

Łuca Łategan Die vensters lyk baie beter as ons Shosho s'n

Peter Brixey Great colour scheme, now to keep them clean and shiny...

John Daffue Dit lyk goed wie het dit oorgedoen?

Schalk Claassen Geen idee.

David Settle: Nuwekloofpas

David Settle

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Jade Wilson, Bill Deyzel and 3 others like this.

Morne Olivier Trein om n draai, bly maar ‘n mooi pic maak.

Patricia Johnson As ek kyk na die omgewing is dit: Dedoorns/Hexrivier 'oor' Wirchester

Martin Nel Dit lyk vir my soos die Nuwekloofpas

2012: Blue Train: Cape Town

David Settle 'n Paar van 14-106 & 14-101, oranje op blou in die Kaap Februarie 2012

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Raymond Howard Dit lyk mos nou mooi, hoe lank gaan dit so lyk tot hulle Shoza loza op hulle skryf.

Morne Olivier Ook glad nie n bad looking loko nie...

Martin Nel En niemand moan oor hulle oranje was op die Bloutrein nie, maar laat jy nou net 'n 18E in die nuwe TFR-livrei haak, dan is die hel los.

Andre Stone Logan: Leeuhof

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Japie Terblanche: Train Spotter / Treinbekruiper

A dramatic picture of the Blue Train at speed!

Blue Train with Head Board – It would appear that the BT does not sport the head board in the Cape.

Metro 2015-01-16

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You, Japie Terblanche, Philmar du Plessis, Jade Wilson and 12 others like this.

Frans Kloppers Waar die swernoot is die Polisie en die Sekuriteit? In my dae het ons hulle vas getrap. Rower ryers.

Japie Terblanche Daai ou met die wit keps het my probeer raak gooi met n ballasklip so hulle tel klippe op om saam te karwei

Frans Kloppers Omdat jy bedreiging vir hom is. Hulle gooi die Sekuriteit langs die spore gereeld. Het nou die dag my huishulp se man tussen Residensia en Grasmere glo gegooi uit bewegende trein op een of ander stasie se platform.

Hennie Heymans Ek 'laaik' nie die storie nie! So ek kan ‘n "don’t like" druk nie - mense moet regmatig optree en die ou met die wit pet moet eintlik gevang word. Jammer ek en Frans is met pensioen! Dis sy geluk!

Jaco Holtzhausen Ek wonder party keer, Herman Charles Bosman het dit so mooi beskryf

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Charles van Eeden Dit is mos maar hoe dit elke dag gaan veral met spits tyd,,oggend en dan laat middag,,val een ou val per ongeluk dan is die metro drywer die vark wat hom dood gery het,,onskuldig in die strxnt.

Penelope Loxton Ai, Die mense het geen benul van veiligheid nie! Jene, Japie! Astrant ook! Die probleem deesdae in hierdie land is die "menseregte" wat die kriminenele uitbuit tot hulle voordeel. Frans Kloppers en Hennie Heymans, dis jammer dat julle met pensioen is. Ouens soos julle sou die stoute kabouters vasgevat het. Hel, dis 'n gemors wanneer iemand daar afbliksem en doodgetrap word of daar word ledemate afgetrap. Japie, ek kan glo jy het baie verontwaardig en magteloos gevoel en jy, as drywer, kon niks doen nie. Frans, ek hoop nie jy gee om as ek jou vra of jy voorheen deel was van die destydse Spoorweg polisie was wat geen render die laat 1980's met die SAPS geïntegreer was? In die vroeër 1990s het die Sekuriteitswagte afdeling ook blitze gehou op die Metrorail passasiers wat by die stasie afgekom. Ek het in die PE stasiegebou gewerk by die Elektriese Lig en Krag Gesamentlike Kantore van die Tegniese Supt. Sekuriteit was in dieselfde gebou gewees. Ek het baie gesien dat Mnr Roelf Campher 'n klomp mense wat "trein gesteel"(die wat "gratis" gery) na sy kantoor toe neem.

Frans Kloppers Penelope ek was al die jare , 34 jaar en 6 maande, in die Suid Afrikaanse Polisie. Het vanaf 1988 betrokke geraak met die spore toe ek die Bevelvoerder was van die Mobiele Eenheid wat op Vereeniging gestig was en is in 1991 na Parkstasie verplaas as Bevelvoerder Mobiele eenheid met spesiale opdrag om die trein geweld wat toe geheers het tussen die ANC en Inkhata te beveg. Toe dit in 1994 stabiliseer en uitgeroei was het ek net toegespits op treine en passsiers veiligheid en hierdie goed probeer stop. Ons sou byvoorbeeld spotter groepe langs die spore he saam met Metro Sekuriteit en spanne op die platforms en dan het ons hierdie knape wat so tussen in ry en die deure oop trap vas gevat en arresteer. Maar die howe het ons in die steek gelaat deur nie te vervolg nie. en dit was 'n landwye probleem. Ek is ongelukkig in 1995 gedeeltelik weg gevat toe ek die verpligting by gekry het om Grenspolisie in Gauteng en die Nasionale Veldspan te begin en in 1999 is ek voltyds Grenspolisie toe.

Penelope Loxton Ja, Frans, jy is ' n ou wat baie ondervinding en vaardighede het. Ek onthou die dae van die treingeweld tussen ANC en IVP jy het goeie werk gedoen. Jammer dat jy afgetree is -verkeerde tyd gebore jy moes nog gewerk het! Die grense en die "trein steel " is groot probleme. Ek dink die "flying squad" was 'n goeie ding gewees en dis jammer dis nie meer dieselfde nie.

Frans Kloppers Penelope Loxton ek het in die polisie afgetree maar ek is nog ekenomies aktief op hierdie stadium. Nog 26 pay tjeks oor dan moet ek aftree. As ek in die Polisie gebly het sou ek twee tjeks oor gehad het want sou dan Februarie afgetree het. Dit was lekker dae daardie in die polisie en ek het wen spanne onder my bevel gehad. Ek salueer hulle almal.

Japie Terblanche Ja ou Frans jy was een van: ʼn ding is net reg en dit is dit. Hierdie nonsies op die foto het al klaar weer begin en al die fabrieke en werksplekke is nog nie eens almal oop nie

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Penelope Loxton Fantasties werk, Frans! Wat stop jou om jou eie "armed response alarm company" te stig? Jy het wonderlike talent en kennis! 22 hrs · Like · 1

Frans Kloppers As ek in 2017 aftree is dit familie tyd. Ek en my goeie wederhelf gaan hierdie land plat toer. Ek het nou my deel gedoen. En om vandag 'n Sekuriteits Maatskapy te begin is net kopseer en jy kry nie goeie werkers wat trots is nie. Ek sal maar as raadgewer optree maar niks meer nie.

Schalk Claassen Ek sal eendag by oom kom kuier, dan sal ek met die sak klippe regstaan terwyl oom kiekies neem. Ek gee daai ou baie vinnig van sy eie medisyne!!!

Penelope Loxton Frans Kloppers, ek het dit eendag self in 'n koerant gelees dat 7 uit 10 sekuriteitswagte 'n kriminenele rekord het. So ek verstaan wat jy bedoel oor werkstrots.

Frans Kloppers Schalk 'n kettie werk baie beter......... vra my want ek het al.

Penelope Loxton Haha, ek lag nou oor die kettie storie, maar ek kan dit nie hier vertel nie!

Business Express

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Japie Terblanche Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Uloliwe

Mnr J C Engelbrecht Trajekbestuurder

So word n treinbekruiper gegroet uit die Bloutrein / DANKIE MATER

You, Philmar du Plessis, Japie Terblanche, Jade Wilson and 30 others like this.

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Adrian Maytom Respek

Stefan Andrzejewski Pasop hy gaan uitval as hy jou so groet.

Billy Swann En so hoort dit mos Japie Terblanche

Jaco Holtzhausen Johannes Engelbrecht

Japie Terblanche Vriende julle weet nie wat dit beteken as al die mense vir n ou pensioener blaas of groet in die verby gaan/DAAR IS NIE WOORDE OM DIT TE VERWOORD NIE

Francois Mattheüs Jiso, dis nou nice! Mooi man!

Running numbers

Japie Terblanche My permanente wedloop nommers almal elektriese lokomotief nommers

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You, Japie Terblanche, Jade Wilson, Pieter van Rooyen and 18 others like this.

Barrie Brackenridge Pragtig Japie

Japie Terblanche Dankie BARRIE almal deur genade op ons werk was dit dubbel moeilik sonder krag van bo/Lang ure min oefenkans

Barrie Brackenridge Japie wilskrag en uithou vermoë

1st Rovos of 2015 with Jaco Holtzhausen at the helm

Japie Terblanche Treinbekruiping op Eerste Rovos 2015 vanaf Kaapstad om 08h42 op 05/01/15/Drywer Jaco Holtzhausen

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Heritage Railway Magazine

SOUTH AFRICAN HERITAGE RAILWAY Umgeni Steam Railway's ex SAR Class 19D no. 2685 rolls down grade towards Drummond Tunnel en route to Inchanga Station. 04 Jan 2015 by Edwin Andy Anderson...

You, Alexander James Knight, Jacobus Marais, Noel Welch and 39 others like this. View 3 more comments.

A Railway Police Story re Above: Ronnie Coetzee

Ronnie Coetzee Pragtig, mooi was nog nooit lelik nie. Toe ek Sersant, Posbevelvoerder op Golela was het 'n groot vriend van my in die huis langs myne gebly. Dit was splinternuwe Soorweghuise en baie modern. Die vriend se naam was Packem Pelser en hy was 'n Stoomdrywer. Op 'n dag was hy besig om te rangeer en ek het nader gegaan, op die lokomotief geklim om bietjie te gesels. Ek het fyn dopgehou wat hy doen en voorgestel hy leer my bietjie hoe om daai stange te trek. Hy leer my toe mooi want ek sê vir hom dat ek dié vaardighede moontlik kon nodig kry in my hoedanigheid van S.A. Spoorwegpolisieman. Na 'n rukkie toe hy tevrede is met my vordering, klim hy af van die Lokomotief en gaan staan en gesels lekker met 'n ander persoon onder 'n digte koelteboom. Dit was Somer en Golela is 'n vrek warm plek. Ons het klimaatstoelae en so 'n week ekstra klimaatsverlof per jaar gekry. Ek het seker so 'n halfuur die "regulator" getrek en toegemaak, 'n Keer of twee die wiele laat spin dat die sand op die spore uitgeloop het maar regtig pragtig reggekom. Ek skree toe vir Packem: " Haai ou maat, gaan beman jy die Aanklagkantoor terwyl ek jou 'job" en "pay" oorneem. Stoomdrywers het saam met hul oortyd seker 10 keer 'n Polisieman se salaris verdien. Hierna het hy maar weer terug gekom en alte lekker gelag. Ons het die lewe altyd vir onsself gelukkig en prettig gemaak.

Morne Olivier Beautiful scenery! It’s a definite for me.

Morne Olivier Mooi storie Ronnie.

FRIENDS OF THE CHOO-CHOO

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NEWSFLASH

From today – Wednesday 7 January - up to and including the 17th of January, the Diaz

Express will be running five trips daily, Sundays excluded, between Hartenbos station and Mossel

Bay station. It will depart from Hartenbos station on the even hours: 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00

and 16:00 and from Mossel Bay station on the uneven hours: 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and

17:00. Special holiday ticket price will be R 30 (R 20 for FCT members) per one direction trip, until

the 17th of January 2015, when a new price structure will kick in. Tickets can be bought at the

points of departure, prior to boarding, from the train assistant .

Rides are on a first come first served basis. However , block bookings of minimum 25 people are

availabe. For block bookings please contact Pierre Poolman at Pierre@gardenrouterail.co.za or

Mobile: 082 450 7778

After the holiday season, around February, various package tours will be advertised.For instance,

starting with a champagne breakfast at the La Peron restaurant at Mossel Bay station, travel by

trolley to Klein Brakrivier halt, proceed to Boplaas (3 km) by bus for wine tasting and arts and

crafts shopping, then on to Groot Brakrivier by rail for lunch at the Transkaroo restaurant

(scrumptious pork belly) on the station premises and then finally back to Mossel Bay. Or start at

Groot Brakrivier with a breakfast and then travel to Baruch’s premises near Langeberg Mall for a

coffee tasting experience with a very interesting interactive information session around coffee

cultivating and the various processes.

Discounted tickets will not be available for these packaged tours for FCT members.

Difference between 20Eand 21E

Andre Somers Wat is die verskil tussen die 20E en die nuwe 21E?

Martin Nel Andre, daar is nie groot verskille nie, maar lees hier op die wiki waar André Kritzinger dit mooi uiteensit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_21E

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South African Class 21E - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia On 16 September 2014 the first of the Class 21E dual... EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Philmar du Plessis Die 21E match die 19E grotendeels. Die twee klasse gaan hoofsaaklik die Koollyn se vloot in die nabye toekoms wees.

BRUNO MARTIN: BRIEF VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA

Dear Hennie, RAILWAY SITES RE-VISITED DURING MY BRIEF VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA (26 October-9 November 2014) On the way to the Kruger National Park with my brother we stopped alongside the N4 near Waterval Boven to photograph three class 18Es travelling light down to Waterval Onder (later seen again at Ngodwana) followed by a lengthy freight train headed by four class 18Es. Our activities did not go unnoticed by two police officers parked by the road side - they came over to exchange pleasantries and then enquired whether we were journalists! Next they wanted know whether we were carrying any “drinks” in the car, so my brother offered them a bottle of cold spring water! As they were busy inspecting a car they had just pulled over we decided this was an opportune moment for us to bid them farewell. The next stop was at the lower portal of the road tunnel, but with several individuals hanging around a derelict building nearby I decided not to venture up to the old NZASM tunnel. Instead, we stopped to photograph the historic 5-arch NZASM Bridge further down the road and I walked over the bridge to follow the old track bed for a short distance. At Waterval Onder we visited Krugerhof Museum – the surrounding garden is kept in immaculate condition by the gardener who clearly takes a lot of pride in the work he does. There is no entry charge to view the rooms of the house filled with exhibits and memorabilia of President Kruger and the building of the railway from Delagoa Bay to Pretoria. Waterval Onder Next, a short drive up the service road to photograph the derelict station building of Waterval Onder. This brought back memories of a visit the station on 14 August 1970 when the 75th anniversary of the opening of the railway from Delagoa Bay to Pretoria was celebrated. That day former NZASM locomotive “Roos”, a 46-tonner, built at the Emil Kessler Works in Esslingen, Germany, in 1893, works number 2598, was drafted in to work the commemorative train. She was renamed “President Kruger” for the occasion and pulled the special train from Waterval Boven to Waterval Onder with then Transport Minister Ben Schoeman on the footplate. Earlier in his career, Ben Schoeman had first joined the SAR as a fireman and later became a driver – a role he performed once more over the last part of the return journey to Waterval Boven. Wording of the plaque attached to “President Kruger” (aka “Roos”):

Z.A.S.M PRESIDENT KRUGER

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HIERDIE NAAMPLAAT IS OP

14 AUGUSTUS 1970

DEUR SY EDELE

B.J. SCHOEMAN L.V.

MINISTER VAN VERVOER

ONTHUL BY

GELEENTHEID VAN DIE

VIERING VAN DIE

75-JARIGE HERDENKING

VAN DIE ANLEG VAN

DIE ZASM-SPOORLYN.

THIS NAME PLATE WAS

UNVEILED BY

THE HONOURABLE

B.J. SCHOEMAN M.P.

MINISTER OF TRANSPORT

14 AUGUST 1970

ON THE OCCASION OF THE

CELEBRATION OF THE

75TH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE BUILDING OF

THE ZASM RAILWAY.

Selati railway relics: on our way from Berg-en-Dal camp to Skukuza we branched off the Malelane-Skukuza Road and followed road S112 in the hope of finding a trace of the level crossing of the old Selati railway near Renosterkoppies. No easily identifiable trace could be found. But heading north along road S114 towards the junction with S22 (which leads to Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial) a sharp kink in the road alignment appears to be the likely spot where the railway had once crossed the road. Of railway interest at Skukuza is of course the old bridge over the Sabie River (opened in 1912), but shielded from public view (on the day of my visit on 28 October) is SAR class 24 No.3638 (works number 26350, built by North British, 1949) and former C-21 car which was outshopped in 1967 as a specialised private vehicle carrying the number 7 (mentioned in Les Pivnic's book on Railway Dining Cars in South Africa on page 352) parked at the former Skukuza station. The restaurant is currently closed and the entire site is fenced off, but we found a way in around the back to have a look around and take some photographs. Sabie and Nederhorst On our return to Pretoria we travelled via Sabie, Long Tom Pass, Mashishing (Lydenburg) and eMakhazeni (Belfast) and then along the N4. While we did not go to Sabie station, but followed a side road that led up to a level crossing where I found the rails coming out from the station rusty and covered with gravel and appear to have been out of use for quite some time. On the Steelpoort branch the heavy duty rails are shiny, laid on concrete sleepers and well ballasted. We stopped to take some photographs of Nederhorst – the name board no longer makes any mention of it being the highest rail elevation in South Africa (2044 metres). With the line quite close to the road on the way to Belfast, I noted that the siding name boards were still in place but no trains were seen. Fort Klapperkop On our visit to Fort Klapperkop my attention was immediately drawn to what looks like an old tram car at the entrance of the top car par park. The security guard on duty had no information regarding its origins, but subsequently accessing Fort Klapperkop’s website mention is made that this is the last tram car to run in Pretoria. In the lower car park Class 6B No.537 is in good condition and well protected under cover. Gautrain Lastly, to satisfy my curiosity, I had to sample a ride on Gautrain. I had last travelled at 160km/h on a South African train on 16 January 1984 on the Metroblitz from Johannesburg to Pretoria – back then it was not

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on “Stephenson’s” but on “Cape” gauge. My ride on Gautrain took me from Hatfield to Sandton and back. All seems well organised as one expects of a modern railway - the electronic ticketing system is similar to the one in use in Brisbane with the cheapest fares between 08:30 and 15:30. What a contrast to see the old Metrorail stock trundling alongside between Hatfield and Pretoria stations. The ride is smooth and the coaches are quite roomy, some have rows of 2 by 2 seating and others 3 by 2. Photography was a bit tricky – with security guards around all the time I waited until they turned away from me before I quickly whipped out my camera to capture an image. So, after a most enjoyable, albeit all too short, stay I boarded the aircraft with the red kangaroo painted on its tail at ORT International Airport again for the 12-hour non-stop flight to Sydney and after a short stopover continued on to Brisbane. Kind regards Bruno

I have placed the images in the ‘Dropbox’ in the shared Uloliwe folder for you to download. If you speak to Eric Samuels again soon, please let him know a letter is on its way to his new address. Thank you.

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BRUNO MARTIN: RHODESIANA

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VISIT TO LOURENS STURGEON

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Photo of AA-25 No 276

C-22 – built by Lionel Penning

Class 7, Class C-16 (Johan Hattingh – brass); Protea and Kitchen Car

Other models

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Diagrams: L Sturgeon

AA-25 No 267

A-24 “Protea”

Protea was one of the most illustrious Dining Cars on SAR, she sported the most various liveries.

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ANTIQUITY: UIT DE OUDE DOOS

1863 Greenpoint – Cape Town: Horse tram

Visit CAPSOL on http://www.capsol.co.za/blog/cape-town/15-pictures-of-cape-town-in-the-1900s/ for more

photographs. I have seen all these pics before.

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1900: CGR: The Milnerton - Cape Town Train

1904: The arrival of former President SJP Kruger’s body in Cape Town

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S-24: NO 6407: LOURENS STURGEON

No 6704: The “Hulse”-coach

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Note spoke wheels on bogie

Filler: Fabian Maans

Fabian baie geluk, dis nou een vn die mooiste foto’s wat jy nog geneem het!

Doen so voort!

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SAS-SAR Magazine March 1973

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S-24: No 6407 (HBH)

The last time I saw this coach was at Koedoespoort on 23-2-2004:

Filler

34-561 in Blue Train livery with the Blue Train

hired by Boon Boonzaaier of Bosveld Train

Safri’s at Nylstroom by HB Heymans.

This photo was taken with a “mik & druk”

before I had a digital camera.

Old Boon could fill the Blue Train with his

innovate marketing and large client base.

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THE CHERRY ON CAKE!

Noel Welch: Eastern Cape

20E at Cookhouse

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Forsaken at Cookhouse

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An atmospheric photo of a forlorn stop block at Cookhouse

POST BOX

SAS-SAR Vol 5 No 13: Dr Richard Clatworthy

Hi Hennie, I found SAS-SAR 5/13 (which I still think of as Uloliwe) very rewarding, especially in regard to its RR content. I was especially chuffed at the photo of the “immaculate” RR coach at Johannesburg. As regards the use of RR coaches in the Joh’burg Mail, I attach a piece I wrote on the subject – I don’t think it very suitable for publication, it is for your interest. Continuing with RR we have the Timetables, Historic Milestones, the Bulawayo opening Specials Timetables, some pics , and the Prince George royal train of 1934 with pic of a RR 12th class on p.53. Regarding the pic on p.56 I wondered for a moment if it could be a RR 13th class but it is definitely a GD. The pic on p.57 is a SAR 15A, original Belpaire boiler but interestingly top-feed – they were originally built with side-feed (Holland 2 p.27) but J Dulez has plenty of photos with top-feed.

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Another point which aroused my interest was in the “Red Devil” feature which I presume was from the SAR group on Facebook, and my attention was caught by the posts from Jan Crafford. This is a rather uncommon surname which I had encountered once before, with a SAR connection, as that of the Station Master who arrived to take over Tsessebe station in Bechuanaland (Botswana) on 4th April 1938, advising the outgoing SM, S., that he was expected to move out that afternoon instead of two days later. A rushed and stressful handover resulted in a northbound goods train departing with a wrong order which resulted in a head-on collision with the southbound Mail train, by Sod’s Law in a blind curve in cutting. 26 people, including 8 railways staff, died, with tremendous stock damage. S. was convicted of Culpable Homicide and, although not jailed, lost his job and everything. I researched all this from Bulawayo in the 1970s and wrote it all up but did not find a publisher. All I have now is scans of a carbon copy of the typescript. I don’t know if you are a member of Robert Bronkhorst’s Staff and Family of Rhodesia Railways group on Facebook, it was recently aired on there in response to some queries – I like to think I provided closure for a descendant of one of the victims. The “Red Devil” correspondent could therefore be a descendant of the incoming SM though I was surprised to find, on looking him up, to find over 20 Jan Craffords. Anyway if you are interested and have not seen it I could send you the scans, but if you wanted to use it you would have to copy type it, unless there is a program that can “read” scanned typescript and render it in Word. There are several photos from various sources which I think you could only get from the (closed) group. If you are not a member I would recommend it. There is also the (open) Rhodesia Railways group. With Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a successful 2015. Cheers Richard

The Prodigal Photo: Richard Clatworthy

In late November 1952 I was nearing the end of my schooling at Plumtree School, near the

western border of Zimbabwe, then Southern Rhodesia, on the Bulawayo – Mafeking railway. The

RR 19th class had been introduced earlier that year and I wanted a photo of one on a passenger

train. Schooling was over, I had a free day between exams, and I knew of a climbable gum tree

overlooking a curve a little way towards Bulawayo. So in the late morning I cycled out, climbed to

a suitable level and waited. On time, along came the Cape Town mail train, but behind a 10th

class loco. I photographed it anyway, went back to school for lunch, and cycled out again in the

afternoon for the Johannesburg train. This time I got my 19th but to my surprise the coaches were

not the usual SAR ones but Rhodesia Railways stock – I had unwittingly recorded the inaugural

run.

The following day's Bulawayo Chronicle had a report and I, having developed the film overnight,

thought of submitting my photo. I cannot now remember if I did, but considering probable

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procedures, I could have sent them my negative and, as I would be in Bulawayo within a few days,

collect it back then. I just have no recollection of what did happen – probably the events of leaving

school drove it out of my mind.

Fast forward now almost 50 years, to mid-2002, when I receive SANRASM COURIER no. 110,

which includes an account by my old friend George Pattison of Engines that had hauled him. In it

he gives 1953 as the year when RR first provided the coaches for the Johannesburg train. I know

this to be not quite correct – while the error is hardly significant, I feel it provides me with a pretext

for displaying my photo. Accordingly I sort through my 120-size negatives (the following year I had

gone over to 35 mm) and find one neg showing a train from that tree – but that is a 10th class! I

get it printed, and the coaches are clearly SAR. However I cannot find the other negative

anywhere. Anyway I submit the print I have to the Editor of the COURIER.

The previous year when Ted Hamer's book Locomotives of Zimbabwe and Botswana was

published I had purchased an (autographed) copy, which I had read through at the time. Now,

wanting to check up on a certain detail, I was leafing through the book, and on turning a page the

photo at the top of p.59 almost jumped out at me! A 19th class leading, behind a caboose and

single SAR coach, a train of RR stock around a curve, with out-of-focus Eucalyptus leaves

intruding on one side. The vegetation details are identical to my 10th class photo, the only

difference being consistent with the westward movement of the sun; the 10th class had been

shaded by its smoke from the directly overhead sun, the 19th had sun on its smokebox face, and a

telephone post has developed a short shadow.

I contacted Ted and learned that he had obtained that photo from the NRZ archives, photographer

unspecified. George Pattison concurs that the photo must be mine. Apart from the possibility

outlined at the beginning, I might have submitted the photo to the RR Magazine or the subsequent

Railroader at a later date. However it came about, I lay claim to The Prodigal Photo!

Hallo Richard!

I concur! I think it is your photo. No "old man" could climb a tree - it is only a fit and agile school boy that

can do that!

Could you please send me the photo - I will publish your article in the next edition.

Please tell the Rhodie-friends on Facebook about the special edition on Rhodesia and that they may send

me article and photographs for publication. Having served as Mr Lardner-Burke's body guard in Durban and

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having served for 3 months in Rhodesia; I have a soft spot for the BSAP & the RR.

A Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Greetings

Hi Hennie, Herewith the photos: 1. Noon, 10th class on Cape Mail, photo used by Pattison in Thundering Smoke. 2. 3pm, 19th class on Joh’burg Mail, first run of RR stock to Jhb. Scanned from Hamer, Locomotives of Zimbabwe and Botswana. Tomorrow morning we set off for our son’s place in the south. Back Boxing Day. Cheers Richard

10th Pattison

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19th Hamer

Filler

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OF CHEF’S AND SUMPTUOUS MEALS ON WHEELS: H van Shaik

Student Hendrik van Schaik as acting Chief Steward with Catering Inspector White June-July 1974. The

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dining car was “Vaal”.

Here I am as acting Chief Steward with Catering Inspector White. I was still a full-time student at the University of Pretoria at the time. This was during university holidays in June/July 1974. The dining car was "Vaal". You, Div De Villiers, Jade Wilson, Philmar du Plessisand 51 others like this.

Paul Eybers: Ou White het my 'n paar keer gespring

Hendrik van Schaik: Paul Eybers hahaha. Ja, hulle was maar altyd op die uitkyk om mens uit te vang. Maar hy was 'n netjiese Inspekteur. Dan was daar nog "Cowboy" Coetzee, Noah (die gentleman), "Ore" le Roux en vele ander

Rene Van Wyngaarden: Kyk hoe netjies!

Wilma Bester-Geldenhuys: Nou verduidelik wat hy moes doen dat ons ook kan verstaan wat nie weet nie

Paul Eybers: Hulle het gekyk of jy nie goed verkoop en geld in sak druk nie. Hulle het deur jou reisboek gegaan om te kyk of als balanseer

Hendrik van Schaik: Die Verversinginspekteurs moes toesien dat die diens van hoë gehalte op, onder andere, die eetwaens, verversingskamers en personeel kafeterias gehandhaaf word. Hulle het dan onverwags die trein "bespring" op enige plek en dan kom kyk wat in die kombuis en eetwa aangaan. Hulle het ook 'n tikmasjien saamgedra om dan 'n verslag, vir elke eetwa wat hulle spring, te tik. Hulle het ook elke trein in Johannesburg en Kaapstad afgesien om te verseker dat al die personeel opgedaag het. Daar was altyd personeel op "stand by" om in te spring sou daar 'n personeeltekort wees.

Hendrik van Schaik: Soos Paul Eybers noem - daar was streng kontrole met die "boekwerk" - maar sommige personeel het maar steeds 'n kans gevat

Hendrik van Schaik: Daai dag het ons 11 af gewerk. Die tafels was vir teetyd gedek. Daar is nog 'n asbakkie op die tafel - was voor rook in eetwaens verban was.

Kobie Compion: watter lekker dae ek was in laat sestigs op die kar met die naam Modder

Hendrik van Schaik: Jip Kobie Compion ek kan nog die Modder ook onthou! Dit was lekker dae - vreeslik baie lekker eintlik.

Kobie Compion daardie dae is vir ewig verby

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Jade Wilson Alexander James Knight

Gurling Bothma: I worked as a steward in the holidays in the mid seventies too. I learned a lot about life. Hard work, but I enjoyed it. Unfortunately our crew (non permanent staff) got fired when the inspectors caught us coming into Jhb station with the blinds down and the cutlery etc packed away. It was the day before Christmas and the Chief Steward wanted to get home. I worked on trains to Natal, Cape Town, OFS (steam engines).

Magda Pienaar Reinhardt: Wow. Sy epic.

Theo James: I also worked on The “Mooi” that time my c/steward was Mac van der Merwe

Richard Niven Fantastic man. Just look at the pride we all had. Great stuff indeed

Hendrik van Schaik: Thanks Richard Niven. Pride indeed we had!!!

Hennie Heymans: Hendrik van Schaik - vir die kersuitgawe van ons elektroniese blad wil ek graag die spoorweg en Kersfees koppel - enige foto's op Kersdag in die eetwa sal waardeer word.

Peter Brixey: Those were the days when there was time for the grander aspects of life. Bring them back please.

Andries Du Plessis: En twee jaar later brand die land amper af met die begin vd Soweto-opstande. En tog het soveel goed aanhou werk, standaarde is gehandhaaf en die lewe het aangegaan.

Hendrik van Schaik: Hennie Heymans ek het ongelukkig nie foto's van 'n eetwa met Kersversierings nie. Alhoewel ons die eetwaens altyd oor die Kersseisoen versier het - die koste was deur die personeel self gedra - het ek ongelukkig nooit 'n foto daarvan geneem nie.

Theo James: ek was in die 6tig en 7tigs op die mooi en laaste op die ou suidwester die zezela

Theo James: weet julle waar kom al die eetwaens se name vandaan? 17 November at 08:58 · Like · 1

Hendrik van Schaik: Meestal riviername Theo James 17 November at 09:50 · Like · 1

Alexander James Knight: The dining car VAAL was 213/267 types A-22/AA-23 respectively. There was a good photo of 213 in an old SAR Rail and this dining car was scrapped for the parts for other Museum A-22's. AA-23 number 267 was sold to a private.

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Jade Wilson Alexander James Knight can you maybe Help Oom Hennie Heyman's with a Christmas photo - i.e. dining car decorated for Christmas?

NEXT ISSUE & GREETINGS

The next issue of “The SAS-SAR” will be Vol 6 No 2 and will be published, DV, sometime during beinning March 2015.

Send in your comments, anecdotes and photographs please. Take care!

Stuur solank u stories, herinneringe en u eie foto’s aan uloliwe@gmail.com in jpg-formaat

Hennie Heymans – Pretoria, ZA © 2015