THE ULOLIWE
The Railways of Southern Africa: Past & Present SpoorweĂŤ van Suidelike-Afrika: Toeka tot Nou A monthly railway historical and research publication ‘n Maandelikse spoorweg historiese en navorsing publikasie Vol 4 No 8 Un-official / Nie Amptelik - Gratis Everything to do with the former SA Railways: i.e. lighthouses, harbours, staff, photos, books, RMT, stations, tugs, SAR Police, SAA, catering, pipelines, stamps, models, rolling stock, armoured trains, diagrams, etc
Hennie Heymans, Pretoria, ZA uloliwe@gmail.com August 2013
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All photographs carry copyright by their respective photographers. •
Thanks to Les Pivnic and Charlie Lewis for permission to use their photos of Wellington station in this issue.
Welcome! Meet Some of the Team who compile the Uloliwe
Bruce Jones
Johan Jacobs
HBH
J Wepner
J Wepner
Linda Jansen van
Fanus Jansen van
Francois MattheĂźs
Jacobus Marais
Rudi Venter
Rensburg
Rensburg
? Johannes Botha
Jeanette Jacobs
Willie Marais
Thys du Plessis
You, our Reader 2
Contents All photographs carry copyright by their respective photographers. .....................................................................................................................2 Welcome .............................................................................................................................................................8 Front Cover – Voorblad:...................................................................................................................................8 Editorial – Redaksioneel...................................................................................................................................8 Lourens Sturgeon sent this photo of workers cleaning the train: ..............................................................9 Wepener’s Perambulations and … some Railway History .......................................................................10 •
20130713............................................................................................................................................10
‘n Spoorwegman se Gebed: Johannes van Rensburg [Transnet Engineering KDS] ......................14 •
SAR: Plaque at Emmaus .................................................................................................................16
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Report 20130723...............................................................................................................................17
Nostalgie: Die Trein Na Heimweë: Thys du Plessis ..................................................................................20 Spore na die Binneland: Beeld.......................................................................................................................23 •
1896....................................................................................................................................................27
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1956....................................................................................................................................................27
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2013....................................................................................................................................................28
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Wellington: Les Pivnic & Charlie Lewis ......................................................................................29
Linda Jansen van Rensburg [JvR Photo-Art] ..............................................................................................30 •
Alice ..................................................................................................................................................30
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Alicedale Station..............................................................................................................................33
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Paterson Station ...............................................................................................................................37
Soul of A Railway (SoAR): Les Pivnic & Charlie Lewis ............................................................................40 Natal Midlands: Jacobus Marais ...................................................................................................................41 3
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No 15083: Instrument Coach .........................................................................................................41
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XPRJ 38-700-395 ...............................................................................................................................42
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Botswana Coal truck – built by Spoornet ....................................................................................42
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Technical Trains ..............................................................................................................................43
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Luxrailer ...........................................................................................................................................44
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Zulu ...................................................................................................................................................44
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Train watching.................................................................................................................................45
Natal Main Line: Rudi Venter .......................................................................................................................45 •
Umbilo Loco.....................................................................................................................................45
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Danskraal: Roadlearning Coach ...................................................................................................47
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Boughton: Luxrailer ........................................................................................................................48
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Estcourt & Ashburton.....................................................................................................................49
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Ladysmith ........................................................................................................................................50
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Danskraal relics: 1986 Train float ..................................................................................................51
Bill Deyzel: Natal ............................................................................................................................................53 •
Danskraal .........................................................................................................................................53
Western Cape: Francois Mattheüs ................................................................................................................55 •
Saldanha – Sishen Iron Ore line ....................................................................................................55
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Petrol Train ......................................................................................................................................56
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Premier Classe .................................................................................................................................56
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36-009 & Refurbished Metro Coaches ..........................................................................................57
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Sishen – Saldanah Breakdown Train ............................................................................................59
Western Cape: Touwsrivier/ Touws River: Willie Marais ........................................................................59 4
Western Cape: Ashton: Alex Faria................................................................................................................60 Western Cape: Vredenburg Station: Paul Eybers .......................................................................................61 Western Cape: Fish Hoek: Corrie Dreyer ....................................................................................................61 Northern Cape: Upington: Willie Marais ....................................................................................................62 Eastern Transvaal: Ermelo: Locomotive by Gerhard Pieters ....................................................................62 Phalaborwa: Albert van der Merwe .............................................................................................................63 Northern Transvaal: Mokopane: Salie Henrico ..........................................................................................65 The City of Saints: Grahamstown Station: Robbie Green..........................................................................67 •
“Absence” an Essay by Robbie Green ..........................................................................................67
Rail Welding: Ben Greyling ...........................................................................................................................75 Rail Immigrants fron NZ: Mel Turner .........................................................................................................77 SA Metro Rail...................................................................................................................................................78 Western Cape: Metro: .....................................................................................................................................78 •
Fish Hoek Corrie Dreyer ................................................................................................................78
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Fish Hoek: Cape Town Bound: Stefan Andrzejewski ................................................................79
Gautrain............................................................................................................................................................79 Gautrain News: Compiled by Jeanette Jacobs ............................................................................................80 Railway People – Spoorwegmense ...............................................................................................................81 •
Albert van der Merwe ....................................................................................................................81
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Bill Deyzel ........................................................................................................................................81
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Lou Erasmus ....................................................................................................................................82
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Alex Faria .........................................................................................................................................82
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Tinus Fourie .....................................................................................................................................83 5
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Deon Gouws ....................................................................................................................................83
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Salie Henrico ....................................................................................................................................83
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Danie Heymans ...............................................................................................................................84
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Jaco Holtzhausen.............................................................................................................................84
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Willie Koorts ....................................................................................................................................84
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Jacobus Marais .................................................................................................................................85
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Corrie Dreyer ...................................................................................................................................86
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Dirk Odendaal .................................................................................................................................87
Previous issues of Uloliwe .............................................................................................................................88 Rail Humour ....................................................................................................................................................88 •
Lunch at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch .........................88
Book Shelf.........................................................................................................................................................88 •
Leon “Div” de Villiers’ Books: Cape Town .................................................................................88
Legal Africa ......................................................................................................................................................89 Road Motor Transport Service [RMT]..........................................................................................................89 •
RTS: J & J Wepener..........................................................................................................................90
South African Airways ...................................................................................................................................92 •
B738 – Johannes Botha ....................................................................................................................92
Atlantic Rail Cape Town ...............................................................................................................................92 Reefsteamers: Lee Gates .................................................................................................................................92 Railway Society of Southern Africa Natal – A Peter ..................................................................................92 Railway History Group ..................................................................................................................................93 Friends of the Rail (FOTR) .............................................................................................................................94 6
Sandstone .........................................................................................................................................................94 JB Tours: Train Tours in Southern Africa ....................................................................................................94 Franschhoek: Wine Tram ...............................................................................................................................94 North British Locomotive Preservation Group ..........................................................................................94 •
NBL Preservation Group: Newsletter ..........................................................................................94
Railwayana.......................................................................................................................................................95 South African Models .....................................................................................................................................95 •
Scalecraft: Adrian Hill ....................................................................................................................95
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Shaun and Rinke’s contact information is as follows ................................................................95
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Scalecraft product information......................................................................................................95
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Dream Trains – Wynand Vermeulen ...........................................................................................96
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Railway Models Information Group - L Penning.......................................................................96
SA Railway related internet groups .............................................................................................................96 •
Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe (sic) ........................................................96
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Yahoo: SAR-Miniatures – Adrian Hill .........................................................................................96
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Facebook: ‘RHODESIA RAILWAY’ Group - John Batwell ......................................................96
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Website for Reefsteamers: Lee Gates ............................................................................................97
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Well worth a look ............................................................................................................................97
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Andre Kritzinger .............................................................................................................................97
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Adrian Hill says:..............................................................................................................................97
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Touwsrivier / Touws River ............................................................................................................97
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Soul of a Railway (SoAR) ...............................................................................................................97
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Other Railway Websites: Rudie Venter .......................................................................................98 7
Shosaloza Meyl ............................................................................................................................................98 Pandora’s Box ..................................................................................................................................................98 •
Peter Dickens (SA Legion) .............................................................................................................98
Railway Archeology .......................................................................................................................................98 •
Last month: Train Cemetery, Bolivia via Piet van Zyl ...............................................................98
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New! Comments from Dr John N Middleton ...........................................................................100
Mail bag ..........................................................................................................................................................101 •
From Koos Kotze in the Free State......................................................................................................101
Stop Press .......................................................................................................................................................102 Disclaimer and Greetings.............................................................................................................................102
Welcome Front Cover – Voorblad: Train fanatic and Transnet Driver Rudi Venter caught in the act of driving his train through the Natal Midlands by fellow train fanatic and photographer Jacobus Marais
Editorial – Redaksioneel It seems to me as if we were in a great war; well, that’s the idea I get when I look at the deteariation of our railway stations and infrastructure like bridges and sidings. Please, we are not railway bashing (i.e. like cop bashing) we are merely objectively showing the picture as it is to-day. Most of us were in the army and a few were in the police. We were taught to respect “state property” – our bases, stations, vehicles, craft and animals were always literally “ready for inspection”. Remember 8
all the “Surprise Inspections” we had? Even from the Auditor General’s staff and from the Inspectorate attached to our various departments. A great part of our heritage is in ruin and in ashes. I refer to the old historic station at Kroonstad, I refer to the station at the City of Saints, Grahamstown. I few years ago I had the pleasure to travel by train from Port Elizabeth to Alicedale and from there to Grahamstown and back, due to Boon Boonzaaier of Bosveld Train Safaris. Steam engines plinthed at three stations I know of are in a bad way: Grahamstown, Vereninging and Kroonstad.
Coming back to state property, the first I
remember of state property was when we travelled by train. I had put my little booted feet on the bunk. I received a “klap” from my mother that I will never forget – “Take your feet off!” Respect for state property is part of our civilisation, the buildings and infrastructure were after all said and done; built with taxpayer’s money. I was informed that cleaners are not employed to clean our locomotives. The “railways” are run on business lines and cleaners don’t bring money in. Well my argument is: “A little bit of pride will enhance productivity! If you have a nice clean locomotive you would want to work and perform to the limit! ... do the extra mile!” Let’s install pride in our railways; it is all part of the circle of life. I have looked into my crystal ball, no good news, however! I see many yellow men coming to fix our infra structure. I see them working on our rails! I see many new trains standing still. But a word of caution; the help will come at a terrible price! It won’t be the price you see on the price tag; No Sir! It will be the hidden costs that our next generation we will be burdened with. I do forget things – so, please in future use the Uloliwe’s new email address!
Without you, I cannot do this magazine! Thank you for your support Gentlemen! Lourens Sturgeon sent this photo of workers cleaning the train:
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Wepener’s Perambulations and … some Railway History • 20130713 Hi guys. Harmony Surface Rail at the exchange yard with Sheltam. RRL's 31 class near the show grounds and a couple of photos at the exchange yard. The 2x orange 34's are heading to Virginia's ballast siding, here they are at the Sand River Bridge just before Virginia. The other shots are at the ballast siding. The petrol train is heading south at Whites. Again at Whites, this time two 34's returning light from the branch. Another petrol train, this time heading north near Kalkvlakte. A light 34 returning from Wesselsbron between Friedesheim and Welkom. Near the same spot as above, RRL's 31 heading towards Odendaalsrus with a load of hoppers. During the week this loco hauled a load of 20 loaded hoppers to the exchange yard, the first time we get such a long train of ore.
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Cheers. J & J.
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Filler
‘n Spoorwegman se Gebed: Johannes van Rensburg [Transnet Engineering KDS] ‘n Ou spoorwegman het op ‘n byeenkoms tot bekering gekom en is gevra te bid. Hy het ‘n oomblik geaarsel en toe eerbiedig met ‘n bewende, maar helder stem begin bid: ‘’O, Here, noudat ek die vlag gestryk het, bid ek U, neem my voete van die ruwe ou spoorbaan af en plaas hulle veilig bo-op die trein van redding; Laat wysheid my handlamp wees en die Bybel my Hooflig. Laat die trein gekoppel wees met die sterk skakel van liefde; en Hemelse Vader hou alle wissels gesluit wat na sylyne uitdraai en veral die wat lei na ‘n doodloopspoor. ‘’O, Here as dit U wil is, Laat elke sinjaal langs die lyne die witlig van hoop vertoon; Sodat ek die lewensreis kan aflê sonder om stil te hou; En Here laat die tien gebooie my diensrooster wees; En wanneer ek die reis volgens roostertyd afgelê het en in die groot donker stasie van die dood ingetrek het; mag die Hoofbestuurder van die Heelal se: ‘’Mooi so, goeie en getroue dienaar, kom teken die betaalstaat en ontvang jou loon van ewige geluksaligheid, AMEN.”
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• SAR: Plaque at Emmaus Hi Hennie, 16
Ietsie vir die volgende Uloliwe: Emmaus code EMM, a siding for Live Stock and Vehicles only, controlled by Perdeberg, code PDG Station number 462, open for all classes of traffic. Emmaus is the most central point on the Railways in South Africa. Many years ago it had a plaque to this effect. The line from Hamilton to Beaconsfield was built as follows: Authority 24th November, 1905. I.C.C.R. [Inter-Colonial Council of the Transvaal and Orange Free State Railways]. Opened 8th April, 1908, 152km. Have any of the Uloliwe readers a photograph of the plaque? J & J Wepener
• Report 20130723 Hi guys. RRL's 31 was running light towards Odendaalsrus to pick up a load of ore, here she is at Friedesheim. Sheltam's 31 heading towards 4 Shaft, with empties. Again, RRL leaving Welkom station en-route to Friedesheim. Early morning at Friedesheim, oddly a 35 class, returning to Kroonstad with the timber shunt. 34 406 returning to Kroonstad, again with the Friedesheim timber shunt, here at Geneva. 5x 6E1's returning light to Kroonstad from Bloemfontein seen here near Friedesheim. Cheers. J & J.
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Nostalgie: Die Trein Na Heimweë: Thys du Plessis Thys du Plessis and I attended the same school in Durban. His father was in the SAR & H Police, my father was in the SA Police. We both followed in the footsteps of our our resepective fathers. Later our paths crossed again when the SAR & H Police was absorbed into the the SA Police. Thys has always been a writer and poet, here is one of his nostaligic Afrikaans railway stories. “The Trans-Natal Express Train
from Johannesburg to Durban is now departing from platform 14. Please enjoy your journey.”
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“AANDAG alle passasiers. Die Trans-Karoo-sneltrein van Johannesburg na Kaapstad sal vertrek vanaf platform 15 om 20:00. Ek herhaal, die Trans-Karoo-sneltrein vanaf Johannesburg na Kaapstad sal vertrek vanaf platform 15 om 20:00. Attention please all passengers. The Trans-Karoo Express Train from Johannesburg to Cape Town will depart from platform 15 at 20:00. I repeat, the Trans-Karoo Expresstrain from Johannesburg to Cape Town will depart from platform 15 at 20h00 ...” Die ou Johannesburgse spoorwegstasie, of soos baie dit ook geken het, Parkstasie. ’n Geluid wat baie gehoor het. Dit het altyd geklink asof die man geleer het om in sy keel te praat. Dit nog gedoen terwyl hy in ’n blikkie sit. Mense is deur daardie binneplein op en af en herwaarts en derwaarts. Vaal kolle sit bo in die binneplein naby waar die dak se ronding kom. Daar waar al die ou Pierneef-skilderye gehang het. Baie mense lag en gesels. Ander loop weer met lang hartseer gesigte. Dan kom die stem weer: “Die Trans-Natal-sneltrein vanaf Johannesburg na Durban vertrek nou vanaf platform 14. Geniet asseblief u reis.” “The Trans-Natal Eexpress Train from Johannesburg to Durban is now departing from platform 14. Please enjoy your journey.” Die CNA lyk soos ’n miernes. Almal wat nog nooit gelees het nie, koop nou leesstof vir die treinreis. Ouers met kinders in uniform, jong soldate wat lyk of hulle in skoolbanke hoort staan rond en wonder of moet hulle solank na die platform gaan of gaan daar nog iemand kom vir die afskeid. Baie mense het genoeg bagasie saam met hulle om vir ses maande te gaan kuier. Onder op die platform drom mense saam om die besprekingsbord. Dit lyk soos matriekkinders wat probeer hul uitslae sien. Vreemde ondervindings gewees elke keer. Meeste van die tyd saam met vreemdes ’n kompartement deel. Mense wat jy nooit vantevore of daarna weer sien nie. Soms mense wat jy uit eie keuse nooit sou kies om ’n vertrek- of slaapgeriewe mee te deel. Maar die spoorweg kon dit regkry dat mense alle mure van skeiding verwyder en vir ’n hele klomp ure reisgenote raak. Boetie soek te lank op die bord en Pa stoot hom ewe beterweterig uit die pad. Hy sal kyk. Hy weet mos waar om te kyk. Boetie is nog nuut met die spoorweg se dinge. Hy moet net kyk en leer. Portiere1, netjies met hul swart uniforms en verskriklike lang bagasie trollies, is heen en weer met die grootste gemak. Vernuftig hanteer hulle daardie waentjies met die bagasie. 1
Ook bekend as kruiers – HBH.
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Die eienaars van die bagasie stap-draf so naby aan die waentjie as moontlik om nie hul bagasie uit sig te verloor nie. En dan gaan steek die portier ook eers vas by die besprekingsbord. Jy moet kyk waar is jou plek sodat hy weet waar om jou bagasie te neem. By die regte kompartement sal hy die bagasie deur die venster aangee en sonder dat jy dit agterkom, verwag hy so ’n fooitjie2. Nie opdrukkerig daaroor nie, maar elke keer met groot waardering as hy kry. Mense begin hul plekke inneem net ingeval. Die ander wat nie gaan saamry nie staan buite op die platform en gesels nou deur die kompartement venster. Almal kyk die heeltyd heen en weer teen die platform op en af. Dit is asof hulle nou wag vir die volgende episode om te begin. “Aandag alle passasiers vir die Trans-Karoo-sneltrein vanaf Johannesburg na Kaapstad. Die trein sal vertrek binne vyf minute. Neem asseblief u sitplekke in. Attention all passengers for the Trans-Karoo Express Train from Johannesburg to Cape Town. The train will depart within 5 minutes. Please take your seats.” Almal begin die laaste drukke en soene deel. Die handrukke word eerste uitgedeel en dan die soene. Die meeste tyd word daaraan afgestaan. Sommige van die jong paartjies klou so vas aan mekaar dat hulle net so wel aanmekaar geplak kon gewees het. Van die laatkommers gaan pla die kaartjieondersoeker. Is daar nie ander plek vir hulle nie? Dalk liewer ’n koepee? Is hy seker hulle het nie bespreek nie? En dan blaas die fluit en daar is ’n erge geskarrel. Daar is nog mense binne wat moet uit. Hulle het sommer binne gaan afskeid neem. Die wat moet ry probeer in voordat die trein ry. Kinders raak bang buite. Sê nou net die trein ry weg met Pa? Maar dan is dit asof alles in plek val. Die mense binne begin hang om mekaar by die vensters uit. Die mense op die platform begin al waai hoewel die trein nog nie beweeg nie. En dan!
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Travel Expenses: SA Police Regulations made provisions for the tipping of SAR porters when one travelled
on duty. Porters were also knowledgeable people; they helped ladies, gentlemen and senior officers first because they knew troopers and constables were bad tippers (I mean we were at bottom of the food chain). No constable would dream claiming for “tipping”; the financial Sgt would immediately queried this claim! “What! Were you sick?” – HBH.
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Daar begin die wiele rol en die gewuif begin in alle erns. Die arms waai en sommige hardloop saam met die trein al teen die platform af. Ander draai weer onmiddelik om en stap weg sodat niemand die trane moet gewaar nie.3 Die trein tel vinnig spoed op en die mense op die platform waai. Die liggies agter aan die trein is al wat nog wys. Die voorpunt van die trein is al amper op Braamfontein dan begin die laaste mense wegdraai na die roltrappe. Baie van hulle weemoedig en swaar in die hart. Ander met aanvaarding. So was die treinstasie dan so ’n integrale deel van ons lewens gewees. Dit was ’n deel van ons kultuur gewees waar geliefdes weggeneem is en ook teruggebring is. En met heimwee dink ek baie dae terug aan daardie afskeidsoomblikke op die platform. Ongeag waar. Dit was spesiaal, anders, uniek.
Spore na die Binneland: Beeld Die Bolandse dorp Wellington hou vandag Stasiefees, een van vele geleenthede vanjaar om die opening van die dorp se stasie 150 jaar gelede te vier. Christine Siebrits het in die argiewe gedelf. In Wellington staan veral twee gebeurtenisse uit in die annale van die dorp se bestaan. Die een is die oopstel van die pad na die noorde – Bainskloofpas in 1853 – en die ander die opening van die spoorlyn na Wellington ’n dekade later. Wellington was ’n plek van wamakers; die omgewing staan immers sedert die 1700’s as die Wagenmakersvallei bekend. Die ou markplein (waar Pick n Pay vandag is) was die middelpunt waar alle waens en reisigers uit al die windrigtings handel gedryf het in vars produkte. Die destydse Britse goewerneur aan die Kaap, sir George Grey, het die noodsaaklikheid van ’n spoorlyn na Wellington ingesien sodat vars produkte daagliks per trein na Kaapstad vervoer kon word. Dit sou die eerste treinspoor na die platteland van die destydse Kaapkolonie gewees het. Op 31 Maart 1859 het Grey die eerste sooi met ’n spesiale silwergraaf gespit, vermoedelik naby die Parade in Kaapstad. Dié dag is as so belangrik geag dit is tot 3
There is nothing as stately as a main line passenger train leaving an important station – HBH.
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’n openbare vakansiedag verklaar en ’n spesiale musiekstuk is vir die opening gekomponeer – “The Railway Polka” deur Master James C. Roome. Die skip Chevy Chase het die eerste vrag yster vir die bou van die spoorweg gebring. Die lokomotief het kort daarna op 8 September 1859 op die brik Charles in die Kaapse hawe aangekom. Saam op die skip was die ingenieurmasjinis, die Skot William Dabbs. Die swart lokomotief is in 1858 in Skotland vervaardig deur R. and W. Hawthorne van die Leith Engine Works. Dit is stuk vir stuk na die stoor op die Parade vervoer, waar dit deur Dabbs weer aanmekaar gesit en gemonteer is. Hierdie eerste lokomotief het alom bekend gestaan as Blackie. Toe hy in onbruik geraak het, is hy groen geverf. Menige pendelaar sal vir Blackie onthou waar hy op die Kaapstadstasie gemonteer gestaan het. In 1936 is die lokomotief tot ’n nasionale gedenkwaardigheid verklaar. Blackie staan ongelukkig nie meer op die Kaapstad-stasie nie, maar deesdae in ’n stoor in Faure naby Firgrove. Die ou lokomotief is in die 1970’s aan Wellington gebied. Die destydse stadsvaders het ongelukkig nie die geld gehad om die lokomotief te koop nie en daar was onmin onder die lede oor waar die geskikste staanplek in Wellington sou wees. Die aanvanklike terrein vir die Wellington-stasie was amper 2 km buite die dorp. Die dorpenaars was teen die afstand gekant en uiteindelik is ’n deel van Pieter Malan se plaas Versailles aangekoop vir die bou van die stasie. Volgens die aanvanklike planne sou die spoorlyn net tot in die Paarl geloop het, maar die kerkrade in die Paarl het daarteen geskop, want hulle wou glad nie dat ’n trein op ’n Sondag deur die Paarl gaan nie. Ook die destydse Wellington-dorpsraad wou nie daarvan hoor nie en die spoorlyn het toe wel na Wellington toe deur die Paarl geloop. Aanvanklik het die bouproses baie stadig gevorder. In die eerste 23 maande is slegs sowat 2,4 km gelê. Die eerste deel was tussen Fort Knokke (Woodstockstrand) en Soutrivier. Hierdie deel is in 1861 geopen. Die spoorwegmaatskappy en die kontrakteurs het stry gekry, met die gevolg dat al twee oorgeneem is deur die Kaapstad-Wellington-spoorweg. Daaroor was die kontrakteurs so ontstoke dat hulle ’n lokomotief ontspoor het wat herstelwerk genoodsaak het. 24
Die spoorlyn na Eersterivier is in Februarie 1862 geopen en die een na Stellenbosch in Mei 1862. Op 4 November 1863 het Blackie, oftewel die Hawthorne-lokomotief no. 9, om 9:30 uit Kaapstad vertrek. Blykbaar het twee treine daardie dag vertrek om die gaste na Wellington te bring. Sir Philip Wodehouse, wat Grey as goewerneur opgevolg het, was een van hulle. Die trein het slegs op Stellenbosch en in die Paarl stilgehou en om 12:40 die Wellington-stasie binnegestoom. Aangesien die dag weer eens tot ’n vakansiedag verklaar is, was man en muis op die stasie om die heuglike gebeurtenis by te woon. Daardie eerste treinrit is as volg in die destydse London Times beskryf: “The train wound its sinuous way into the deep recesses of the Eerste River Valley where the somnolent denizens of the pretty village of Stellenbosch, erst ‘Sleepy Hollow’ find a luxurious resting-place. Later it dashed along the banks of the Berg River towards Wellington and was greeted on arrival, not only by a Royal Salute given by die cannon of Artillery, but by the volunteers band and the acclamations of an immense crowd.” Danksy die spoorverbinding met die Kaap het Wellington se nywerhede gegroei, soos die Wellington Fruit Growers Association (later die SAD), Western Tanning & Boot Company (vandag bekend as Mossop), die Pioneer-droëvrugte-maatskappy, Hugo’s Jam and Preserve Factory, om maar net ’n paar te noem. Die wamakers het ook floreer. Reisigers na die noorde het per trein tot op Wellington gekom, vanwaar hulle verder per wa gereis het deur die Bainskloofpas. Toe diamante tien jaar later ontdek is, is besluit om die spoorlyn na die noorde te verleng. Weer eens was die gepaste roete van belang. Oom Pieter Malan van Versailles het die roete voorgestel – dit sou oor sy plaas wees – en die nodige grond gratis beskikbaar gestel. Hy het egter ’n voorwaarde gehad: elke trein moes op die Wellington-stasie stilhou. Dit is dan ook so geproklameer. Hierdie verpligte stilhou het op 1 Mei 1879 in gebruik gekom en geld vandag steeds.
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Belangrike staatsmanne het dus die Wellington-stasie aangedoen en die Malans van Versailles kon hul almal gadeslaan. Onder hierdie vernames was die Boere-generaals soos Christiaan de Wet, Koos de la Rey, Lous Botha, J.B.M. Hertzog en Jan Smuts, asook die presidente Paul Kruger, M.T. Steyn en F.W. Reitz, sowel as mense soos die mynmagnaat Cecil John Rhodes en Leander Starr Jameson, wat later die Jameson-inval sou lei. Die ouer Wellington-mense onthou nog toe die Britse koningsgesin in 1947 met die Wit Trein op Wellington stilgehou het en op die perron uitgeklim het. Towerkrag van stoom Met die inhuldiging van die Wellington-stasie is daar in een van die toesprake, vermoedelik Wodehouse s’n, gesê: “This is a most important epoch in the history of the Colony. The magic power of steam seemed likely to supersede the ancient mode of transit which had existed since the time of Jan van Riebeeck.” Sestig jaar gelede, op 8 April 1953, het die dorp die eerste elektriese trein ingewag. Die skole was daardie dag gesluit en die Wellington-stasie se perron was nogmaals die ene bedrywigheid van belangrike gaste. Destyds het die digter Breyten Breytenbach en sy broer Basjan in die Stasieskool skoolgegaan. Daar is selfs Sondagskool in die treinwaens aangebied. Wellington-wyne het die geskiedkundige stasie-skoolgebou in 1977 gekoop en later gerestoureer. Voor die skooltjie staan nou ’n weegbrug wat gedurende parstyd gebruik word. Die destydse beheertoring is verwyder en die poskantoor wat baie jare daar was, funksioneer nie meer nie. Tog gebruik baie pendelaars, veral daaglikse reisigers, steeds die stasie. Nes die afgelope 150 jaar. http://www.beeld.com/bylae/2013-05-18-eerste-spore-na-die-platteland
26
• 1896
• 1956
27
• 2013
2013 Photos by Christine Siebrits & Leanne Stander (Beeld)
28
• Wellington: Les Pivnic & Charlie Lewis
Wellington, block house guarding the Krom River bridge, April 1962
Wellington, cl 15F on the down Blue Train c September 1952 29
Comment by HBH: I notice the photo that appeared in Beeld is dated 1956 and it is exactly the same photo used by Les Pivnic, but dated 1952.
Linda Jansen van Rensburg [JvR Photo-Art] • Alice
30
31
32
• Alicedale Station
33
34
35
36
• Paterson Station Ek kan huil, o nee, hoe op aarde is dit moontlik?! Oral maar oral is menslike ontlasting te speur. Wat gesteel kon word is reeds weg! Net in die skuur kan mens sien dat daar nog iets aangaan. Loer deur die opening kan mens sakke sien wat daar binne is..... Maar buiten die sakke .... wel daar is van die stasie net mooi niks oor nie.
37
38
39
Soul of A Railway (SoAR): Les Pivnic & Charlie Lewis Dear SoAR readers, Having brought youse down to Volksrust, we are now travelling in more leisurely style on the Avontuur line:https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-3-1 (click on Part 3). The latest chapter was written by David Payling several years ago but he has recently revised and updated it. A lot of sad things have happened since he started. We'll try and steer clear of the depressing stuff - it doesn't look as if much can be done about the present situation but we wish those who are still trying every success. They are battling against all odds because few, if any, who pretend to govern the Eastern Cape seem interested in anything except that which will line their own pockets. In case you get a bit confused, the captions to the photos were written by me - David can't be blamed for them in any way! We are looking for ways to make the site a bit less disjointed and will let everyone know when it's done. I have added a coupla photos to the Avontuur line introduction too - one of them is a nice photo of a Walmer line Bagnall tank coming down Station Street which came to light straight after I wrote that action pictures of these pretty engines didn't seem to exist. A reminder that the photos are not intended to be blown up more than 9" (220mm) wide. They will get blurred after that as this is our only mechanism against piracy. 40
As usual, we welcome your corrections, comments and criticisms. With best wishes from Les, David and Charlie
Natal Midlands: Jacobus Marais • No 14890
• No 15083: Instrument Coach
41
• XPRJ 38-700-395
• Botswana Coal truck – built by Spoornet
42
• Technical Trains
43
• Luxrailer
• Zulu
44
• Train watching
Natal Main Line: Rudi Venter • Umbilo Loco
45
46
• Danskraal: Roadlearning Coach
47
• Boughton: Luxrailer Rudie writes: Some pictures taken while waiting for fault technician to fix up my last 18E running against load ... got Luxrailer - motor trolley photo's of inside and check his driver ... really looking puzzled why I'm taken photo's for ... but he gladly allowed me to do ... Please share and enjoy ... I' not a trainspotter … But a big lover off my job and steel wheels…
48
• Estcourt & Ashburton
49
• Ladysmith
50
• Danskraal relics: 1986 Train float
51
52
Bill Deyzel: Natal • Danskraal
Control point 128 T Danskraal.
53
Filler
Built by Lourens Sturgeon
54
Western Cape: Francois Mattheüs • Saldanha – Sishen Iron Ore line
55
• Petrol Train
• Premier Classe
56
• 36-009 & Refurbished Metro Coaches
57
58
• Sishen – Saldanah Breakdown Train
Western Cape: Touwsrivier/ Touws River: Willie Marais -
59
Western Cape: Ashton: Alex Faria
60
Western Cape: Vredenburg Station: Paul Eybers
Western Cape: Fish Hoek: Corrie Dreyer
Corrie captured the rail train at Fish Hoek station on the Cape Town – Simonstown line.
61
Northern Cape: Upington: Willie Marais
Eastern Transvaal: Ermelo: Locomotive by Gerhard Pieters
62
Phalaborwa: Albert van der Merwe
63
64
Northern Transvaal: Mokopane: Salie Henrico
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66
The City of Saints: Grahamstown Station: Robbie Green • “Absence” an Essay by Robbie Green Dag sê daar, Ek geniet die bos nog baie hier in die Oos-Kaap en gebruik my vrye tyd om alles te ondersoek en om die omgewing te leer ken. Die veld hier is uniek
met al die
Ephorbias/Kandelaar bome en die mooiste aalwyne. Bome en plante wat ek nog nooit gesien het nie is volop. Ek was die afgelope naweek in Gramstad met al sy ou historiese geboue. Onwetend beland ek op die ou stasie en deel dit graag.
My storie se naam is ABSENCE: 67
Eens op sy tyd sekerlik een van die top stasies in Suid-Afrika. Die strukture is pragtig stewig uit klip gebou, hout vloere met hoë plafonne. Pragtige verfwerk ... so ook teen die mure. Graffiti sketse wat die plek ‘n nes maak vir dwelmgebruikers en bendes. Ek loop juis so twee persone raak in een van die vertrekke. Met ‘n ordentlike: “Sir we are practising drugs here”, word ek vermaan om afstand te hou. ’’NO pictures PLEASE”; gevolg met: “We need our Privacy,‘’ besef ek dat hierdie jong seun en jong meisiekind voortgaan om “Tik”
te gebruik wat hul verwarm met ‘n
sigaretaansteker in ‘n glas houer en dan die dampe in asem .... verstom in aanskoue en neem nie dadelik in wat werklik hier gebeur nie, staan ek verstar... na ‘n paar trekke kon ek die verandering in hul lyf taal sien en aanvoel. Die seun bestorm my maar gelukkig is daar ‘n ABSENCE van ‘n paar vloerplanke wat die groot gaping en afstand tussen ons behoue laat bly. In my geestesoog sien ek hom val, bo op ‘n ou hoop dokumentasie, die argief van die stasie. In werklikheid systap hy die gat en met uitgestrekte hand stel hy homself voor as “Billy”. Pas uit die skool en betrokke by dwelms, werk is skaars, in dieselfde asem het Meneer nie vir my 10 rand nie? ‘n Week of wat tevore ontmoet ek ‘n man wat altyd ‘n R10 noot in sy sak dra ... hy glo dat die regte een die dag aan hom uitgewys sal word vir wie dit gegee moet word ... die gewoonte het ek begin aanleer en elke dag gesorg dat daar ‘n R10 noot in my sak is. My hand gaan outomaties na my sak en weereens ABSENCE, my sak is leeg... Jammer ek het nie geld nie en ek sien die teleurstelling op sy gesig. Die meisie kind roep hom terug om nog ‘n teug te vat. Met sy verdeelde bedwelmde aandag neem ek die kans waar en beweeg na buite tot op die perron. Platform 1. Daar staan ‘n geel spoorwegbank, skeef. Aan die oorkant nog gekleurde sketse, ‘n een oog gedrog met ‘n das, kopbene en skrif. Elke stukkie koper is weg, drade, handvatsels, selfs die pype in die ablusie laat ‘n groot ABSENCE .
68
Die trein vertrek en aankoms tye pryk in groot letters op ‘n bord, opvallend is die TRANSVAAL. Die “ticket” kantoor is leeg. Iemand het probeer om deur die koeëlvaste venster te skiet, die groepering is nie te waffers nie, sekerlik ‘n gangster. Met die aanduidingsbord van “Oorgang slegs oor die brug”, klim ek die staal trappe tot bo. Uit ‘n ander hoek sien ek die verroeste lokomotief ... ABSENCE van onderhoud en instandhouding, besig om te vergaan met tyd ... die sout lug wat kortkort inwaai van die see se kant af, is nie goed vir sy ysters nie ... ysters eens op ‘n tyd blink gepoleer en met sorg behandel. Opgewonde oor my ondervindings en waarnemings en wat ek op film kon vaslê word afgesluit met ‘n interessante stuk ingenieurs werk ... wat sou die benoeming wees? ‘n Draaitafel vir lokomotiewe ... net soos die verroeste YSTER wat daar staan waar hy staan... Geen spore wat hy kan volg ... geen draaipunt in sy geskiedenis nie ... geen omgee ... geen saak ... ABSENCE. Op pad terug na my motor kom ses manne aangeloop, hul groet nie eerste nie maar beantwoord my groet ... Dit is Sondagoggend, langs die stasie sing mense in die kerk ... in die verte staan die mooiste ou geboue en kerk torings reik na die hemel ... Goed in stand gehou oor jare ... ’n Seun strompel en steier by my verby, op ‘n high, huiwer ‘n oomblik en kyk my vol in die oë ... ken ek jou ... het ek jou nie al êrens gesien nie? ... al wat ek in sy oë sien is ABSENCE. Hier het die ABSENCE waar geword. Groete Robbie Green.
69
70
The metal has certainly been stolen ...
71
72
73
74
Rail Welding: Ben Greyling 75
76
Rail Immigrants fron NZ: Mel Turner
Heads Up These 2 locomotives should be landed in South Africa shortly KiwiRail numbers 6347/6382. Sold to Apex Industries Pty Limited (a dealer responsible for the 2012 shipment of ex Queensland locos to SA). http://www.gets.govt.nz/Default.aspx?show=AwardedDetail&AwardedID=5273 77
Apparently a spec purchase, they are for sale. History of these units http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_DQ_and_QR_class_locomotives There is a photo at http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/6643079/2082128930/name/Express_Issue195.pdf
SA Metro Rail
Western Cape: Metro: • Fish Hoek Corrie Dreyer
78
• Fish Hoek: Cape Town Bound: Stefan Andrzejewski
Gautrain
Both sides of the Gautrain Card.
79
Gautrain News: Compiled by Jeanette Jacobs
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Railway People – Spoorwegmense • Albert van der Merwe Albert van der Merwe: Hy het gedurende 1987 in Vooruitsig
begin tot en met 1994. Daarna verhuis hy na Newcasle tot en met 1997. Hy verhuis weer na Phalaborwa waar hy nog steeds is.
• Bill Deyzel Hy het op stoom begin werk op Noupoort gedurende
1977,
daarna
na
Ladysmith
(Danskraal) verhuis in 1981 waar hy nog steeds by Spoornet werksaam is.
81
• Lou Erasmus Ek het begin op Alicedale as leerlingstasievoorman. Graad op Chairborne
in
Oos-Kaap gekry. Na 43 jaar afgetree as terreinmeester op Springs. Lekker dae gehad! Whoha.
• Alex Faria Alex Faria is one of my great personal friends. He is a “Boere-Portuguese”. He is an amateur historian and lives in Blouberg outside Cape Town. He is a retired banker. It is his hobby to restore old Bibles, old books and old manuscripts. He regularly shares pictures of railways with us, steam trains, military history (e.g. war graves at Deelfontein).
82
• Tinus Fourie Januarie 1984 in Witbank begin. Later oorgeplaas Waterval Boven toe. 1991 Phalaborwa toe, en toe my graad 1997 in Danskraal gekry waar ek gewerk het tot 2008. Het bedank en dryf nou treine vir QR National (Australië).
• Deon Gouws Begin in 1982 as assistent te Danskraal. Kry graat in Braamfontein gedurende 1988. Vanaf 1991 steeds werksaam op Metrorail.
• Salie Henrico Salie Henrico Ek is Salie Henrico van Pretoria. Ek is 'n onderwyser. Ek het as die jongste van 'n werknemer die S.A.S. & H. groot geword. My pa het 4 van sy vingers van sy regterhand as stoker in Pretoria verloor! Daarna het hy in die kantore gewerk en na 43 jaar diens as lynkampbestuurder afgetree. Dus het ek baie tyd naby en langs treinspore deurgebring. So my stokperdjie is dus modeltreine. Geniet die foto’s Hennie.
83
• Danie Heymans Begin in 1989 werk op Braamfontein; dieselfde jaar oorgeplaas na Kaserne. Was op Kaserne tot 1994; drywersgraad gekry by Metro
Braamfontein.
Oorgeplaas
na
Vereeniging Metro en dis waar ek nou is.
• Jaco Holtzhausen Het in 1984 in Germiston op die diesel begin, 1997 oorgeplaas Kaserne, waar ek nog tans is.
• Willie Koorts Dankie vir die voorreg en geleentheid Hennie. As ek gou by my pa mag begin (baie van die ouer Kaapse spoorwegmanne mag hom dalk onthou). Vader het in die 50's op Touwsrivier as telegrafis begin en is na “Bedryf” oorgeplaas toe die era van morsekode tot 'n einde gekom het. Daar het hulle treine heropgestel vir Hexrivier tot hy in 1975 na Worcester oorgeplaas het om die GVB daar te begin - toe nog aan aanbou. Hier het hy ongeveer 1990 afgetree. In matriek wou ek vliegtuigwerktuigkundige word (lugvaarttegnikus, het hulle dit genoem) en het die 84
derduisende aanlegtoetse in die Paul Sauer-gebou gaan doen. Blykbaar was my uitslae nogal goed en een van die ingenieurs (Maasdorp) wat besig was met die GVB-installasie op Worcester was op die vakleerling-beoordelingpaneel. Hy het my toe oorreed om as leerlingingenieursassitent na “Sinjale” oor te kom. My ma verongeluk ongelukkig tydens my matriekeksamen en ek mis twee vakke wat beteken ek kon nie as leerling-IA begin nie - omdat ek matriek nodig gehad het. Ek werk toe vir 6 maande as klerk in die passasiers-pakkieskantoor op Worcesterstasie terwyl ek matriek “her” en het daarna 'n jaar weermagdiens gedoen. Begin toe my leerlingskap en kwalifiseer as ingenierursassistent in 1981 en kry 'n aanstelling in Kaapstad. My spoorwegloopbaan eindig in Julie 1983 nadat ek bedank en die privaatsektor betree. As mens egter in die stoomera op 'n spoorwegdorp grootgeword het, bly die spoorweë vir altyd in jou bloed!
• Jacobus Marais Goeie more almal, ek is Jacobus Marais en woon in Merrivale KZN. Is gebore in Alberton en is woonagtig in KZN vir 38jaar. Is n verskriklike trein liefhebber en kan net nie weg bly van die spore af nie. My Pa was n passer en draaier op Koedoespoort en het die ou stoomtreine se wiele ens gemaak in die 60's.
85
• Corrie Dreyer Corrie Dreyer Nou ja. Nou is dit seker my beurt. Ek het in 1987 begin in Soutrivier as ‘n assistent. Later geskuif na Bellville en in 1993 my treindrywerseksamen afgelê op 6E/6E1. In 1997 is ons ook dual gemaak (dieselopleiding gekry). Einde 1998 is ek oor na Metrorail (Kaapstad). Het later na Soutrivier (buitestasie) oorgeplaas waar ek tans weeksaam is. Hier in Soutrivier dryf ek op al die trekkragte (5M2A, 8M, 10M3, 10M5, Diesel (GE), 5E1 en 6E1). Tans is ek ook betrokke by die trein nabootsers hier. Was ook betrokke met die opstel van die nuwe train drivers' training manuals asook die manuals van die 18E vir Rolling Stock.
86
Francois Mattheüs Goeie dag almal, dit is nou ek, Francois Mattheüs en my gesinnetjie woonagtig in Brackenfell, naby Bellville in die Kaap. (My vrou, Desiree en seuntjie Luan.) Ek was nog altyd lief vir alles wat groot en sterk is, soos natuurlik treine, vliegtuie, skepe ens. My liefde vir treine en belangstelling daarin het egter baie verdiep toe ek en my vrou mekaar ontmoet het. Haar pa is Johan Brand (Langbrand) by TFR Bellville wat ook sedert 1997 die Bloutrein dryf. Alles wat ek weet oor treine het ek by hom geleer en my liefde vir treine groei net meer en meer soos ek leer. Ek beny julle ouens wat drywers is en het groot waardering en respek vir julle! Daarom dus dat ek altyd 'n geleentheid soek om julle af te neem! Groetnis!
• Dirk Odendaal Ek is Dirk (“Plankies”) Odendaal, begin in 1976 in Pietermaritzburg en is in 1981 te Ladysmith as drywer. Ek ken die Durban / Johannesburg trajek vanaf Durban kompleks tot op Standerton. Ek het in 2001 bedank en werk tans as ‘n produksie bestuurder by ‘n Multi-User Terminaal waar ons treine laai vir Eskom se kragstasies Majuba, Tutuka en Camden. Laai ook uitvoer treine vir verskillende kliënte. Ek geniet die blad baie en groete aan al die bekendes. 87
Previous issues of Uloliwe For previous all previous issues of Uloliwe click on: http://issuu.com/hennieheymans/docs
Rail Humour • Lunch at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch On
a
beautiful summer’s
day,
two
tourists
were
driving
through
Wales.
At Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogoch, they stopped for lunch, and one of the tourists asked the waitress: 'before we order, I wonder if you could settle an argument for us. Can you pronounce where we are, very, very, very slowly?'........... The girl leaned over and said: 'Burrr gurrr king'
Book Shelf • Leon “Div” de Villiers’ Books: Cape Town AFRICANA & OTHER BOOKS BOUGHT & SOLD, including: Book Collections, Manuscripts, Maps, Paintings, Prints, etc. Pertaining to our Literature, History, Historic Buildings & Places, Hunting, Nature, Wildlife, Railways, Maritime, Military, Wars, People etc. as well as related Topics on the African Continent. Contact Leon at TEL/FAX: 021 592 3460 CELL: 084 436 0842 e-mail: australb@mweb.co.za http://antiqbook.com/bookdealer.phtml?o=australafrica http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/seller/435994/Boekesmous http://www.facebook.com/africabooks (Free advert for our readers)
88
Legal Africa
http://www.jklsafrica.com/
Road Motor Transport Service [RMT]
89
• RTS: J & J Wepener
Illustration from Internet
Thanks to the many mines in the PWV, Western Transvaal and Orange Free State areas, the R.T.S. passenger sections in these regions flourished, transporting inbound and outbound mine workers to many parts of South Africa. Welkom had 101 bus drivers and the same amount of assistants, many of which were also in possession of code 14 heavy duty driving licences and P.D.P. certification. [Public Driving Permit]. A fully equipped workshop, including body shop. The depot also had its own filling station, later Petro cards were issued. There were 100 passenger busses of three main types. Haulers with double tiered coach and two wheeled trailer. Local miners calling these old vehicles “Skoro-Skoro”, when referring to them, identifying these coaches as “Scrap vehicles”. These coaches were manufactured by the large R.T.S. coach building workshop at Langlaagte. Later re-named “Harmonie” to distinguish it from the nearby station of Langlaagte. These coaches were used on Fridays returning on Sundays from Witsieshoek, Ficksburg border gate, Maseru border gate and van Rooyens border gate, near the town of Wepener. Hard to believe but many mine workers were so intent on returning after their Friday early shift was complete, that they would, with a valid ticket and drivers permission. Open the large luggage bin under the coach, attach a piece of “Blou Draad” to keep it closed on dirt roads and lie in the bins, rather than wait for the next morning’s scheduled bus.
90
Transtate modern high bodied, for luggage space, tach axle busses. Hauled a two axle trailer. Transporter modern low bodied dual rear wheeled busses. Hauled a two axle trailer. Welkom had daily scheduled busses to: ThabaNchu and Bloemfontein via Excelsior, Witsieshoek, Ficksburg, van Rooyenshek, Johannesburg and Klerksdorp, these left at 07h30 returning at 17h30. Umtata, Nongoma, Johannesburg and Queenstown busses left at 17h30 returning the next day. On Friday evenings returning Sundays, there were 3 busses called “Durban Shoppers� for local, mostly female small shop owners, to purchase goods there for re-sale on the mines. On Fridays haulers only would be sent to the many mine shafts on the Goldfields, to sell tickets in advance, this eliminated long queues at ticket offices and excellent planning as to the number of busses needed on the various routs could be worked out. There was a Satellite depot of Welkom at Klerksdorp. A depot at Welverdiend, large Harmonie depot in Johannesburg, Salvcokop depot in Pretoria and a small depot in Queenstown. Sadly today there are only the Harmonie, Salvokop, Durban and Cape Town depots still in operation. On the Gold Fields two private bus companies from Welkom and Virginia now provide some of these services. The Harmony mining group, still used grey with gold stripes and lettering, haulers with coaches, between shafts to transport workers. Groete, John and Jacque.
91
South African Airways • B738 – Johannes Botha
Atlantic Rail Cape Town Contact Tel: (021) 556-1012 or info@atlanticrail.co.za or visit their website at www.atlanticrail.co.za
Reefsteamers: Lee Gates Railway Society of Southern Africa Natal – A Peter RAILWAY SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
Founded 1960
P. O. BOX/POSBUS 33202,
SPOORWEGVERENIGING VAN SUIDELIKE AFRIKA
MONTCLAIR, 4061 NATAL
NATAL
92
Railway History Group
Bulletin No. 118 July 2013
Scene at the loco shed of the South Western Railway, Knysna. Knysna heads are visible in the background. Locos are, from left to right, SWR No. 1, O &K No. 1175/1906, SWR No. 2, O & K No. 2240/ 1907, SWR No. 3, O & K No. 4880/1907 and SWR No.4, Hawthorn and Leslie & Co. No. 2687, ex SAR class NG3, No. 4. mThe O&K locos were wood burners, while the H&L loco ran on coal. Photo: Leith Paxton Collection
93
Friends of the Rail (FOTR) Friends of the Rail: 012 7678145 Contact Mr. Arno Victor at Tel: 082 293 4616 or sales@friendsoftherail.com or visit their website at www.friendsoftherail.com
Sandstone -
JB Tours: Train Tours in Southern Africa JB Tours issue a lovely program with beautiful pictures. Unfortunately I cannot copy, save and paste it – I work in word.doc/x. Please subscribe to their annual program! For full 2013 year programme here is the email adres: info@jbtours.co.za ; www.jbtours.co.za ; Tel 011 913 2442; 086 152 8687; Fax: 086 687 7344; 011 913 0552
Franschhoek: Wine Tram -
North British Locomotive Preservation Group • NBL Preservation Group: Newsletter Dear All, Please find attached NBL Preservation Group Newsletter for July 2013 which I hope will be of interest. Sorry for the delay this month but I've been away on holiday. New Members and Shareholders are always needed for our projects and so please feel free to forward this information to your friends and colleagues who may wish to help us preserve,(and build) NBL Steam Locomotives. Look forward to hearing from you all again soon, To unsubscribe from our mailing list, please return this email with the word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject Line. 94
Thanks & Best Regards, Ken Ken Livermore Hon. Secretary NBL Preservation Group www.nbloco.net Tel: + 44 (0) 1189 864 706
Railwayana -
South African Models • Scalecraft: Adrian Hill
www.scalecraft.co.za http://www.facebook.com/Scalecraft info@scalecraft.co.za 021 592 72 69 +2721 592 7269
• Shaun and Rinke’s contact information is as follows Shaun le Roux, Cape Model Trains, 081 475 4786 Shauncarl.leroux@capetown.gov.za Rinke Blok, Model Train Shop, Tel: 011 795-3270 info@modeltrainshop.co.za www.modeltrainshop.co.za
• Scalecraft product information Scalecraft product information is available in the following publications: 95
• The Uloliwe • RMIG (Railway Modeller’s Information Group Newsletter)
• Dream Trains – Wynand Vermeulen 16 Besembos Avenue, Pellissier, 9301 Bloemfontein, South Africa PO Box 32882, Fichardtpark, 9317 www.dreamtrains.co.za
• Railway Models Information Group - L Penning
SA Railway related internet groups • Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe (sic) Visit our website: http://www.facebook.com/groups/74709226744/ It is an “open group” on the railways in South Africa. Keep abreast with the latest developments of the railways in South Africa. It was started by Hennie Heymans some years ago. Johannes Marais is co-administrator. No politics or no language questions. Keep it simple: only one thing on the agenda: Railways in Southern Africa. 826 Members
• Yahoo: SAR-Miniatures – Adrian Hill Please join us on our mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sar-miniatures/join We not only talk about modelling SAR but also about modelling in general. The list is free of politics and bickering and our aim is not only to advance SAR modelling but also to exchange ideas and techniques.
• Facebook: ‘RHODESIA RAILWAY’ Group - John Batwell A recent innovation on Facebook has been the start and rapid development of a RHODESIA RAILWAYS site. Started by former railway employee Eddie Roussot, the site has grown in leaps and bounds and has over 260 members already and a plethora of 96
photographs which depict the historical milestones and development of the small country’s railway since those pioneering days back in 1897. Besides photos of stations, sidings, locomotives of all types of traction, there are a number of photos posted too depicting the human resources of the railway. The facility has enabled so many folk spread far and wide across the world to reunite electronically and share their nostalgic and contemporary photographic records and short comments of another time and age working on one of Southern Africa’s most efficient rail systems. The facility also enables technical questions to be shared and responses offered, new publications to be marketed, as well as a catch-up time with old friends and work colleagues of yesteryear.
• Website for Reefsteamers: Lee Gates You can find the latest information (albeit a bit scattered) on the 15F 2914 on our Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/387773301244867/
• Well worth a look Reefsteamers Website is : www.reefsteamers.com Reefsteamers Page is : www.facebook.com/groups/reefsteamers/ Reefsteamers Locomotive Restoration Project Page (15F 2914) is: www.facebook.com/groups/387773301244867/
• Andre Kritzinger André Kritzinger, Cape Town, Website: http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/grela/chessie01.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Locomotives_of_South_Africa http://grela.rrpicturearchives.net/ http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=12115 •
Adrian Hill says:
“Take a look at my website www.scalecraft.co.za “
• Touwsrivier / Touws River Touws River on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/77640489112/
• Soul of a Railway (SoAR) https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-7-1
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• Other Railway Websites: Rudie Venter http://www.flickr.com/photos/alfav8/sets/72157613413717211/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/8541017@N05 http://perthtrains.nachohat.org/ http://www.pixhunter.com/ http://www.northeast.railfan.net/steam5.html http://www.northeast.railfan.net/home.html http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/train_index.html http://steam-locomotives-south-africa.blogspot.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/42309484@N03/sets/72157622477648751/ And don't forget to follow the South African site that's under construction https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home
Shosaloza Meyl http://hellopeter.com/search-reports?keyword=Shosholoza+Meyl&keywordint=825154 Railway Groups NOT mentioned above: You are welcome to add your group’s particulars here ...
Pandora’s Box • Peter Dickens (SA Legion) WW2: Photo of a brand new locomotive in the ocean, aboard a sunken vessel, a victim of the war.
Railway Archeology • Last month: Train Cemetery, Bolivia via Piet van Zyl One of the major tourist attractions of southwestern Bolivia is an antique train cemetery. It 98
is located 3 km (1.9 MI) outside Uyuni and is connected to it by the old train tracks. The town served in the past as a distribution hub for the trains carrying minerals on their way to the Pacific Ocean ports.
The train lines were built by British engineers who arrived near the end of the 19th century and formed a sizable community in Uyuni. The rail construction started in 1888 and ended in 1892.
The trains were mostly used by the mining companies. In the 1940s, the mining industry collapsed, partly due to the mineral depletion. Many trains were abandoned thereby producing the train cemetery. There are talks to build a museum out of the cemetery.
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• New! Comments from Dr John N Middleton Hennie Thank you for yet another super edition of Uloliwe. I can add something on the Bolivia story. The "train cemetery" is actually the scrapyard for Uyuni workshops which was the key Bolivian steam loco workshop facility on the Metre gauge FCAB (FC Antafagasta - Bolivia) today run in Bolivia by Ferroviaria Andina SA (FCA) after the State Railways were privatised in 1996 (the Bolivian part of the formerly British owned FCAB had been nationalised in 1964). The Chilean part of the FCAB is still called the FCAB but is now Chilean owned with traffic booming. Quite aside from the dramatic setting (especially at sunrise / sunset) of the 17 skeletal loco remains, they include some which are very rare and historic, all except 3 being former FCAB main line locos. There are five of the 1913 Beyer-Peacock Kitson-Meyers (and parts of the sixth), three Beyer Peacock Garratts, two 1913 Kitson 2-8-2's, two 1906 Alco-Rogers 2-80's, two outside-framed Henschel 4-6-2's of 1914 and three Borsigs. There are a further 16 steam locomotives inside Uyuni Workshops and another preserved in the town. Steam finished on Bolivian Railways in the early 1980s and most of the locos survive dotted around the Country. Although the "cemetary" locomotives did not work for mining companies, there was a 2'6" gauge FCAB branch line from Uyuni which ran about 25 km up into the hills serving the famous Baron Rotshchild mines at Pulacayo. The railway closed in 1959 but the whole Pulacayo town is now a semi-museum with the locomotives left where they stood when the railway closed. There are 6 steam including a couple of incredible survivors one of which is a Robert Stephenson 4-6-0 of 1884 that was rebuilt from a Webb Compound, all the steam were built before 1912 and four of them are former FCAB locomotives which date from before the FCAB was regauged from 2'6" to Metre. Here is a photo taken when I visited in 2008 of a Rogers 2-8-0 of 1900 and the Robert Stephenson 4-6-0 outside the shed they havn't moved for 54 years. Kind Regards John
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Mail bag • From Koos Kotze in the Free State Koos also says have alook at:
http://www.dailymail.co.u k/news/article2354421/Worlds-largestmodel-railroad-drawsthousands-NJ.html
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Stop Press -
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The next issue of “The Ulolwe” will be Vol 4 No 9 and will be published, DV, sometime during late September 2013. Send in your comments, anecdotes and photographs please. Take care! Issue / Volgende Uitgawe Stuur solank u stories, herinneringe en eie foto’s aan uloliwe@gmail.com in jpg-formaat Hennie Heymans – Pretoria, ZA
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