Uloliwe Vol 5 No 3 by Hennie Heymans, Nongqai Publications

CONTENTS CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... 2 EDITORIAL ................................................................................................................ 4 WEPENER’S PERAMBULATIONS & SOME RAILWAY HISTORY FROM THE WELKOM PRIVATE RAILWAY MUSEUM ................................................................. 6 Trainspotting ........................................................................................................... 6 

20140213 ...................................................................................................... 6

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20140305 .................................................................................................... 10

Various: SAR & H Organisations .......................................................................... 14 Station Accounts Instruction Book plus other regulation and rule books .............. 15 ROUNDABOUT: TISH ARCHER.............................................................................. 18 

Draai Station................................................................................................... 18

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Konstabel Station ........................................................................................... 20

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Train refurbishment: Touwsrivier / Touws River ............................................. 22

BEDFORD: T BARNARD ......................................................................................... 27 CALVINIA: GERHARD PIETERS ............................................................................. 28 NATAL MAINLINE .................................................................................................... 29 

Colenso North: Rudi Venter........................................................................... 29

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Danskraal: Rudi Venter ................................................................................. 31

BLUE TRAIN ............................................................................................................ 34 

2nd Fire: Johannes Marais .............................................................................. 34

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2nd Fire: Blue Train ......................................................................................... 34 

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Bloutrein aan die brand ............................................................................... 34 1st Fire: Blue Train .......................................................................................... 34

JOURNEY WITH A 15F LOCOMOTIVE................................................................... 36 

Eastbound Germsiton to Breyten: Johan Jacobs ........................................... 36

FACEBOOK: SUID-AFRIKAAANSE SPOORWEË / SA RAILWAYS /ULOLWE (sic) ................................................................................................................................. 40 WESTERN CAPE..................................................................................................... 41 

Blue Train near Cape Town ............................................................................ 41

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Malan Station near Wellington ........................................................................ 43

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Blue Train & Premier Classe .......................................................................... 45

14E: LIVERIES: FRANCOIS MATTHEÜS................................................................ 47 2

14-001 WILLIAM DREW HIGGO ............................................................................. 47 14-001: NOEL WELCH ............................................................................................ 48 GHOSTS AT VAN REENEN STATION: BRAAM VAN TUBBERGH ........................ 51 SOUTH DEVON LINE (UK): A LINK TO BOKSBURG (NZASM) ............................. 55 

Suid-Devon spoorlyn in gevaar Na 167 Jaar: Peter Wood ............................. 55 

John Sharpe: South African Connection ..................................................... 56

POLICE COACHES: TRANSNET HISTORY (HBH) ................................................ 57  South African authorities reveal plans to use jail trains for hooligans at 2010 World Cup ............................................................................................................. 58 SAR MODELS .......................................................................................................... 59 1E: Hannes Paling ................................................................................................ 59 LIGHTHOUSES ....................................................................................................... 59 

Die Slangkopvuurtoring in Kommetjie-Wes Kaap: Johan Jacobs ................... 59

GAUTRAIN............................................................................................................... 60 Gautrain News: February 2014 ............................................................................. 60 

A snake has caused three days of uproar at the Gautrain Midrand station. 61

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Smartphone Application ............................................................................. 62

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Valentime’s Day .......................................................................................... 62

ANGOLA .................................................................................................................. 62 

CFB Luau: Anton van Schalkwyk ................................................................... 62

FROM THE PRESS ................................................................................................. 64 

SA se treine is spoor byster (Rapport)............................................................ 64

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Suid-Afrika se sterwende stasies: Willie Marais (Rapport) ............................. 66

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Transnet se dodelike geheim (Rapport) ......................................................... 73

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Comments from Rapport’s Readers ............................................................... 78

 Comments by our Members on Facebook regarding the same report in Rapport ................................................................................................................. 81 LETTERS ................................................................................................................. 84 

Fanjan Coetzee: Padkennisopleiding / University on Wheels......................... 84

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Francois Mattheüs .......................................................................................... 85 

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From Francois Mattheüs’ friend in UK ......................................................... 85 A German Wonderland in Hamburg: (via) Dr Gerhard Theron ....................... 88

RAILWAY PEOPLE .................................................................................................. 88 3

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Driver Noel Welch .......................................................................................... 88

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Death Notice: Brig Mounie Mouton (SAR Police) ........................................... 89

THE POLITICIANS ON RAILWAY PEOPLE ............................................................ 90 

AA causing Transnet and Prasa to derail (literally) - Anton Alberts ................ 90

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SAA lowers training standards for new pilots - Anton Alberts ......................... 91

STOP PRESS .......................................................................................................... 93 

1E: Hannes Paling .......................................................................................... 93

DISCLAIMER AND GREETINGS ............................................................................. 93 NEXT ISSUE & GREETINGS .................................................................................. 94

EDITORIAL Welcome Welcome to this edition of Uloliwe In this edition In this edition we are looking at the work of J & J Wepener of Welkom in the Free State and Tish Archer’s fascinating photos taken in the Karoo. Tish is also a Harley Davidson-fan. Photographs of railways by women are just a subject that fascinates me! Sue Laurence in Australia was the first lady I knew who took an interest in trains. Christine Durant – late Dusty’s wife also took some nice photographs. Women look at railways differently; they look more towards the aesthetics and they capture the facets that fascinate them as well as artistic moods that escape our attention! J & J Wepener have also sat down and took the time to share railway history with us – as they remember the various South African Railways’ “semi-official” organisations and the financial directives. I may mention in the South African Police also issued to each Constable on attestation a number of books; we had Standing Orders, Standing Orders (Financial), Standing Orders (Stores) and Hints on the Investigation of Crime. It was expected that you were conversant with the contents. In your free time you had to do amendments! Pampoenpoort has to “do the books” in the same way as Pretoria and has to be aware of the various instructions and returns. Orders & Inspections Uniformity in large organisations like Defence, Police, Railways (Airways & Harbours included); the Civil Service and large international corporations is/are necessary 4

especially for audit and inspection purposes. Inspection and audits serve various purposes; one purpose is training and the other enhances accountability. If you are in charge you are responsible and accountable. If you are in charge you must know how to inspect and what to look for. A neat office building, car park and garden create the correct impression. Our stations, yards and infrastructure look awful. Poles next to the lines and bridges need paint! You can’t even read the name of rivers when travelling by train. You must remember names are constantly changing; I like to know the (new/old) names of towns and rivers when I travel. When you visit a state institution; i.e. an army base, railway station, a small police station or large police camp you can see with the first glimpse what going on. Usually the outside reflects on the inward and interior. Seldom is your impression wrong. You can see when a “captain is running a tight ship” or not! You can see things are wrong when go through the gate or when you reach reception / front desk. Who is the inspector of railways? Who is responsible and who is accountable? What is the role of the Auditor-General regarding the railways? Manne julle sal ‘n plan moet mqaak: Dinge kan nie so aangaan nie! Blue Train The Blue Train once the flagship of our railways seems to be stumbling from one disaster to the next. We really don’t know what to expect next? We have included for your information eyewitness accounts of people that were passengers on the train on both times fires broke out! We have given you the press reports. To me it seems scary. More scary if you ban the press – what do you have to hide? How safe are you travelling on the world’s once premier train? (I seem to remember the accident at Deelfontein between the Blue Train and a passenger train.) We are not getting any younger; we are not the fit young chaps we were anymore! We could fall from our steeds and wipe the dust off while the Sergeant, with a twinkle in the eye, asks: “And who gave you orders to dismount?” You could only sheepishly grin in your defence. But the show must go on! When you have finished your training there is no room for accidents. Politics & Accidents Politics is a nasty business, but we have to remember that politicians determine the policy and set the goals officials must achieve – note must achieve! One can’t blame the loyal official who offers his whole working life to e.g. the railways. If the politician says more lady drivers – then the policy must be obeyed. 5

The former SA Police Special Task Force had very stringent requirements. My stepson failed twice to become a member of that unit – both times he had to withdraw due to broken limbs. It was just a case of: “Sorry, you’re not good enough!” Or: “Better luck next time!” The South African Police Service is the successor in title to the South African Police and the other police agencies in South Africa. Now almost ‘anybody’ can become a member of the elite Special Task Force, especially ladies. No, I am not racist, but sit down and think: The politicians are sending people most certainly to their death by enforcing quotas. Take pilots – there is no magic wand; so if there are vacancies for pink ladies and green men; they will surely die if they can’t fly, or “drive” a train, or “steer” a boat. I never see trains when travelling – I might be wrong but in the “old days” there were daily literally 100’s of trains, now I don’t see any trains as often as I used too. But I think we have more accidents and collisions. Am I right or wrong? Can’t we relax and appoint the best people for a job in the interest of the country, our visitors and all concerned!? I don’t want an orange lady to be my brain surgeon; I want the best surgeon to operate on me. If I was an amber lady in the X Force I will wet my pants if attacked by the KFCL – and I am not properly trained and don’t have the correct backup. Usually the training is so stiff because you have to survive in the real world – the same with any other job! I think if we could choose the best pilots, the best naval captains, the best drivers etc we would achieve tremendous results in this country. To maintain last year’s standards and goals the better workers now have to work harder than before while “carrying passengers”. When I go to war, I want to go with the “A” Team. Not with a politically correct and equally sexually represented army. No Sir! I want to go to war because I want to win! I don’t want to die for my country! My unfortunate enemy must die for his! Please guys let’s get the basics right. Take golf: I you have the basics right – well then you can participate and try to win! You then have a fair chance! Yes, I must admit: I will take a chance on the Blue Train or Premier Classe! So, let’s give the railways a fair chance! Remember there are thousands of loyal employees.

WEPENER’S PERAMBULATIONS & SOME RAILWAY HISTORY FROM THE WELKOM PRIVATE RAILWAY MUSEUM Trainspotting 

20140213

Hi guys.

34 081 was standing in Welkom station waiting to proceed to Friedesheim with the Mondi timber shunt. RRL 22-03 returning from Odendaalsrus, Frieddes 5 shaft, seen here at Friedesheim and at the Stateway Road crossing. She is on her way to the exchange yards with Harmony Surface Rail near the old show grounds. A southbound load of fuel just after Whites. Between Bosrand and Gunhill, 34-499 and 34-453 haul 35-296, ex BFX workshops. Sheltam's 31 class brings in a load of ore to the exchange yards with Harmony Surface Rail. Harmony's loco leaving the depot and heading to the exchange yard to pick up the load Sheltam just dropped. Cheers. J & J.

ď&#x201A;ˇ

20140305

Hi guys. The light locos are heading south just before Geneva - "Captain Ford" â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on the footplate. Gunhill yard shunt in the hands of 35-262 and the petrol shunt being done by 34-069. Some shots at Allanridge mine club of the old North British tank loco. Her condition has deteriorated since our last visit... Cheers. J & J.

Various: SAR & H Organisations Hi Hennie, Another short note on some railway organisations: Being such a large Administration, at one stage having 285,000 employees. There were many and varied organisations and sections looking after the welfare of its staff. The following come to mind. S A R & H Children’s Homes, situated around the country. Numerous old age homes for elderly employees. [Houses, rooms and frail care were available]. St John’s Ambulance. Noodhulp Liga. Administration run, sport and recreation clubs.

The ATKV [Afrikaanse Taal en Kultural Vereeniging]. Cultural Society. Had numerous holiday resorts. 10 Trade Unions, representing all grades. SAR & H Hulp Fonds – Benevolent Fund. [2% interest loans to help staff with their financial problems. A board sat monthly to discuss and grant loans]. University bursaries for staff members and their children. Plan and Inventions scheme – Plan-en uitvindings skema. [Plans accepted, staff received a cash incentive and letter of thanks]. House ownership plans. [2% interest on 1005% or 10% house loans]. Departmental housing at very low rental.

S A R & H Sick Fund later Transmed. S A R & H Pension Fund. With advent of Transnet 1st April, 1990. A second defined fund was established. [Presently a very drawn out and costly court case in progress, in connection with Billions of Rand of Pensioners payments still owing]. In House training courses given at Esselen Park College plus its branches on all Systems. Free, quarter, half price. [Air, Rail and under certain circumstances RTS travel concessions]. Temperance Union. [Matigheids Bond]. Booklet “Rebos”] SAR Christian Union. [SAS Christilike Unie]. Booklet “The Railway Messenger” – “Die Spoorweg Bode”. Most no longer exist, except two Trade Unions, Two Pension Funds, Transmed, Esselen Park, Diminished free travel concessions. S A S & H Groete, John en Jacque.

Station Accounts Instruction Book plus other regulation and rule books Hi Hennie, The S A R & H was a very large organisation with dozens of different sections, all working together to form one smooth running Administration. We have already mentioned the various Train operating books: Here are a few we can still remember: Train Operating Rules General Appendix’s Nos. 1 to 4, plus various sub divisions. Various Private Working Time Books Nos. 1 to 11. Local Appendix’s Nos. 1 – 9. Permanent Way Instructions. Electric Safety Instructions. High Tension Equipment Instructions. Catenary Safety Instructions. Diagram Books Train Rolling Stock Diagram Books Nos. 1 to 4. General Instruction Books Then a few General Instruction Books: Disciplinary Grievance Procedures. Health Advice for Personal. Safety Health Environment Guide lines. Quality Programme Implementation. Train the Trainer Course Instructions.

List of Uniform Clothing. [All grades, except S A R Police. This was a separate book for SAR Police use only]. List of Protective Clothing. [All grades]. Instructions in respect of trains conveying Empty Coaching Stock or travelling – guard less. T410, T411 and T412 Train Registers. [Depending on type of operating in use and where found. Station Inspector, Signal Cabin, Yard Master or CTC]. Commercial section Then came the Commercial sections instruction books: First of all was the S.A.I.B. [Station Accounts Instruction Book]. It was 500 pages thick, bound with long brass screw posts, to enable replacement of whole pages, when amendments were made. All pages were typed. It had a hard green linen back and front cover. [As with all instruction, regulation and rule books, a front page was available, to record all amendments made. A favourite for Auditors and all other members of the Inspectorate to check. Rates and Tariffs Rate and Tariff books followed: Goods rates. [Including Live stock]. Passenger rates. Parcels rates. [Half, two thirds – Perishable items and returned items. Normal, double, two thirds and triple – Fragile, urgent, odd shaped items]. RTS rates. [Passenger, Parcels, Goods, Livestock]. Official Tariff Book. [All sections]. Cloak Rooms, Goods, Parcels, Live Stock, Tickets, Reservations, Luggage, Vehicles, Storage, Items arriving without documents, Unentred traffic – UE, Items arriving without documents. Senders, receivers contacted, temporary documents issued for speedy delivery. Lost Property Lost Property Instructions. Items found on trains, waiting rooms along tracks, unclaimed items, [Sent to nearest Excess Depot, after three months for sale at auction], Cash and left change, [How to account for] plus any other circumstances which might occur. Explosive Goods O.T.B. No. 5. Dangerous and Explosive Goods. CFM O.T.B. No. 6. [CFM South]. Passenger Services Book Passenger Services Book. [Giving details of what may or may not be accepted for conveyance on passenger trains]. Packaging Specifications for all types of items. [EG: Bulky in proportion to mass]. Private sidings List of all private sidings in RSA and SWA. [Giving details of traffic allowed to be forwarded or received, to sidings]. Goods section The Goods section including the RTS. Were mechanised, daily bundles of documents being sent by messenger, suburban, passenger or on branch lines goods trains to the nearest “Buro”. [Situated at System Manager’s Offices]. Which processed the documents on punch card “Burroughs” machines. [Early Computers, but very large and labour intensive]. Month

ends packs returned to stations for onward transmission to all account holders, for payment. [Two types of accounts were available at Stations. Ledger account, where a commercial bank gave the SAR & H a guarantee, to cover the amount granted. Deposit accounts, where consignee/consignor, paid in an amount to the Station and was notified if the sum reached a minimum, requiring a further cheque to be forwarded. Passenger The Coaching side, [Parcels, Tickets plus RTS]. Used manual, hand written accounting systems. DCCB – Daily Coaching Cash Book being the main book to balance at days/shift end. DCB – Daily Cash Book, used by all offices using the manual system. This book balanced by each office, paid in at Ticket Office, who completed final balance. Parcels PSB – Parcels Stamp Book. Only large stations used “NCR” cash registers, small stations pasted SAR-SAS stamps on paid way bills to prove amount paid. [Parcels could be sent ToPay, cash collected at receiving station and a SAR-SAS receipt given as proof of payment. Under Charges UCB – Under Charge Book. Any under charges on tickets or parcel rates, were entered into this book, efforts were made to collect under charge, if not able a collection was made at month ends to clear any under charges. [Account holders were no problem their accounts being debited, with explanation. Including CGL, Central Government Ledgers. Mostly National Service Men and ACF members undertaking train trips to camps]. Over Charges OCB – Over Charge Book. Should a ticket or parcel have been over charged, amount entered into this book. Every effort made to contact person. Again account holders were credited. Cash paid in as a surplus on day of discovery of over charge. Surplus cash held by Local Accountant’s Offices for three months, should a claim be lodged. There after finally debited to SAR&H children’s homes. Also used for cash found along line, waiting rooms, platforms, coaches and left change was written through this book. Including goods section. PDB – Parcels Debit Book. All to pay way bills and COD – Cash On Delivery documents – entered into this book. On delivery and payment of charges, book brought up to date with amount and receipt number. Shift end this book had to balance with the DCB. Paid On Book POB – Paid On Book. As mentioned above many parcels were received COD. The station would collect the railage amount as well as the amount for payment to the consignor. The Consignee would pay the complete amount, getting two receipts one for railage, the other for full COD amount. During the shift the staff would complete a TV – Transfer Voucher -, forward to the goods section. COD amounts were only payable through the goods “BURO” system. The “Buro” on receipt of the COD documents would immediately print a cheque and post to consignor, as full payment of item forwarded COD. Accountant transactions SA40 – Large printed form upon which all account transactions were recorded. Every accountant holder having their own SA40 sheets. Forwarded at month ends to account holders, for checking purposes. Very few complaints were received about incorrect entries. Blue carbon paper used for station copies.

At month ends, 25th of month all books were balanced and a SA1 balance sheet completed, copies of all relevant documents were forwarded to the Local Accountants Office for perusal and certification. Local Accountant’s looked after station accounts and payments to suppliers. The Chief Accountant’s Office, was responsible for the Pension Fund and other large tender payments. As well as annual financial statements to the MINISTER OF transport. In the eighties the parcels also implemented an integrated accounting system; the goods also used this more modern and faster system. Today as with Train Operating methods, everything has been further modernised and the few stations open for truck loads, locomotive hire and ticket sales all use the latest hand held mini computers, to account for payments and to print combined consignment notes and truck cards as well as train tickets. Regulatory greetings, John and Jacque.

ROUNDABOUT: TISH ARCHER  Draai Station

Looking East in the vast Karoo

Looking West

 Konstabel Station

Tish is looking for the Constable’s helmet. Can anybody help?

ď&#x201A;ˇ Train refurbishment: Touwsrivier / Touws River

BEDFORD: T BARNARD

CALVINIA: GERHARD PIETERS

NATAL MAINLINE ď&#x201A;ˇ Colenso North: Rudi Venter Hi Got stuck behind a train that hit cattle at Colenso.... Cheers

The old SAR Power Station

ď&#x201A;ˇ Danskraal: Rudi Venter Morning Gents,

Found some old coaches and cabooses at Danskraal depot and look at the museum condition of the breakdown train van...excellent Enjoy and share

BLUE TRAIN  2nd Fire: Johannes Marais

 2nd Fire: Blue Train 

Bloutrein aan die brand

February 10, 2014 Die Bloutrein het verlede Saterdag naby Kimberley op pad in ’n suidelike rigting beweeg toe die lokomotief aan die brand geslaan en uiteindelik uitgebrand het. Motoriste wat parallel met die spoorlyn gery het, sê hulle kon die rookbolle en vlamme kilometers vêr sien, voordat die trein tot stilstand gekom het. ’n Transnet woordvoerder het geweier om die besonderhede bekend te maak, behalwe om te erken dat die lokomotief uitgebrand het, en dat geen personeel of reisigers beseer is nie. Joernaliste wat opgedaag het by die toneel, is verbied om foto’s te neem van die uitgebrande lokomotief, en moes toekyk hoe ’n ander lokomotief later aan die trein gehak is. ’n Uur nadat die lokomotief begin brand het, was daar nog geen teken van die nooddienste se brandweer nie, te midde daarvan dat hulle onmiddellik in kennis gestel is om te help. Dit is nie bekend wat die oorsaak van die brand is nie. http://www.dievryburger.co.za/2014/02/bloutrein-aan-die-brand/

 1st Fire: Blue Train Staff ‘clueless’ during Blue Train blaze 34

by Angelique Serrao: November 30 2012 at 02:06pm

The Blue Train caught alight outside Beaufort West, but there was little fire fighting equipment on board. Picture: Supplied Johannesburg Blue Train passengers were left stranded for hours in the Karoo on Wednesday night when the train’s engine caught fire, and there was not enough fire fighting equipment on board to douse it. According to passengers, there was chaos on the train. They said staff was clearly not trained to handle emergencies, there were few fire extinguishers, no sprinklers and no fire alarm on board. The train was travelling between Cape Town and Pretoria when the fire broke out at about 6pm, said passenger Nick Rea. He said the handling of the emergency was shocking, especially considering the high costs of the tickets. According to the rates on the Blue Train website, a ticket in high season costs between R15 000 and R21 000 a person between Cape Town and Pretoria. The fire broke out just south of Beaufort West, where it had stopped. The driver uncoupled the coaches from the locomotive to stop the fire from spreading further. “We could smell it and it was only after some time that someone made an announcement. The staff was very disorganised,” Rea said. Passengers were asked to disembark, but Rea said there were no ladders, and the mainly elderly and foreign passengers struggled to get down. Rea also had to help a disabled woman get off the train, he said. “Most of the passengers are on average in their elderly years and getting off the train was quite difficult for them,” Rea said. Rea said nobody took a roster and he went back into the train to knock on closed cabin doors and tell people who did not know that there was a fire that they must disembark. In the morning, another train came and picked them up and took them to Matjesfontein, where they were taken to Cape Town airport and met by Blue Train management. Rea said the lack of emergency training meant a real tragedy could have taken place.

“Thank goodness the fire didn’t spread because the wind was blowing the fire to the side and not back towards the coaches… “A train like this should have proper fire extinguishers, a sprinkler system and a fire alarm,” Rea said. Transnet freight rail spokesman Michael Asefovitz said the train had two locomotives and 17 coaches, with 53 passengers on board. He said the driver had noticed the smoke and immediately separated the coaches from the locomotive. “He only had a fire extinguisher with him, but I understand emergency workers were there quite quickly. They used 25 000 litres of water to put the fire out and everyone thought it was under control, but it started up again and the locomotive burnt out completely,” Asefovitz said. He said it was unfortunate that passengers had to stay outside for four hours, but emergency workers needed to make sure the coaches were safe before they were allowed back on board. He said passengers’ transfer costs were all covered by the company and they were offered either the chance of a 100 percent refund or they would be allowed to postpone their trip to another date. angelique.serrao@inl.co.za The Star http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/staff-clueless-during-blue-train-blaze1.1433813#.UvqAS6vzuHB

JOURNEY WITH A 15F LOCOMOTIVE  Eastbound Germsiton to Breyten: Johan Jacobs In the previous edition of the ULOLIWE I wrote about my experience on a type S1 shunter locomotive with my late brother, Pieter, while he was a stoker at Germiston steam depot. My wish was to travel with him and his driver oom Hendrik to Breyten in one of those big 15F steam engines.

The Madame - 15F locomotive

It was a winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s afternoon in 1970 when I stepped into the shed at the depot with Pieter and walked up to this big black, hissing 15F locomotive standing ready with fire in her stomach and steam in her boiler. I felt trilled and a little nervousness mixed with sheer excitement, spread through my body while we loaded our 'kosblikke' onto the footplate. It felt great to have my own 'kosblik' (I used Pieterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old one). Pieter asked me to help him to oil and grease the big lady and we walked around the engine checking and oiling/greasing some parts. It was not long before oom Hendrik boarded the footplate and made himself ready for the trip. Pieter pointed out to him what he did and what all the readings on the gauges were and once done, oom Hendrik could move the big loco out of the shed to the coal station while the shed shunters threw crossing switches towards the coal station section.

The coal station at Germiston steam depot

This 15F had a mechanical stoker and while the coal tender was filled Pieter explained to me that it worked with a mechanism blowing coal into the firebox. If I remember correctly it had to be set to blow the coal exactly in all corners of the firebox to get the maximum fire going to boil the boiler for the correct steam pressure. The cab of the 15F looked much bigger than the S1 and all the brass pipes and instruments looked very impressive.

We proceeded to one of the shunting lines to collect some freight cars (trucks) for our journey from Germiston via Boksburg, Springs, Devon, Bethal, Ermelo and then on to Breyten. Breyten was profound in railway history and the railway station was one big marshalling yard. It was around 5pm when we received the green signal light to move out of Germiston towards Boksburg. It was an impressive sound to hear this big iron lady move on the iron rails and one could feel the strength of this locomotive. I stood at the door looking forward and straight out rather than sitting on the wooden chair Pieter organised for me. To see the loco move from side to side and hear the heavy wheels on the iron tracksâ&#x20AC;Śwow! What an experience! This was not the class S1 shunting loco I was used to! This was a mother of a STEAM ENGINE! We passed through Boksburg and Brakpan with green signals towards the town of Springs. It was dark now and sometimes we crossed metro trains coming from the front on the duel line travelling in the opposite direction of us from Springs to Johannesburg. All the green, red and amber line signals were somewhat confusing to me as we reached the outskirts of Springs but oom Hendrik knew exactly where to go as the signals guided us towards the marshalling yard were we spent some time collecting more freight cars. My brother was very busy during this time with the firebox and other instruments to maintain the lady in readiness for our trip eastward. While he was busy I prepared our supper consisting of mince, rice and mixed vegetables. Finally we were given the signals to proceed. Then we were on our way through the town heading towards Devon where we would make a stop to fill up the water in the tender. At some places we passed alongside the main road and some drivers in their cars sounded their hooters to greet us and I was given the chance to blow the locoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horn in a return greeting! Later in the night it was getting cold and I helped Pieter to put up the tarpaulin between the tender and footplate to keep the heat inside for us. While Pieter was busy with other tasks I sat on his chair for a while looking forwardâ&#x20AC;Śthis was so GREAT! Now and then I made coffee from the kettle above the firebox and mixed it with condensed milk, it was delicious to sip the hot and sweet coffee. Since then, whenever I drank coffee with condensed milk it reminded me of my amazing trip. It took some balance to stand still while pouring the coffee with the engine speeding and rocking from side to side. We were moving into the platteland now and it was only the headlight of the loco that killed the darkness around us. Later in the evening we left the red/green light 38

signals behind and the Semaphore signal system became operational, this seemed a complicated system to me because it was just arms on pylons with some lights on and I did not have the knowledge of the significance. Then I observed a strange thing happening…at stations Pieter hung out of his window and threw out a ring with a small bag and caught another in its place. He then explained the reason for this tablet system – it was a way of communication with the station masters or foremen. There was a message in the bag which gave us information of what was going to happen on the road forward. Later I watched as he did it again and saw that he took the ring from a station foreman standing on a sort of steel latter. I was astonished to see how oom Hendrik knew exactly where to slow down or to give power to pull the train and where to close or open the regulator. There was a lot more to it than just driving a loco or to shuffle coal into the firebox. One of Oom Hendrik’s main tasks was to keep the train on track whilst Pieter had to keep a steady eye on the fire box, the steam pressure gauges and manoeuvring levers and turning different handles. I remember seeing him kick a lever under his chair with his heel. During our trip oom Hendrik asked me to share, what was to him, the most beautiful sound ever…he closed the regulator and all I could hear was the click-clack of the wheels on the track… then he would open the regulator and the sound changed to a loud rumbling ‘du-du du-du’ filling the air…this was indeed a very beautiful sound, a unique sound that a person could only hear from a steam engine. Sometime during the early morning on a remote piece of railroad my brother shouted that there was an animal on the rail and he sounded the whistle but it was too late and the loco smashed into the animal, we presumed that it was either a stray donkey or a cow. Later at Bethal station my brother confirmed that it was a donkey while he washed off the remains of it from the front of the loco with a hosepipe. From Bethal we pushed towards Ermelo as the sun broke through the darkness of the night. At Ermelo Pieter cleaned the fire box of ‘klinkers’, took on coal and water and we had a breakfast of boiled eggs, rusks and coffee while we waited for incoming traffic from Breyten. It was very cold and Pieter kept the fire door open for us to keep warm. During the morning we moved along the country side and at this stage I was very tired and my body was aching from all the up- and down climbing, the uncomfortable way of my space on the footplate and the rock and roll of the loco. I was relieved when Breyten came in sight and the idea of going off duty to rest was a happy thought. 39

The signal house at Breyten as in 2013

Breyten marshalling yard was a busy and big yard with a lot of goods-train traffic and it took a while before we were assigned a side line to park. After uncoupling the loco we took the 15F to the steam depot and booked off then proceeded to the resting house that was a few meters away from the station. There we sank into our beds after a cup of well-deserved coffee and sandwiches taking a nap after which we were woken for supper. The next morning at six the ‘roepman’ gave us a wake-up call to start our journey back to Germiston. I was privileged to join Pieter and oom Hendrik for a second trip later that year. To this day I still treasure the fond memories of my journey with this remarkable 15F iron lady.

FACEBOOK: SUID-AFRIKAAANSE /ULOLWE (sic)

SPOORWEË

RAILWAYS

Ref: https://www.facebook.com/groups/74709226744/

As we have more than 250 members, we cannot edit or change our group’s name. Spelling errors are entirely my fault. Afrikaanse has three “a’s” and the “i” of Uloliwe has been left out ... due to Glenn Elsden, our webmaster of our new website, we have a new masthead for the site. [Membership: 1292 members]

WESTERN CAPE Francois Mattheüs Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe

Malanstasie buite Wellington, 11 Feb 2014: Na aanleiding van die naweek se gebeure met E14001, was dit mooi om 14110 en 14106 met die Bloutrein te sien. Miskien gaan hierdie tipe gesig gouer dalk iets van die verlede wees? Wat 'n jammerte.

 Blue Train near Cape Town

ď&#x201A;ˇ Malan Station near Wellington Malanstasie buite Wellington, 11 Feb 2014:

ď&#x201A;ˇ Blue Train & Premier Classe Die Bloutrein het die sylyn geneem om te wag vir die P-Classe wat reeds van Wellington af oppad uit was. Wat 'n mooi kombinasie met al twee treine wat se trekkrag met die trein se kleur ooreenstem. (Die P-Classe met E1629 & E1666 en die Bloutrein met 14110 & 14106).

Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be lovely if the Premier Classe also had yellow stripes at the rear end?

14E: LIVERIES: FRANCOIS MATTHEĂ&#x153;S

14-001 WILLIAM DREW HIGGO 14-001 in happier times waiting to depart Kimberley Station for the exchange yard and then on to De Aar. 11 November 2013. Pic: WDH

14-001: NOEL WELCH

GHOSTS AT VAN REENEN STATION: BRAAM VAN TUBBERGH

Braam van Tubbergh Kyk as daar nou een stasie waar dit gespook het verseker Van Reenen-stasie. Ĺ&#x2030; Hele paar drywers en assistente kan daarvan getuig! Johan Jacobs, Pieter van Rooyen, Jacobus Marais and 5 others like this.

Penelope Loxton Kom vertel vir ons die spookstories! Ek's mal daaroor!

Stephen van Heerden Lions River het net so gespook Braam van Tubbergh Jong Penelope Van Reenen stasie is uit op die tak en dit was ŉ enkelspoorlyn wat met Van Schoor stelsels (tablet) gewerk het . Die reël was sou die vrag lank was sou dit met 2 lokomotiewe A5 van Danskraal getrek word maar by Van Reenen Stasie moes een van die A5 afgehak word en die moes deur die drywer en assistent gedoen word . En sou dit na middernag gebeur het, het die betrokke spook sy nonsens aan gevang !!!

Penelope Loxton So wat het toe gebeur op Van Reenen? Was daar enige noodlottige besering op diens - bv 'n rangeerder of assistent wat dalk tussen die buffers van 2 voertuie vasgedruk was? Dis kompressiebeserings en as hulle die voertuie wegtrek van mekaar, dan beswyk die persoon. Dis hartseer en traumaties. Ongelukke gebeur so gou!

Braam van Tubbergh Nee, nee, darem nie so erg nie, Penelope Loxton, blykbaar was daar manne wat beweer dat hulle op hul rue geklap is terwyl hulle die trokke ontkoppel het ! Penelope Loxton Dankie, Braam! Ek sal goed glo elke stasie het sy eie spook. ŉ Mens kan enigiets verwag, maar party ouens was stout gewees en kruip 'n ou weg in die vertrek waar die volgende trajek se bedryfsitem was en as die niksvermoedende ou oopsluit, dan spring 'n ou uit! Ek het al gelag oor stories verblyfplekke ook. Ek het vir jare amptelike akkommodasie en reise gereël. Een ou wou altyd alleen in 'n kothuis bly op 'n dorp en eendag sien ek hy wil in die hotel self bly. Ek vra hoekom so en vra of dit of hy uitgespook was en so was vir my vertel van die voordeurklokkie wat gelui was. Elke keer as hy oopgemaak het was daar geen mens in sig nie - 3 keer die nag. Die volgende oggend toets hy die klokkie, toe werk die ding ook nie:) Ek het my geskeur van die lag! Braam van Tubbergh Maar daar is ŉ storie agter die storie van die spook ! Braam van Tubbergh Daar word vertel dat baie jare gelede het ŉ polisieman ŉ oproep gekry van die stasievoorman dat daar ingebreek word op die vrag wat op die lyne staan. Hy het toe kom ondersoek instel en op die diewe af gekom maar die diewe het hom toe vermoor . Nou se die manne dat die spook is nou die polisieman wat die manne soek wat hom vermoor het en so het dit nou gekom dat vd drywers vertel dat daar van die manne al geklap is op die rug . En so word daar vertel dat die handmerk lank op die rug gebly het! Stephen van Heerden Ek kon onthou op die ou pad, tussen Newcastle en Volksrust was daar altyd ŉ spook passasierstrein, jy sien die hele trein kom die berg af tot op die draai dan eweskielik is hy net weg

Hermanus Pretorius Jong mense ek wil julle vertel wat met my gebeur het op die Trans-Natal in 1987 vanaf Volksrust na Glencoe. Ek het gaan patrolleer net na vertrek op Volksrust in die agterste 5e het 3 kinders gesit elkeen met net ŉ pt broekie en ŉ vessie aan ek hul gevra wa gaan hulle wat hulle my geantwoord is nogal snaaks gewees hul gaan na hul ma toe in Durban en dat hulle koud kry ek het die verwarmers en kookplaat aangesit Toe ek voorkom het ek my drywer gesê van die kinders en hy op sy beurt GVB geroep en vertel van die kinders in die lokomotief en nou die spook agter die storie die mense wat die pad ken sal weet jou eerste stop is Newcastle en die spoed is so van aard lat jy nie sal waag om op of af te klim nie Met aankoms op Newcastle was die polisie op platform en die lokomotiewe deursoek maar natuurlik niks gekry nie kry ek hoender vleis nou as ek daar aan dink

Hermanus Pretorius Jip Stephen het hom by ou aftog ook opgemerk

Penelope Loxton Interessante vertellings, Braam, Stephen en Hermanus. 'n Mens kry sommer hoendervleis. Ek glo daar's 'n storie agter alles. Dis tragies dat die Stasievoorman deur die skurke vermoor was! Dis geen wonder dit "spook" daar - die gees is seker nog daar. Stephen, die spook passasierstrein kan wees van 'n noodlottige treinongeluk - is daar 'n treinspoor waar die trein ry? Ek het ook gehoor van 'n sekere stasie waar diesel loko's se ligte en enjindreuning nader gesien en gehoor kom en dan raak die weg. Die vreemde ding is daar waar dit gesien word, is daar nie meer 'n spoorlyn nie! Hermanus, die storie van die kindertjies klink so hartseer! 'n Mens wonder maar net of hulle nie in 'n ongeluk omgekom op 'n spooroorgang terwyl hulle in 'n motor was nie. Sies tog, ek voel so hartseer.

Penelope Loxton Ek het ook gehoor van 'n geval van 'n PE-treindrywer wat jare gelede deurgeloop na die ander kajuit van 'n 7E en daar het 'n "persoon" op die drywer se stoel gesit. Baie keer beskryf mense dat hulle gevoel dat die lug selfs ysig koud was op 'n warm dag of aand! Stephen van Heerden Ja, Penelope Loxton, daar was ŉ spoorlyn gewees tot hulle die nuwe spoor gele het tussen Volksrust en Newcastle Hennie Heymans My Oupa Heymans het op Van Reenen gewoon - my Vader het daar groot geword. Daar het pas 'n nuwe boek oor Van Reenen die liggesien. Oupa Heymans se huis staan vandag nog - langs die Green Lantern Inn - ek het as kind tydens skoolvakansies soggens altyd die "Volksblad" by die kondukteur van die Bloemfontein - Durban trein gekry. Oupa het altyd van "Blomfontein" gepraat. Daardie dae was daar 'n groot spoorweggemeenskap te Van Reenen - toe hulle die stasie sluit kon jy net sowel die ligte van die dorpie afgesny het. Oupa het ook van 'n spook gepraat in die berge na Cluver se kant toe. Daar was 'n verbasende groot begraafplaas en ons moes altyd akkers vir Oupa se varke gaan optel. Die bygeloof was, jy mog nie op 'n graf getrap het of geloop het nie, anders .... kom vang die spook jou!

Johan Jacobs Hoe lyk dit met 'spook stories' vir die ULOLIWE!

Braam van Tubbergh Stephen van Heerden. Ek onthou die manne het gepraat van die spook by Lions Rivier was dit dalk te doen met die passasierstrein wat jare gelede ontspoor het? Stephen van Heerden ŉ Trein het iemand dood gery reg voor die cabin se ingang

Braam van Tubbergh Ok en wat het die spook gedoen?

Jaco Holtzhausen Kroonstad was ook glo die plek wat sleg gespook het Abel Hanekom By Lions River as jy op ŉ sekere bank gelê het, het iets jou vasgedruk die dat die cabin se ligte nooit afgesit was nie

Penelope Loxton Dit wys jou iets het gebeur. Ek was 'n passasier in 'n voertuig gewees in 2002 en die groep van ons was oppad terug PE toe. Op die pad tussen Cookhouse en PE het dit gereën. Ek het in die sitplek agter die bestuurder van die VW TDI bussie gesit. Dit het so gereën en daar sien ek 'n jong vrou met lang donker hare en waserige klere wat inkyk in die voertuig so na my gestaar asof sy deur jou kyk en ek het 'n ysigheid in die lug gevoel! Ek het saggies vir die een langs my genoem van die vrou. Niemand anders het iets gesien nie, anders sou hulle gepraat het. Ek het dadelik besef dis nie 'n mens van vleis en bloed nie, want haar hare en klere was kurkdroog gewees terwyl sy in die gietende reën gestaan het. Sowat 3 jaar later het ek "Spookstories" op RSG geluister en iemand (toerleier) het ingebel en vertel van 'n jong vrou wat op daardie pad geryloop het en sy was deur 2 ontsnapte prisoniers opgetel en hulle het haar vermoor. Miskien is dit dieselfde vrou wat ek gesien het. Ek glo hierdie spoorweg spookstories is gebeure wat wel gebeur het en dat die geestes nog daar op die plekke is waar die dinge afgespeel het. Japie Terblanche Penelope Loxton. More sê, ek weet ook van so ŉ ongemaklike situasies, hier by ons was ŉ stalleer werf genaamd Kutalo, wel iets het my ook daar vasgedruk asook in die ruskamer no13 op Kroonstad. Verder het ŉ vrou my pa se arm op Dover stasie in die Vrystaat doodgedruk (7 dae) toe hy wou losruk, verder ongewone ligte gesien by Van Reenen, Kerslag, Gunhill, en Bloemfontein ruskamer, so iets onverklaarbaar moet bestaan al klink dit ongelooflik.

Penelope Loxton More, Oom Japie Terblanche. Lekker om te sien u gesels saam vandag! Sjoe, Oom Japie, dis nogal dinge wat Oom gepraat - maggies, maar daardie geeste was sommer onbeskof gewees! 'n Mens sal lelik skrik as sulke dinge gebeur. Of daai geestes was stout gewees. Ek het self 'n besoek gehad van 'n gees nadat ek die lig een nag afgeskakel en ek was besig met FB op my foon gewees en het lig gehad. Ons is net 2 in die huis en ek het 'n beweging gesien en gehoor en dit was nie inbrekers nie. Die een het na my

kant toe geloop en so yskoue asem uitgeblaas deur die vertrek en die gestalte het langs my gestaan. Die temperatuur het sommer koud geword, alhoewel dit nie winter was nie. Ek het dadelik die lig aangeskakel en die gees aangespreek in deur te begin en eindig in die DrieEenheid en hom/haar beveel om nie steurnis te kom maak nie, maar om vrede te kry. Ek het op ander kere al in die huis sigaretrook geruik terwyl niemand by ons rook nie - 'n vriend van ons is dood aan longkanker en was 'n strawwe roker gewees, alhoewel hy nooit by ons in die huis gerook nie. Daar was jare gelede ruskamers op Alicedale gewees en daar was ook stories gewees van 'n ou wat daar gespook het. Sy gesig was weggevreet van die velkanker. Japie Terblanche Penelope Loxton. Middag, ja wat ook snaaks was, was dat my pa wat op daardie stadium ŉ baanmeester was, drie weke daarna in ŉ rooi motortrollie ongeluk was waar ŉ swartvrou op ŉ fiets in ŉ uitgrawing op die taklyn in die middel van die spoorlyn gery het, reg van voor gebots het, sy was moeg en sy gesig geskend van die glasstukke, het so herstel, dat net baie fyn lyntjies sigbaar was. Hy het die oorleef. JARE DAARNA OP Houtenbech stasie gepik deur ŉ bruinkapel slang toe hulle dwarslêers wou vervang en een om gedraai het, hy het dit oorleef, en toe in 78 ŉ hartaanval gehad op diens te Harrismith as spoorbaan inspekteur, die keer “3rd time unlucky”, ons het tevergeefs gewag dat hy Vrydag huis toe kom. Penelope Loxton Middag, Oom Japie Terblanche. Ai, dat daar soveel met hom gebeur het! Dis hartseer julle tevergeefs vir hom gewag om huis toe te kom. Hoe oud was hy gewees? Japie Terblanche Penelope Loxton; Hy was 54 jaar oud. Hy was ŉ grootman, my oupa het vertel dat toe my pa onder hom gewerk het as arbeider om spore aan te lê die hele Vrystaat vol dat my pa alleen ŉ spoorstaaf gelig het met 12 swartes aan die anderkant, wys net groot en sterk help niks as jou strepie getrek is - is dit getrek. My ma was beloon deur SAS&H vir sy 35 jr diens met die opdrag dat sy die spoorweghuis binne 21 dae moes ontruim, vandag is sy een van die ou spoorwegmensies wat omtrent R10 ŉ maand uitkry na aftrekkings en waarvoor daar al ŉ hofsaak vir jare aangaan, kom ons bid dat daar ŉ wonderwerk sal gebeur dat die mense wat die spoorweg gebou het, hulle regmatige oudag geld sal ontvang, Amen.

SOUTH DEVON LINE (UK): A LINK TO BOKSBURG (NZASM)  Suid-Devon spoorlyn in gevaar Na 167 Jaar: Peter Wood ŉ “Great-great-great-grandfather” van Yorkshire, John Sharpe, het begin as ŉ arbeider in Engeland kort na 1800. In 1830 het Robert Stephenson, die seun van George Stephenson, die eerste praktiese stoomlokomotief, die “Rocket” gebou, en mense het orals begin om spoorlyne te bou. John Sharpe het toe begin werk aan die spoorweë in die Noorde by Stockton en Darlington, waar George Stephenson se “Locomotion” in gebruik was. John Sharpe en ŉ paar van sy broers (die “Railway Sharpes”) het spoorwegkontrakteurs geword. Hulle het verhuis na die suide van Engeland, waar die ingenieur Isambard Kingdom Brunel besig was om die “Great Western”-lyn te bou. Dit wil voorkom asof John Sharpe gewerk het 55

aan die bou van die Whiteball-tonnel, een van die eerste tonnels wat vir ŉ spoorweg gebou was. Isambard Brunel was baie oorspronklik, maar sommige van sy idees het misluk. Die eerste lokomotiewe wat Brunel vir die “Great Western”-lyn tussen Londen en Bristol ontwerp het was onprakties, en moes vervang word binne ŉ jaar. Brunel het ook sy spoorlyne 7 voet en ŉ kwart duim uitmekaar gebou, die “broad gauge”, terwyl die Stephensons die “standard gauge” van 4 voet 8 en ŉ kwart duim gebruik het. Die koste om “broad gauge” te bou was veel meer as vir standaard spoor. Geskiedenis van die bou van Brunel se Whiteball-tonnel op die spoorlyn tussen Bristol en Exeter, en iets oor die Sharpe-broers (die “Railway Sharpes”) http://www.sampfordarundel.org.uk/sampage60.php Na die voltooiing van die “Great Western” en die lyn van Bristol na Exeter, het Brunel die kontrak gekry om die “South Devon Railway” te bou, van Exeter tot by Newton Abbot en later tot by Plymouth. Treine loop nog steeds oor dieselfde roete wat Bunel beplan het – regs langs die see. Deel van die spoorlyn by Dawlish, tussen Exeter en Newton Abbot was onlangs beskadig deur groot golwe. Die suide kant van Engeland (Newton Abbot & Plymouth) is nou afgesny van Londen want die gaan 6 weke of langer vat om die seemuur te herstel. http://news.sky.com/story/1209082/flood-warnings-passengers-face-rail-misery ŉ Plaaslike historikus praat oor Brunel se keuse van ŉ kusroete tussen Exeter en Newton Abbot. Alhowel Brunel vas geglo het dat sy seemuur bestand sou wees teen die golwe, probleme het veroorsaak dat reparasies al in die 1860’s uitgevoer moes word. Die skade wat nou by Dawlish plaasgevind het is net ŉ bietjie erger as vorige insidente. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16D1VrCQJYQ Die Suid-Devon spoorlyn het in 1847 oopgemaak, met die gebruik van “pneumatic” trekkrag. Daar was geen lokomotiewe – rytuie is gesleep deur ŉ vakuum in ŉ pyp wat tussen die spoorbaan gelê was. Groot pomphuise was langs die spoor gebou om lug uit die dryfpyp te suig – baie van die pomphuise bestaan nog steeds. ŉ Leerseël , gesmeer met beesvet, is gebruik om die dryfpyp te seël. Die pneumatiese dryfmetode het gou misluk – daar was baie lekkasie en rotte het die beesvet besmeerde leerseëls gevreet. Brunel moes die pneumatiese dryfmetode laat vaar. Gewone lokomotiewe is van 1848 gebruik op die South Devon lyn.

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John Sharpe: South African Connection

Die Spoorweg kontrakteur John Sharpe het vir ŉ ruk in Newton Abbot gebly tydens konstruksie van die Exeter – Newton Abbot spoorlyn. John se oudste dogter, Hannah Sharpe, het getrou met Nicholas Adams van Newton Abbot. John Shape het geïmmigreer eers na Amerika en later na Australië. Hannah en Nicholas Adams se oudste dogter, Jane Shape Adams het verhuis na Londen – sy het heelmoontlik met die trein gery langs Brunel se roete. Jane Sharpe Adams, kleindogter van John Sharpe, het in Londen getrou met ŉ man wat vir The London, Chatham and Dover Railway gewerk het. Die paar het geïmmigreer na die Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek. Toe die Randtremlyn oopgemaak het tussen Johannesburg en Boksburg, was Jane Sharpe Adams en haar man in beheer van die kantien by Boksburgstasie.

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Peter Wood is an amateur historian and member of the Boksburg Historical Association

POLICE COACHES: TRANSNET HISTORY (HBH)

Above photographs from Lourens Sturgeon The “new” South African Police Service (SAPS) has a section called “Railway Police”. So far nobody I knew in SAPS could explain to me the use of these coaches. Doing research I found the following newspaper which explains the purpose of these “police coaches”.

ď&#x201A;ˇ South African authorities reveal plans to use jail trains for hooligans at 2010 World Cup By Laura Williamson Updated: 18:14 GMT, 6 November 2009 Hooligans at the 2010 World Cup could be in for shock treatment after South African authorities revealed plans to attach mobile police stations to the back of long-distance trains. The coaches will have two holding cells, an office where offenders can be charged, a safe for locking up firearms, a community service centre and sleeping compartments for officers. The measures mean misbehaving fans could be caught, locked up and charged by the time they reach their destination without police officers having to stop the train or seek help at the next station.

+1 Trouble-makers: England and Germany fans clashed at the 2006 World Cup Danny Jordaan, chief executive officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, said: 'We have a train that will transport the fans and we have a police station with a cell on the train. We will open the case against you and put you in jail on the train while you are travelling. It is the first time you have a train with a police station on. My feeling is that we are not going to have problems with the England fans. I don't have a feeling hooliganism is an issue with English fans. I was in Rome when Manchester United lost to Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League final. The city went overboard, but there was no issue.' The special 'jail' coach is estimated to cost ÂŁ200,000 and will be attached to trains travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. With fixtures at 10 venues in nine cites, many of the expected 450,000 fans at the tournament will be using trains.

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SAR MODELS 1E: Hannes Paling Work in Progress:

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See “Stop Press”

LIGHTHOUSES  Die Slangkopvuurtoring in Kommetjie-Wes Kaap: Johan Jacobs 4 Maart 1919 – Die Slangkopvuurtoring in Kommetjie, op die Kaapse Skiereiland word in gebruik geneem. Die Slangkop-vuurtoring is 'n vuurtoring by Slangkoppunt in Kommetjie in die Kaapse Skiereiland. Dit is op 4 Maart 1919 in gebruik geneem nadat 'n kommissie wat in 1906 deur die goewerneur in die Kaap sir Francis Hely-Hutchinson aangestel is, aanbevelings gemaak het vir veiligheidsmaatreëls om die suidkus van die Kolonie. Dit is 'n 33 meter hoë, wit geverfde gietystertoring. Dit is die hoogste metaaltoring in SuidAfrika. Die toring is in Brittanje gebou en ontwerp en na Suid-Afrika verskeep waar dit aanmekaargesit en opgerig is. Hoewel dit is reeds in 1916 voltooi is, is dit weens die Eerste Wêreldoorlog eers in 1919 in gebruik geneem. Die oorspronklike 500.000 C.D.-lig is deur 'n driemantel-petroldamplamp van 55 mm verskaf. Dit is in 1936 deur 'n 4 kW elektriese lamp vervang wat die ligkrag tot 16.000.000 C.D. vermeerder het. In 1974 is dit weer vervang met 'n 1,5 kW-lamp wat die ligkrag na ongeveer 500.0000 C.D. verminder het. Die vuurtoring is in 1979 ten volle geoutomatiseer, wat dit moontlik gemaak het om die bemanning van drie tot een te verminder.

GAUTRAIN Gautrain News: February 2014

Gautrain News: Compiled by Johan Jacobs

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A snake has caused three days of uproar at the Gautrain Midrand station.

Brian Mabasa parked his BMW coupe at the Midrand station on Tuesday the 11th and left for work. On his return, he found police, a snake handler and security guards surrounding his car. A snake had been spotted by guards on the parking lot and when they gave chase, it hid itself underneath the chassis of Mabasa’s car. “We tried everything short of stripping the car or setting it alight to get the snake out. We then resorted, with the help of the police, to pepper spray and that did not work either,” said Andre Prins, a "problem animal handler" who was called to the remove the snake. After initially being mistaken as a black mamba, Prins identified the reptile as a one-metre long rinkhals (spitting cobra), which is common but venomous. After hours of failed efforts to remove the snake, until 8.30pm that night, it was decided to leave the car to let the reptile slink off by itself. Prins said, “We have good reason to believe that the snake has by now left the car”.

But Mabasa is not willing to move his car as no one has confirmed seeing the snake exit. When the newspaper The Times visited the station yesterday, two security guards were keeping an eye on the car. “I am not convinced that the snake is gone. On Wednesday, when they called me they said they had seen the snake again,” Mabasa said. Gautrain executive, Errol Braithwaite, said: “The Gautrain is able to confirm reports that a legless intruder of indeterminate sex gained unauthorised access to the Midrand station parking area from the adjacent veld earlier this week. The intruder was seen to proceed to a parked vehicle and, according to reports, succeeded in hiding him/herself in the body of the vehicle in an apparent attempt to stowaway. The vehicle was surrounded by security staff who, having failed to persuade the intruder to leave, have quarantined the vehicle”. “Specialist negotiators were brought in from the SPCA but the standoff continues.” Braithwaite said he “condemned the actions of this ’slippery’ customer in the strongest terms”. “Once apprehended, we shall hand him/her over to the nearest snake farm where we trust that the scales of justice will tilt heavily and the incarceration will be long.” For now, Mabasa says he is using his other vehicle until he is 100% sure there is no snake in his car.

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Smartphone Application

Do you have a smart phone and use the Gautrain services regularly? if your answers were yes to both questions, then please download the official app from our website:www.gautrain.co.za - for Gautrain fare cost estimation, bus tracker, timetable and alerts

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Valentime’s Day

TimothyMaurice Webster managed to capture this and sent it through to us... Clearly Love was truly in the air at one of our stations this past Valentine's day... we hope she appreciate the flowers and him.

ANGOLA  CFB Luau: Anton van Schalkwyk

FROM THE PRESS ď&#x201A;ˇ SA se treine is spoor byster (Rapport) Pieter-Louis Myburgh: 2014-02-22 23:04 Ontsporings en botsings van treine van Transnet en die Passasierspooragentskap (Prasa) wat meestal aan menslike faktore toegeskryf kan word, het belastingbetalers verlede jaar R555 miljoen gekos. Transnet se verlies net weens ontsporings het boonop verdubbel van die vorige boekjaar en beloop nou meer as R300 miljoen. In â&#x20AC;&#x2122;n vergelykende studie van treinveiligheid in Suid-Afrika en lande in Europa in 2011 is boonop bevind die aantal beserings weens botsings is tot 46 keer meer in Suid-Afrika as in die EU-land met die meeste beserings weens botsings. Die skokbedrae en -feite is vervat in die Treinspoorveiligheidsreguleerder (RSR) se jongste veiligheidsverslag. Rapport het intussen ook verslae bekom van ongelukke met Transnet-treine waarin

kommerwekkende bevindings oor die bevoegdheid en vaardighede van Suid-Afrikaanse treindrywers uitgelig word. Die verslae wys: * Treindrywers verontagsaam gereeld gevaartekens en ry dikwels te vinnig, en dan gebeur ongelukke. * ’n Drywer wat nie gekwalifiseer was om ’n trein met lugremme te bestuur nie is al in so ’n trein betrap. * Sommige drywers het nie die vermoë om sekere kernfunksies uit te voer nie en moet dan deur ander drywers bygestaan word wanneer hulle by stasies aankom. In die vergelykende studie van 2011 is bevind: * 1 153 mense in Suid-Afrika is beseer weens botsings. Hierteenoor het Denemarke 25 beserings gehad. * 352 mense in Suid-Afrika is dood omdat hulle deur treine getref is. In Denemarke het 93 mense só gesterf. Treinongelukke en -voorvalle in 2012-’13 het 440 menselewens in Suid-Afrika geëis. Treine en trokke van Transnet en Prasa was verlede jaar saam in 804 botsings betrokke en 407 het ontspoor. Transnet-treine was in verreweg die meeste van dié ongelukke betrokke. ’n Enkele ontsporing in Trichardt in Maart verlede jaar waarvan die oorsaak steeds nie bekend is nie, het Transnet R77 miljoen gekos, lui die RSR se verslag. Babalwa Mpendu, die RSR se woordvoerder, sê die meeste treinongelukke word deur menslike faktore veroorsaak. “Die treindrywers is óf oorwerk óf daar is dissiplinêre kwessies soos spoed betrokke.” Sy sê dit is kommerwekkend dat swak bestuurders nie juis vasgevat word nie. “As iemand drooggemaak het by Transnet en afgedank word, kry hulle eenvoudig net werk by Prasa, of andersom,” sê sy. Transnet ontken dat sy treindrywers onbekwaam of onopgelei is en sê daar word teen drywers opgetree wat gevaartekens verontagsaam. “Ons dissiplinêre uitkomste dien as bewys hoe die maatskappy veiligheidsoortredings benader,” sê Sandile Simelane, Transnet se woordvoerder. Hy sê ook Transnet is besig om die stryd teen ongelukke te wen. “Die aantal voorvalle het die afgelope vyf jaar met 43% afgeneem en die koste van alle voorvalle het met 23% gedaal,” sê Simelane. Prasa het nie op Rapport se navrae gereageer nie. LEWER KOMMENTAAR OP HIERDIE ARTIKEL 8 REAKSIES

Elsabe Ferreira - Februarie 23, 2014 om 06:33 Die persoon verantwoordelik vir 'n ongeluk / botsing moes nooit aan die stuur van sake gewees het nie. Help nie jy straf hom/haar agterna, die skade, en dood, is alreeds gedoen. Opleiding, opleiding en nogmaals opleiding. Maar dan, sommige in onopleibaar. Punt.

Andre Van Deventer - Februarie 25, 2014 om 15:34 Jy kan nie die spoorwee in die hand laat van 'n ras wat nie eens taxis, busse en trokke verantwoordelik kan bestuur nie. Hierdie is nie bedoel om rassistiese stelling te wees nie maar dis 'n feit. Wag maar vir die vliegongelukke en insidente. Een dag sal hulle nie alles langer kan toesmeer nie, dit sal uitkom!

Martin Jansen - Februarie 23, 2014 om 07:02 Dis net die soustrein wat nog nie ontspoor het nie.

Ina Thiart - Februarie 23, 2014 om 08:19 Ek wonder wie gaan daai gemors skoonmaak. Lol

Alouise Neveling - Februarie 23, 2014 om 07:25 Dit is so jammer dat die era van goeie treine saam met die mense verdwyn het wat n passie vir hulle werk gehad het. Hoeveel van vandag se werkers sal oor 20 -30 jaar steeds praat oor die treine asof hulle nie op pensioen is nie, maar wag vir die vlg trein om die stasie binne te ry. Dit was beslis nie ouderdomverwante gedagtegange wat die ou Sas- en H se mense so laat optree het nie. Nee, hulle was werklik harde werkers met ŉ passie vir dit wat hulle doen. Die besef dat hulle met hul eie lewens en die van duisende ander in hul hande sit, het hulle nog meer veiligheidsbewus gemaak. Vandag is die wat oorbly- of hul weduwees die oorlas vir Transnet. Hulle het vir min geld, selfs in daardie tyd se terme gewerk, maar om die trein veilig die stasie binne te laat kom, was enige drywer so droom. Ek salueer ŉ generasie vir wie hul werk hul trots was en voel dat vandag se nuwe generasie- myself inkluis- baie by daardie mense kon leer. Bring terug veilige treine en die slagting op die paaie sal ook verminder.

Karl F W Smit - Februarie 23, 2014 om 08:10 Blameer Maria Ramos hiervoor.

Patrick Cannell - Februarie 23, 2014 om 16:50 Raak ontslae wan hierdie Transnet, Prasa in metro gemors. Bring die OK trotse SAR/S terug met ou spoorwegingenieurs in beheer en nie hierdie gemors nie!

Petra V. Vuuren - Februarie 24, 2014 om 08:50 ja wel, vat nie 'n deskundige om te sien wat aangaan nie. Want die vliegtuie begin val, sal ons weet wat daar ook aangaan. http://www.rapport.co.za/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/SA-se-treine-is-spoor-byster-20140222

 Suid-Afrika se sterwende stasies: Willie Marais (Rapport) Julian Jansen: 2014-02-22 22:56 Die oudtreindrywer Willie Marais het ’n droom: Om weer lewe te blaas in die land se vervalle stasies. Julian Jansen het met hom gaan gesels.

Willie Marais van Touwsrivier besig met sy eenman-protes buite die stasiegebou waar hy honderde kere as treindrywer aangedoen het. | Foto: Willie Marais

Die stoomlokomotief “Susan” blaas vroegoggend stoom af by ’n byeenkoms van die Reefsteamers in Germiston. | Foto: Marga Ley

Willie Marais was vanmelewe ’n treindrywer – en trots daarop. Deesdae is hy ’n begrafnisondernemer in Touwsrivier en ’n voorvegter in ’n groeiende kommando van spoorgeesdriftiges wat bekommerd is oor die agteruitgang van die land se spoorweg-erfenis. Willie se fokus is Touwsrivier se 132-jarige stasiegebou. Treine en spore, sê Willie, loop in sy bloed. Sy eerste lewenslig het hy 66 jaar gelede aanskou in ’n huis reg oorkant die ou Touwsrivier-stasie. Willie was egter lanklaas op die vuurwarm voetplaat van ’n stoomlokomotief. Deesdae blaas hy liewer stoom af op sy Facebook-profiel oor die skokkende verwaarlosing van die wonderlike stasiegeboue van gister en eergister. En agter dié kuber-protes sleep hy ’n lang trein van amens en aanmoediging van mede-spoorgeesdriftiges. Hy onthou soos gister sy dae as stoker en drywer. Stoomlokomotiewe wat stasies binnestoom en die stasiemeester wat trots en regop op die perron staan en wag, een oog op die horlosie. Hy onthou steeds die kenmerkende reuk van brandende steenkool wat oor alles hang. Portiere wat stapels soetkyste op en af stoot. Dis alles weg, vergete, sug hy. Vandag toi-toi hy gereeld daar op Touwsrivier se verwaarloosde stasie en hang baniere in Ingels op: “We want the station preserved for a community centre.” Hy noem dit sy “stille” protes. “Vir die hogere mense in die Bloutrein en op Rovos Rail om te sien en net dalk iets aan die saak te kan doen,” sê hy. Die Passasierspooragentskap (Prasa) behoort inwoners te vra of hulle die stasiegeboue wil gebruik, maar hulle doen dit nie. “Die dorp is in sy mamma. Dit moet lewe kry.” Hy sê die stasiegeboue kan lewende monumente word vir die duisende spoorwegwerkers – swart en wit – wat van menige gehuggie in ons land ’n plek van liefde en lewe gemaak het. “Ek wonder of Prasa permitte het om die stasiegeboue net so plat te vee?” wonder hy. Hy wil kunstenaars, kunsvlyt-winkels, bed-en-ontbytplekke en gemeenskapsentrums in die geboue sien. Dan moet die Bloutrein en Rovos Rail ook hier stop, nie net die Shosholoza Meyl nie. “Kyk hoe mooi lyk Laingsburg en Matjiesfontein se stasies. Ek kry skoon hoendervleis. Ons dorpenaars kan inspring en die regering se (ontwikkelings-) plan, wat net nie tot uitvoering kom nie, help,” sê hy. “As fracking (hidrobreking) na die Karoo moet kom, dan hardloop al daai mense na ons kant toe. Dan moet Touwsrivier en die res van die Karoo reg wees, gereedstaan. Touwsrivier is nie die enigste stasie waar dit sleg gaan nie. Kyk maar na Ceres, Hutchinson, Wolseley...” Op die Facebookblad Karoo gesels Willie se kubervriende met heimwee oor die stasies uit vervloë dae. Daar is talle wat deesdae verwaarloos en geplunder staan. Dit is egter die gelukkiges.

Talle is reeds heeltemal afgebreek, die letsels van verstedeliking wat dekades gelede reeds begin het. Ironies genoeg is van dié vervalle stasies en geboue baie gesog onder amateurfotograwe. Só skryf Wim Fourie van Welkom op sy blog oor ’n fotosessie by die stasie Philippolis Weg (in die Vrystaat): “Die vreemde is dat juis die verval in die huise goeie foto-materiaal bied, maar tog is daar telkens ’n gevoel van hartseer om te dink dat dit eens bewoon was en dat die stasie ’n ontmoetingsplek was waar sommige mense se reis geëindig en ander se reis weer begin het.” Op dié verlate perron sien hy weer “die stasie in sy bloeitydperk”: “Mense en goedere word hierheen vervoer en met opgewondenheid deur die wagtendes begroet. ’n Seun, ’n dogter keer terug van universiteit en sien met verlange uit na die kuier op hulle hartsdorpie.” Of soos Richard van der Westhuizen sing: Elke keer was dit ’n afskeid elke keer weer ’n begin. ’n Honderd haltes langs die spoor elke stasie het sy eie skim... tussen stasies lê die leë spasies van die onskuld nou verlore... Omdat die meeste van hierdie stasies haas onbekend is en dikwels etlike honderde kilometer van die naaste stad lê, weet bitter min mense van die verval. Plaaslike koerante fokus gelukkig nog soms op die probleem, soos ’n beriggie in 2012 in Paarl Post oor die verval van Gouda, naby Wellington, se stasie, wat op die hooflyn tussen Kaapstad en Johannesburg lê. Of dié beriggie in 2009 in Die Hoorn oor die verval van Oudtshoorn se stasie: “Bykans al die geboue is gestroop van dakke, plafonne, deure, vensters en is nou slegs bouvallige murasies. “Al die dreindeksels langs die spoor is gesteel. Ligte van die lamppale is gesteel. En onder die spoorlyne deur is diep vore gegrawe waaruit ondergrondse elektriese kabels gesteel is.” Van Jagersfontein in die Vrystaat se historiese spoorwegstasie (wat in 1905 geopen is vir die swaar mynverkeer tussen Fauresmith en Koffiefontein) is daar vandag net die perron en ’n paar bakstene oor. Die gebou het leeggestaan en sou ’n leerlooiery huisves, maar lede van die plaaslike opheffingsprojek het glo met die geld verdwyn, het Volksblad in 2003 berig. In Calvinia in die Noord-Kaap is die vervalle stasiegeboue onlangs gesloop. Die stasie is geleë op die Calvinia-Hutchinson-lyn, ’n vertakking van die hoofroete deur die Karoo. In Klipplaat in die Oos-Kaap en in Petrus Steyn in die Vrystaat is die geboue spokerige murasies, waar geboue van koperwaterpype en staalraam-vensters gestroop word en haweloses ’n skuiling vind. Ja daar was voorheen ’n tyd van treine. Waar en wanneer het ons dit verloor?

Nie alle stasies is egter gedoem tot verval nie. In ’n paar gevalle het entrepreneurs en gewone burgers tot die redding gekom. In Klein-Brakrivier naby Mosselbaai het Igna en Christo Swanepoel ’n stasiegebou by Transnet gehuur en bedryf nou ’n restaurant met die mooi naam Vaaljapie. Igna sê dorpies moet self inspring om ongebruikte stasiegeboue te red. “Baie mense het met stasies en treine grootgeword en van hulle kom soek daai landelike gevoel by Vaaljapie.” In die dorpie Sir Lowry’s Pass naby Somerset-Wes het ’n toerisme-en-sake-ontwikkelingstrust die stasiegeboue gerestoureer. In hul planne is ’n opleidingsentrum in die eertydse kroeg, ’n spoorwegmuseum, ’n restaurant, verblyfplek vir stappers, winkeltjies, ’n kapel en ’n fynboskwekery. Op Malan-stasie buite Wellington het die oudpolitikus Pierre-Jean Gerber die eertydse stasiegebou gekoop en in ’n ruim woonhuis omgeskep. Op die Matroosberg-stasie buite Touwsrivier is van die geboue omgeskep in ’n kroeg en oornagplekke. In Malelane in Mpumalanga is die stasiegebou tot ’n nasionale gedenkwaardigheid verklaar en is dit die middelpunt van ’n toerismeprojek. Marais sê hy het ’n mal gedagte vir die myle se eensame spore oor die vlaktes: Plat trollies vir twee mense met ’n groot branderry-vlieër om die trollies op die wieke van die wind van stasie na stasie te neem. “Groot naweek-sports vir die stedelinge,” lag hy. Maar wat sê Transnet en Prasa oor die vervalle stasies? Mike Asefovitz, senior kommunikasiebestuurder by Transnet, sê baie stasies op die sekondêre netwerk staan leeg omdat spoorweg-bedrywighede daar gestaak is. Die gebruik van ou stasiegeboue of -strukture wat nie deur regerings-entiteite of die private sektor benodig word nie, word gestaak, maar in ’n goeie toestand gehou sou dit weer gebruik moet word. Waar die fasiliteite wel in aanvraag is, word dit op ’n maand-tot-maandgrondslag of vir ’n langer termyn verhuur. Oor hul planne met dié vervalle stasies sê Asefovitz die regering wil die landelike ekonomie weer lewe gee en die sekondêre netwerk is as ’n katalisator vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling uitgewys. Transnet het nou ’n proses begin om praktiese en innoverende maniere te vind waar belangstellende derde partye en aandeelhouers – waaronder provinsiale en plaaslike regerings – geleenthede langs dié sekondêre netwerke kan benut. Waar organisasies leë geboue wil gebruik, word dit verhuur, veral as dit sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling kan bevorder. Leë geboue langs die sekondêre roetes is minder as 1% van Transnet se bates. Transnet beplan ook nie om enige nuwe geboue op te rig nie, omdat sy vragvervoer sy hooffokus is en daarom word bestaande spoorwegwerwe en laai-geriewe eerder uitgebrei. Nana Zenani, Prasa se bemarkings-kommunikasiehoof, sê hulle fokus op modernisering en belegging in die metropolitaanse gebiede, dus die Metrorail-stelsel. Prasa het ’n omvattende program vir die modernisering, verbetering en ontwikkeling van

stasies en meer as 200 stasies – meestal in die metropolitaanse gebiede en waar Prasa die stasies en eiendomme besit – is landwyd hierby ingesluit. ’n Klein getal landelike en hooflyn-stasies wat deur Transnet besit word, is ook uitgewys in die stasie-ontwikkelingsprogram. Daar sal onderhandel word of Prasa in dié stasies kan belê en of dit aan Prasa oorgedra kan word. Zenani wou nie die name van dié landelike stasies bekend maak nie omdat onderhandelinge met Transnet steeds aan die gang is en ooreenkomste nog nie gefinaliseer is nie. Fourie skryf: “Ja, die verlies van die verlore stasies bring hartseer, maar tog het elke reis jou nader aan ’n stukkie van jou kern en jou eintlike hartklop gebring.” http://www.rapport.co.za/Weekliks/Nuus/Suid-Afrika-se-sterwende-stasies-20140222

Die pragtige stasiegeboue in Calvinia in die Noord-Kaap wat uiteindelik gesloop is. | Foto: Willie Marais

Die verlate stasiegebou by die Petrus Steyn-stasie in die Vrystaat.| Foto: Susan Maré

Die verlate Aberdeen Weg-stasie in die Oos-Kaap.| Foto: Johan Hamman

TOUWSRIVIER. Die verwaarloosde stasiegeboue en die brandbeskadigde Frere-hotel op Touwsrivier-stasie. | Foto: Willie Marais

Stephanus Pistor - Februarie 23, 2014 om 06:09 Ja, mnr. Asefovitz, hoe ry die regering se trein van goeie voornemens "om die landelike ekonomie weer lewe te gee" en "die sekondêre netwerk as 'n katalisator vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling uit te wys"? Ook na nêrens, soos so talle ander goeie voornemens?

Anita Grant - Februarie 23, 2014 om 06:50 So baie verval....hartseer

Elise-Marie Tancred - Februarie 23, 2014 om 06:52 Dankie Julian - heerlik nostalgies en hartseer oor verlore geleenthede. In Europa sou dit nooit gebeur het nie - daar weet hulle hoe om geskiedenis in ekonomiese welsyn te omskep.

Romano Lekay - Februarie 23, 2014 om 10:00 Goeie artikel Julian ek wag nou al meer as 'n jaar op Transnet om hulle planne oor die Bredasdorp-Elgin\Grabouw lyn. Gelukkig het entrepreneurs Elgin Stasie omskep in eet en wyn proe plek.

Jean Pierre Fourie - Februarie 23, 2014 om 11:09 Die verval van die eens pragtige stasies is om van stuipe te kry . Oudtshoorn stasie is so te se heeltemal weggedra . Sowat twee weke gelede stop ek en my neef Koot Fourie buite Noupoort, by Midlandia stasie. Hy het daar begin werk 38 jaar gelede as 16 jarige seun. Dit was n ongelooflike ervaring om saam met hom daar te staan, te luister na die stories en straaltjies, terwyl ŉ stuk boerewors rustig op die kole sis. Dis ŉ skande dat alles so tot niet gaan .

Cor Brent - Februarie 23, 2014 om 13:34 Met die ANC-regering bly dit maar 'n geval van 'easy come - easy go'.

Nita Faber - Februarie 23, 2014 om 23:00 Hoera vir jou Wilie. Ons praat al lankal daarvan. RED ONS EENSAME STASIES(ROES). En uiteindelik sal daar seker 'n keerpunt kom sover dit die slagting op ons paaie betref as gevolg van trokke wat nou treine se werk oorgeneem het. Nita, BEAUFORT-WES

 Transnet se dodelike geheim (Rapport) http://www.rapport.co.za/SuidAfrika/Nuus/Transnet-se-dodelike-geheim-20140308 Pieter-Louis

Myburgh:

2014-03-08

23:24.

Die honderde miljoene rande wat belastingbetalers jaarliks opdok vir Transnet se treinongelukke is grootliks weens masjiniste wat jaag, gevaartekens verontagsaam en nie in staat is om kernfunksies te verrig nie. Rapport berig vandag eksklusief oor skokkende bevindings en bewerings oor Transnet se masjiniste en ander personeellede op grond van amptelike Transnet-dokumente, ongeluksverslae en gesprekke met huidige en voormalige Transnet-personeellede. Ons wys ook uitgelekte foto’s wat die omvang van die ongelukke wys. Treinontsporings en -botsings van Transnet-treine het belastingbetalers in 2010-’11 tot R841 miljoen gekos, die jaar daarna net meer as R200 miljoen en R328 miljoen in 2012-’13. Tientalle Transnet-personeellede is boonop in die afgelope vyf boekjare in van die ongelukke dood. Dit blyk die spoorvervoerreus het ook ’n donker geheim. Transnet het in 2010 ’n groot bedrogspul met sy eksamens vir masjiniste, beheeramptenare en ander operasionele personeellede ontdek, maar die publiek is nooit hieroor ingelig nie. Johannes Makhusha, hoof van Transnet se spoorwegskool, het in 2010 in ’n brief geskryf leerlinge is met die memorandums van eksamenvraestelle in hul besit betrap. “Dit (die kullery) bevraagteken die geldigheid en integriteit van sowel ons assesseringspraktyke as die bevoegdheid van ons werkmag,” lui die brief. Twee bronne binne Transnet sê hulle het al in 2007, 2008 en 2009 gesien hoe leerlinge by die spoorwegskool se kampusse in Pretoria en Johannesburg kierang. “Hulle het die antwoorde op klein papiertjies gedruk en op hul horlosies geplak of selfs binne hul penne gesit,” sê een bron.

Makhusha se brief dui nie aan hoe wydverspreid die kullery was nie. Die spoorwegskool het kampusse oor die land. Volgens die bron kon die leerlinge die memorandums by van die Transnet-instrukteurs koop. Babalwa Mpendu, woordvoerder van die spoorwegveiligheidsreguleerder (RSR), het bevestig daar was bedrog met die Transnet-eksamens. “Hulle het sedertdien die eksamens op ons aanbeveling gerekenariseer sodat dit feitlik onmoontlik is om te kul,” sê Mpendu. Hoewel die RSR aan Transnet voorgeskryf het hoe die bedrog hanteer moet word, het hy nie ’n woord oor die skandaal in enige van sy daaropvolgende jaarlikse veiligheidsverslae gerep nie. “Transnet wou daardie vure saggies doodslaan sodat niemand daarvan uitvind nie,” sê Rapport se bron. ’n Tweede bron in Transnet, wat elke dag saam met masjiniste werk, sê baie van die masjiniste verontagsaam steeds die maatskappy se veiligheidsreëls. “Daar is ’n verbod op die gebruik van selfone, maar die masjiniste luister musiek met oorfone op hul selfone. Hulle hoor nie altyd die boodskappe wat oor die radio uitgesaai word nie,” sê hy. Amptelike Transnet-ongeluksverslae wys dat masjiniste dikwels nie oor die nodige vaardighede beskik nie, gevaartekens verontagsaam en te vinnig ry. In een geval was ’n masjinis nie gesertifiseer om meer as 75 waens te sleep nie. Van die 80 waens wat hy gesleep het, het ontspoor. Ander masjiniste is nie in staat om kernfunksies, soos om lyne te wissel, te verrig nie. Danie Posthumus, ’n voormalige Transnet-werknemer van Ogies in Mpumalanga, sê hy het in 2012 ’n trajekbestuurder betrap met ’n antwoordstel vir die eksamen wat hy pas afgelê het. Hy het die antwoordstel aan Rapport gewys. Posthumus sê hy is in die pad gesteek nadat hy daaroor gekla het. Die ander bronne wou anoniem bly uit vrees vir viktimisering. ’n Brief van Transnet se forensiese afdeling bevestig die kultuur van intimidasie teen fluitjieblasers in die maatskappy.

“Verskeie werknemers wat die fluitjie direk by hul lynbestuurders blaas, spreek gereeld hul kommer uit dat hulle die teikens van ongunstige werkomstandighede word nadat hulle ongerymdhede aangemeld het,” lui die brief. Sandile Simelane, Transnet se woordvoerder, sê hy kan nie kommentaar lewer oor Posthumus se bewerings nie omdat hy nie weet waarom Posthumus in die pad gesteek is nie. “As daar genoeg bewyse was dat iemand bedrog van daardie skaal gepleeg het, sou daar daadwerklik teen hom opgetree gewees het,” sê Simelane oor die bewerings van bedrog by die Ogies-stasie. Simelane sê: “Niemand sal treine ry sonder die nodige kwalifikasies of ervaring nie.” Hy ontken ook dat fluitjieblasers geïntimideer word. “Ons fluitjieblaas-meganisme, naamlik die bedrog-hulplyn, is waterdig wat die beskerming van fluitjieblasers se identiteit betref,” sê Simelane. Volgens die RSR is menslike faktore soos “substandaarde in treinbeheer” en spoed die grootste oorsaak van treinongelukke. Transnet het teen druktyd nog nie Rapport se vrae oor die bedrog beantwoord nie.

Dié ongeluk op die Brakspruitbrug tussen Phalaborwa en Hoedspruit het glo minstens R100 miljoen se skade veroorsaak. Die brug is verwoes deur ontspoorde waens nadat die drywer glo te vinnig van spoed verander het.

DiĂŠ

ontsporing

het

2009

Pietermaritzburg

KwaZulu-Natal

gebeur.

DiĂŠ ongeluk op die Sishen-ysterertslyn tussen Kathu en Saldanhabaai het in 2010 gebeur.

’n Ontsporing van 2008 met lelike nagevolge.

’n Trein het ’n spoordiensvoertuig getref nadat die bestuurder van laasgenoemde voertuig glo aangedui het hy het reeds die spoorlyn verlaat. Die twee Transnet-werknemers in die spoordiensvoertuig is dood. Die ongeluk het in 2010 gebeur.

 Comments from Rapport’s Readers

Adriaan Smuts - Maart 9, 2014 om 06:24 Die gevolge van 'n kultuur van hê sonder om daarvoor te werk todat ek dit verdien ...

Elsie Wessels - Maart 9, 2014 om 12:05 Ja, dis nou die gevolge van regstellings aksies, dink hulle kan alles met ongeletterdheid en onkunde regeer

Flip Smit - Maart 9, 2014 om 06:27 Dit is omat ex taxibestuurders gebruik word vir treindrywers

Helgardt Oelofse - Maart 9, 2014 om 08:15 Hoe ry die trein Hoe ry die trein....... !

Player - Maart 9, 2014 om 12:34 ..hoe val die trein, hoe val die trein...! Sagitarius - Maart 9, 2014 om 08:21 Naspers se groot transformasie proses het toe lelik ontspoor. Transport het tranestort geword. Sal graag met volgende Sondag se Rapport wil sien hoe dit in die weermag gaan. Op Tempe word al die gebreekte voertuie op die basis se straathoeke ten toon gestel soos in 'n opelug museum. Sal nie moeilik wees om die weermag met Ketties oor te neem nie.

Riaan Joubert - Maart 9, 2014 om 09:04 Dit gaan lekke op die gravy-trein. Ons ouens met regte opleiding en geleerdheid werk op die laagste moontlike poste wens rapport wil my kontak sit ook met dodelike bewyse ons kry nie kanse nie

Pieter-Louis Myburgh - Maart 9, 2014 om 10:39 Kontak my gerus: pieter-louis.myburgh@rapport.co.za

Penellope Jones - Maart 9, 2014 om 10:19 Ons moet een ding nooit vergeet nie. Die ANC is nie by magte om enigiets met integriteit, etiek te doen nie, wil ook nie. Vir hulle gaan dit oor geld, geld, geld en as daar nog 'n sent in iemand se beurse is, dit ook. Hulle wou nooit die land gehad het om sogenaamd te regeer nie, hulle wou net die geldkaste kom leegmaak en probeer om iets op die oog af daar te plaas sodat dit lyk asof hulle darem iets weet en kan doen. Ons is lankal nie meer kinders in 'n klaskamer wat alles vir soetkoek opeet nie.

Adrian Maytom - Maart 9, 2014 om 10:34 Die werklikheid van Suid Afrika se publieke vervoer. Stasies wat verval treine wat half hartig in stand gehou word en dit alles om kostes te sny om ŉ vet bonus aan die einde van die jaar te kry. Dis eintlik ŉ belewenis om vandag ŉ Metro Rail trein te vat. Voel soos ŉ adrenaline sport.

Chnel Chnel - Maart 9, 2014 om 10:58 Ons moet dan seker bly wees dat ons spoornetwerk tans nie optimaal benut word nie!

Chnel Chnel - Maart 9, 2014 om 10:58 Laat my dink aan die 2 ouens wat gaan visvang het en met hul terugkoms net 1 vis gevang het. Die 1 ou sê toe dit het ons R1000 gekos vir die 1 vis waarop die ander toe reken hulle kan bly wees hul het nie 10 gevang nie.

Danie Dreyer - Maart 9, 2014 om 11:11 Dit kom van te vroeg ryp druk die blinde lei die blinde as jy iets se of uitwys is jy ŉ rassis ons is gestraf vir ons foute hulle is eenvoudig in beter poste geplaas

pietpompies - Maart 9, 2014 om 11:39 Dit kom nou van die kultuur, raak van die gesoute drywers onslae hul velkleur is nie reg nie, dit is mos maklik om ŉ trein te dryf. So word alles vernietig en verwoes en die belasting betalers moet maar betaal. En die beste is niemand word verantwoordelik gehou nie.

Elsabe Ferreira - Maart 9, 2014 om 14:19 En so kan ons aangaan en aangaan en aangaan.

John Jacobs - Maart 9, 2014 om 14:20 World Class AFRICAN Train Drivers..

Flip Raath - Maart 9, 2014 om 15:38 Wie loods deesdae die SAL vliegtuie?

Gerrit Swanepoel - Maart 9, 2014 om 21:50 Treindrywers wat by Transnet ontslaan word.

Jim Tait - Maart 9, 2014 om 16:58 More money down the S H 1 T shoot!

Gerhard Du Preez - Maart 9, 2014 om 21:15 Jammer dat mense ons spoorweë so benadeel.

 Comments by our Members on Facebook regarding the same report in Rapport

Jacobus Marais, Hans Sturgeon, Łuca Łategan and 9 others like this. Morne Kleyn Manne...julle moet julle selfone uitlos en mooi ry........ ;-D Morne Roscherr Ek as Treindrywer weet dat vandat die eksamens op rekenaar is kan daar nie gekul word met eksamens nie. Al skryf 2 ouens dieselfde vraestel verskil die vrae. Treindrywers se slaag syfer op alle eksamens is 80 persent dink die standaard om ŉ Treindrywer te wees is baie hoog. Ek haal my hoed af vir elke vriend en kollega wat werk vir Transnet. Hou julle koppe hoog manne ons het hoë standaarde en veilig werk. Pieter Bruintjies Maak dit 90%. Ben Van Rensburg eksamens alleen hanteer nie ŉ trein nie dit is jare lange ervaring en aanvoeling vir spesifieke omstandighede en voorgeskrewe reëls vir spesifieke treine asook dienstrots wat ŉ trein drywer skoei en vervolmaak hy moet die kenmerke van dienstrots uitleef en dit nie beskou as ŉ middel tot ŉ doel nie. maar eerder as ŉ roeping.................. Phil du Plessis Verduidelik asb hoekom dit die belastingbetaler miljoene gekos het. Phil du Plessis Altyd interessant om artikels soos hierdie te lees. Die verwysings raamwerk is die vrag wat vervoer word, ton per kilometer. As ons nou die ton/km moet vergelyk met pad vervoer dan glo ek dat die ongeluksyfer vir Transnet ŉ druppel sal wees in vergelyking met padvervoer, asook die so genoemde miljoene aan skade. Persoonlik dink ek dat Transnet baie goed doen gegewe die tonnemaat wat hulle vervoer. Transnet is nie uniek nie en baie onlangs het ŉ treinongeluk in Kanada ongeveer ŉ kwart van ŉ dorp uit uitgewis. As jy na die foto kyk wat gebruik word in hierdie artikel dan was ŉ treindrywer nie verantwoordelik vir daardie ongeluk nie. Die tonnemaat/km het drasties verhoog oor die laaste jare, treine het langer geraak en moet jy verwag dat die risiko hoer gaan wees. Kop aan kop of waar die een trein agter in ŉ ander vas gery het is raar binne Transnet, glo nie treindrywers gaan werk met ŉ selfmoord behoefte nie. Gee treindrywers die krediet wat hulle toekom vir die miljoene tonne wat hulle daagliks veilig vervoer en hulle bydrae tot ons ekonomie. Baie tragies wanneer koerante sensasie soek. Ongelukke word nie met opset beplan nie, en die menslike faktor is ŉ baie klein%. Morne Roscherr Ons tonne per dag wat gekuif moet word in die koolveld is 290 000 ton per dag. Dit is ŉ passie wat mens uit leef as trein drywer. Ons is 3 depots in 1 in Ermelo Diesel loko dan die 200 trok manne en ons op die 100 trokke. Die vragte op 100 trokke is 10400 ton dit gee jou 26 ton per as. Trein lengte van 1.2 km lank. Die 200 trokke se lengte en gewig is dubbel. Dit is dan 20800 ton en die trein lengte is 2.5 km. Ja en geen mens sal sy werk of sy lewe op die spel plaas om spoedbeperkings of vaste spoed op die trajekte te oorskry nie. Danie Bothma Phil, Transnet is nie 'n besigheid wat in die hande van privaat eienaars is nie. Transnet is die eiendom van die staat en groot gedeeltes van die belasting betaler se geld vorm deel van Transnet se begroting. Dit is ook hoekom werk geskep word binne

Transnet of daar nou regtig vakatures bestaan het of nie, vakatures word geskep om mense aan te stel sodat die regering sy beleid kan nastreef. Ek kan jou voorbeelde gee van hoe personeel getalle vermenigvuldig het teenoor 10-20 jaar gelede. Die skok is dan dat die verkeer nie vermeerder het nie, maar dat dit afgeneem het. Japie Terblanche Phil du Plessis; Stem saam, het op verskeie ondersoeke gemeld dat geen drywer moedswillig hom sal onderwerp aan insidente, om sodoende verguis te word deur publiek, familie en die media nie, maar my 35 jaar ongeluksvrye diens is puur genade van ŉ GOD wat ontsettend lief was vir my gedurende my 41 jaar op die voetplaat. Steve Compion As pensioenaris van Transnet, voel ek die probleem is eintlik agteruitgaande Infrastruktuur, verouderde Rollende materiaal ens. Ek haal my hoed af vir die Treindrywers wat met verskeie "slaggate" in hulle werksomgewing, nog steeds daarin slaag om treine veilig by die eindbestemmings te bring. Phil du Plessis Morne, dit is wat my so moerig maak, joernaliste wat artikels skryf en dan wonder ek hoeveel hulle weet van die onderwerp waaroor hulle berig. In die wêreld daar buite moet elke instansie wat meer as ŉ 2MVA Elektrisie Instalasies beheer, ŉ geregistreerde ingenieur aanstel om beheer te neem. In die geval van treindrywers beheer hulle tot 4.6 MW (per loko) wanneer hulle in daai loko/s inklim. ŉ Vragmotorbestuurder neem beheer van 0.003 MW as hy in ŉ baie groot trok inklim. Baie sal se dat ek ŉ strxnt-redenasie het, die feit is dat treindrywers verantwoordelik is vir kragte wat uitgeoefen word wat vir baie ondenkbaar is. Die kennis en baie jare ondervinding wat benodig word om ŉ trein veilig te beheer oor enige trajek is nie ŉ gegewe nie, gee die wat dit doen krediet. Ek raak baie moerig wanneer drywers altyd 1ste blameer word nog voor ŉ ondersoek voltooi was. Ek is nie ŉ treindrywer nie, maar het baie van my werkstyd in lokokappe spandeer. Frans Kloppers Ek as buitestaander maar wat in Treindrywer se huis groot geword het, wat betrokke was by verskeie ondersoeke na treinongelukke en ontsporings en wat baie vriende het wat nog steeds treindrywers en assistente is raak warm onder die kraag as ek hierdie negatiewe berigte sien waar die skuld bloot op die treindrywers geplaas word. Ek kyk na van hierdie foto’s wat hulle gepubliseer het saam met die byskrifte. Ek is oortuig dat as jy gaan kyk na die werklike oorsake is daar net twee groot oorsake. Swak instandhouding van toerusting en infrastruktuur en foutiewe menslike handeling. Ek laat my nie vertel dat alle ongelukke aan spoed toegeskryf word nie. In twee van my vele ondersoeke wat ek van 1987 tot en met 1995 gedoen het terwyl ek in die Polisie was is slegs twee as gevolg van die handelinge van die Treindrywers. Die res was almal as gevolg van meganiese defekte aan treine en stelsels en swak instandhouding van spoorlyne en onderstelle. Sien die een byskrif by die foto naby Hoedspruit dat die drywer spoed gewissel het of so iets. Was dit agv 'n meganiese defek? Het dit ook al ervaar op 'n trein.. Ek ondersteun al my Treindrywervriende. Japie Terblanche Phil du Plessis; Dankie dat jy vir ons manne omgee. Baie gewens in my tyd as treindrywer dat ek van die grootbekke ŉ week saam met my kon neem vir ander insigte. Eenkeer met ŉ 747-loods gepraat, hy het reguit gesê hy sien nie kans vir my werk, nou kom ŉ mamparra en hy skryf asof hy ekspert oor my werk was. Ek het groot geword met ŉ spoorweg-oupa wat my geleer het, wees altyd respekvol teenoor alle grade en ons is almal deel van ŉ ketting, as my skakel vrot is kan ek nie deel wees van daai ketting nie. Phil ek love jou soos my kleinkinders sal sê. Jaco Holtzhausen Dis so maklik vir mense om hulle bekke te rek, die spreekwoord se mos hulle hoor die klok lui maar weet nie waar die bel hang nie

Phil du Plessis Danie Bothma, ek sal navraag doen, maar as ‘n Parastatal (Ltd) glo ek nie dat die regering Transnet befonds nie. Transnet het biljoene gaan leen om nuwe rollende materiaal aan te koop en infrastruktuur te vernuwe. Sover ek weet word al hierdie lenings uit die winste betaal. Hoekom die EBITDA so ŉ belangrike woord in Transnet geword het, as die EBITDA verhoudings nie gesond is nie sal geen instansie geld leen aan Transnet. Ek weet die regering het geld en baie vir Prasa gegee, maar nie so seker van Transnet nie. Transnet doen verantwoording aan die Parlement en die staat is die aandeelhouer, maar ek weet nie van enige groot befondsing nie. In alle geval baie interessant en ek sal navraag doen. Frans Kloppers Ek sal graag wil sien waarop die bewering dat die meeste ongelukke deur spoed veroorsaak is gegrond word. Is daar ingenieursbewyse daar voor? Daar was in 1990 'n ontsporing tussen Meyerton en Henley-on-Klip net na 'n draai en een of ander Trajekbestuurder het volgehou dat dit spoed was. Daar was toe die dienste van 'n ingenieur ingeroep om te help met die ondersoek. Sy bevinding was dat die spoed normaal was en dat die drywer nie te vinnig gery het vir die omstandighede nie. Toe hy gevra word waaraan die enorme hoeveelheid skade wat aangerig was toegeskryf kan word het hy met tegniese feite vorendag gekom wat ons almal verbaas gelaat het. Die uiteinde van die ondersoek was dat 'n wiellaer vas gedraai het en die wiel afgebreek het op die tweede trok van die lokomotiewe af en dit die oorsaak van die ontsporing was. Phil du Plessis Frans Kloppers, ek se eerder niks, daai ondervinding gehad. En die poxphol wat daai bewering gemaak waar ek teenwoordig was is bevorder. Gelukkig het ons die data opgeneem en kon ek ŉ spoedprofiel gee vir die hele dag en ook tydens die ontsporing. Frederik Botha kan ander feite gee, het 32 jaar die diesel lokomotiewe herstel wat in ongelukke was, kon dit net nie meer hanteer nie het in 2009 bedank Jaco Holtzhausen Miskien kan oom Phil of Jan bietjie aan die manne wat nou al ‘n paar jaar van TFR weg is verduidelik hoe werk die OBC en TDU, dis nie meer van net in die mikke sit en daar gaan ons nie tensy jy nou moeilikheid wil soek Jan Thirion Ja Jaco, ek sal moet, die algemene aanvaarding nog altyd is dit is die drywer se skuld, ek het al menige drywers onskuldig bewys met die nuwe tegnologie, selfs die Triton is al ingespan om drywers te help, ek sal later alles beter verduidelik. Phil du Plessis Jaco Holtzhausen, sal probeer bietjie later daarby uitkom. Tans "geboard" tot Augustus, maar kry nog meer as 20 amptelike emails per dag. Sal eers so rukkie weer moet emails antwoord en van my personeel probleme aanspreek. Bly aangenaam vir my om al die doen en late hier te volg. Hel ek mis loko’s terwyl ek aansterk by die huis. 4 hours ago · Like · 1 Frans Kloppers Tydens die ontsporing van 'n Metro trein by George Goch in 1993/94 was beweer die drywer het by Rooi sinjaal verby gery en hy word summier daar geskors. Uur later word bewys deur Oom Johan Harmse dat die wissel gedraai was voor die trein en word die skorsing opgehef en die TBA geskors. Drywer was in toestand gewees want hy het volgehou sy sinjaal was groen en niemand wou hom glo tot Oom Johan op die toneel kom want TBA het in sy rapport dit gesê. Martin Smalberger Ek werk al 33 jaar vir Transnet en het geen plan om te loop agv die feit dat een of ander leek agter ŉ tikmasjien hy/sy by ander mense gehoor het en

homself geen eerstehandse kennis het nie. Daar was wel ongelukke en ontsporings, maar ek wonder of die persoon wat dit skryf "tippex" of ŉ backspace knoppie gebruik om sy/haar daaglikse foute of mislukkings te verwyder. Ons is net so mens soos enige ander persoon wat elke dag voor ons skof die Skepper vra om ons werk na die beste van ons vermoë te doen. Vir die wat dus nie kennis dra, daar is ŉ gesegde wat lui "net dooie mense maak nie foute". Die tegnologie is tot Transnet se beskikking en my trein kan 24/7 dopgehou word, hetsy afhellingspoed of tot 'n individuele trok op ŉ 432 trok trein wat gemonitor word. Eksamens word per rekenaar gedoen en die moment wat jy inlog word jou vraestel vir jou uitgegooi, en weereens gaan ŉ papier of dit wat verkondig word nie werk aangesien niemand weet watter vraestel die rekenaar gaan uitskop nie, maar hoekom doen die verslaggewer nie die moeite en kom doen ŉ rit saam met iemand eerder as om mense te kritiseer en veroordeel wat nie hulle gewone ou foutjies met tipex en backspace kan uitvee.of rekenaar ŉ klomp snert skryf waarvan Frederik Botha Wil net se daar is ŉ spreke "bolie in bolie uit", wat jy in sit kom uit Martin Smalberger Ek hou van daai een Frederik, is nou 15 jaar op die ysterertslyn en in die eerste 10 jaar het ons so tekort aan personeel gehad en die tyd wat ek gewerk het is meer as dubbel ŉ normale maand se skof was, so dit genoeg om "bolie" vir dubbel daai jare, maar soos vandag nog byt ek vas want ek glo enige plek het sy "ups" en "downs" en kom ek verseker jou ek gaan nie oorboord spring oor klein katjies nie. Frederik Botha het op ŉ stadium daar gaan uit help toe die lokomotiewe so gebreek het met die T/M en grids wat bly uit brand het, in Saldana, probeer nou dink 2005 daar rond

LETTERS  Fanjan Coetzee: Padkennisopleiding / University on Wheels Dagsê Oom Hennie, Ek gaan nog twee artikels aanstuur oor die ontstaan en uitbou van die padkennisopleiding. Ek sal graag wil hê dat dit so 'n bietjie eenkant gehou word en dat daar 'n versoek gerig word dat daar uit ander streke ook inligting inkom oor padkennisopleiding. Nadat Padkennisopleiding in die destydse Suid-Transvaal begin is, het dit uitgebrei na o.a. Pretoria, Kaapstad en Durban; nie noodwendig in hierdie volgorde nie, maar elke streek het sy eie Padkennisopleiding begin en aangebied. Ek sal ook nog probeer om foto's te kry van ons ou en selfs latere opleidingsrytuie, maar elke streek s'n is steeds uniek. Die Opleidingskollege in Germiston,, Parkhill het ook hulle eie Opleidingsrytuig. Dit was 'n ongelooflike ding wat mnr Hilton Park destyds begin het en ek weet nie eers of hulle werklik kan uitwerk hoeveel geld hulle al deur hierdie metode van paskennisopleiding gespaar het nie. Soos ek meer inligting kry, stuur ek dit aan. Ek wil Japie Terblanche vra om vir ons 'n artikel te begin oor die begin van die Comrades Marathon en sy stigter Vic Clapham. Groete Fanjan Coetzee

 Francois Mattheüs Dagsê oom Hennie en span, Ek het ŉ vriend uit die VK wat vir my die volgende e-pos gestuur het met foto’s... Dalk kan dit interessant wees vir die volgende uitgawe? Behalwe vir die “links” sien ook foto’s aangeheg wat hy direk aan my gestuur het... Nogal mooi!

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From Francois Mattheüs’ friend in UK

Last year London celebrated 150 years of the world’s first underground railway. We had various celebrations including running a steam train on the Underground. That happened in January 2013 when engine Metropolitan 1 pull a rake of wooden vintage carriages through sub-surface tunnels from Paddington to Moorgate, the first ever underground from 1863. A friend and I were there to witness it, we could afford to travel on it but we watched from the platforms. Later on in the year we saw it on the outer reaches of the Metropolitan Line at Amersham. We were there to publicise the Epping Ongar Railway 150 year celebration which took place in June last year. These pictures are from when we visited the Steam & Electric loco Sarah Siddons doing the various trips on the underground and on the surface link. One picture shows Met1 underground, you can see a modern C stock behind. This is at Edgware Road, the shows Edgware Rd between Paddington and Baker Street on the yellow Circle Line. The other pictures are taken on the surface section of the Metropolitan Line at Amersham. Amersham is the end of the line on the top left hand side, see tubemap link http://www.9ori.com/store/media/images/8ed288ad29.png Hy stuur ook onder andere die volgende “links” toe deur wat julle ook gerus na kan kyk... http://eorailway.co.uk/events/tube150/ https://www.google.com/search?q=epping+ongar+rail+pictures&client=operaportal&hs=RkX&channel=portal&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=w9H4Upb7 CKSQ7AbznoCYBA&ved=0CCgQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=495

 A German Wonderland in Hamburg: (via) Dr Gerhard Theron

Remember the two brothers, in Germany, who had a wonderful model railway that was something to see? This is an update for their German Wonderland. Enjoy. There have been little clips about this place for the past few years, it is still not finished but is growing to that conclusion as they will soon run out of space. A short review, it was started by two brothers as a place to show their hobby; it started growing by leaps & bounds. Soon they were joined by other 'Model Railroad Clubs' and other craftsmen. Some were electricians, model makers, Carpenters, computer programmers. Their wives would stop by to see what they were doing and usually brings them a lunch. One thing led to another. Three of the ladies had worked at a bakery, several visitors would ask if they had a snack bar. The Idea was planted; some of the carpenters came and built a nice restaurant area for the bakery and a kitchen too. If the fresh Coffee smell didn't get you then the bakery definitely would. This was about 5 years ago. One of the Breweries came and furnished all of the tables and chairs, serving counter and, etc. Their latest finished area is the airport. Planes look like they are flying and landing.

Press CRTL + Click https://www.youtube.com/embed/ACkmg3Y64_s?rel=0

RAILWAY PEOPLE  Driver Noel Welch Ek het skool op die ouderdom van 17jr verlaat en het in 1981/03/09 as ŉ leerlingstoker by Sydenham-depot begin. 1986/01/03 is ek na Esselenpark Kollege vir my eksamen as stoomdrywer en vir bedryfsdrywer te Sydenham (stoom). Op die ouderdom van 21j en het my 22ste verjaarsdag in die kollege gevier tot en met 04/05/1986. In 1988 het ek my graad as 7E treindrywer (elektries) te Queenstown gekry. Ek glo ek het geskiedenis in die Oos-Kaap gemaak om direk van stoom na “7E’’ wisselstroom lokomotiewe oor te skakel.

Gedurende 1991 het ek eksamen vir die GM diesel lokomotiewe te Queenstown afgelê – ‘’dual’’. In 1998 het ek terugverplaas as [7E] treindrywer (elektries) na P.E. Swartkops diesel depot en oorskakeling van GM na GE diesel lokomotiewe gedoen. Na 25j ongeluksvrye dryfdiens het ek op 09/03/2014 al 33j in diens by Transnet….oom Hennie het ek darem nou die korrekte inligting gegee oor myself

Noel en Amanda Welch

 Death Notice: Brig Mounie Mouton (SAR Police) Met leedwese word bekend gemaak dat brig. Mounie Mouton vanoggend (7 Maart 2014) in ŉ hospitaal in Nelspruit oorlede is. Hy word oorleef deur sy eggenote Heilie, sy kinders en kleinkinders. Brig. Mouton was ŉ legende in die eertydse SA Spoorwegpolisie en was in bevel van veiligheid toe die gekaapte vliegtuig op Durban se lughawe met die kapers van die Seychelle in Durban by die ou Louis Botha-lughawe geland het. Ons het weekliks met mekaar gepraat en Dinsdag het hy my meegedeel dat hy hospitaal toe moet gaan in verband met die pasaangeer wat hy gehad het. Hy laat ŉ groot leemte in die familie van die spoorwegpolisie. Groete Ronnie Beyl: Brig SARP & SAP (Afgt)

Note by HBH

Brig Mouton was well-known to my late father and myself. As a schoolboy in Durban at Dirkie Uys High School he and Det/Sgt Luther (SAP) did much to train our first rugby team. He taught us the finer tricks of rugby, rugby songs and a Zulu War Cry which we sang before games especially when we went on tour. His wife, Mrs Mouton, was the secretary of our school. Sgt Mouton and Det/Sgt Luther played an important role to enhance the image of both police forces. Through their involvement at the school and on the rugby field they made a good impression on us as young boys. Today we are referred to as members of the “Apartheid Police” – I was never brainwashed with apartheid ideas by these fine gentlemen – a positive spirit of sportsmanship was learnt from these gentlemen. Brig Mouton was a quiet hero – he did very important and sensitive work for South Africa in general and for the SAR in particular. He was a fine policeman with tremendous horse and common sense. Oom Mounie was an officer of the old school, a man who came up through the ranks; who was respected by all who met him or knew him. I salute his memory!

THE POLITICIANS ON RAILWAY PEOPLE What are the politicians says about Railway people, including the SAA:

 AA causing Transnet and Prasa to derail (literally) - Anton Alberts Anton Alberts: 24 February 2014 FF+ MP says high number of accidents on rail network due to lack of properly qualified appointments Affirmative action causing Transnet en Prasa to derail The termite effect of affirmative action which has crippled South Africa's public service is now also literally and figuratively derailing Transnet and Prasa (The Passenger Rail Association of South Africa), Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on Transport says. According to media reports on the latest security report of the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR) it appears that derailments and collisions cost Transnet and Prasa R555 million. The incidents are mostly due to human factors. In the case of Transnet, its loss (more than R300 million) doubled last year in comparison to 2012. It appears that people are injured in collisions 46 times more often than they are in any country in the European Union. According to Adv. Alberts, this statistic is a good example of the destructive effect of affirmative action as the number of accidents and dead and injured people in this instance can be counted.

"According to reports there are some concerns about the competence of train drivers. Some are not properly qualified while others just do not have the capability to execute certain core functions and have to be assisted by other drivers. "The real problem goes much deeper and wider and can be directly attributed to affirmative action. Not only drivers, but thousands of personnel such as engineers and technicians with decades of experience and expertise have been fired to make room for incompetent affirmative appointments. "The decline in the service can be seen on a daily basis, especially in suburban areas. Trains which run late or do not service certain routes due to personnel problems, signal problems, derailments or accidents, are becoming a daily occurrence. "The handful of loyal and expert workers who have remained, are worn out due to regularly having to work long hours and over weekends in the place of incompetent and ill-disciplined colleagues and it is creating a security risk. "The retired personnel who had provided a loyal service has in addition been treated very poorly by their previous employer and the FF Plus is at present assisting with a class action of approximately R80 billion that pensioners had instituted against Transnet. The case will possibly be heard during this year. "It is clear that only the gravy train is not experiencing problems. This is a serious problem as people's lives are directly affected by it and the FF Plus will address this issue on the highest levels to find solutions," Adv. Alberts said. Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus parliamentary spokesperson: Transport, February 24 2014 http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=552049&sn=M arketingweb+detail&pid=90389&utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+Headlines&utm_campaign= 8791ddd216-DHN_Feb_25_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db998791ddd216-130042309

ď&#x201A;ˇ SAA lowers training standards for new pilots - Anton Alberts Anton Alberts: 20 February 2014 FF+ MP says calculated costs for the new training strategy will amount to R200m per annum SAA not an employment organization for unqualified quota pilots "The decision of the South African Airways (SAA) to lower training standards for new pilots is absurd and holds a danger for passengers and the airline itself. The FF plus will therefore be writing to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil

Aviation Organization (ICAO) to request them to investigate the proposed plan of the SAA," Adv. Anton Alberts, the parliamentary spokesperson on Transport for the FF Plus says. "The ninth turnaround strategy of the SAA includes the revision of the training of cadet pilots. According to this, pilots will need fewer flight hours and a third pilot will be included in the cockpit during flights. The calculated costs for the new training strategy will amount to R200 million annually in additional costs for taxpayers. "It is clear that the SAA is lowering its training standards to make provision for their so-called developmental objectives. These developmental objectives which the government is prescribing to the SAA include the rigorous application of affirmative action, where senior white pilots are made available to other airlines to be replaced with younger less experienced black pilots. "IATA, with whom the SAA is affiliated and the ICAO prescribe minimum standards which should be included in training programmes. The FF Plus will be asking these two bodies to intervene to make sure that the new plan of the SAA meets these standards. IATA and the ICAO are at present trying to make the training of pilots more strict. This follows after IATA found an increasing number of air crashes where the cause could be ascribe to human error and not to technical or operational errors. South Africa is once again finding itself in a position where it is moving in the opposite direction than the rest of the world because the ANC government is implementing its so-called developmental objectives as policy. "The government and the SAA's preoccupation to replace white pilots with black pilots and in so doing meet quotas are costing taxpayers billions of rand. It is not enough that the SAA has already lost R16 billion in the past 13 years and had to be bailed out with taxpayer's money repeatedly. The ill-considered application of affirmative action to meet quotas will cost taxpayers even more unnecessary funds. This plan once again proves that the SAA's affirmative action program falls outside of the Constitution and the Employment Equity Act's intentions. The SAA is getting rid of one category of workers, i.e. experienced white pilots to replace them with another category of workers, unexperienced and less experienced black pilots. The SAA is not an employment organization which government may use to implement its racial policy of affirmative action under the cloak of developmental objective. The FF Plus is not prepared to merely stand by and watch how this absurd practices threatens the economy and passengers' lives and at the same time cost taxpayers millions of rand," Adv. Anton Alberts. Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus parliamentary spokesperson: Transport, February 20 2014

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page72308?oid=5 48560&sn=Marketingweb+detail&pid=90389&utm_source=Politicsweb+Daily+H eadlines&utm_campaign=c6d8813963DH_Newsletter_Feb_21_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a86f25db99c6d8813963-130042309

STOP PRESS  1E: Hannes Paling

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Photo: Francois Mattheüs: Dal Josafat - Paarl: Donderdag 26 Sep 2013

NEXT ISSUE & GREETINGS The next issue of “The Uloliwe” will be Vol 5 No 4 and will be published, DV, sometime during late April 2014. Please send in your comments, anecdotes and photographs please. Take care! Stuur ASB solank u stories, herinneringe in word.doc/x of per epos en eie foto’s in jpg-formaat aan uloliwe@gmail.com Hennie Heymans – Pretoria, ZA © 2014