SAS-SAR Vol 8 No 3 by Hennie Heymans, Nongqai Publications

Contents PUBLISHER ............................................................................................................... 4 AIM / DOEL ................................................................................................................ 4 COPYRIGHT .............................................................................................................. 4 ONGOING PROJECTS .............................................................................................. 4 WELCOME................................................................................................................. 4 1860 (circa): TURNING THE FIRST SOD .................................................................. 5 1899 – 1902: ANGLO BOER WAR ............................................................................ 6 OVGS class 6L2: No. 80: Nico Moolman ................................................................ 6 Comments by Hennie Heymans ............................................................................. 6 Comments by Leith Paxton ..................................................................................... 6 Diagram Class 6 C (No’s 541 – 564) ...................................................................... 7 6C No 558 .............................................................................................................. 7 1904: PRINCESS CHRISTIAN: VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA ...................................... 8 1910 ROYAL VISIT .................................................................................................... 9 Col RS Godley ........................................................................................................ 9 1925: ROYAL VISIT: PRINCE OF WALES ................................................................ 9 Col RS Godley ........................................................................................................ 9 Coach No 3 ............................................................................................................. 9 Saloon for Governor-General’s Train .................................................................... 10 SAR & H: Journey of HRH the Prince of Wales through Natal & Zululand: 2nd to the 12th of June ........................................................................................................... 12 1925: CONFIRMATION: ROYAL TRAIN? ................................................................ 27 Prince of Wales in Bloemfontein: Nico Moolman .................................................. 28 Navorsing: Nasionale Museum Bloemfontein: Die prins van Wallis se besoek aan Bloemfontein in Mei 1925 ..................................................................................... 28 Report on tour ....................................................................................................... 31 1925 Prince of Wales in Oudtshoorn .................................................................... 34 1925: SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS: EAST GRIQUALAND................................... 35 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 35 Railway Chaplain: Rev. Harper Martins ................................................................ 35 East Griqualand Railways: Kokstad, Matatiele and Cedarville ............................. 36 Matatiele and post cart ......................................................................................... 39 Cedraville: Rev H Martins ..................................................................................... 40 2

SAR Map: East Griqualand: Bruno Martin ............................................................ 41 1939 The arrival of President Carmona of Portugal at the Pretoria Railway Station in August ...................................................................................................................... 42 1949: SA RAILWAY MUSEUM: KAALFONTEIN ...................................................... 43 NZASM Locomotives No’s 225 ‘Hendrik Boom’ & 226 ‘Annetje Boom’ ................ 43 Letter from Mr Les Pivnic ...................................................................................... 45 Ms Yolanda Meyer ................................................................................................ 47 1956: VISIT: TO SOUTH AFRICA: PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL ........................... 48 1967: CAPE TOWN STATION ................................................................................. 49 Blackie: Cape Town Station.................................................................................. 50 2017: JP MEYER: MORTIMER ................................................................................ 51 34-857: Alicedale .................................................................................................. 51 Prasa: 7E-7022 at Mortimer.................................................................................. 52 Mortimer station .................................................................................................... 53 Spoornet 7E-7042................................................................................................. 54 Spoornet 7E-7154................................................................................................. 55 Spoornet 7E-7079................................................................................................. 55 Spoornet 7E-7209................................................................................................. 56 Spoornet 34GE: 34-508 at Cradock...................................................................... 57 Prasa: 34-102: Mortimer: Trains in the rain ......................................................... 58 Prasa Sitter 25748 ................................................................................................ 58 2017: KROONSTAD: J & J WEPENER ................................................................ 58 SAD RAILWAY NEWS ......................................................................................... 59 VISIT TO BLOEMFONTEIN LOCO: J & J WEPENER ............................................. 60 A selection of photos ............................................................................................ 62 GREETINGS / GROETE .......................................................................................... 71

PUBLISHER This electronic magazine is compiled and published on ISSUU by Hennie Heymans. Hennie is a retired brigadier of the former South African Police. He is passionate about the history of South Africa’s National Security and holds a MA degree in National Strategic Studies. He is most interested in the strategic use of railways in Southern Africa. Contact address: heymanshb@gmail.com Telephone number: 012 3294229.

AIM / DOEL Our goal is to collect and record our South African railway history for publication in the SAS-SAR for the use of future generations. Ons doel is om die spoorweggeskiedenis van suidelike Afrika in die SAS-SAR aan te teken en so vir die nageslagte se gebruik te bewaar.

COPYRIGHT Great care is taken to make sure that we do not transgress the Copyright Act. Permission to reprint any article or photograph may be obtained from SAS-SAR. Please make sure that when you use somebody else’s photographs or material to obtain the necessary permission first before sending it to the SAS-SAR.

ONGOING PROJECTS Please help us with: • • •

Researching royal and presidential visits to South Africa. Compiling information about the use of armoured trains and hospital trains in Southern Africa. Trains in time of war, rebellion and unrest.

WELCOME Welcome to this edition of SAS-SAR, this magazine is here for your enjoyment and pleasure. They say to have a successful publication you must inform, amaze and amuse your readers! We hope we will succeed. In this issue will pay attention to the 1925 visit to South Africa by the Prince of Wales. He became King Edward Vlll before he abdicated because of his love for Mrs. Wallace Simpson, who he later married. Royal and presidential visits are an ongoing project. There is so much information just lying around, we have to gather the information and publish it in context.

Ĺ&#x2030; Spesiale word van verwelkoming vir JP Meyer van Mortimer wat vir ons fotoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gestuur het.

1860 (circa): TURNING THE FIRST SOD

The source of this photo is the SAR 7 Harbours Magazine of 1925. One is not sure of the locality i.e. Durban or Cape Town. (My gut feeling is the spade and barrow refers to the Cape Town line.)

1899 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1902: ANGLO BOER WAR OVGS class 6L2: No. 80: Nico Moolman

Comments by Hennie Heymans I remember I have seen this particular photo before receiving it from Nico Moolman. I have sent it to Leith Paxton and here are his comments:

Comments by Leith Paxton Hello Hennie, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recall seen it before. These pre-Union loco numbers can be a nightmare. Particularly the CGR where they not only had different numbers for different systems, but they also changed numbers as they moved them around. However, this one appear a little more straight forward and I would say is was a OVGS 6L2 class No. 80 which became CSAR No.356 which in turn became a SAR class 6C No.556. On the CSAR was reboilered with a Belpaire boiler and landed up in Port Elizabeth where I managed to photo her. She was scrapped April 1969. Regards, Leith

Hello Hennie, I have no problem you using my photo of No.566. Sorry she doesn’t have a cowcatcher. I never saw her with one. In the early 1960’s there was an accident in PE involving a shunter, and most of the shunter engines had their cowcatcher removed and merely the frame left. Leith Paxton.

Diagram Class 6 C (No’s 541 – 564)

6C No 558

6C 558 between Lakeside and Retreat by A E Arnold c1934

1904: PRINCESS CHRISTIAN: VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA

Photo 288: On 24 September 1904 Princess Christian laid the foundation stone of the Princess Christian Home in Church Street West. [Tshwane Library.]

Photo: SAR via Eric Conradie. •

We need more information on this Royal Visit – Hennie Heymans

1910 ROYAL VISIT Col RS Godley

1925: ROYAL VISIT: PRINCE OF WALES Col RS Godley

See: Godley, RS: Khaki and Blue, Lovat Dickson & Thompson Ltd, London, 1935.

Coach No 3

Saloon for Governor-Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Train

SAR & H: Journey of HRH the Prince of Wales through Natal & Zululand: 2nd to the 12th of June

1925: CONFIRMATION: ROYAL TRAIN?

The late Mr Richard Searle gave me the above two photographs. The top one was taken near Congella and the photo of the locomotive was taken in Durban. We would be glad to know on which royal train this locomotive was used. We presume 1925.

Prince of Wales in Bloemfontein: Nico Moolman

Photo received from Nico Moolman. Note White Train in background.

Navorsing: Nasionale Museum Bloemfontein: Die prins van Wallis se besoek aan Bloemfontein in Mei 1925

Nico Moolman has sent the following with permission from Mr. J Haasbroek

The lounge on the White Train

The “Prince’s Rose garden”.

Maitland Street, Bloemfontein.

Report on tour

The Prince laying a wreath at the grave of Pres. MT Steyn

The visited the Bloemfontein General Hospital 32

The Prince meeting the local Africans and their leaders. On the photo is Mr Mapikela of the ANC in Bloemfontein. The forerunner of the African National Congress was the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) which was founded on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein. Their aim then was the fighting for the rights of black South Africans. SANNC became the ANC – as we know it today – during 1923. Note even then Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika (God bless Africa) was sung.

1925 Prince of Wales in Oudtshoorn

Received from Ms Elsmarie Wellmans (estate late Mervyn Emms.)

1925: SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS: EAST GRIQUALAND Introduction The railway line to East Griqualand, then in the Eastern Cape Province, reached Cedarville and Matatiele during 1925. Before the arrival of the train the community had to rely on post carts and transport riders. My mother was born in 1920 at Cedarville and she matriculated at in the next dorpie, called Matatiele. She was a Miss Malan and her father, my grandfather, farmed on the farm called Cerdarberg; just outside Cedarville. Being a farm girl she did not know what ice cream was. She told me that the first time she had ice cream was whilst she was a passenger on the train from Cedarville to Durban. She was then a little girl and she was going on her first train trip to Durban where my grandfather went to buy a car. My mother had passed on a few years ago and if she was still alive I would have asked her if she was part of the school children dressed in white waving red flags when the first train reached Cedarville. (See p. 28). As a little boy in the 1950’s I travelled once or twice with my mother on the train from Durban to Cedarville and back. I especially enjoyed the trip from Pietermaritzburg to Cedarville because of the mighty smoking Garratt. Like all little boys I visited “Father Christmas” in one or other shop and part of the deal was receiving a box full of cheap toys. In the box was a cap-gun and a pair of goggles and I wore them on the way while the Garratt was smoking heavily and no particles of coal reached my eyes. Like all boys I could not get enough of the train journeys. I still remember the shrill whistle of the Garratt.

Railway Chaplain: Rev. Harper Martins One day I found a picture of Cedarville in one of the old SAS-SAR’s. The picture was taken by the Rev. Harper Martins. I knew that he was the first civilian SA Police chaplain. He is the father in law of General Jannie Geldenhuys (Former Head of the SADF). I asked Mrs. Marie Geldenhuys, the reverend’s daughter, why the reverend would take a picture of Cedarville? She then told me her father was a railway missionary and he even had his own private railway coach to travel about in the sub continent. In the South African Police magazine, The Nongqai, I read that the Rev. H. Martins became the first civilian police chaplain. In the police magazine there are various articles by him and photographs he took all over South Africa. I never knew he was a Railway Chaplain before he joined the police.

East Griqualand Railways: Kokstad, Matatiele and Cedarville

Matatiele and post cart

Cedraville: Rev H Martins

Source: SAS-SAR February 1947 page 171. 40

SAR Map: East Griqualand: Bruno Martin Dear Hennie Thank you for your email and scans from the SAR&H magazine. As you may already be aware moves are being made at the Transnet Heritage Library to scan all of the documents held there: starting with the photographs, and, as I understand it, will ultimately encompass the SAR&H magazine. This information will then be made available to researchers on a website. The trial website can be found on this link: http://railways.haarhoff.co.za/ As regards a map of the railway to East Griqualand - the only one I have available at the moment is the one used in Boon’s book. I’ll be compiling a new one when the chapter in ‘Soul of a Railway’ needs one. I’m not sure how soon Les will be working on that chapter. The next chapter will be covering the old and new lines between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Royal Trains I took note of your request for information on Royal Trains – I have a few notes on the Royal Trains that visited Natal I had prepared for the book ‘The Natal Old main Line from Durban to Pietermaritzburg’ published by the KwaZulu-Natal Railway History Society in 2015, but was left out because of space constraints. There is also an amusing account from Billy Bester, long time driver of the Estcourt-Weenen Railway, regarding a challenge of 5 pounds to the person who would put an arm around one of the princesses on the 1947 Royal Visit. He won the bet when he put his arm around Princess Elizabeth and was promptly arrested by the police! (Published in the booklet ‘Remembering the Estcourt - Weenen Railway 1906-1983’ obtainable for R25 from Ashley Peter at the KwaZulu-Natal Railway History Society). Take care. Kind regards, Bruno

1939 The arrival of President Carmona of Portugal at the Pretoria Railway Station in August

Photo 2392: The arrival of President Carmona of Portugal at the Pretoria Railway Station in August.

Photo 2393: The arrival of President Carmona of Portugal at the Pretoria Railway Station in August 1939. 42

Photo 2398: Pres Carmona of Portugal during his State visit to Pretoria in August 1939, while inspecting the guard of honour. Note the Mounted Presidential Escort.

1949: SA RAILWAY MUSEUM: KAALFONTEIN NZASM Locomotives No’s 225 ‘Hendrik Boom’ & 226 ‘Annetje Boom’ I was given a stack of old documents by Ms Elsmarie Wellmann. The documents originate from the estate of the late Mervyn Emms, an old friend who was a serious collector of Africana. Here is a letter I found in the stack of documents from the SAR Railway Museum Kaalfontein re: locomotives of NZASM

I sent copies of the letter to Mr Les Pivnic and Ms Yolanda Meyer (Transnet: Knowledge Centre & Heritage Library) for their comments.

Letter from Mr Les Pivnic Dear Hennie, While I was Assistant Curator of the SA Railway Museum in Johannesburg, I wrote up the history of the Museum from its earliest beginnings to the time when I was boarded on pension in 1989. I am copying a small portion of that history (below) that covers the link to Joe Bennett who was the first Curator of the Museum when it was established at Kaalfontein near the Railway College. The magnificent “small” artefact collection that was held in our Museum was entirely due to Mr Bennett’s untiring activities to accumulate as much historical railway material as he could. By “small” I’m referring to items that could be housed in the Museum buildings – not the quantity or quality of the material collected. He accumulated a massive collection of priceless material – a lot of which we had on display – first under the Rissik Street Bridge and later in the Concourse of the 1932 Johannesburg Station – known as South Station Building. The extract from my written history follows: “During 1935, the Hon. O. Pirow, Minister of Railways, Mr. A. Kuit, Railway Commissioner and Mr. D.H.C. du Plessis (later to become General Manager of Railways) again broached the question of establishing a museum but the then Acting General Manager of Railways did not favour the scheme remarking that -"it is not justified and in any case the other museums were already full of railway relics.” This attitude dampened efforts to establish a museum for a while. Fortunately a number of enthusiasts carried on the good work behind the scenes. Among them was Mr. Joseph B. Bennett, attached to the Parliamentary section of the Minister's staff. Bennett was known as an ardent collector of Africana having started as far back as 1908 with a match box collection. Although he had a strenuous job, especially when he was in charge of the records section in the Minister's office, he nevertheless found time to collect railway antiques as a side-line in his spare time. His interest never flagged arid mainly as a result of his enthusiasm, the idea of a museum was kept alive. His efforts in collecting material met with such success, that soon two rooms in the basement of the Union Buildings in Pretoria and a few rooms in Stella Mansions in Johannesburg were virtually full. In addition many objects were also stored in various System Offices all over the Country. Some of the items such as photographs, inkstands and furniture were even beginning to accumulate in the Minister's office. This hard work and effort eventually earned recognition because in June 1941 it was officially announced that it was the intention to establish a railway museum at the Central Training Institute which was being formed at Kaalfontein station which is situated halfway between Germiston and Pretoria. Mr. Bennett realised a lifelong dream when he was provisionally appointed as parttime Curator on 15 January 1942. A subsidiary committee responsible to the 45

Committee of Management of the Central Training Institute was appointed on 10 June 1942 to deal with all matters relating to the establishment of a museum at Kaalfontein. The members of this committee were Messrs. H. Miles, Editor of the S.A.R. & H. Magazine (Chairman), A.M. Evans, secretary of the S.A.R. & H. Library, J.B. Bennett, Mr. H.E. Geyer, Secretary of the Committee of Management of the Central Training Institute and J.W.S.E. Thomas (Secretary). This committee hereafter known as the Museum Committee met for the first time on 20 August 1942. The aims of the museum were set out in the minutes of this meeting; the most important being:(a) To establish a museum where students attending the Institute could study the rapid progress of transportation services in South Africa. (b) To step-up the collection of relics. (c) To appoint a Curator. (d) To appoint sub-committees at all large centres to assist with the collection of material. (e) To establish contact with other museums especially the Africana Museum. Soon afterwards it was decided to house exhibits in temporary huts at Kaalfontein, and on 1 October 1943, Mr. J.B. Bennett's appointment as the first Curator of the Railway Museum was confirmed. The difficulties that had to be overcome in the beginning were enormous. Far too much was expected of one man. Material poured in and after inspecting the Museum on 14 March 1944 Mr. Louis Esselen, a Railway Commissioner after whom the Training Institute was later named, advised the Curator to "go slow with the collecting". He obviously did not share the Curator's enthusiasm. However, when the first truckload of relics arrived at Kaalfontein, the Curator received instructions from the Minister, the General Manager and the Museum Committee to continue the search for railway relics in spite of the large collection already acquired. Mr. Bennett reached retirement age on 4 December 1944 but he actually continued as Curator until 31 December 1952 when he finally retired. During his career as Curator he collected relics in the most remote and unlikely places. He found items at stations, stores yards, compounds, harbours and also retrieved many objects from railway pensioners.” End Quote. Just to give you a few examples of the historical significance of the material collected by Mr. Bennett, here are some of the items that he had saved for the Museum and which we had on display in Johannesburg: •

•

The actual typewriter used by Sir William Hoy in his office – the 1st General Manager, SAR – this was reputed to be the first typewriter ever used in South Africa; The first mechanical computer used in the Chief Accountant’s Office and known as “The Millionaire”; 46

• • •

A CGR Catering Dept., food basket with all the fittings – plates, cutlery and napkin; A wire device used by the Boer Forces during the Boer War to communicate messages via railway fencing along a line; Tickets, luggage labels, office equipment – even a highly decorated Royal Doulton toilet pedestal!

The above is just a miniscule example of what Mr. Bennett had accumulated. My grave fear is – what has become of this marvellous collection? When I visited the OTM in George some years ago – very little of what we had in Johannesburg was to be seen – hopefully it is still stored somewhere! Regards Oom Les

Ms Yolanda Meyer Dear Hennie and Les, Thank you for the info sent to me. I found attached “Bond van oud NZASM personeel – Naamlys” I quickly only scanned A-B. Boom was an employee of NZASM – Will have to do research, to see what his job description was (Perhaps – the Annetje was his wife???) There is / was? also a street in Pretoria known as “Boom Street” Kind regards, Yolanda. We thank our correspondents for their interesting comments.

1956: VISIT: TO SOUTH AFRICA: PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL

Comments by Hennie Heymans: I have a gut feeling that the president came to South Africa via Mozambique. The question is: “Did he visit South Africa by train from Mozambique?”

1967: CAPE TOWN STATION

Source: Cape Argus 20 May 1967. (Ms. E Willmans: Estate late M Emms.)

Blackie: Cape Town Station

“Blackie” in 2003 - Blackie is a standard gauge locomotive (4’ 81/2”). 50

2017: JP MEYER: MORTIMER Goeie dag oom Hennie My naam is JP Meyer ek het 'n groot liefde vir treine! Dis vir my 'n stokperdjies! Ek neem bitter baie foto’s van treine! Ek wil net graag weet of ek maar vir oom foto’s kan stuur; as oom hulle dalk daarvan wil gebruik om te plaas of publiseer? Het foto’s aangeheg van die Algoa wat doodgemaak staan op Cradock stasie weens ontsporing by Alicedale! Dankie Groete JP Meyer

Dear JP Meyer For the benefit of our English readers I will answer you in English. You are most welcome to send us railway related photographs. I had to look at the map: Mortimer is a little hamlet about two stations south of Cradock. Greetings, HBH. JP Meyer tells us that he is a farmer, that the police station has closed down in Mortimer and that they have a post office inside the co-op.

34-857: Alicedale

Spoornet should fix the fence before it is stolen for scrap....

Prasa: 7E-7022 at Mortimer

Mortimer station

Mortimer het beter dae geken ...

Spoornet 7E-7042

Spoornet 7E-7154

Spoornet 7E-7079

Spoornet 7E-7209

Spoornet 34GE: 34-508 at Cradock

Prasa: 34-102: Mortimer: Trains in the rain

Prasa Sitter 25748

2017: KROONSTAD: J & J WEPENER Hi Hennie, The photo of the 2x diesels at Kroonstad refers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; If you see this exact site today you will see a total different scene!!

Firstly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see a train, unless you are very lucky and the timing is just right. Also all the lines are now gone except for the 2x main lines. The silos still stand but completely destroyed. That lonesome tree has now got plenty of friends and I sit there quite often waiting for trains!! Cheers.

SAD RAILWAY NEWS Hi all, 59

More sad Railway news in NSA. A mother is to sue Prasa after her young child fell from the damaged foot bridge at Chris Hani station, yesterday 2nd February, 2017. Line built 2010, in 2012 “Skollies” stripped the railings and other metal sections, to sell as scrap. After numerous complaints nothing was done, to safe guard passengers. Her young son somehow fell off the bridge. Not stated onto tracks or station platform. Rushed to hospital, by car. [Ambulances now targeted in Cape Town. Certain areas no go zones]. After being in three hospitals, he was discharged. Cannot do anything for him now. Prasa spokes woman, stated matter being investigated. In the S.A.R. & H. Days. Every District Engineer section had a “Bridge team / Brugspan. They did ongoing inspections, repairs and painting of all steel bridges. Including foot bridges plus the old lattice steel bridges, built in the late 1890’s to middle 1990’s. First sign of the team was their odd assortment of goods trucks. Then the team arrived to start scraping off the old paint. An undercoat applied, then the lovely red oxide final layer. Bridges look super after being painted. Later compressors were used to sand blast old paint off, today recently at Rooiwal, tarpaulins were draped over/under section being sand blasted, protecting Renoster River from being polluted. Bridges now painted light grey looks good. Railway houses were painted every 5 years, with gloss enamel paint. Railway stations and other buildings every 7 years. There was a similar programme for bridges. I remember, whilst on the subject of paint. Parthenon paint had an advertisement of “Spick and Span”. A brother and sister team, hopping and skipping. Spoorweg groete, John and Jacque.

VISIT TO BLOEMFONTEIN LOCO: J & J WEPENER Hi guys. It was raining and most of the locos are not really in nice spots for photos but here goes. The 31 class and 5E's, 4E and 3E are still where they were last time. The 1E and ES have also moved to this side of the shed now. A 14E has also found its way onto the museum line - don't know if this is supposed to be or just before she gets scrapped. She still looks quite well inside. The electrics are not much more gutted than they used to be but as you can see the ES is destroyed... At least a pigeon has found a nice nesting place. Next part to follow... 60

Hi guys. The next batch of photos. Had to include PRASA's white elephants! No signs of any cutting torches at all, anywhere. Part 3 to follow...

Hi guys. We had a walk through the locos, row by row. The scrap line of diesels is still there, also some new out shopped Transnet diesels. Another 24 class is in the process of being rebuilt. "Jan Wintervogel has been moved in the shed area. Part 4 to follow...

Hi guys. In the "camp" now. Some smart looking 24 classes, the locomotives under the shed area are the best looking mechanically and paint wise. A 15F has gotten a smart ne green coat of paint. Part 5 to follow...

Hi guys. The green F's number, the scrapped and new diesels. Have a look at the rust on the dome. The best 2 locomotives are the 15E and 19D - these are pristine and look like they good be fired up, in fact there are plenty of bags of coal lying between them, don't know for what, as I said - Lucas Nel was not around to get the latest update on thins. Part 6 to follow... Hi guys. Plenty of old signs still intact all over the place. These locos are all outside again. I remember in the late 1970’s I was on a footplate of a GMAM in steam at Worcester loco – what a far cry when standing on this one’s footplate… 2x 34’s were idling away all the time, bust with testing. Part 7 to follow…

Hi guys. Just imagine how many times that speedometer on the 25NC was close to the 120Km/h mark on the express trains through the Karoo... The 23 class 3300 is missing some fittings, don't know if this was to repair other locos of if it was theft, I still don't understand why she is standing outside, she always stood under the shed area for many years?? Last part to follow...

Hi guys, still outside, last of the locos. Another 2x 34's came in from the station area. The Kei Rail coaches are still standing in the passenger yard but their paint is now fading fast. There is a PRASA 7E standing at the PRASA end of the shed, also for reasons unknown. The scrapped wagons are again getting more; worrying is that they look new!! Seems like Transnet is just cutting up everything now, also some passengers coaches are headed for the torch next. Cheers. J & J.

A selection of photos

GREETINGS / GROETE Please keep in touch and share your railway memories with our readers. Hennie Heymans.