SARI - Volume 9 (April 2016)

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South African Railways Illustrated Volume 9

April 2016

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South African Railways Illustrated Editor / Design & Layout

Charles Baker Email Telephone Cell

Photographers / Contributors

Fanie Kleynhans Greg Hart Noel Welch John Middleton James Attwell Jacque Wepener Mark Berry

Proof Reader / Copy Typing

Dave Gallop

Advertising / Sponsorship

Charles Baker

sarillustrated@gmail.com

(031) 337-7760 082 923 4868 Eugene Armer Les Pivnic Wayne Nauschutz Noel Forster Charles Baker Aidan McCarthy

Front Cover Photo. In 1975 the Class 4E locomotives were still all in service and E220 awaiting its next assignment at Salt River electric running sheds on the 5th September in that year still looks pristine. Note the fascinating 4E dedicated wheel barrow alongside, presumably used for replenishing the sandboxes. Photo – John Middleton. Inside Front Cover Photo. Class 1E, E25, as she stood in a disused SAR Goods Shed for many years in Ladysmith (5th December 2010). Photo – Charles Baker. Inside Back Cover Photo. Class 5E1 Series 5, E1101, with Road Knowledge Coach No. 40117, while on an extremely rare visit down to Pennington Station on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast (2nd November 2012). Photo – Charles Baker. Back Cover Photo. Class 18E Series 2, 18-658, with a Durban bound tanker train approaching Cliffdale Crossing (24th July 2012). Photo – Charles Baker. Special acknowledgement and appreciation to Col. André Kritzinger and the “List of South African Locomotives” on Wikipedia (the free online Encyclopaedia), the preferred SA locomotive reference and research source of SARI.

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Contents – Volume 9 Page 5.

Editor’s Comment

Page 6.

Locomotives / Names / Numbers

Page 15.

Empty Coal Wagons – Ulundi Station

Page 16.

Kraankuil Station Layout

Page 18.

Sannaspos Station

Page 19.

Petrusburg Station

Page 20.

Potchefstroom Station

Page 21.

Ballast Cleaning Equipment – Ulundi Station

Page 22.

Caboose No. 14856

Page 23.

Grindrod Rebuild – Class 31 No. 31-009

Page 24.

Electric Motive Power Photo Gallery

Page 40.

Diesel Motive Power Photo Gallery

Page 56.

Steam Motive Power Photo Gallery

Page 68.

Metrorail Photo Gallery

© COPYRIGHT STATEMENT All Rights Reserved. All the photos / images, sponsored adverts and text contained in South African Railways Illustrated are copyright, and remain the property of, and / or, under the control of their original authors / photographers and South African Railways Illustrated. None of the content may be copied, saved (stored on a PC or / Retrieval System), shared or posted / distributed on other web pages or websites, either in part or in full, without the written permission of the editor of South African Railways Illustrated or the original author / photographer.

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Editor’s Comment Our front cover for this issue takes us back to 1975. It’s one from John Middleton’s fine collection of photos of Class 4E, E220, resplendent in her SAR “red & whisker” livery at Salt River. John sent the photo through in landscape format and I did a vertical crop on it in order to give E220 pride of place on the front cover of this issue. The original photo in landscape format also appears on Page 30. I’m sure you will all agree with me that it’s certainly an historical gem of a photo in terms of the electric motive power elements it contains, not forgetting of course the Vapour Clarkson Steam Heater in SAR livery it features as well. We kick off this issue with a really interesting piece from Les Pivnic’s archives, where Les discusses and provides wonderful detailed insight of the rationale behind the official (and unofficial) naming of locomotives on the South African Railways. As always with the Les Pivnic writings that have been featured in SARI, the supporting photos are fantastic – look out for Class 16E No. 857 departing Bloemfontein Station with a beautiful collection of semaphore signals just behind her tender! Greg Hart’s featured station layout diagram this month is Kraankuil Station. Previous issues of SARI have not really done justice to these beautiful drawings in terms of spatial layout, so a change has been made, which will showcase them going forward in a more fitting and appropriate manner. We welcome Noel Forster from Australia as our newest photo contributor in this issue. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Noel for making the super photos from his six-month visit to South Africa in 1977 available for publication in this issue of SARI. You will find Noel’s photos in the Steam Motive Power Photo Gallery, ten of them in total with the promise of more for the next issue, which is great news! Fanie Kleynhans, Eugene Armer, Aidan McCarthy, James Attwell, Greg Hart, Mark Berry, Noel Welch, Wayne Nauschutz, Jacque Wepener and myself have ensured that the regular photo galleries in this issue are well stocked with a very smart and varied selection of interesting photos. Enjoy the read everyone! Charles Baker 5


Above: The locomotive, Class 16E No. 857, which carries two names, one on the smoke deflector and the other above the numberplate, departing Bloemfontein. Photo – Les Pivnic.

Locomotives / Names / Numbers Originally appeared in the August 1970 issue of the SASSAR Magazine. By H. L. Pivnic The naming of railway locomotives in some countries is an accepted part of the railway scene. Railways in Britain, both before and after nationalization, were particularly fond of naming their iron steeds. In South Africa, a fair number of engines have or are carrying names, but on the whole, the naming of locomotives in South Africa has not been particularly popular. Readers will note that I refer to “engines have or are carrying names.� I phrased my statement purposely in that way because most unfortunately, on the S.A.R., locomotives which have been given names at some stage, have not always retained those names to the present time. Before proceeding further, please note that I am referring to official names on locomotives. The unofficial names sometimes secured to locomotives by keen drivers and firemen will be dealt with later in this article. Returning then to the official names, it must be added that while a few locomotives have retained the names originally given to them, the majority have either changed names, or, as in most cases, lost them completely. 6


Above: A second photo of Class 16E No. 857, which carries two names, one on the smoke deflector and the other above the numberplate, departing Bloemfontein. Photo – Les Pivnic. Locomotives which have tended to retain their original names are those where the names are fitted (in the form of a moulded casting) to the cabsides just above the numberplates. The nameplates which unfortunately have not found permanent homes on particular locomotives, are those castings in the form of wings which have been attached to various classes of locomotives which are equipped with smoke deflector plates. The names featured on these “wing� plates are those of various cities and towns in the Republic. The city and town nameplates were made and attached to locomotives on instructions from Mr. F. C. Sturrock, Minister of Transport in 1945. In the original concept of the idea, it was decided to name 25 engines drawn from two Classes. The two Classes selected were the 15F and 23. Detailed now is a list of the actual locomotives originally selected for naming from the two Classes: Class 15F

No. 3044 No. 3045 No. 3046 No. 3047 No. 3049 No. 3050 No. 3051 No. 3052 No. 3053 No. 3054

Kroonstad Harrismith City of Bloemfontein City of Pretoria City of Johannesburg Springs Vereeniging Brakpan Benoni Bethlehem 7


Class 23

No. 3055 No. 3056

Germiston Potchefstroom

No. 3273 No. 3277 No. 3278 No. 3279 No. 3280 No. 3289 No. 3303 No. 3312 No. 3311 No. 3313 No. 3314 No. 3315 No. 3316

City of Cape Town City of Pietermaritzburg Newcastle Worcester Oudtshoorn City of East London City of Grahamstown Upington City of Kimberley City of Port Elizabeth Uitenhage City of Durban Ladysmith

It is a great pity that the locomotives detailed in the above list did not retain their respective names, as over the years, the names would have given each of those engines a distinctive character. However, as already stated the names were not retained by the individual locomotives over the years, and have thus “hopped” from one engine to another. You will note from the detailed list that originally only Classes 15F and 23 were involved. However, due to what one might almost call unofficially, “a name swopping programme”, a few other classes of engine, have, at times, also carried names. While not begrudging those other engines the opportunity to bear a name, the fact remains, that as with a human being or even a pet animal, a name once given, belongs to that individual or pet and should also belong to a particular engine. Nevertheless, what is done is done and it will serve no purpose to pursue this point any further.

Above: Class 16E No. 858, which bears the name of her designer. Photo – Les Pivnic. 8


To illustrate how the official “city” and “town” nameplates have been changed from one engine to another over the years, I have prepared the following table which reflects various names attached to different engines from those to which the names were originally fixed. A table such as this cannot hope to be either complete or up to date, as it is virtually impossible to keep track of name changes from one engine to another as and when they occur. Nevertheless, the table will still give some idea of how these nameplates “jump around” from loco to loco. Name

Some of the Locomotives which have carried the Nameplate

Harrismith Kroonstad City of Bloemfontein City of Pretoria City of Johannesburg Vereeniging Bethlehem City of Pietermaritzburg City of Durban Springs Ladysmith Brakpan

Class 16E No. 854; Class 16E No. 855; Class 16E No. 856; Class 16E No. 859; Class 15F No. 2962; Class 23 No. 3282; Class 15F No. 2932 Class 15F No. 3055; Class 16E No. 855; Class 16E No. 857; Class 15E No. 2878; Class 25 No. 3477; Class 23 No. 2559; Class 15F No. 3048; Class 23 No. 3229; Class 25NC No. 3430; Class 15F No. 3049;

Now let us turn our attention to official names other than those of towns or cities. The following is a list of the names and engines concerned. Class / Number

Name

Remarks

Class GL No. 2351 Class 16E No. 858 Class 16E No. 857

One cabside nameplate missing.

Class 20 No. 2485 Class S1 No. 375

Princess Alice Allan G. Watson Ann Smith Bloemfontein Queen Trapsuutjies Voortrekker

Class 24 No. 3675 Class 24 -

Bartholomieu Diaz Windhoek

Also has wingplate “Vereeniging” attached to smoke deflectors. Loco now scrapped. When last seen, nameplates no longer attached to this loco.

Now without going into too much detail, a few words about the locomotives in the above list. In April, 1931, a special train carrying the Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice was worked between Durban and Pietermaritzburg by a Class GL No. 2351. The Governor-General and his party were keenly interested in the mighty steed hauling their train. While on the section, members of the party including Princess Alice were taken on the footplate for a few miles. The Administration requested and was granted permission to name No. 2351 “Princess Alice” in honour of the occasion. The nameplates, one English and one Afrikaans, were cast so as to fit immediately above the numberplates on the cabsides. This engine has retained her name to the present time. 9


Upon the introduction in 1935 of the Class 16E express passenger engines, a decision was taken to honour their designer, Allan G. Watson, by naming one of the class, No. 858, after him. The honour was bestowed on him, not only for his succession of excellent locomotive and standard boiler designs, but also for his invaluable work in other fields such as coach and dining car design, etc. A nameplate “Allan G. Watson” was secured on each side of the cab just above the number plates (see photo above – Les Pivnic). When last seen, No. 858 has apparently and most unfortunately lost one of her nameplates. The story of 857 “Ann Smith” (see photo opposite page above – Les Pivnic) has been told in detail in the pages of this journal some years ago. Suffice to say here that the good lady, Ann Smith herself was a lady clerk in the System office in Bloemfontein in 1944. In that year she topped the entire nation in a fund raising campaign. So delighted were the staff at Bloemfontein, that one of their ladies should come out on top, that they decided to name two locomotives after her. Thus 16E No. 857 had nameplates “Ann Smith – The Bloemfontein Queen” attached to her cabsides just above the numberplates. Number 857 still bears the name to this day. The other locomotive, a Class 15F No. 2970, was apparently similarly named, but no proof of the latter has ever come to light. I have often wondered where Ann Smith (the lady herself) is today and whether she has often seen her namesake locomotive – 16E 857. One last point about 857 is that as you will have noticed in the detailed list, this engine also (subsequently) carries the nameplates “Vereeniging” on her smoke deflectors. I have always felt unhappy about this double name on a single engine, as I feel it is confusing to say the least. In addition I think named locomotives are too few and far between as it is, without one engine having to carry two names. 10


Engine number 2485 carried a name which was for her most appropriate – Trapsuutjies (Chameleon). Number 2485 known as the Class 20 was originally a locomotive made up to a large extent from parts of earlier types of engines. The boiler came from a Class 19A; the coupled wheels from 8th Class engines. Being the only engine of her type, she was chosen as the guinea-pig for condensing locomotive trials on the South African Railways. Thus she was rebuilt as a condensing locomotive, which resulted in her taking on a new guise. So like her namesake in the garden, Class 20 also “changed colour”. The Class S1 No. 375 was named “Voortrekker” to mark the first occasion when a batch of new locomotives was constructed locally in the S.A.R.’s own mechanical workshops. Odd engines had previously been built in South Africa or previously in the colonies, but not to the tune of twelve locomotives of a particular class. Mr. F. T. Bates officially named number 375 “Voortrekker” on 8th October 1947. Unfortunately, when this engine was last seen, she bore no trace of her nameplates. What fate has befallen them, I can’t say. Bartholomieu Diaz is the name of a Class 24 No. 3675. These nameplates were attached to the engine by her makers – the North British Locomotive Company, to celebrate the fact that this company and its previous constituents, had jointly supplied 2,000 locomotives to the colonial railways and the S.A.R. Two plates, one on either side of the engine are affixed to the running plates approximately in the middle of the locomotive. It is assumed that engine No. 3675 is the original locomotive of her class to which the plates were secured by their makers. 11


Apart from “Bartholomieu Diaz”, there is another Class 24 which bears an official name. The name in this instance is “Windhoek”. The class 24s were originally designed primarily for work in S.W.A. The 24s performed their duties in South West particularly well, but due to water problems, the whole System was eventually, dieselised, which resulted in all the 24s being transferred to the Republic. However, to mark the 24s service to the territory, an engine from the class was named after the capital city. The naming of the engine was carried out while the 24s were still working in the area before dieselisation. Quite a large number of locomotives carried names on pre-Union Railway systems in South Africa. The Z.A.S.M. Railways in particular were very fond of naming their locomotives. However, in this article, it is my intention to deal only with purely S.A.R. locomotives and not those engines inherited from pre-Union railways. Thus, preserved engines like “Nylstroom”, “Pietersburg” and “Stormberg”, etc. are not being dealt with here. A separate article would be required to do full justice to all the named locomotives of the pre-Union railways in South Africa. An article on named locomotives of the S.A.R. would be incomplete without just a brief reference to the unofficial names sometimes carried by locomotives which are handled by regular crews. Footplate men with regular engines sometimes make small brass or copper nameplates and secure these plates to their iron steeds, usually just under the headlight platform in front of the smokebox. The names invariably have a feminine flavour, although towns or simple terms of affection have at times been seen. The following is a short selection from the long list of names that I have noted over the last 25 years emblazoned on the smokeboxes of various classes of locomotive. Name

Class

Number

Joan Yvonne Prudence Whiskey Mona Lisa (name painted on leading tank) City of Saints (name painted on leading tank) “Uitenhage” The Garden Town “Johannesburg” The Golden City Princess Elizabeth Bokkie Elma Rosmead Thelma Hessie Connie Margie

16DA 16DA 15AR 15AR GEA GD 10BR 15F 15F 12AR 12AR 19B 7TH 15F 23 16DA

870 848

760 3102 3101 1522 2124 1413 991 3061 3275 875

The foregoing list reflects wide differences of sentiment among footplate staff both past and present. However, railway enthusiasts also welcome variety – the spice of life! On continuing this article on locomotive names and numbers, I must mention two locomotive nicknames which became almost household words in South Africa. These were “Big Bill” and “Big Bertha”. The Class 15CB (Big Bill) and 16D (Big Bertha) acquired 12


these nicknames due to the fact that they were both conspicuously larger than their respective and immediate predecessors – the Classes 15A, 15B and 16C. Left: Class 16E No. 859 “City of Bloemfontein”. Photo – Les Pivnic. I wonder how many readers have noticed that this article has dealt only with steam locomotives on the S.A.R. The answer is simple; I don’t believe any S.A.R. electric or diesel locomotives were ever given names official or otherwise. There were rumours some time ago of two 5E1s being officially named – one B. J. Schoeman and the other D. Hugo. Whether it ever came to fruition I don’t know – it would be interesting to hear from any readers who could throw a little light on the subject. In conclusion, let it be said that locomotives which bear names, have just a little more “character” than those who have nothing more than a numberplate secured to the sides of the cab or body. As a footnote to the original article that you have just read, the author, Les Pivnic, requested the following information be added: “Having just read through the article on naming engines, I think that it is necessary to add a comment from me regarding my reference to Ann Smith and engine 857. You will notice that in the original article, I refer to "wondering where the lady is today". Well, when I represented the SA Railway Museum at the official mounting of the engine as a plinthed monument outside the main entrance to Bloemfontein Station, Ann Smith - now known as Mrs. Ann Redman, was located in Pietermaritzburg and flown to Bloemfontein to be the Guest of Honour on that occasion. She was delighted to be honoured in that way and was photographed on the footplate of "her" engine much to her delight! This occurred on the 16th of September 1975. It should also be mentioned that the engine herself was subsequently removed from her plinth at the station and restored to working order for the purpose of hauling special steam tours. Another item that needs to be mentioned is that the well-known Loco Foreman at De Aar in the 1970s, adopted a policy of naming his fleet of engines - giving them girls' names. One such name was Carol - named after my good wife and carried on 25NC 3414.” 13


Above & Left: Just to carry on with Les Pivnic’s very interesting article on the preceding pages and pick up on the story of Class 16E, No. 857, “Ann Smith – The Bloemfontein Queen”. She is pictured here during her time spent while on static display outside Bloemfontein Station. Photos Margaret Goldswain – Circa 1980.

Soul of A Railway © By Les Pivnic and Charlie Lewis Les and Charlie are working together on this project to convey to future generations the essence of a once magnificent transport network in South Africa - the South African Railways or SAR. Introduction https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/introduction The SAR was divided into nine systems as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Cape Western, based in Cape Town Cape Northern, based in Kimberley Cape Midland, based in Port Elizabeth Cape Eastern, based in East London Orange Free State, based in Bloemfontein Natal, based in Durban Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg Eastern Transvaal, based in Pretoria South West Africa, based in Windhoek

Charlie is doing systems 1 to 4 while Les is doing systems 5 to 8. 14


Empty Coal Wagon15s – Ulundi Station An empty 200-wagon coal train on the Richards Bay coal line. (19th March 2011). Photo – Charles Baker.


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Sannaspos Station

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(27 December 2010). Photos – Charles Baker.

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Petrusburg Station

(28th December 2010). Photos – Charles Baker.

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Potchefstroom Station (31st December 2010). Photos – Charles Baker.

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Ballast Cleaning Equipment

Ballast cleaning equipment at Ulundi Station (19th March 2011). Photo – Charles Baker.

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Caboose (Type 5) No. 14856

Type 5 Caboose No. 14856 at Bethlehem (27th December 2010). Photo – Charles Baker.

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Grindrod rebuild former Boven celebrity Class 31 into a Class 31 “GT” By John Middleton. When the Class 31 diesels were withdrawn from service in the late 1980s, Germiston depot retained 31-009 as a sort of depot “pet”, where it performed general depot pilot duties and was usually kept in immaculate condition. The first photo (Above: Photo - John Middleton) shows it standing outside the Diesel Depot on 15th July 1995. Later it moved to the erstwhile heritage “Oosterlijn” operation at Waterval Boven and was used on special trains there until those ceased in the 2000s. In 2011 it was purchased by Grindrod, who chopped its short hood and put it into industrial hire service on their Welkom gold contract (numbered RB 201). As if to prove that a 1958 built locomotive still has useful life, during 2015 it was taken back into the Grindrod workshop and completely rebuilt. Its original Cooper-Bessemer 1200 HP engine was removed and replaced by a General Electric 7FDL8, which is believed to have been acquired second-hand from Mexico. Mexico did not buy many locomotives with this engine and the source would appear to be a batch of forty-five type U18B built in 1974 for the NdeM (National Railways of Mexico). How it got to South Africa is unknown. These engines were rated at 1800 HP in Mexico, but it is not yet known how Grindrod have set it up, suffice to say the locomotive is now probably about 50% more powerful than a standard Class 31 and should now probably be called a “Class 31 GT” or similar! The second photo (Insert Above: Photo - Jacque Wepener) shows it back in Welkom, now re-numbered SG12-01, hauling gold ore on 12th March 2016, looking pretty good for a 58 year old locomotive! 23


Electric Motive Power Photo Gallery Above: Class 7E3 Series 2, E7278, is proceeding south from Ermelo with load of local coal (9th August 2011). Below: Four Class 10E locomotives, with 10 142 leading, are heading an export coal train towards Ermelo (8th August 2011). Photos – Aidan McCarthy.

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Above: Class 6E locomotives, E1186 & E1189 pass through Parow towards Cape Town Station for passenger train duty later on. Below: E1813 & E1816 lead the Trans Karoo through Parow out of Cape Town on a beautiful winters morning. Photos – Fanie Kleynhans (12th July 2004).

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Above: Class 18Es led by 18-286 head east towards Ogies with empty coal wagons. (10th March 2010). Below: 18-114 works a heavy coal train up from the Wilge River to Argent. The Kendal Power Station is barely visible at the rear of the train (20th March 2010). Photos – Eugene Armer.

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Above: A trio of Class 6E1s in the orange Spoornet livery head loaded DZ Wagons (Coal) through Frere (December 1999). Photo – Greg Hart. Below: Early morning as E1593 heads a Durban bound Trans Natal through Umlaas Road (23rd June 2011). Photo – Charles Baker.

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Above: 18-502 with a grain train comprising varied wagon types in the section between Dargle and Lions River (30th August 2012). Below: 18-405 with 18-421 (first locomotive into the PRASA blue) heads the Trans Natal through Cedara Station (13th October 2012). Photos – Greg Hart.

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Above: 18-268 heads a Cato Ridge / Durban bound load of coal down the hill from Chieveley towards Frere (13th October 2012). Below: 18-330 with a load of coal for Cato Ridge / Durban at the top of Boughton in Pietermaritzburg (30th September 2012). Photos – Greg Hart.

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Above: E220 awaiting her next assignment at Salt River. See also, a Class 1E used for shunting, as well as red & blue Class 5E1s (5th September 1975). Below: E9012 / E9001 / E9008 have just left Sishen with a load of ore for Saldanha (7th February 1986). Photos – John Middleton.

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Above & Below: In March 1989, the Old Hex River Pass was nearing the end of its days and these two views show the Blue Train ascending the pass on 27th March 1989, headed by pristine Class 6E1 locomotives, E1957 and E1956. Photos – John Middleton.

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Above: Class 6E1 locomotives, E1486 (now 18-854) / E1326 (now 18-743) / E1505 (now 18-840) shutdown at Estcourt Station with a load of coal for Cato Ridge / Durban. Below: Class 6E1, E1252 (not converted to Class 18E), at Estcourt Station. Photos – Charles Baker (2nd July 2010).

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Above: Class 6E1, E1419 (now Class 18E Series 2, 18-790), at Masons Mill in Pietermaritzburg. Below: Class 6E1, E1557 (now Class 18E Series 2, 18-777), at Masons Mill in Pietermaritzburg. Both locomotives converted in 2013. Photos – Charles Baker (16th April 2010).

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Above: Class 8E locomotives, E8089 & E8071, on shunt duty at Bayhead (8th October 2010). Below: Class 18E, 18-619, with a Python is about to cross the steel bridge into Lions River Station with a load of coal for Cato Ridge / Durban (19th February 2011). Photos – Charles Baker.

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Class 18E, 18-098, is Durban bound with a cement train and is passing through Balgowan Station, having just been through a hectic afternoon thunderstorm in the Midlands area. 35hoto – Charles Baker. (19th February 2011). P


Above: 18-619, with a Python on the hill down from Chieveley to Frere with a load of coal for Cato Ridge / Durban – note the six live locomotives. Below: E1302 is working alone on the Trans Natal down through Boughton Station. Photos – Charles Baker (19th February 2011).

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Above: E7150 just after being dead hauled to Empangeni following her overhaul and repaint at Transnet Engineering in Durban (16th December 2010). Below: E8023, heads this trio of Class 8Es along the Esplanade with export Toyotas (11th December 2013). Photos – Charles Baker.

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Above: One of the seventeen Class 7E4 locomotives, E7272, heads a load of timber wagon empties through Nsezi, Richards Bay. Below: Class 11E, E11021, arrives at the Richards Bay Locomotive Depot with some Class 7Es & 19Es. Photos – Charles Baker (8th December 2013).

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Above: Shosholoza Meyl / Trans Karoo is working its way through Worcester headed by Class 6E1, E1950 (21st April 2014). Below: Class 18E Series 2 locomotives, with 18-653 in charge, passes through Breerivier with container flats (15th February 2016). Photos – Wayne Nauschutz.

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Diesel Motive Power Photo Gallery Above: Class 34 (400) locomotives, 34-463, leads stablemate 34-476, on an unusual block load of empty PX Parcel Service containers en-route to Mafikeng, seen here near Derby. Below: The same train as above climbing out of Derby. Photos – Eugene Armer (8th June 2013).

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Above: Early morning in Mafikeng, 34-123 brews up for another run to Krugersdorp, with 34-458 idling away behind (8th June 2013). Photo – Eugene Armer. Below: 34-421, 34-408 & 34-109 with a container train between Magaliesburg & Derby (5th March 2016). Photo – Aidan McCarthy.

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Above & Below: Class 34 locomotives, 34-421 in original SAR livery, and 34-408 / 34-109 in Spoornet blue livery, working a heavy container train between Magaliesburg and Derby on the Krugersdorp – Mafikeng line (5th March 2016). Photos Aidan McCarthy.

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Above & Below: Class 34 locomotives, 34-421 in original SAR livery, and 34-408 / 34-109 in Spoornet blue livery, working a heavy container train between Magaliesburg and Derby on the Krugersdorp – Mafikeng line (5th March 2016). Photos Aidan McCarthy.

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Above & Below: At the gold plant in Harmony, Virginia, Sheltam No. 1202 (Ex SAR Class 31, No. 31-001) uncouples to run round the load of waste rock from old Saaiplaas 4 shaft, to push them onto the tip. Photos – Jacque Wepener (6th May 2013).

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Above: Sheltam No. 1201 (Ex SAR Class 31, No. 31-005) and a load of ore from old Saaiplaas 5 shaft. Below: Sheltam No. 1202 (Ex SAR Class 31, No. 31-001) with a load of ore working past 4 shaft and heading for the exchange yard. Photos – Jacque Wepener (6th May 2013).

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Above: Sheltam No. 1202 (Ex SAR Class 31, No. 31-001) with a load of ore working past 4 shaft and heading for the exchange yard (6th May 2013). Below: 34-017 and the return working of the Mondi timber shunt leaving Friedesheim (19th February 2016). Photos – Jacque Wepener.

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Above: 34-017 and the return working of the Mondi timber shunt leaving Friedesheim en-route to Kroonstad (19th February 2016). Photos – Jacque Wepener. Below: 35-401, 35-054, 35-035, 35-008 & 35-041 at Mellish, north of Kraaifontein (12th July 2004). Photo – Fanie Kleynhans.

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Above: Five Class 35s, 35-401, 35-054, 35-035, 35-008 & 35-041 heading north through Klipheuwel (12th July 2004). Below: Two Class 33s lead the Worcester to Voorbaai freight up the climb from the Gouritz River towards Cooper (17th August 2004). Photos – Fanie Kleynhans.

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Above: Class 36 locomotives, 36-022 & 36-011 lead a container and a tanker wagon up the Kraaifontein branch. Below: A dirty Class 35, 35-043, leads a long string of empty DZ Wagons north up the Kraaifontein branch. Photos – Fanie Kleynhans (25th August 2004).

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Above: Class 35s, 35-018 & 35-067, wait at Albertinia Station to depart with the Union Limited. Below: Class 35s, 35-018 & 35-067 leads the Union Limited west here between Dekriet and Resiesbaan. Photos – Fanie Kleynhans (30th September 2004).

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Above: 35-016, 35-018 & 35-019 and a mixed freight climb up from the Gouritz River towards Cooper (12th October 2004). Photo – Fanie Kleynhans. Below: 34-120 in original SAR livery, with 34-065 & 34-478, on a load of containers near Derby (7th June 2013). Photo – Eugene Armer.

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Above: Class 34, 34-096, at Cookhouse Station while working a ballast train (13th March 2016). Below: Class 34 (800), 34-847, still looking great in her PRASA blue livery, is pictured here at Rosmead Station in the Eastern Cape (9th March 2016). Photos – Noel Welch.

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Above: Class 34, 34-122, with an empty coal train emerges from the haze on a foggy West Coast morning at Koperfontein (23rd March 2014). Below: Class 35, 35-485, with the daily freight returning to Worcester (19th December 2014). Photos – Wayne Nauschutz.

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African Minerals Limited No. 1117 RRL Grindrod built No. 1117 for African Minerals Limited in Sierra Leone at their Pretoria base. Photo – Charles Baker (28th December 2011).

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Above: Ex SAR Class 33 diesel locomotive (GE U20C), 33-040, on the scrap line at RRL Grindrod SA's Pretoria base – Old Iscor Works (28th December 2011). Below: Class 35, 35-336, in her new red Transnet Freight Rail livery at Estcourt Station (4th January 2015). Photos – Charles Baker.

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Steam Motive Power Photo Gallery Above: Class 15AR No. 1849 arriving at Rosmead with a goods from Stormberg. Below (Left): Class GMAM No. 4060 climbing Lootsberg Pass while on a Mossel Bay to Johannesburg passenger train. Photos – Noel Forster (8th April 1977).

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Above: Class 15AR No. 2092 and Class 19D No. 2725 between Schoombee and Alandale with an East London – Cape Town passenger train. Below: The same train as above leaving Steynsberg. Photos – Noel Forster (8th April 1977).

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Above: Class 15AR No. 2092 and Class 19D No. 2725 leaving Teebus with an East London – Cape Town passenger train (8th April 1977). Below: Class 23 No. 3286 leaving Bloemfontein on a Ladybrand passenger train (3rd February 1977). Photos – Noel Forster.

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Above: Class 25NC No. 3419 takes water at Tweespruit on a Bloemfontein – Bethlehem passenger train (3rd February 1977). Below: Class GMAM No. 4060 leaving Middleburg with a Mossel Bay to Johannesburg passenger train (8th April 1977). Photos – Noel Forster.

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Above: Class 15F No. 2958 leaving Bloemfontein on the Drakensberg Express for Cape Town (27th February 1977). Below: Class NGG16 No. 137 with a load of timber from Harding at Oslo Beach (4th April 1977). Photos – Noel Forster.

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Above: The inside of the Uitenhage Workshops and Class 15AR No. 1781 is almost complete after an overhaul (20th July 1984). Photo – John Middleton. Below: Sandstone Estates’ GMAM No. 4079 operated by Reefsteamers passing Perry’s Point (7th November 2010). Photo – Mark Berry.

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Above: Reefsteamers’ Class 15F No. 3046 just before Battery on her way back to Johannesburg Station (17th December 2011). Photo – Mark Berry. Below: Friends of the Rail’s Class 15F, No. 3117, performs a late afternoon runpast (23rd May 2010). Photo – James Attwell.

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Above: Sandstone Estates’ GMA/M No.4079 hauls the Magaliesburg Express, seen here at Orient Crossing (30th August 2010). Below: Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway’s locomotive “SUGAR CANE” performs a short runpast (16th July 2007). Photos – James Attwell.

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Above: Class 15F, No. 3052, at Rooiwal along the Kroonstad to Johannesburg mainline (13th April 2008). Below: Friends of the Rail’s 21st birthday celebrations saw a double-header of Class 24 No. 3664 & Class 19D No. 2650, to Cullinan, Pretoria (15th October 2007). Photos – James Attwell.

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Above: Reefsteamers’ hand-fired Class 15F, No.2914, hauls the Magaliesburg Express, seen at the Orient road crossing (30th October 2007). Photo – James Attwell. Below: CRC’s Class 19D, No. 3321 on a return trip to Ceres (19th March 2016). Photo – Wayne Nauschutz.

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Class 12AR No. 1535 Reefsteamers’ Class 12AR No. 1535 stands under the water column while Class 15F No. 3046 simmers in the background. Photo – James Attwell (19th July 2014).

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Above: Reefsteamers’ Class 12AR No. 1535 & Class 15F No. 3046 performing at the annual Winter Gala (19th July 2014). Photo – James Attwell. Below: Class 25NC, No. 3476 “GRIET”, with a Trans Karoo working (Circa 1990). Photo – George Knatten / Charles Baker Collection.

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Metrorail Photo Gallery Above: A nice view of Glencairn Halt on the Simonstown Branch. Fast forward 26 years and it becomes a historic study of a clean, smart Type 5M2A EMU in maroon and grey and a scene long since gone (28th December 1990). Below: One of the experimental Type 7M EMU sets stands stored at Salt River. These sets seemed to see very little revenue service, standing out of use for many years in roughly the same spot (17th February 1994). Photos – John Middleton.

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Above: Type 5M2A Metrorail set coming into Hamberg Station and heading towards Randfontein (20th July 2014). Photo – Mark Berry. Below: Cato Ridge bound Type 5M2A set, Train No. 1052, in the section between Bux Farm and Cliffdale (9th July 2010). Photo – Charles Baker.

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Metrorail (Set M10) Train No. 1040 From the guard’s end, this Type 5M2A Metrorail set, Train No. 1040 (Set M10), is Cato Ridge bound and is stopped at Delville Wood Station (28th January 2011). Photo – Charles Baker.

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Pretoria (Tshwane) Business Express One of the Type 10M5 Pretoria Business Ex71 press sets, Train No. 1065 (Set TBE 2), at st Johannesburg Station (31 December 2010). Photo – Charles Baker.


Above: Type 10M5 Metrorail set, Train No. 0638 (Set M9), arriving at Pinedene Station from the Pretoria side (28th December 2011). Below: A Kelso bound Type 10M5 set passing through Karridene on the KZN South Coast (10th January 2012). Photos – Charles Baker.

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