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Contents WELCOME / WELKOM .............................................................................................. 5 WEPNER’S PERAMBULATIONS .............................................................................. 7
ST HELENA FILM-SHOOT .............................................................................. 7
16CR: Comments by Hennie Heymans .................................................................. 9
A bit of nostalgia............................................................................................ 9
How did this class of locomotive look like? ................................................. 10
Not from Cuba ............................................................................................. 11
Mr Ben Schoeman’s Locomotive................................................................. 12
A further bit of nostalgia .............................................................................. 12
16CR No’s 828 & 830 ................................................................................. 13
Sources ....................................................................................................... 13
2014-05-28: GRINDROD LOCOMOTIVES: J & J WEPENER .............................. 14
Comments by John Middleton ..................................................................... 17
Comments from Mel Turner (Australia) ....................................................... 20
Final Comment by John Middleton .............................................................. 21
Train Control Officers............................................................................................ 21
2014-05-23 .................................................................................................. 22
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY ................................................................. 23
5th Reverse Lootsberg: Now and Then : J Wepener & Les Pivnic ............... 23
De Wetsdorp: Now and Then: J Wepener & Les Pivnic .............................. 25
Ugie: Now and Then: J Wepener & Les Pivnic............................................ 26
Wepener: Now and Then: J Wepener & Les Pivnic .................................... 27
Wepener: With and Without Trains: J Wepener & Les Pivnic...................... 28
Franklin: J Wepener & Peter Sinclair .......................................................... 29
LAINGSBURG: DEON BOSMAN ............................................................................. 32 UNIVERSITY ON WHEELS ..................................................................................... 33 VAN TOEKA TOT NOU: "UNIVERSITEIT OP WIELE"......................................... 33 +- 1978's en later .............................................................................................. 33 +-VROEË 80's en later ...................................................................................... 33 DIE BEGIN VAN PADKENNISOPLEIDING MET DIE AANSTOOT-RYTUIG .... 34 Photo’s by Bill Deysel ........................................................................................... 35
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9014 “Kennet” by Hennie Heymans: ..................................................................... 36 Diagram of 9014 by SAR .................................................................................. 36
Other Kennet photographs by HBH ............................................................. 38
Kennet ......................................................................................................... 39
Class 5M Metro Road Trainer: Col Andre Kritzinger ............................................. 40 SOME SAR COACHES: HENNIE HEYMANS ......................................................... 40
NZ Sub-Urban Coaches at Potchefstroom .................................................. 40
No 20044 .................................................................................................... 41
No 21002 Rovos ......................................................................................... 41
No 21012 .................................................................................................... 42
No 40006 .................................................................................................... 43
No 40073 .................................................................................................... 43
No 36026 .................................................................................................... 44
“Biggsy” No 10718 by Hennie Heymans ..................................................... 44
No 10718: South African Transport ............................................................. 45
No 10718 .................................................................................................... 45
No 10718: Col Andre Kritzinger ................................................................... 46
1964: Ministerial Coach: Particulars Unknown ......................................................... 47 12A 2131 & UNKNOWN PRIVATE COACH ............................................................ 47 RAILWAY MISSION ................................................................................................. 48 RMO COACH ........................................................................................................... 50
Research ..................................................................................................... 54
DURBAN METRO .................................................................................................... 54
No 40089 .................................................................................................... 54
40090 .......................................................................................................... 56
No 40137: ON METRO WORK TRAIN ................................................................. 57 PAGEL’S CIRCUS TRAIN: HENNIE HEYMANS ..................................................... 58 The Saloon: Lawrence Green ........................................................................... 58 The Saloon: Carl Birkby .................................................................................... 58
Bibliography ................................................................................................ 58
Question ...................................................................................................... 58
OLD NATAL MAINLINE HISTORY: BRUNO MARTIN ............................................. 58
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RAILWAY HISTORY ................................................................................................ 78 Oranje Vrijstaat Staats Spoorwegen (Orange Free State’s State Railway) .......... 78
Orange Locomotive? ................................................................................... 80
BOOKSHELF ........................................................................................................... 80 Memories of British Industrial Steam in the 1970s: Dennis Moore ....................... 80 LETTERS ................................................................................................................. 82 New Chapter: Soul of a Railway ........................................................................... 82 On Van Reenen’s Pass: Mark Newham ............................................................... 84 Mozambique: Mel Turner (Australia)..................................................................... 85 MAIL STEAMERS .................................................................................................... 86
QM II & her Captain .................................................................................... 86
NOSTALGIA ............................................................................................................. 89 Trams in Scotland ............................................................................................. 89 Robert Brand (USA) .......................................................................................... 89 Disclaimer and Greetings ......................................................................................... 90
The Phelophepa (Health Train) by J Wepener 4
WELCOME / WELKOM With typical Boere-gasvryheid you are bid a hearty word of welcome. Reading the books of the old Cape travellers (i.e. Lady Anne Barnard for example) we read about the Cape Dutch and Boer hospitality on their farms. We Boers love eating meat and drinking a good wine or a beer with our meals. [Times have changed! Today we braai - and it’s Brandy & Coke.] One of the things that troubled the old Dutchmen (read Hollanders) was the brewing of beer at the Cape of Good Hope. Beer was taken at breakfast!1 Before I am ruled out of order I will jump to Heidelberg and Val. One weekend a few of us went to visit to visit Heidelberg. We heard tales of the old Transport Museum and we went to visit the home of the famous Afrikaans poet, Dr AG Visser. Well I have been to Heidelberg before but there was a notice that the Visser residence was only open during the week – office hours. Sorry to say we were there on the Friday afternoon just after 14:00 – the place was locked. I believe it is plundered inside – so much for leaving historical buildings to city councils or to universities. They have other priorities. We visited the historic Town Hall. Heidelberg was once a Boer capital, before Pretoria. Hawkers and beggars were prohibited – and tourists by implication. We took photographs and then met a brutal man in mufti - ostensibly in charge of security - who demanded that we get his permission before we take photos. We left and visited the place where the Boer women left food for the Boers during the Boer War. We then visited the cemetery. A dangerous place and unkempt with no visible supervision and graves were desecrated. I only looked for Salmon van As’ grave and that of Lt Miers of the SA Constabulary. I have read Boer and British accounts of the murder of Lt Miers under the white flag by Salmon van As. The historic old jail only opens after 17:00 but we had made prior arrangements with the members MOTH’s2. We saw the place where Salmon van As was shot by the British. A few MOTHS are doing sterling work to keep the historic old jail in good order. But it is an interesting and expensive exercise. Early Saturday we set of to Val where Boer and Brit fought during the Anglo-Boer War and we visited various historic places. We slept in the “old” Post Office – part of the Val Hotel right next to the Natal Main Line and we saw and heard trains the whole time we were there! Regarding the preservation of our culture and I mean specifically Afrikaner Heritage – I would like to say that it should be privatised and run by Afrikaners themselves.
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Tankards & Tradition – Eric Rosenthal Memorable Order of the Tin Hat
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Our historical items – including railwayana – should be sold to the highest bidder, and then only it will be preserved. A famous Afrikaans artist left his house to an “Afrikaner” university thinking it was safe in their hands. I regularly visited the house until it was given to a non-Afrikaanse speaking senior post graduate art student – and on my last visit the place was closed. Back to our history – we would like to laud David Scholtz and his team for their “privately funded” conservation efforts. The owner of the Val Hotel is also doing her bit! It just proves my point that preservation and conservation is up to us! The State, provinces and local authorities have other priorities You need PASSION for heritage, culture and history. A lot of money makes it easier! Over the years I have invested thousands of Rand in my “Police Library” and when I was young I thought I would after my death donate the books to the Police. Today I know it would be a GREAT mistake! Sorry, if I die it goes to my son or the highest bidder! It is only when you pay for stuff that you care for them. I thank the old railwaymen and policemen who taught me to save and to cherish our heritage! One old policeman gave me a book and on the cover was written in Afrikaans: “Do not destroy. Save for coming generations.” To end off my welcome allow me to explain the “hostile” attitude to Afrikaner heritage in particular and white culture generally. During the revolutionary war3 (from 1961 – 1994) in South Africa over a period of 33 yrs no more than 200 people were killed by the police and defence force by “covert and other” means. I have spoken to many people investigating these covert deaths – I have even spoken to a lady brought in from Argentina to help the SA authorities – all agree the amount a deaths is surprisingly low. We suffered from a bad press and a lot of bad propaganda! One “lefty” from a very liberal research institution told me he thought members of the Security Branch were evil and that they had horns! Now he sees that they are ordinary people with families, men who watched their rugby and people who went to church; guys who had hobbies - actually good fellas! You want some shocking reading? Do research into current deaths in police custody and deaths by police in the new South Africa. It is only when perceptions change that we will have a chance to preserve our heritage. We were “wrongly and unjustly” judged and therefore we today suffer the consequences. [In the South of the USA for e.g. nobody has a problem with preservation.] 3
I don’t know what the correct the term is, so to keep it simple I refer to the “revolutionary war” - HBH
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WEPNER’S PERAMBULATIONS ST HELENA FILM-SHOOT (Not for sensitive readers / children) Hi guys. I arrived at St Helena loco shed one morning and found my driver and the foreman frantically polishing old Bianca, 16CR - no. 1. On enquiring I was told that some of the miss Goldfields finalists were coming for a photo shoot !! Soon I was busy with some diesel soaked cotton waste sprucing up "Bianca". When we were satisfied I made a billycan of fire box coffee and we sat down to admire our work. At about the same time the girls arrived and it soon became evident - what we all know - locomotive depots with grease and oil and rails don't go well with high heeled shoes... It was quickly decided that we will move the shoot to old 8 Shaft, back then the lawn was neatly kept at the entrance to the shaft. "Right away drywer" - I shouted as I threw the points and swung back onto the footplate - after all we couldn't keep the ladies waiting!! So we arrived and stopped the loco as per photographer's instructions and got introduced to everyone. Some photos are taken and then - yes, you guessed it - we would like some smoke, please... No problem, I clamber back onto the footplate and started shovelling in coal like one normally would not do - just to create smoke, have to please the press!! As I swing off the footplate my eye catches the pressure gauge and I see it is heading to the red and fast, too late to do anything now, even with the injector on she is going to blow. So I tell my driver and he informs everyone as to what is going to happen and that they must not be startled by the noise. Yeah right - suddenly the safety valve goes off with a moerse "pop/bang" and some seem to want to run for cover!! Luckily it's not too long before Bianca has had her say and she's all quiet again. Probably upset with these young ladies for stealing the lime light from her... The photo-shoot resumes. Now all this time we are watching from under the shade of a nearby tree and having a lekker chuckle. Then the photo session abruptly ends and the photographer is clearly upset with something, plenty of hand gestures and then the organiser of the shoot approaches us - "O hier's kxk”, we think... 7
The lady approaches us and says the following - now, if you heard this - how would you keep a straight face... "One of the girls had such a big fright after the big noise that her nipples are now so hard that they are threatening to tear through her dress." BUT wait for the best - "Do we perhaps have any insulation tape in our kit on the locomotive that can be used to cover her nipples with!!!!� I quickly excused myself and went for a tears rolling down my cheeks laugh on the footplate, where I was soon joined by my driver. I wanted to take the loco's grease gun and offer to grease those nipples - after all that's what I know how to do quite well on Bianca... !!!! Anyway the excitement soon died down and the photo session was completed. Unfortunately this is the only photo I have, I think my old Driver Gert might have some more. Grease nipple gun greetings. Cheers.
Bianca was not born in Cuba as stated above. She is an English Dame built by North British Locomotive Co.
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16CR: Comments by Hennie Heymans  A bit of nostalgia According to my records St Helena’s No 1 locomotive was 16CR No 821. During July 2010 the Wepeners wrote and this little scrap of information I filed in my file on the Class 16CR: Hi all. We reported recently about the 2x 16CR's that have been cut up at St Helena. Today we heard that they were never out on a tender but they were STOLEN! Cut up 9
illegally for scrap. As soon as the Police stopped one group, the next would start cutting. Again, only in SA. J & J. 
How did this class of locomotive look like?
Photo: SAR
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16CR SANRASM HB Heymans 2-5-2004
Not from Cuba
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Last Stronghold of Steam p 17
Mr Ben Schoeman’s Locomotive
From Snyman-Collection – now in Heymans-Collection
A further bit of nostalgia
From Ric Searle’s collection now in Heymans-Collection 12
16CR No’s 828 & 830
Sources
- Heymans-Collection - SAS-SAR Aug1969: 533 13
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SAS-SAR Dec1969: 841 SAR Diagram Book Searle-Collection Snyman-Collection (Ben Schoeman’s locomotive) South Africa Last Stronghold of Steam, SAR Publicity Publication Vista: 19 Sept 2002 Wepener, J & J: E-mail dated July 2010
2014-05-28: GRINDROD LOCOMOTIVES: J & J WEPENER
Hi guys. These arrived here sometime today / last night. I see they bear the new "Grindrod Locomotives" decals. Please tell me more about these funny looking diesels - I see they are Bo / 0-4-0, wheel arrangement. I don't know if they will be able to handle the ore traffic?? Cheers & thanks, J & J Wepener
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A clear view through the front window
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 Comments by John Middleton Jacque, These are Grindrods "Gensets", their African version of a concept that has become very popular in the USA and Europe as a way to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Most larger gen-sets are multi-engined (some have 4 engines) but RRL's simpler version just uses two single units in multiple where one engine can be shut down with some fancy electronics to optimise performance. Spec sheet attached. The RS7 is 700 HP. There is also a 500 HP version (the RS5) and 6-wheel versions which would be RS7C (as on the brochure - the loco shown is at the Tschipi Manganese Mine near Hotazel). The frame of wrecked 2'0" gauge 91.009 is being rebuilt as one of these in a Bo-Bo configuration for 3'6" gauge - will be going to ULCO near Kimberley so that may appear in Welkom in due course. The pair shown is rated at 1400 HP on full power so between a Class 31 and 35 in terms of power, and certainly a lot more than the ex Queensland 17XX series which are only 1000 HP. Cheers John
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 Comments from Mel Turner (Australia) Jacque, Many thanks. Does not look like they were fitted with builder’s plates? Attached 2 photos of 91-009 Genset conversion John mentioned GT-19 at Richards Bay 20/03/2014 09 photo from http://www.beeld.com 28/03/2014, probably one of the units you shot, need plate photo to track numbers. There is a batch of at least 55 Aurizon Cape gauge units in Australia confirmed sold, still no indication of purchaser. The Chilean guys I usually collect EOI documentation for were not interested (indicative price too high), so suspect Africa is destination, though 20 of the older units may have gone to scrap. The South Americans who I factor for, are now concentrating on obtaining rebuild core out of Argentina, attached photos of an ex Argy (GT22CU) rebuild. Think 34 Class with a 12 Cylinder engine, weight 108 tonnes. FCAB gear their locos for a max speed of 56KPH (line max speed is 50kph), when you climb spiral staircases to 4000 meter altitude, speed is dangerous, so they do not need (or utilise) more than 2400HP. In last photo that is a fuel oil bunker built into the steam loco cab roof, back in the 20's they preferred dwarfs for drivers, anyone over 1.65 meters gets a crink in their neck. Again these steamers were built for the climb up the Andes to the Bolivian border, 400KM distant and 4000 meters high. Mel.
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Final Comment by John Middleton They look small as they are to a "cut-down" spec to fit under loading bunkers - not sure where these are going after test, but RRL have orders from Richards Bay Minerals, SASOL, ULCO, Grindrod Terminals and others.
Train Control Officers Hi guys. My connections and told me they had a meeting today and the following unfolded. Apparently Transnet has decided that from 2016 ALL Train control officers must be based at their national command centre. (http://www.transnetfreightrailtfr.net/NCC/Pages/Overview.aspx) All main lines will be controlled from there using CS 90. Only RTW – Track Warrants will remain at their respective depots. Seeing is believing… Cheers.
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 2014-05-23 Hi guys. The double headed 34's are at Wesselsbron, just finished shunting at the silos, now heading back to Kroonstad. The 10E's are heading north through Bloemhof. Then southbound 18E's between Bloemhof and Grasslands. More 18E's at Makwassie heading south. Then Grindrod at Odendaalsrus, returning from Freddies 1 shaft and lastly heading towards 1 shaft. Cheers. J & J.
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THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY We as “train lovers” are all sickened by the photos that Jacque Wepener has sent in last month. He has done some comparison with the past – a study of “now and then”. We thank all our friends who have sent photos from the past. We will give due recognition with each photo.
5th Reverse Lootsberg: Now and Then : J Wepener & Les Pivnic
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De Wetsdorp: Now and Then: J Wepener & Les Pivnic
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Ugie: Now and Then: J Wepener & Les Pivnic
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Wepener: Now and Then: J Wepener & Les Pivnic
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Wepener: With and Without Trains: J Wepener & Les Pivnic
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Franklin: J Wepener & Peter Sinclair
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LAINGSBURG: DEON BOSMAN
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UNIVERSITY ON WHEELS VAN TOEKA TOT NOU: "UNIVERSITEIT OP WIELE" +- 1978's en later
Ek het in 1978 vanaf Durban teruggekom Germiston toe op 'n departementele ruiling en die Padkennisopleiding in die klaskamers gekry. Dit was die jaar wat Oom Arch Archer met pensioen afgetree het, net om 'n jaar later, na 'n jaar in die privaatsektor as 'n konsultant aangestel te word deur mnr Hilton Park. Soos tyd aangestap het, het die groot sorteerterrein, Sentrarand by Bapsfontein sy beslag begin kry. Die ywer waarmee daar aan die werk gespring is om genoeg Treindrywers in Padkennis op te lei vir die eerste treine wat daarheen sou loop, het ongekende en "vreemde" maniere van opleiding ingesluit. Die konstruksiespoorlyne wat gebou was om die spoorlyne na Sentrarand aan te lê is toe gebruik as die eerste vlak van ons opleidingsroete. Daar was gebruik gemaak van 'n spoormotortrollie wat by Springs Spoorbaandepartement geleen was om die gedeelte aan die Welgedagkant te dek en aan die Olifantsfonteinkant, waar geen treinspore nog aangelê was nie, het ons gebruik gemaak van 'n kombi. Die twee groepe sal dan by die ingang na Sentrarand toe omruil. Elke depot wat treine na Sentrarand toe sou bedien het toe gekom om die opleiding te ondergaan. Met die uiteindelike oopmaak van Sentrarand, was daar reeds 600 Treindrywers gereed om treine daarheen te bedien. Dis was ongekend in enige beoordeling van Padkennisopleiding. 'n Groot stuk trots waarvan Oom Arch deel uitgemaak het. Laat ek gou net verduidelik wat Padkennisopleiding behels. Dit is die kennis van Sinjale, wissels, hellings en draaie. D.w.s. waar sinjale geplaas is, watter tipe en die uitsig op die sinjale. Wissels - waar geplaas, watter tipe en die spoed. Hellings- waar geleë (Begin en eindig), hoe steil, hoe lank en enige spoedbeperking. Draaie - Waar geleë, hoe skerp en spoed om die draai. Dan het bygekom die Plaaslike instruksies vir elke trajek. Om Padkennis verder te vergemaklik het ons gebruik gemaak van landmerke, soos bv. brûe, platforms en geboue en selfs bome wat baie keer tot groot besprekings en verskille gelei het, vernaamlik as ons gaste sou kry en een sou vra "Nou wat as die bome afgekap word? Aan die begin is alle inligting "mondeling" oorgedra. Later aan het die studente al die inligting afgeskryf terwyl die aanbieders van die klasse dit gedikteer het. Uit die kop uit. Oom Arch was een wat geglo het jy moet oortuigingswerk doen as jy besig is met opleiding en daardeur moedig jy 'n student om dit as 'n uitdaging te sien. "As jy dit kan doen, kan ek dit ook doen". +-VROEË 80's en later Die Padleerrytuig, die "UNIVERSITEIT OP WIELE" het al meer bekendstelling begn kry en die Bestuurders en Ingenieurs wat ons besoek het, het toegeneem. Op 'n dag is een van die Senior Ingenieurs weer een van ons BBP gaste. Hulle kom met hulle teoretiese kennis oor die werk van die Treindrywer en kom dan bietjie kers-opsteek in die praktyk, en hierdie is een van die gulde geleenthede omdat ons met elke besoek van 'n groep of selfs 'n individuele besoeker, moes ons 'n aanbieding doen asof ons in die klas-situasie is. Nou het ons al ondervind dat as 33
niemand aan jou verduidelik presies hoe 'n sekere departement funksioneer nie, en jy vra nie pertinent uit nie, het jy net jou eie verwysingsraamwerk waarop jy kan staatmaak. So deur die geleenthede wat elkeen kry om iets te sê, kry die betrokke Senior Ingenieur 'n geleentheid om iets te sê en besluit toe sommer om so vinnige pikhoutjie in te kry op die Treindrywer. Hy verduidelik dat hulle 'n steekproef op Pretoria stasie gedoen het. Hulle het na die Treindrywers van treine wat op die punt staan om te vertrek Johannesburg toe gegaan en vir die Treindrywer gevra waar die volgende twee sinjale op hulle roete is en van die Treindrywers kon hulle blykbaar nie antwoord nie. Hulle het dan die Treindrywers vergesel en dan opgelet dat die Treindrywers presies weet, soos wat hulle oor die roete ry, waar elke sinjaal geleë is. Oom Arch het hom geleentheid gegee en die ander wat iets wou sê, ook. Toe hulle klaar is, vra Oom Arch toe of hy ietsie mag verduidelik. "Ja, seker". Hy begin om die stadia van die Treindrywer se loopbaan te verduidelik. "Hy gaan Esselenpark toe vir sy aanvanklike opleiding en as hy daar slaag is hy 'n Teoretiese Treindrywer. Hy gaan dan deur verdere fases van opleiding wat Praktiese opleiding insluit en na afloop daarvan word hy 'n Praktiese Treindrywer. Na die verloop van tyd wat gepaard gaan met die ondervinding wat hy opdoen met 'n kombinasie van die Teorie en die Praktyk, word hy 'n Intuïtiewe Treindrywer. As 'n Intuïtiewe Treindrywer doen hy sy werk later outomaties. Hy doen alles wat hy doen korrek en in die regte volgorde, maar hy hoef nie meer daaroor te praat of homself elke keer vooraf te herinner aan 'n spesifieke aspek nie. Dit was vir my ook 'n baie interessante verduideliking. Soos tyd verloop het, het die Treindrywers later 'n dokument ontvang wat, as ek reg kan onthou die produk van die destyds Hoofingenieur, mnr Arendt was, onder die titel "15 Basiese Treinhanteringsreëls" Daarin het hy baie klem gelê op die feit dat 'n Treindrywer altyd een, maar verkieslik twee stappe vooruit moet beplan. Dit het goed saamgeloop met die gedagte dat 'n Treindrywer ewe skielik begin Praat oor sy werk. Hierdie dokument moes soos 'n resitasie opgesê word. Dit kon die verskil gemaak het tussen druip en slaag van 'n eksamen. Lekker dag Groete Fanjan DIE BEGIN VAN PADKENNISOPLEIDING MET DIE AANSTOOT-RYTUIG Die begin van padkennisopleiding met die padleerrytuie was iets enig in sy soort. Ek wens ek het meer kennis gehad oor presies hoe Padkennisopleiding internasionaal gedoen word, want ek is van mening dat wat hier in Suid Afrika begin is as gevolg van mnr. Hilton Park, ons destydse Meganiese Streekingenieur se voorkennis en aanvoeling die mees unieke opleiding ooit in die verband was. Soveel van insig en visie aan die kant van mnr Hilton Park het ek nie eintlik weer raakgeloop nie. Soos die opleiding gevorder het, is daar later besluit dat Treindrywers wat die volledige streekopleiding moet doen, moet hulle eers vir 6 dae teoretiese opleiding doen. Dan het hulle in 'n klaskamer gesit en terwyl die aanbieder al die inligting op 'n witbord geskry het, uit die kop uit, het hulle dit in 'n boek afgeskryf. Ses dae lank en 34
uiteindelik 135 bladsye verder, was almal eers gereed om Sondag af te wees om te rus voor Maandag se groot werk op die padleerytuig sou begin. Lekker dag Groete Fanjan
Photo’s by Bill Deysel
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9014 “Kennet” by Hennie Heymans:
No 9014 “Simon Hubinger” at Koedoespoort Diagram of 9014 by SAR
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University on Wheels – Kennet at Koedoespoort
Other Kennet photographs by HBH
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AAnne- Mariè Coach No 14390 at Elsburg
Kennet
For our English speaking readers: The South African Railways & Harbours changed their corporate name to “Transnet” and the railways in particular to “Spoornet”. The suffix “net” in Afrikaans means amongst other things “only”. So jokingly the police became “vangnet” – those that only literally catch; the airways were called “vliegnet” and so the humour went on after the name change. Ken-net comes from the Afrikaans “ken” – “to know” so the phrase means in Afrikaans “only to know”. (Sometimes one cannot translate Afrikaans to English e.g. “die kat loop onder deur die tafel”. To translate that one would write an essay: “The 39
cat walked underneath the table from the one side of the table to the other side”. Class 5M Metro Road Trainer: Col Andre Kritzinger
SOME SAR COACHES: HENNIE HEYMANS
NZ Sub-Urban Coaches at Potchefstroom
Non-revenue earning suburban coaches used for the Catenary work – Potchefstroom
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No 20044
No 20044 Durban 27-10-03
No 21002 Rovos
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No 21012
No 21012 @ Cape Town on 28-12-2003 by HB Heymans
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No 40006
No 40006 in Durban
No 40073
No 40073 Koedoespoort, 23-2-2004 HB Heymans
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No 36026
“Biggsy” No 10718 by Hennie Heymans
Bigsy was my favourite coach when I visited Cape Town. I use to take her from Cape Town to Simonstown and back. The reason? To enjoy coffee, bacon & eggs while reading the then best Afrikaans newspaper in the world: Die Burger (translated: The Citizen). What a culinary and cultural delight and a view unsurpassed in the world!
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No 10718: South African Transport
No 10718
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No 10718: Col Andre Kritzinger
Class 5M Coach 10718 Type 1 Side A Mod
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1964: Ministerial Coach: Particulars Unknown
12A 2131 & UNKNOWN PRIVATE COACH
The above photo is by Frank Garrison of 12A 2131 at Braamfontein pulling a private coach – Hennie Heymans-Collection via SAR Museum
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RAILWAY MISSION
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RMO COACH
At De Aar 1933 50
No 462 plinthed then at De Aar
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RMO Millsite 24-4-2004 HB Heymans
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Research 1. SASSAR Magazine Dec 1977 2. Photo of 462 from the Herman Snyman-Collection purchased and now in the Hennie Heymans-Collection 3. Fieldtrip to Millsite during 2004; and finally a MUST SEE 4. Please also refer to Railway Modeller’s Information Group (MRIG), March 2014 pp228/2 – 228/6. Comments by HBH: What a wonderful hobby trains are! I love it when information and pieces of the puzzle from all sides come together and the historical picture is completed. Sadly I do not know the fate of the RMO Coach.
DURBAN METRO
No 40089
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40090
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No 40137: ON METRO WORK TRAIN
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PAGEL’S CIRCUS TRAIN: HENNIE HEYMANS The Saloon: Lawrence Green
The Saloon: Carl Birkby
Bibliography
Question
Who can tell us more, please? Who has a photograph of this coach?
OLD NATAL MAINLINE HISTORY: BRUNO MARTIN
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RAILWAY HISTORY Oranje Vrijstaat Staats Spoorwegen (Orange Free State’s State Railway)
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Orange Locomotive? The first Orange Express?
BOOKSHELF Memories of British Industrial Steam in the 1970s: Dennis Moore Hi everyone This book “Memories of British Industrial Steam in the 1970s” ………… well, it does what it says on the tin. An unashamedly nostalgic look as far back as those distant days when the Author was still in his late teenage years (those of you who know him will realise just how far back that is!) and embarked upon a quest to see the last 'real steam' in Britain, the locomotives used for shunting and short trip work in collieries and other industrial locations. It was, sadly, a woefully underfunded attempt, with little money available to fund the travel, none of which encompassed the use of a private motor vehicle with little surplus to provide for photographic equipment and film. A very few of the earliest photographs were taken on the most basic of 80
cameras, a small plastic 'instamatic' and a couple of these images have survived and, somewhat remarkably, were sufficiently redeemable (just) to use in this book. The Author hopes that the reader will forgive the obvious and inevitable technical imperfections of those few very early images and trusts that the rarity of some of the subject matter will go some way to compensate. For example, it is not every day that one comes across a colour photograph of a 19th Century 2-4-0 crane tank locomotive, in steam and still in regular commercial service. That said, the improvement in the cameras that were to hand as the 1970s progressed is, hopefully, reflected in the photographs. Of the 235 photographs presented, the locomotives working for the National Coal Board are - not surprisingly - in the majority, but many other industries are represented, such as power stations, steelworks, foundries, engineers, dockyards, paper mills, a flour mill, and a trading estate. Token representation from the military and London Transport is included. Conventional tank locomotives abound (those with a thing for Austerity saddle tanks will find much of interest here), but others as diverse as crane tanks, 'Sentinel' and fireless machines are also covered. The liveries exhibited by these locomotives are even more wide ranging. The book is published in standard portrait format 25cm x 20cm (9.75 x 7.75 inches), and is available in a variety of cover and paper types. The prices have been kept as low as possible, within the bounds of print on demand feasibility. As always, the book is available for full and free preview. Don't forget to enlarge to "full screen�. To see the preview, or to order, please go to www.blurb.com/b/5346972 All of my books may be seen here www.blurb.com/user/store/red3450 Sincere thanks to all those who have supported me and provide the encouragement to keep going in this endeavour. Regards Dennis (P.S. Please note that courier delivery charges vary very little when sending multiple books. So, if you want more than one title, best to order "in one go". Or, get together with like minded friends, and combine an order.)
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LETTERS New Chapter: Soul of a Railway
We would like you to know that the latest chapter, describing the fruit traffic over Sir Lowry's Pass has just been posted. Just click on this link: https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/ then click on Cape Western System, then on Part 8
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Special thanks to John Carter for generously lending his slides (we will be seeing more of John's work in future episodes) and to Eugene Armer for so vividly making us fuddy-duddies aware that the railway didn't stop entirely when steam finished. I think you will agree that the contributions of these two gents have helped make Part 8 one of the most spectacular so far. Thank you also (as usual) to Bruno Martin for his maps and Andrew Deacon for keeping the layout neat and tidy. As usual we welcome your comments, criticisms and corrections. Charlie Lewis
Comments by HBH Please chaps have look – it’s a wonderful site. Here is the first picture in the new series Part 8 with the first part entitled Caledon Line freight (Part 1) which starts with a beautiful photo by John Carter. By this time you all know that I love the railways in and about Van Reenen BUT I have to concede this is a beautiful line with Helderberg (nr Stellenbosch) in the background. I was fortunate to do this line a couple of times with Boon Boonzaaier all the way to Protem and Bredasdorp, last mentioned the most southern railway station in Africa. The maps are feather in Bruno Martin’s cap – simply wonderful stuff! Our congratulations chaps!
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On Van Reenen’s Pass: Mark Newham Mark shot these coaches with his camera on Van Reenen’s Pass on the way to the Free State and Gauteng:
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Mozambique: Mel Turner (Australia) Hennie Port Erie https://www.flickr.com/photos/porterie/sets/72157644805295113/ you can clearly see the pair of B-B bogies with the span bolster The BBC Xingang is currently moored off Nouadhibou in Mauritania http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:17.0428/centery:20.88989/zoom:8/oldmmsi:305885000/olddate:lastknown BBC Xingang has removable tween decks, the 10 CLN BB40-9WM are sitting on the bottoms, with general cargo on the tweens above them, probably another 3 weeks before she discharges in Nacala. The next tranche of 10 BB40-9WM now at Port Erie waiting on a vessel Second tranche at Port Erie June 5 http://erieshipnews.com/images/Erie14/060414/CSL/IMG_8952.JPG There will be 5 tranches of 10 units between 3 weeks and a month apart (danger of Lake Erie ices over at the end of September). Will be numbered 1800-1849, Vale is negotiating with GE for a further 37 for delivery in 2015 The flicker site above is for Port Erie http://www.porterie.org/ If you want to use photos they will probably give permission, good publicity BB40-9WM weight for Moz is 176 tonnes, so about 24 tonnes lighter than those used on meter gauge in Brazil
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MAIL STEAMERS
QM II & her Captain
Photographer James Morgan decided to create something a bit special to mark the Queen Mary 2’s 10th anniversary.
When he first suggested placing Captain Kevin Oprey on the liner’s bulbous bow for the photo shoot, people apparently looked at him like he was ‘a bit mad’.
2. However, the idea was clearly inspired as the pictures look astonishing. 86
3 The shoot took place at a port off the coast of Bali with two safety boats positioned nearby just in case.
Commenting on the striking images, Morgan said: ‘It is this towering creature and this little man, it is an incredible juxtaposition. He is an incredible man, this beautiful huge liner he controls every day. ‘It is one of the most epic shoots I have ever done.’ 4. A Brilliant shot!
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The Queen Mary 2 is currently on a round the world voyage and docked in Sydney on March 14.
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NOSTALGIA Trams in Scotland The Daily Mail from the UK published a series of nostalgic photo’s here is one and this is how I remember Durban’s trams:
A village on the River Clyde. This scene, taken from the 1942 film “Song of the Clyde”, captures buses travelling to the village to Elderslie in Renfrewshire, central Scotland. Robert Brand (USA)
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Phelophepha says “good bye” via J Wepener The next issue of “The Uloliwe” will be Vol 5 No 8 and will be published, DV, sometime during late July 2014. Send in your comments, anecdotes and photographs please. Take care! Stuur solank u stories, herinneringe en eie foto’s aan uloliwe@gmail.com in jpgformaat Hennie Heymans – Pretoria, ZA © 2014
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