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Some railway photographs of the Wepener’s of Welkom ...
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August 2010, 34-058, between Golden Fleece and Schuttesdraai with a load of AY hoppers loaded with ballast from Virginia for track repairs near Bothaville. 3
April 2016, The Phelophepa arrives in Bothaville for a week's stay, after standing in Welkom for a week.
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2013 February, a late running Blue Train speeds through Leeudoringstad en-route to Cape Town. 5
May 2016, a load of wood arrives at the exchange yard at Friedesheim for Mondi timber. 6
July 2016, a load of CDN (Corredor de Ncala) grain wagons ready to depart from Welkom station. The wagons were built locally and are the first shipment of 100 wagons.
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May 2013 - One of Sheltam's 31 classes arrives at the Gold plant at old Harmony 4 shaft with a load of waste rock from old Saaiplaas 4 shaft. 8
July 2013, between Daalder and Eersteling, 2x 6E1's haul a southbound load of skip-tainers. 9
June 2013, 3x 43 class diesels departs from Bijlkor yard with a load of ore wagons. 10
July 2013, RRL / Grindrod leaving the suburbs of Welkom, heading towards Frieddes 4 shaft near Odendaalsrus with a load of empty ore hoppers. 11
August 2013, the return working of the Bothaville pick-up, hear approaching Rooiwal East / Ancona. This locomotive was transferred from the Sishen ore line and was still running with her number plates.
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March 2014, Harmony Surface Rail nearing President Steyn 4 shaft to pick up a load of ore hoppers for the Gold plant.
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March 2014, an on time running Algoa heads through Bosrand en-route to Port Elizabeth. The month-end Premier Classe coaches are also in the consist. 14
May 2014, the old "Zastron" train departs from Koppies after being re-introduced on month-ends. This service terminates in Bloemfontein. 15
Pair of PRASA class 18’s of racing over the flat fields of the Free State, 16
June 2014, a very late running Algoa departs from Virginia crossing the Sand River. Eugene Armer and Jean Dulez were with us catching trains on this day. We were waiting for the Phelophepa.
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The Algoa had just cleared the bridge when the Bloemfontein bound Phelophepa came into view. She was heading to Thaba Nchu after standing in Bothaville.
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July 2014, an early morning arrival at Wesselsbron on a freezing Free State winter's morning. Empty's for the silo and an air-braked load of export mielies to take back to Kroonstad.
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August 2014 at Brandfort, a northbound load with 2x CDN (Corredor de Ncala) 33 classes in the consist. They were refurbished at Bloemfontein workshops. The train was stopped to inspect the diesels. 20
2014, September - 3x 34 class diesels run light through Magopela.
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September 2014, Brandfort, heading south. A sign of the times to come. The first test run for driver training on the 18E's. Within 12 months the 6E1's on the Free State mainline were gone.
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10 October 2014, on old Kruger Day, a load of mielies is Kroonstad bound just north of Theunissen. 23
October 2014, Southbound at Makwassie. The Cape Town bound Blue Train has just crossed the Makwassie Spruit. 24
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November 2014, climbing from the Sand River bridge at Virginia, this short load of empty fuel tankers heads towards Kroonstad after supplying Bloemfontein. 25
November 2014, the return working of the Wesselsbron pick-up has just left Odendaalsrus and is heading to Friedesheim. Soon she will pass behind Pakisa Raceway. 26
November 2014, Northbound containers at Theunissen. The line on the left is the closed branch to Winburg. 27
December 2014, a Metro test run returns to Johannesburg from Bloemfontein. Seen here at Theron, this was a test to check the timing to introduce a Metro to BFX. Several others have also run as test sets since then. 28
January 2015 at Theunissen. This southbound car train is stuck at the signals. The reason for diesels on the train was due to the shortage of motive power due the 6E1's being withdrawn and the non-arrival of the 18E's and driver training. 29
January 2015, Grindrod departs the exchange yard at Friedesheim and takes a load of empty ore hoppers to Freddies 5 shaft near Odendaalsrus. 30
February 2015 at Kalkvlakte. This Kroonstad bound load of scrap coaches and goods trucks trundles along at 30 Km/h having left Bloemfontein much earlier the day and after a crew change at Virginia. 31
February 2015, a southbound load of beer trucks, about to cross the Sand River just before Virginia. 32
2015, February. Welgelee's silos are visible in the back ground as this ex-Bloemfontein workshops load of newly refurbished coal trucks head for Kroonstad and beyond. 33
April, Easter 2015 at Koppies, the East London bound Amatola slowly departs for the coast. 34
April 2015. The first annual shutdown of the De Aar to Kimberly line for maintenance is in full swing. No trains run during the day and most of the passengers trains have been re-routed via Noupoort. Here at Geneva the Johannesburg bound Premier Classe runs several hours late behind two smart looking 18E's. 35
October 2015, a pair of the controversial "Afro 4000" class stands at the PRASA end of Bloemfontein Diesel depot.
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April 2015, the Pretoria bound Blue Train enters Gunhill yard at Kroonstad behind 2x 34 class diesels after having been re-routed via the Orange Free State due to the shutdown of the Cape line. 37
April 2015, southbound just after Heuningspruit. The Amatola rushes past with the crew in a hurry to get home to Kroonstad depot in time to watch the rugby!! 38
January 2015 - the pick-up has just cleared the silos at Hennenman and is heading back to the station to get authority to return to Kroonstad.
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May 2015, the return working of the WelgeleĂŤ pick-up heads over the Middelspruit just before Geneva. Behind the embankment the old railway alignment can still be found. 40
2016 June at Bloemfontein loco - 25NC 3454 "BI Ebing" awaits her fate in the Free state winter sun...
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October 2015, Whites, a return working from the Sandveld enters the mainline rom the branch. 42
October 2015, the Blue Train heads north through Westleigh en-route to Pretoria due to the shutdown period on the Cape line between De Aar and Kimberley. 43
November 2015 at Rooiwal. Reef steamers' Cherry Festival train trundles through at a leisurely pace - Transnet does not allow steam to run on its own on their core lines, hence the 18E's. 44
Evening of November 2015 at Kroonstad station. The north bound Shongololo Express has just had a crew change and is ready to tackle the night head on. The Reef steamers Cherry festival train has also just arrived and the auxiliary water tank can be seen on the left on the rear end of the train. 45
2016, January, a northbound load of ore trucks gets caught in the rain behind 4x brand new 20E's just before Grasslands.
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January 2016, it is raining at Wesselsbron when the pick-up arrives. The timbers trucks in the consist are from Friedesheim, the crew cleared this siding before heading to Wesselsbron in order to save some time on the return journey to Kroonstad. 47
In February 2009, no 18E's had yet arrived on the Free State mainline and the 6E1's still rules the roost, here a Kroonstad bound load from Bloemfontein departs Virginia after being held at the signals - just look at the size of those units compared to the vehicle - and people still take chances at level crossings !! 48
August 2009, we are at Vryheid East yard and a coal train behind 11E's and as long and far as the eye can see is ready to take on the Coal link. 49
December 2007 and we still has Christmas specials - this one is heading to the Eastern Cape seen here at Whites - note the old SAR livery of Gulf red and Quaker grey on the passenger coaches.
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June 2006 an ex SAR class 16CR stands at the old St Helena loco shed in one of her last sunsets, soon after this picture was taken the vandals destroyed this locomotive completely for scrap... 51
April 2008 - even the railway lines turn to gold on the Free State goldfields at sunset, this is between Mooiveld and Kaalvallei.
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May 2010 this return working from Wesselsbron climbs out of Losdorings - note the orange personnel van at the rear - this was during the time when vans were re-introduced back onto goods trains with the shunters travelling in them instead of on the footplate. This practice did not last long. 53
June 2010, 93 Ammunitions Depot at Jan Kempdorp. Several museum locomotives were stored here, thinking that they would be safe - big mistake. 54
January 2008 at Jordaan, this pick-up from Sasolburg heads home to Kroonstad. 55
August 2008, a rare afternoon departure from Bultfontein, this very late running load of mielies returns to Kroonstad where arrival will be well after dark. 56
June 2006. Petrus Steyn sees the arrival of the pickup from Arlington and Bethlehem. We were just as surprised to see a train on this line as the driver was to see people on the station! 57
2006, August a Bothaville bound train is seen passing through Schuttesdraai on a very cold winters morning, note the galvanised bucket on the front of the diesel, used by the crew to wash their hands after shunting moves. 58
October 2003 at Windhoek station. We were part of our first Bushveld Train Safari with Boon. The Desert Express readies for departure. On this tour we met Hennie Heymans, the publisher of this fine publication. 59
February 2005, on another BTS train with Boon. This was ascending the Outeniqua Pass, soon the mist enveloped us. 60
993-tour This was a 993 tour which was 9 days, nine provinces at R3000.00. Our railway adventure started a day earlier when we left Hennenman on the Algoa bound for Johannesburg, then a Metro to Pretoria. This tour was to start in Cape Town so we had an extra free trip down to the Cape. From Cape Town we headed to Nylstroom, then back via Sentrarand and to Kaapmuiden. From here it was back and onto the Natal main line over Amajuba pass and to Ladysmith. Here we headed back over Van Reenens pass to Bethlehem. Old Boon managed to get permission for our train to travel to Bloemfontein via Modderpoort over a part of the line that was actually closed to traffic. From BFX it was down to Swartkops and then via the Garden Route to Cape Town. Back to Johannesburg for us and onto a Metro and back to Hennenman with the Algoa. We did over 7000Km by train and spent 12 days on trains.
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November 2006 at Kroonstad. Reef steamers 25NC & 15F have arrived from Ficksburg and was returning from the loco after servicing. Back them Transnet still allowed steam to travel unassisted with only a TFR pilot aboard the leading loco.
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September 2007 at Dover. A Sasolburg bound pick-up from Kroonstad waits for the line to clear ahead of it to continue on its way. 63
2007, September at Derby. A train load of fuel tankers returning to the Rand stands staged for the weekend with the crew's time being up.
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September 2007 at Swartruggens, a Botswana bound train rushes through the station with a BR diesel also in the consist after being repaired. 65
November 2011 at Magaliesburg with Reefsteamers and their 15CA, ready for departure back to Boksburg East. The 15CA erupted with an incredible bark when we departed awakening the entire town!! 66
October 2008 at Cradock. The Algoa bound for Johannesburg takes a rest before plunging into endless tunnels. 67
July 2010 Welkom station, a trio of Grindrod / RRL's 91 classes re-gauged to 3'6" await their next turn of ore haulage duty - far away from the Eastern Cape. 68
April 2010 at Libertas. The weed killer train from Marquard and Senekal, crosses over the Sand river on its way to Arlington and then to Heilbron. 69
January 2011, the Cape Town bound Blue train rushes past Dean into a thunderstorm behind 2x orange 14E's. 70
April 2011, Sheltam waits to be loaded with waste rock at old Harmony 2 shaft, this rock dump and railway line has since disappeared. 71
August 2011 at Leeubos. This southbound train creeps back onto the mainlineafter being looped for a crossing. 72
October 2011 at Umkomaas Sappi / Saiccor - a class 19D rest between shunting duties. The wagon behind the locomotive is the compressor to enable the steam loco to haul air-braked loads. 73
2011, November, southbound at Bloemhof. By this time the 6E1's were getting scarce in the Western Transvaal, here 6 of them strain to move a southboundload of coal. The "Screaming Suzies" made an incredible whine passing by. 74
2011 December at Wesselsbron - the large scale of the silos are clearly seen towering above the 2x 34 classes doing the shunting. Away from the silos the diesels tower over everything else. 75
May 2011 at the Makwassiespruit. A southbound Blue Train heads towards Cape Town. 76
2012 June departing Bloemhof. This northbound train is crossing an intermittent stream that will eventually flow into the Vaal river and into Bloemhof dam, behind the train. 77
June 2012, this Bloemfontein bound train passes through Emmaus after leaving Kimberley some time earlier. 78
2012 June at Kloofeind, a Kimberley-bound load slowly creeps away from Bloemfontein and surrounds. 79
August 2012, a load of ore wagons heads north near Boskuil behind 4x 10E's. 80
August 2012, southbound just before Vet River station. This Bloemfontein bound train slowly creeps through the cutting and up from the Vet River just a short way back. 81
August 2012 - Northbound at Theunissen - the 6E's were already starting to fail and here 3 sisters move a short load to Kroonstad. 82
Financial Management on the SAR: J & Wepener Cash on the SAR: J & J Wepener Cash handling on S.A.R. very secure, in place until end of SAR/SAT, said to been, best system on Administration. [Spoornet introduced electronic accounting]. Staff was fully conversant from serving public sales point to compiling daily balance to final month end balance. SA1 – Light blue, balance sheet printed on four sides. Goods section was automated, “Buro”, all accounts and balances sent out to clients daily. Local System’s Buro was responsible. Coaching side accounted for all cash collected at Stations, including Goods section. All accounting books / documents were marked SA [Station Accounts], from 1 to over 130 [Daily Coaching Balance Book - DCBB. SA126 / 126A – smaller version], in which every completed shift made a balance, daily Bank balance and month end balances also completed, in SA126. Stationery marked: Accounting, E. Expenditure, G. General, H. Harbours. SAL. Airways, SS. Books/ Pencils / Pins / Erasers / etc., T. Transportation. Ordered quarterly thick Blue book, consumable stores six monthly thin Brown book. A daily total balance made mornings of all previous day / night shifts, compiled by Clerk in Charge [CIC]. He would use red ink to complete this balance. Balance complete, he and another clerk would check cash, cheque, warrant receipts. Once total established, balance could be checked against these credits. Surplus/shortage amounts were shown on each shift balance, surplus placed in Waiting Debit Book [WBD] to be repaid or after period not claimed placed on final debit with Chief Accountant, JHB. Final Debit Voucher received from Buro transferred via goods to Coaching, using SA133a black form. 83
Shortages placed in Out Standing Book [OSB]. In case of long outstanding debits. Special Credit applied for from Chief Accountant’s Office, JHB. Received from Buro transferred via Goods, using SA133b red form. Cash on Delivery [COD], consignments [SA158a], were handled by both Goods and Parcels sections. Receiving station Coaching side accounted for payment by receiver on delivery, placed in WDB, this sum transferred to forwarding station for payment. Transfer Voucher [TV] compiled together with SA133a sent to goods, [WDB credit cleared], local Buro, transferred to other station. Who had placed debit in their OSB book. Original station receiving SA133a, would clear debit in OSB, pay original consignee cash owing. Laborious task allowing public to order COD. Railways doing accounting/paying, for a small fee plus railage costs. Staff on duty under pressure serving public. Could inadvertently over charge [SA37] / under charge [SA38] on fares / rates / tariffs. Over Charge Book [OCB] / Under Charge Book [UCB] used. Daily balances / Final balance had to tally. Overcharge amounts were placed to WDB, under charges placed to OSB. Every endeavour made to contact passenger / sender when over charge/under charge discovered, on checking days work. Public traced by address/telephone given on making reservation or from goods/parcels consignment notes. Public refunded via Refund Voucher [RFV] in cash at Station, public impressed by honesty of SAR staff. With under charges not being too large, staff would collect from fellow staff. Large under charge amounts public would be approached. Public with accounts were credited/debited, with an explanation, accounts sent out monthly. [SA144 large / SA144a small]. All Government Departments used “Official” /” Amptelik” on envelopes for postage. The SAR paid all postage costs, 1c on unsealed window envelopes. There were two types of accounts public could open with SAR Deposit account. Public with few consignments/tickets, would deposit an amount from R50.00 to hundreds of Rands, at station, account number/receipt given account immediately available. Staff noticing deposit amount low, would phone and a cheque forwarded, or client had to pay cash until new deposit received. Ledger account. Company/Firm would arrange with Bank to guarantee an agreed amount. Forms completed by Station Master, Company, Bank and approved by Chief Accountant’s Office. Took a few days to arrange. Account debited and Company would pay amount due. Could not refuse accepting consignments or not issue tickets even if account not immediately paid. Bank guarantee held. Two books were used for each of these accounts. Only on Coaching / parcels section. Goods used Buro. At all large Parcels offices NCR cash registers were used. Printed way bill number, date, station code/number, railage charge, on top two documents simultaneously.
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One had to practice a while, to align the two documents for printer to print on both. If printed on one way bill only, certified copy, signed by Station Master, forwarded to receiving station, as proof of cash register payment. [Lots of correspondence and a large rubber stamp used, detailing all particulars printed on top copy. Had to produce all books / balances / documents to satisfy Station Master]. Forwarding station top copy. Receiving station second copy. Tariffs to be checked both stations. Stations had to check all forwarded and received waybills. On finding an over charge/under charge, stations sent necessary document to other station [SA137 Black OC/SA138 Red UC]. OCB/UCB completed. Small stations used Parcels Stamps. [1c to various Rand denominations]. Accounted in Parcels Stamp Book [PSB]. A light blue folder used with many separate pages marked with dominations to keep stamps in. Main stock kept in safe Station Masters Office. Clerks supply in his blue folder, locked in Booking Office Safe after shift. Counter supply kept in Parcels Office safe. Issued to clerk when required, should supply run low in his folder. A new counter supply obtained from main supply. Stamps ordered three months in advance from Railway Printer, housed basement Jeppe station. Print shop printed all carton tickets. Return/Single/Workers Weekly [Monday - Saturday only] / Weekly - [Sunday included] / Half Monthly / Monthly season tickets. Bundles [200 carton tickets per bundle, tied by machine with string]. Should a blank or duplicate ticket number be found. A dummy ticket was requested from Chief Accountant’s Office, lots of correspondence, dummy ticket sent in with month end balances. Station Accounts Instruction Book [SAIB] very thick green hard covers with long brass screw type binders, alterations often full page, stipulated 1/12th of main stock had to be checked monthly. CIC developed knack to brake bundles without snapping string and replacing tickets again without snapping string. Should string snap large supply of rubber bands on hand. Beautiful wooden cabinets with light wood separations in each draw holding 1,000 tickets in bound bundles. [Made by apprentice Carpenters]. Draws had flat metal bar securing draws with pad lock. All Excess Fare Ticket Books EFT. For Rail / RTS travel. All receipt books, [1 copy Coaching, 2 copies Goods]. Also kept under lock and key. All EFT and receipts were completed in *Double sided Blue Carbon Paper, very messy. To prevent alterations being made. Stamps were affixed to paid Way Bills [SA51A] as proof of payment. Should stamps detached in transit/way bills lost. Forwarding station would post [Using Railway free post - envelopes various sizes all with many printed lines or blocks for repeated used. Marked On Railway Service - In Spoorwegdiens. ORS ISD], certified copy as with machine impressions. *Chief Clerk Carbon. Some CIC not friendly. [Referred to as Two Faced/Twee Gesig]. Parcels Debit Book [PDB], was kept in Parcels Offices. All received To Pay Way Bills [SA51A] were written in this book, as a record of Parcels delivered/undelivered day’s end. As parcels were delivered receipt numbers were entered, as proof of, railage payment. After period, 1 day Perishable and 3 days normal parcels, storage fees at 5c per day levied. In the case of all parcels a notice of arrival was forwarded. Perishables arrival made telephonically to recipients. Items with signs of going off, could be sold to highest bidder at Station, after recipient advised of time of sale. Fresh cut flowers often up for auction.
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Another book kept updated was Parcels Shed check register. Using a feint lined A4 hard covered book SS9/10/11/12. All Parcels on hand in mornings and evenings were recorded, by clerk or Checker, if station warranted his services, due to volume of traffic. Similar book at Goods Shed.. In Cloak Room’s at day’s end a similar book used to record any luggage still on hand. Storage was raised on third day after luggage deposited. These two books were used to ascertain luggage/parcels period of stay in these offices. Items over stipulated period of 1 month in Cloak Rooms and 3 months in Parcels/Goods sheds. Sent to nearest Excess Depot for a further period and eventual sale as unclaimed, by local Stores Superintendent on auction. The most important regulation/rule book for Coaching was The Station Accounts Instruction Book – Instruksie Boek Insake Stasierekenings [IBIS] was the abbreviation used by both Afrikaans/English staff. “Gee my die IBIS aan asseblief” Sounded like a water bird. On subject of correspondence. Thick A4 pre-printed brown cover book used as Correspondence Register [G170, general use all SAR offices with unique prefix used to identify origin of correspondence]. Booking Office [BO], Cloak Room [C], Goods Office [G], Luggage Office [L] Parcels Office [P]. Small soft brown paper file covers [G130] used. Staff Office [S], large card board file [G172a, b, c...]. Once DCBB completed, arrangements made to secure cash on hand, for transport to Bank/Accountant’s Office. SAR supplied containers for this purpose. Very large cash amounts [Cash Pay Points/Holiday seasons large stations]. A large 2 handled leather square shaped bag, 2 brass hasp/nose attached with brass rivets, 2 large brass round eyelets to allow long metal spike inserted, pad locked at closed end. Two needed to carry when full. Smaller amounts leather suit case with large bulge, 2 carrying handles grasped together, large hasp/nose for padlock. Large stiff canvas bag flat brass eyelets on open top, for padlocks/thick twine, sealed with lead seals or aluminium cap filled with red sealing wax bearing office of origin impression in wax. Above cash carriers escorted by armed SAR Police [SARP]. Clerks accompanying, issued with revolvers, kept in Booking/Station Master Offices. Clerks underwent SARP training at local shooting range. Employed on escorts from Offices to Accountant’s Offices/Local Bank. [Volkskas]. Platteland/suburban stations, far from large centre, used drop safe in van of Goods/Passenger trains. Drop safes emptied at destination. SARP escorts supplied both stations. Stations in Cities/Towns with small amounts of cash deposits, would use smaller stiff canvas bags with eyelets to transport cash to local bank by SAR vehicle or place on specially fitted Drop Safes on Suburban vans. SARP always escorted staff to Bank/train van. Some larger stations received cash bags from surrounding stations, enabling SARP mobile pick up cash van, to make less calls. Signatures required at all points bags 86
handle. Clerk collecting cash, Guard in van, SARP, finally clerk in charge of receiving cash bag/s for safe keeping until picked up or taken to bank. More signatures at all these exchange points. A very safe and secure cash handling arrangement. [Each cash handling office had its own typed and approved Cash Handling Arrangements on file]. Later 2 back up vehicles accompanied SARP. Do not recall any attempted robberies of these cash pick up methods. Hard cover small SS29 note books used Station staff, SARP soft cover occurrence books, for comments/signatures. [SARPOL, Telegraphic/Telex address]. Sealing various containers by locks, twine, chains, and sealing wax. Wax solid thick dark red bars, later light red half bars with own wick for easy sealing. When older type used Operating supplied paraffin hand lamp burner with wick, pot, and supply of paraffin, to produce a continuous flame. Wax melted still soft, brass stamp with station name/number pressed into aluminium holding cap, leaving a clear impression and all knots covered, wax over flowing cap. We have Holfontein brass sealing stamp, marked C.S.A.R. obtained when station closed early eighties. One must also remember Railway staff handling cash, did not have today’s cash registers which show the amount of change to be given to clients. They had to mentally calculate change. Before 1961, change was given in Pounds, shillings and pennies, thereafter in Rands and cents. Only the Chief Account’s Office and the 9 Local Accountant’s Offices and a few large Depots and Workshops. Where large month end payments were made. Were equipped with mechanical change giving machines. Notes would be counted and handed over, change would be punched on the keys and coins would end up in a metal bowl for staff to take. In late eighties all staff were required to have salaries paid into Bank accounts. A special allowance was paid to staff not normally handling cash, when used on pay days. Amount calculated according to set rate depending on amount of cash handled, the higher the cash paid out the larger the allowance. Many staff not too happy with Bank account system, lost their extra income month ends. Barrier Attendants used small pear shaped, thick bright blue leather cash pouches collected at Booking Office before going on gate duty and also for requesting change. SARP or other servant would take pouch to/from gates, when in need of change. Servant completing shift would hand pouch, tickets issued, and cash in at Booking Office. Padlocks used to secure pouch, one key Booking Office the other with servant. Barrier Attendants issued abridged Excess Fare Tickets. Numbers used instead of station names, very quick to complete. On Reef tickets marked RS 87
[Reef Series]. Natal and Cape suburban services also had their own marked series. These tickets issued if passengers ticket invalid or exceeded zone. If passengers sent to Booking Office, would have to be escorted, many would try and run away. SARP always near barrier gates. Other staff handling cash [Guards on Goods/Mixed trains/Ticket Examiners/RTS and Cartage drivers], used small canvas bags, not secured, but kept in their S.A.R. issued, Brief Cases/Kit Boxes. At month end all supporting documents, tickets, etc., had to accompany balance sheet [SA1], placed in large canvas bag. Empty bag returned soonest, with signed receipt, these bags were booked up as [ORS/ISD]. Forwarded by first passenger/mixed train. All the above applied to the 10 RTS Stations, no rail connection, but considered as full accounting stations, handling All Classes of traffic. 10 RTS Stations Groblersdal, Hermanus, Kuruman, Melmoth, Montagu, Nongoma, Pongola, Richmond [Cape], Uniondale Town, Vanderbijlpark. Today the few passenger issuing offices use keyboards, tickets issued by printer, balances complied by computer, staff have only to count money. Spoorweg Groete, John and Jacque.
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October 2008, arrival at Bloemfontein with the Algoa, locomotives are exchanged from electric to Diesels and the water tanks are replenished. Soon we were tucking into a meal in the dining car. 
Special word of thanks Glenn Elsden
Greetings Hennie Heymans 89