the uloliwe
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The Railways of Southern Africa: Past & PresentTRANSCRIPT
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THE ULOLIWE
The Railways of Southern Africa: Past & Present
Spoorweë van Suidelike-Afrika: Toeka tot Nou
A monthly railway historical and research publication
‘n Maandelikse spoorweg historiese en navorsing publikasie
Vol 3 No 12
Un-official / Nie Amptelik - Gratis Everything to do with the
former SA Railways: i.e.
lighthouses, harbours, staff,
photos, books, RMT,
stations, tugs, SAR Police,
SAA, catering, pipelines,
stamps, models, rolling
stock, armoured trains,
diagrams, etc
Hennie Heymans, Pretoria, ZA
December 2012
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Contents
Welcome .............................................................................................................................................................9
Front Cover – Voorblad: E1629 & E1950 ......................................................................................................10
Editorial – Redaksioneel.................................................................................................................................10
Good wishes .............................................................................................................................................10
Intellectual Property ...............................................................................................................................10
Etiket: Erkenning mbt navorsing en publikasies ................................................................................12
A railway suggestion by Morris Kentridge, MP (circa 1953) ............................................................13
1947 Royal Tour: SA Railways & SA Police Horses ...........................................................................13
Wepener’s Perambulations and … Railway History .................................................................................14
Blue Train Disgrace: J & J Wepener ......................................................................................................17
14-109 ........................................................................................................................................................18
Leagally speaking: Is the Blue Train? ...................................................................................................19
Les & Carol Pivnic: Christmas Greetings ....................................................................................................21
1973 – 1974: SAR Museum Staff ............................................................................................................21
Patron ................................................................................................................................................................22
SAR Advert with an Aussie flavour: Valuable freight - Special Containers: Les Pivnic ..................23
Johannesburg Station vis-a-vis Park Station: Les Pivnic .......................................................................23
All the above photo’s are by Les Pivnic and they carry his copyright. ...................................................27
Robert Brand (Cape) ...................................................................................................................................27
My Railway Reminiscences: Richard Clatworthy ..................................................................................29
Kison Meyer at Johannesburg: Les Pivnic ..............................................................................................38
19D 2685: Edwin Andy Anderson ............................................................................................................38
Touwsrivier / Touws River History – Willie Marais (A son of Touws River) ....................................39
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Photographs: Touws River ....................................................................................................................41
Local Touws River pictures – Willie Marais ...........................................................................................44
1954: Electifiacation: Cape Town to Touws River: SAR&H June 1954 (HBH) ...................................47
Railway Philately ........................................................................................................................................52
1947 Royal Visit: Rhodesia .....................................................................................................................53
Braamfontein Rapport: Dr V Mostert .......................................................................................................53
KwaZulu- Natal report: Jacobus Marais ..................................................................................................54
Durban Harbour and “The Bluff”: Photos by Jacobus Marais .........................................................57
Comments on Durban’s Bluff at Port Natal: HBH .............................................................................58
Transnet: Durban Harbour: Jacobus Marais ...............................................................................................61
Cape Town Report: Francois Mattheüs .......................................................................................................61
Premier Classe at Touws River – Willie Marais.....................................................................................63
Railway History of South Africa ...................................................................................................................64
Early Locomotives of the Cape Government Railway: Leith Paxton ..................................................64
“Little Bess”: The first Locomotive in South Africa on 3’ 6” .............................................................64
Early South African Locomotives: HBH ......................................................................................................67
CGR: ..............................................................................................................................................................67
NGR: .............................................................................................................................................................67
Blackie: Cape Town Station ...........................................................................................................................67
OVS Staatspoorwegen (OVSS) ......................................................................................................................68
NZASM.............................................................................................................................................................68
Anglo Boer War: Natal - Rudi Venter ..........................................................................................................68
Anglo Boer War:Piet van Zyl ........................................................................................................................70
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The Battle for the Whiskey Train, when Boer & Brit feasted together ... ........................................70
Toe Boer en Brit saamgefuif het... .........................................................................................................70
NGR ..................................................................................................................................................................71
NGR : Narrow Gauge .....................................................................................................................................72
Railway Stations ..............................................................................................................................................72
- Touws River: Willie Marais .................................................................................................................72
- Ladysmith: Rudi Venter .......................................................................................................................72
- Frere Station: Rudi Venter ...................................................................................................................73
Park Station: Carlos Veiera ....................................................................................................................74
From the Strike Album: A Night of Horror: Fiday, 4th July 1913 .............................................................74
“The Burning of Park Station ....................................................................................................................74
SAR RMT: Derek Walker ..............................................................................................................................80
SAR: World War 1 ...........................................................................................................................................81
SAR in GSWA: WW1 ..................................................................................................................................81
SAR: World War 2 ...........................................................................................................................................81
1945: Passengers in German Coal Trucks ............................................................................................81
SAR Traction and Rolling Stock ....................................................................................................................81
Transnet Traction and Rolling Stock ............................................................................................................82
SA Metro Rail ...................................................................................................................................................83
Durban Metro ..............................................................................................................................................83
Narrow Gauge .................................................................................................................................................83
NG: Question re NG: South West Africa / Namibia: Mike Boylee .......................................................83
Hoe ry die Choo-Tjoe as deel van kultuur: Pieter Visser ..................................................................84
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The Choo-Tjoe as part of our culture - Pieter Visser ..........................................................................85
2012-09-28 07:00 ...........................................................................................................................................85
Gautrain ............................................................................................................................................................86
Photo reports ...............................................................................................................................................87
Robert Maidment-Wilson ......................................................................................................................87
Jez Smith (UK) .........................................................................................................................................87
Derek Walker: SAR Adverts 1970 & 1979 (Blue Train) ......................................................................87
Lourens Sturgeon ....................................................................................................................................88
- White E1’s ????? ....................................................................................................................................88
Green F15 – Adrian Hill .............................................................................................................................88
Railway People – Spoorwegmense ...............................................................................................................89
Mr Wilfred E Collins, SAR Zastron: Grandfather of Div (Leon) de Villiers ...................................89
Ray Ellis: Australia ..................................................................................................................................90
Ray Ellis: Half-world away, right on the other side of the globe, down under! ............................91
Kyk Spoorwegman, ek skryf en bid vir jou! Koot Swanepoel ..................................................................93
Railway Padre: Koot Swanepoel ...................................................................................................................93
Previous issues of Uloliwe .............................................................................................................................93
Rail Humour ....................................................................................................................................................93
Book Shelf .........................................................................................................................................................93
Natal Province – Descriptive Guide & Official Handbook ...................................................................93
Black Diamonds: Dennis Moore via J & J Wepener ...............................................................................94
New Book "BLACK DIAMONDS (Steam Locomotives at work on the colliery railways of South
Africa)" ......................................................................................................................................................94
“Railways of Southern Africa 150 Years”: Jean Dulez via Rinke Blok ................................................95
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Boek: Die brullende leeu getem: GF Malan via Robbie Green .................................................................97
English Synopsis: NG Line in Eastern Cape ...........................................................................................99
Leon “Div” de Villiers’ Books: Cape Town ...........................................................................................100
Road Motor Transport Service [RMT]:.......................................................................................................100
SAR Bus: Johan Jacobs ..............................................................................................................................100
Cape Town: Tramways Bus – Johan Jacobs ..........................................................................................101
South African Airways .................................................................................................................................101
A340-200 ZS-SLD: Johannes Botha .....................................................................................................101
SAA History : Sent in by Lt Gen RP “Roy” During (Cape Town) .........................................................102
Text: Johan Jacobs (Benoni) .....................................................................................................................102
Vaaldam, the Country’s First International Airport: by Johan Jacobs ...............................................113
Harbours.........................................................................................................................................................117
Catering Division ..........................................................................................................................................117
SA Railway Police .........................................................................................................................................117
Water Police ...................................................................................................................................................117
GSWA/ SWA/Namibia (NamRail) ..............................................................................................................117
Rhodesia Railways, National Railways of Zimbabwe .............................................................................118
RR Memorial: Bulawayo ..........................................................................................................................118
Railways: Tourism, Steam, Preservation, Societies & Clubs ...................................................................118
Rovos Rail...................................................................................................................................................118
RRL Grindrod ............................................................................................................................................118
Atlantic Rail Cape Town .........................................................................................................................118
Memories: Bosveld Train Safaris – HBH ...............................................................................................118
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Railway Society of Southern Africa Natal – A Peter ............................................................................118
Reefsteamers: Lee Gates ...............................................................................................................................118
Reefsteamers: Contact details ..................................................................................................................118
Umgeni Steam Railway: GMAM 4074 ...................................................................................................119
Paton’s Country Railway .........................................................................................................................119
Patons Country Railway: Annual Aloe Train Trips .........................................................................119
Umgeni Steam Railway - Ashley Peter ..................................................................................................119
Friends of the Rail (FOTR) .......................................................................................................................119
FOTR Calendar – Nathan Berelowitz .................................................................................................119
FOTR .......................................................................................................................................................120
Enquiries Friends of the Rail: Via J & J Wepener..............................................................................120
Sandstone ...................................................................................................................................................121
JB Tours: Treintoere in Suider Afrika .........................................................................................................121
Railwayana .....................................................................................................................................................121
NBL Preservation Group to sell SAR No. 1443 'Chaka': Ken Livermore ..........................................124
South African Models ...................................................................................................................................126
Scalecraft: - Adrian Hill ............................................................................................................................126
Scalecraft news ..........................................................................................................................................126
Shaun and Rinke’s contact information is as follows ......................................................................127
Scalecraft product information............................................................................................................127
Dream Trains – Wynand Vermeulen .....................................................................................................127
Hopefield: Terry Rowe ................................................................................................................................127
Railway Modellers’ Information Group: Lionel Penning .......................................................................128
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From the Press ...............................................................................................................................................130
SA RAILWAY RELATED INTERNET GROUPS......................................................................................130
• Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe (sic) ......................................................130
• Yahoo: SAR-Miniatures – Adrian Hill .......................................................................................130
• Facebook: ‘RHODESIA RAILWAY’ Group - John Batwell ....................................................130
• Website for Reefsteamers: Lee Gates ..........................................................................................130
• Well worth a look ..........................................................................................................................131
• Andre Kritzinger ...........................................................................................................................131
• Dennis Moore Steam .....................................................................................................................131
• Adrian Hill says:............................................................................................................................131
• Touwsrivier / Touws River ..........................................................................................................131
Rest of Africa & the World...........................................................................................................................132
Angola: Nostalgia Old CFB Coaches (part 2) - Anton van Schalkwyk .............................................132
Map: Bruno Martin ...............................................................................................................................132
CFM: Lourenco Marques or Maputo......................................................................................................132
Tanzam-line ...................................................................................................................................................132
Liberia Railways ............................................................................................................................................132
Pandora’s Box ................................................................................................................................................132
Mail Bag ..........................................................................................................................................................132
Ray Ellis: Australia ................................................................................................................................132
The Uloliwe November 2012 ...................................................................................................................133
NG: Bob Hogan - Charles Collins .......................................................................................................134
NG: Bob Hogan - Terry Rowe .............................................................................................................134
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NG: Gavin – Estcourt - Weenen ..........................................................................................................134
NG & CGR: The Paxtons ......................................................................................................................135
Uloliwe: PS Venter ................................................................................................................................136
Kevin Naylor..........................................................................................................................................136
Telephonic report: Eric Samuels (26 Nov 2012) ................................................................................136
Stop Press .......................................................................................................................................................137
The Blue Train: J & J Wepener .................................................................................................................137
Stop Press: 3E Models by Lourens Sturgeon .........................................................................................141
Disclaimer and Greetings .............................................................................................................................142
Filler: My “Beat on the Bluff” –
HBH
Here one can see the whales
being loaded (dragged?) onto an
“S” type flat truck at the harbour
at Wests. The whales were then
taken to the Union Whaling Co’s
factory along the Indian Ocean
side of the Bluff. (Even in the
days of the NGR they had some
of these very wide “S”-type
trucks for use of conveying
whales.) The Zulu name for a
whale is “Mkomeni” (eg “Umkomaas” is also named after whales. Translated it means “sea cow”
not to be confused with seekoei or hippopotamus.) My African partners loved the whale’s meat. I
had some, tastes like beef fried in fish oil, however I prefer fish!
Welcome
Really, I have to repeat last month’s introductory remarks:
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“Once again, what an honour and privilege to bid you welcome to this very interesting
edition of The Uloliwe! I am astonished to see what we ferro-equinologists can come up
with each month! As compiler I find this task an honour and a unique privilege as so many
rail-fans share their photographs, memories, stories and ideas with us. This makes my task
more difficult. Thanks for your fantastic contributions!”
Front Cover – Voorblad: E1629 & E1950
18E’s: E1629 & E1950
met die Premiere
Classe te Brackenfell
op 10-11-2012. Foto:
Francois Mattheüs.
E1629 and E1950 with
the Premiere Classe
taken at Brackenfell
on by 10-11-2012.
Photo by Francois
Mattheüs.
Editorial – Redaksioneel
Good wishes
A Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year to you all and your loved ones.
Intellectual Property
As young policemen we had to study Common Law, South African Criminal Law and Procedure
and Statutory Law. Those laws are quite easy; almost anything is against the law – even shouting at
a policeman! Remember if it’s too good to be true: it is! If you are really enjoying yourself you are
most probably breaking some law or by-law: i.e. disturbance, smoking in public, talking on a cell
phone while driving, or speeding!
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I then wanted to understand civil law. In South Africa our civil law is based on Roman Dutch law.
A few countries did practice Roman Dutch Law when I studied it, i.e. Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe),
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and South West Africa (now Namibia). I thus studied law and a few other things
in life to help me, as police officer, to understand the dynamics of society. I enrolled at the
University of Natal where I studied – or as they say in the classics: “I read law.”
Property has value. You may have various types of property: For this edition we will look at
tangible property. Note: You even get intangible property; i.e. a "bright idea" in your head. That’s
your property like any other property. We also find intellectual property, that is e.g. a story or an
article. The story may be the writer’s intellectual property or he could have stolen some other
writer’s plot. When you steal somebody article, idea or a few sentences it is called plagiarism.
However when you study, you may quote from the work of other authors and even use their
photographs, if it is in the public domain, provided you acknowledge your sources.
An example: Stories of train crashes appear in the media; the story and the photographs are filed on
Google. On may use such material because it’s in the public domain. However, you have to furnish
the reference number (and in academic work the date the information was off loaded.)
When somebody posts a photograph on Facebook – such photograph is then in the public domain.
Be courteous and ask: “Please may I use your photo, with acknowledgement, in an article."
People will in most cases oblige.
We see that research contains the work of many learned people. Even in court we use previous
decided cases, commonly known as judge-made law. Law has to be applied in the same manner for
everyone, provided the same set of circumstances apply. So judges have to read and apply what
other judges say in written judgements.
Please, it is our duty to respect that intrinsic value that the owner attaches to his property.
Ownership is vested in such property. If you have an idea, don’t talk about it around the
braaivleis-fire. Keep your ideas to yourself and to your patent lawyer. Once you have patent rights
then you can talk about it.
Another form of intellectual property is photographs. At first the photographer has "an idea" of a
photograph he wishes to take. He does research, waits for the correct time, light, and place to
capture his subject. In the mean time that is his intangible property. It may be a photo of a train or a
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lion feeding. Once he has captured the photo and he develops it. It then becomes something
tangible; you can see it and you can feel it.
(Other property, like perfume, may have a specific aroma or a wine may have a certain taste!)
When you paint a painting and you use somebody’s photograph as a model, please acknowledge
that fact. Your work, although an original, is a copy of someone else’s work. Don’t steal his idea.
You may off load anything on the net. This will be for your own pleasure and personal use. Once
you use the information and it becomes accessible to others: Beware of copyright issues. Once a
person may show damage or a loss; you could be sued!
So please when you write an article, in the spirit of goodwill and friendship: please obtain
permission to use another’s property, his article or photographs. At the end of an article
you have to acknowledge your sources.
I have spoken to eminent and proffessional South African photographers and a doctor of
law, they say I must empahsise the following:
Show courtesy by asking permission to use someone's photographs.
Acknowledging the source(s) of the material (text or photographs) at the end of the
user's article.
Etiket: Erkenning mbt navorsing en publikasies
Ons is almal lief vir treine. Maar indien u bv Rudi Venter of Jacque Wepener se foto’s wil
gebruik wat hier geplaas is, kontak hulle (of vir my) en kry die nodige toestemming om sy
foto’s elders te gebruik. Kêrels, ons was maar arm! Ons in die polisie het nie geld vir oortyd
gekry nie! (Gelukkig het ek die werk baie geniet en as roeping beskou!) Ek was ook baie lief
vir boeke en so het ek baie geld aan my stokperdjies bestee. Dis eers nadat ek afgetree het,
toe digitale kameras op die mark kom, dat ek begin het om foto’s te neem! Toe sien ek wat
kos ‘n Canon kamera en wat kos dit om te reis! Saam kos alles ‘n hele paar duisend rand!
Foto’s is iemand se eiendom en die algemene reël is: Dit is die fotograaf se eiendom, dit kos
hom geld en moeite om die foto te neem, dus asb kêrels kry die nodige toestemming voor u
‘n ander fotograaf se werk gebruik. (Al is sodanige foto in die openbare domein, vra
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nogtans, dit is net goeie etiket en sodanige handeling bevorder net hartlike samewerking in
hierdie genotvolle stokperdjie! Deur erkenning te gee aan ander styg ook die akademiese
waarde van u artikel of berig. Loer bv na Leith Paxton se artikel. Sò moet dit gedoen word.)
[Ons blad se regsvriend, merk soos volg op nadat ek die artikel aan hom voorgelê het:
“Hennie: Puik artikel & juridies korrek – Adv Len Els, SC.”]
A railway suggestion by Morris Kentridge, MP (circa 1953)
Just think if this plan was implemented by Parliament:
Source: Kentridge, M: I recall: Memoirs of Morris Kentridge, page 388, The Free Press Ltd,
Johannesburg, 1959.
1947 Royal Tour: SA Railways & SA Police Horses
• If there is interest from our readers I can publish Oom Swanies personal, amusing,
account of the 1947 Royal Mounted Escort and their trips on the SA Railways.
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Thanks to our readers and contributors for your
support!
(Free State - Photo HBH)
Wepener’s Perambulations and … Railway History
Welkom: Arrival of Hercules built by Union Carriage & Wagon, Nigel .
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Blue Train Disgrace: J & J Wepener
Hi Guys.
It seems like Transnet have finally given up on the Blue Train, today she
was running two hours late again - the reason - someone forgot to fill the
coaches' water tanks at Pretoria!! She stood at Klerksdorp for about an hour
to "take water" as CTC stated.
The shots are at Regina and near Harrisburg - even the locos are looking
terrible, funny at Leeudoringstad E 14 109, last week's loco, was standing
failed.
Imagine if you had "forgotten" to fill the tanks on the SAR! You have been
in DEEP S H 1 T... My Oupa once told me while he was goods and passenger
supt at Johannesburg station during the seventies, he noticed the Blue Train
running through Johannesburg with a marker! Those days you got charged a
monetary amount for every minute the Blue was delayed if it was your fault.
He telephoned Braamfontein and it was sorted out - he received a "reward"
and letter of thanks from the System manager - how things have gone to the
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dogs...
Cheers.
J & J.
14-109
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Leagally speaking: Is the Blue Train?
Where is the video camera?
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Good bye Blue Train ....
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STOP PRESS: En nog is dit den einde niet!
More woes for the Blue Train, see Stop Press!
SAR: All photos by J & J Wepener carry their copyright.
Les & Carol Pivnic: Christmas Greetings
1973 – 1974: SAR Museum Staff
Hello Hennie,
Looking for another photo I cam across the attached photo of the S A Railway Museum
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staff in 1973/4.
From the left: C.H.McLean: casual clerk; Dan Grib - correspondence clerk and SAA liaison;
Venter - carpenter; Johnny Orsmond - artist; Les Pivnic - Assistant Curator; Jan Coffee -
Curator; Winnie Venter - research officer; Frank Cage - museum guide; Harold Rennie -
carpenter; Pietro Sabatelli - restorer/carpenter; Gordon Payne - accessions clerk.
The photo was taken after the Museum had moved into the old station concourse.
Regards, Les.
Patron
Our patron is Les Pivnic. He is a renowned
railway photographer and author. His book
on SAR Dining Cars is a classic book and by
now Africana. He was assistant-curator at the
old SAR museum in Johannesburg. He is one
of the experts on the SA Railways as he has a
lifelong interest in railways.
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SAR Advert with an Aussie flavour: Valuable freight - Special
Containers: Les Pivnic
Hello Hennie, I found an Australian connection to my grand old SAR in one of my
scrapbooks. Regards, Les.
Johannesburg Station vis-a-vis Park Station: Les Pivnic
Introduction: Johannesburg Station
A former senior police officer had the occasion to visit Johannesburg Station where he
dropped his grandchildren off to take “the train”. They felt “unsafe” in the vicinity of the
station. I was a street-policeman. I have to confess that even I feel “scared” in this day and
age to take the Metro from Pretoria to Johannesburg in order to commence a railway
journey from Johannesburg. (No long distance trains, except the Blue Train, depart from
Pretoria these days!) May I suggest to friends: Rather take the train from Krugersdorp to
Cape Town. Krugersdorp station is clean, parking is available and there are many police
about! I sent the former officer’s report to Les Pivnic, for favour of his information. Les was
stationed at the Johannesburg Station as Assistant Curator of the illustrious SAR Museum.
Here is Les’ reply, comments and photographs:
Hello Hennie,
Thanks for your emails regarding the poor state of the area surrounding Johannesburg
Station today. I am not surprised at all - there is no more pride in the job or in the City! My
SA Railway Museum office was right at the entrance to the old station c/r Eloff and de
Villiers Streets. When I look at what that place looks like today, I want to cry! The closed
shutters of the entrances under the elephants; the filth in the street; the hawkers - it all
makes me realise what degradation the City of Johannesburg has suffered!
Johannesburg Station
I do want to clear up a misunderstanding that keeps cropping up regarding the names -
"Johannesburg" (Station) and "Park Station". I see in the latest correspondence it has
cropped up again.
The old NZASM halt on the site of Johannesburg Station was known as "Park Halt".
Braamfontein served as the main station for Johannesburg at that time. When the CSAR
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decided to make "Park Halt" the main station for Johannesburg, the station was named -
"Johannesburg". It remained "Johannesburg" throughout the life of the CSAR and SAR.
Local Johannesburg people did talk about "Park Station" but the official name was indeed
"Johannesburg" and NOT "Park Station".
I have attached several photos showing the station name board as proof of the above. Look
at the old CSAR Kitson-Meyer loco standing at Johannesburg. You will see the just enough
of the station name board to confirm that it was Johannesburg. The signal panel in the
signal box also states clearly - Johannesburg".
Blue Room
I have also included a photo of the famous "Blue Room" restaurant that served 5-star meals
equal to the Blue Train.
Touwsrivier
As far as Touwsrivier is concerned, I am disgusted at what has happened but this type of
thing is not raising my eyebrows anymore! There is absolutely no respect for anything
connected with Colonial history - in fact, no respect for railway history at all! The grand
old SAR is dead and it pains me to add that its grand history is systematically being buried
by the people who South Africa today.
Regards, Les
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Kitson-Meyer at Johannesburg: (I will repeat this photo elsewhere.)
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Note: How clean the Johannesburg station was. It is
even clean between the rails
All the above photo’s are by Les Pivnic and they
carry his copyright.
Robert Brand (Cape)
One of my former colleagues, Robert Brand, regularly visits the United States. He knows of my
interest in “trains” and shares with our readers the following three pictures he took there on his
recent visit to the USA:
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Hill City, South Dakota
Roggen: Colorado – Robert says the trains are about “a mile” long!
Hot Springs, South Dakota
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My Railway Reminiscences: Richard Clatworthy
I have been asked by your editor to write up my experiences and recollections of RR and
SAR as was. My early childhood was spent on a farm 80 miles north of Salisbury (Harare –
all names will be as applicable at the time), the road to town crossing the Salisbury-Shamva
line at Concession but I only saw parked vehicles initially. My earliest railway-associated
memory was, on the return trip from a holiday at Beira, my Dad chasing down the
platform after the departing train at Umtali (he caught it). When I went to school
(Salisbury North, later Blakiston) I lived on Emerald Hill, close to the old route between
Salisbury and Mount Hampden, where I saw goods trains hauled by Garratts (13th class,
though I only learned about classes much later) and learned the anatomy of the type. I
actually went to school on Salisbury’s first bus, on a Chevrolet lorry chassis, blue and red
livery, joined by five others in yellow and green (c. 1943). Return from school, around 4
p.m., often coincided with the passage of the Shamva Mail through Avondale Halt – I recall
seeing the Ganz railcar but the service then became a three-coach train (natives, 1st/2nd
compo, van) behind a “coffee-pot” (tall funnel) loco, no.72. This I now know to be a 7th
class and at long range I had no sight or realisation of the significance of builder’s plates
(but I think her identity is established beyond question). In later years I saw no.43 on the
service and twice travelled to Concession on it, behind 43 and a 9B respectively.
In late 1944 my mother took us (elder brother and me) on a holiday to the Cape (Gordon’s
Bay) and on the final morning of the three-day journey I became aware of locos larger than
anything I had ever seen before, said to be German (15F or 23), with pleasant-sounding
whistles different to the shrill whistles I had hitherto heard (chime, but I only learnt the
term later). The Cape peninsula suburbans were the first electric trains I saw. Later we
moved to Port Alfred, via de Aar and through coach to Grahamstown, then over the
Blaauwkrantz viaduct, being told a lurid account of its tragedy. On trips back to
Grahamstown I saw what I took to be Garratts but now know would have been FDs.
On the return journey I recall Alicedale junction where a southbound passenger train
arrived simultaneously with ours. Back in Southern Rhodesia I now lived in Marandellas,
with ready access to the station, and took an interest. I discovered that trains were hauled
by double 2-8-2 Garratts, numbered in the 220 series, built by Beyer Peacock in 1929, with
side feed (2 left) and horizontal grille cowcatchers, and in the 260 series, built by BP in 1938
with top feed (1 each side) and vertical bar cowcatcher. Only later did I learn these were
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the 16th class. Early one morning in Feb.-Mar 1945 I noted no. 25 (7th class) being towed
dead towards Salisbury. Later a Garratt passed through similar to the others but 2-6-2
units and correspondingly shortened front tank and bunker, later recognised as a 14th class.
On a trip to Salisbury I spotted another, older looking double 2-6-2 Garratt shunting (13th
class).
During the year I noticed track being laid from the east end of the station, on the north side,
curving round to the foot of Dombi-Dombi kopje, where a ballast quarry was developed.
This is now long disused and the track removed – in 1989 on a visit to Marondera I got my
only cab ride in a DE4 doing a bit of shunting, and mentioned this to the driver who was
pleased to receive confirmation of his sighting of half-disappeared formation.
In Aug. 1946 my Dad took us on a motoring holiday to South Africa – Kruger Park and
Natal – and at Messina we saw shiny new locos with gleaming brass work – these would
have been RSH 19Ds. At Nelspruit – or was it Waterval Onder? – I recall looking down on
a loco depot from above – can anybody recognise the viewpoint? On the northern
approach to Durban (Greyville) my brother claimed to have seen a Garratt streamlined at
the back end, though not apparently at the front – this would have been a GEA partly
obscured. Durban supplied my first sighting of an electric locomotive, as opposed to an
emu.
In passing, in Durban we saw the wartime bomber epic “The way to the stars” and came
out of the cinema to find a gale blowing the suspended street signs horizontal.
The following year produced the Royal Tour of South Africa and Rhodesia, with the Royal
Family flying to Salisbury in two Vikings (does anyone have the registrations?) and
departing in the White Train. I watched from near the Hatfield Road underpass. The Pilot
train was hauled by two straight locos I didn’t recognise (12th class). The Royal train was
hauled by two streamlined (15th class) Garratts separated by a water tanker, and regarding
the livery it must have been a dark navy blue as I did not recognise any difference from
black.
The next term I went to Plumtree School, entailing an exciting new railway journey.
Having previously known Garratts almost exclusively, south-west of Gwelo in the early
morning I found on a crossing train a straight with a handsome flat-sided tender (12th
class). From Bulawayo to Plumtree I discovered the presence of a caboose for the relief
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crew plus a water tanker behind a straight loco with a different tender (10th class, tender as
SAR MP1). The coaches were SAR. In fact it took some time before I ascertained whether
the locos were RR or SAR, until I got to see a plain 3-figure number plate. The line from
Bulawayo to Mafeking and on to Vryburg, I learned, was owned by RR but operated by
SAR with RR locos – the 10th class, four 9th classes (which thereby missed conversion to 9B)
and an increasing number of 12th classes.
At the end of term coaches would be parked in a siding at Plumtree, we would go to bed in
them and in the small hours they would be picked up by a goods train and delivered to
Bulawayo at day break for us to continue in school specials, on either the Salisbury or
Livingstone lines, dropping off pupils along the way. We would eventually arrive at
Salisbury in the evening. Motive power would be 12th class to Gwelo, 16th thereafter. At
the end of 1947 illness caused an early close to the term and we returned on an overnight
train, in early December. At Hunyani siding (on the old line, now inundated by Lake
Chivero) we crossed a train headed by a new loco, recognisably a development of the
existing 15th class, no.275, one number on from the highest pre-war number. (At the time I
was ignorant of the 18th class). Returning to school in late January (1948), as we pulled out
of Salisbury we passed no.362 steaming out of the depot, and I marvelled at how many
new locos we had acquired so quickly. I learned later that the class had been renumbered,
so 362 were 9th in the sequence, and I learned even later that they had not been erected in
strict numerical order and 362 was only the 5th to enter service. She would then have only
been in service for a matter of days and probably embarking on her maiden run to Gwelo.
At Bulawayo I spotted another new locomotive type, straight 4-8-2, with running plate
curving up from the buffer beam, high over the cylinders and to the middle of the boiler,
then dropping to continue back under the cab. The tender was characteristic with plain
rectangular sides, no cutaway. This was the 11A.
The school rule was that at Break, from 10.30 to 11, we were allowed to go into town which
for me meant the station. This time slot usually revealed a northbound goods train and
possibly a crossing or overtake by a mixed. Once I found a 12th class with larger Belpaire
boiler, no.198 and carrying a headlight nameplate MAE WEST. I learned later that this
rebuilt 12A was at Mafeking for a few months, possibly for evaluation by SAR crews.
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Such contingencies as dental treatment entailed getting up in the small hours of Saturday
morning to catch the Mail train from Cape Town, arriving in Bulawayo at breakfast time
and returning on the southbound train in the afternoon. On my one trip for this purpose,
at Plumtree a goods train pulled in to be overtaken, including two new 2-8-2 locos for CFM
(who had just taken over the Beira-Umtali line from RR) being hauled dead. (Built by
Baldwin, delivered to a South African port and hauled by rail rather than being transhipped
to Beira).
For major sporting events in Bulawayo we would sometimes have coaches sent to Plumtree
for overnight pickup as described above. On one such occasion, as soon as we set off we
could tell by the exhaust note that the loco was working to its limit. On a bank near
Syringa the loco slipped to a standstill. We ran back and tried again with the same result.
On the third failure the train was divided and the front end taken forward while we waited
in the veld for the loco to return! The bank was subsequently eased by realignment with
earthworks.
More 12th class were transferred in and I remember no.248 introducing a chime whistle to
the line. One day while playing cricket on Railway field a train passed hauled by a strange
loco – I recognised the features of a SAR 19D, attached to a cylindrical tender nearly as long
as the loco. This was no.3343, one of the 1948 batch with Vanderbilt tender. Subsequently I
identified conventional-tendered 2623 (dome less) and 2754. These locos remained on the
route until RR got their new 19th class in 1952, my final year. At the end of one term 2754
was taking the Plumtree coaches to Bulawayo, with a full load of course. On Umganin bank
she lost her feet and slipped to a stand. We ran back, the guard placed detonators and we
set off again. This time we made it, but as we cleared the top there was a lot of shrill
whistling and there was the Cape Mail a few hundred yards behind!
For the Christmas holidays of 1949 and 1950 Mother took us down to the Cape (Somerset
West) by train. At Mafeking, standing by the water tank would be the RR 0-6-0T no.1, the
workshop shunter. Alongside would be a GF Garratt. At Vryburg the RR 10th would be
replaced by a 19D. From Fourteen Streams there would be Big Power in the form of 23s.
The following morning there would be the descent of the Hex River pass behind a 15F,
possibly crossing a train piloted by a 14CR at the Tunnel “scissors”, and more helper locos
at De Doorns. Later the commencement of double track and the novel sensation of trains
crossing at combined speed with pressure impact at the windows. The change at Cape
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Town would not allow sight of the Strand line loco that only came on the return journey
when I recorded a 10CR and a 24. With an evening home departure, ascent of the Hex
River Pass would be in the small hours but I would be awake for it. As the leading 15F
peeled off on a curve one would hear its measured beat – chuff-chuff-chuff-chuff. As it
merged back into a straight with the rear of the train now out of line one would hear the
faster beat of the smaller-wheeled banker – chuff-chuff-chuff-chuff-chuff.
The following day could be boring, though enlivened by the loco depots at Beaufort West
and De Aar. On one trip, at B.W. the same 23 returned to us with a full tender. The
dominant loco on this section was the 15E. Somewhere south of de Aar we went into the
loop at a station. Looking ahead I could see a distant dot throwing smoke into the sky.
This rapidly enlarged to the circle of a smokebox flanked by deflectors, as the Station
Foreman took up his position on the token-handing-up pedestal. The 15E thundered past
followed by the swish of varnish. As the van cleared us the Foreman was casually walking
away with the retrieved hoop. A vivid, lasting memory.
The following day through southern Bechuanaland could be boring, culminating in the
long stop at Mahalapye while the loco took on coal – we were too young for the pub! The
next day we were on home territory, on the Rhodesia Limited, departing Bulawayo at
10.15. Nominal first stop was Gwelo, but we knew it had to take on water at Shangani
Tank, at the river bridge. Motive power was of course 15th, but on one occasion I was
surprised to find a 16th taking us out of Gwelo, but at QueQue it was exchanged for a 15th.
I’m sure the drivers used to revel in the final charge through the industrial areas of
Salisbury for a right-time arrival at 8 p.m.
In my later years at Plumtree an uncle gave up tobacco farming and took on a ranch at
Insiza, midway between Bulawayo and Gwelo, bounded on the north by the railway line,
with a large arable block alongside the track. During school holidays and subsequent
university vacations I spent many happy hours cultivating mealies on a David Brown
tractor. I think the Byo-Gwelo section was the most mixed-up one on the system loco-wise;
whereas Gwelo-Salisbury was virtually pure 15th class, here I saw 15th,17th, 16th, 14th, and
occasional 11th and even 9B – and, as they entered service, 19th, 16A, 14A, and 20th (no 12th
class – they were fully deployed in Northern Rhodesia and on the south line). The 19th
class – most of them – went onto the south line, allowing return of the hired 19Ds but not
displacing the 10th and 12th classes.
34
From school I went to study agriculture at the University of Natal at Pietermaritzburg,
allowing a train journey over new trackage from Mafeking. At Mafeking a GF attached, as
expected, but I was taken aback at Zeerust to see it come off, to be replaced by a Garratt
with a tiny front tank, set well forward to allow free view of the largest smokebox I had
ever seen! This was my first acquaintance with the GM. To jump forward quite a lot, on a
later trip behind one of these the train actually started to run backwards while the loco was
impotently spinning its wheels on a bank, before the brakes were applied. However the
train was restarted without running back. I was sharing a compartment with a RR fireman
who was leaning out of the window (on a curve) to witness the action and he swore blind
that the driver had handed over the regulator to his fireman!
The wait at Joh’burg allowed a visit to that venerable institution, the café-bio. Then it was
onward behind a 15F, and in the morning there would be a pair of green boxes with
pantographs up front (1Es reigned supreme, though I believe 3Es had been introduced for
the nightly express in each direction). The men’s hostel was at Oribi, in the curve of the
then (second stage) main line. (The original route via Thornville was across the valley, and
now the line tunnels underneath). I quickly noticed how in the long freights, shorts (four-
wheeled vehicles) were segregated behind the bogies. At the station I saw GEAs, GFs,
GDAs, and GCAs on the branch line trains and found that mainline freights, arriving from
Durban behind two units, took on a third to proceed inland, and dropped off a unit on the
coastward run.
On the return journey at the commencement of the vacation, the schedule of the trains to
Rhodesia had been revised to give an evening departure from Mafeking, so southern
Bechuanaland was traversed at night and the more interesting central section in daylight,
with afternoon arrival at Bulawayo. This unfortunately led to the demise of the Rhodesia
Limited with its (relatively) high speed run to Salisbury, this now being an overnight trip
with comfortable departure and arrival times.
At the commencement of my second year I made the acquaintance of George Pattison, a
student at the Teachers Training College and fellow enthusiast – his father had been a
Housemaster at Plumtree before I went, and returned as Headmaster after I left (I never
met him). George and I discovered the staff train – one open saloon coach behind a tank
engine – between Pietermaritzburg station and the Mason’s Mill loco depot, and regularly
used it. The first batch of GMAs (Henschel) had been delivered the previous year, and the
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GOs were following from the same builder. A GL would pass through en route to or from
Durban workshops. (They were then working on the Glencoe-Vryheid section). On the
electric side the 4Es were taking over the through passenger trains and word was
beginning to come out of the problems besetting them – occasionally one would be parked
at Mason’s Mill.
During the year (1954) some problem, floods I believe, took out the main line to Durban,
diverting traffic onto the old Pinetown line, not then electrified. Consequently a stream of
14Rs, GMAs and GOs shuttled past Oribi with the essential trains.
At the end of the year we piled into the evening train to Joh’burg behind a 4E, which pulled
out and promptly stalled. On a curve, one could see spectacular showers of sparks from
the rail. Word got around that a preceding train had leaked oil on the track, so the treads
were slipping while the flanges ground sparks. After a time some units from the station
banked us in rear and we got going and kept going until a bank near Balgowan brought us
to a stand. Eventually a down train approached and its units were commandeered to
restart us.
At the commencement of the following year (1955) I switched courses, to studying
Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort, north of Pretoria, in the angle between the
Pietersburg and Thabazimbi lines after their divergence at Pretoria North. I actually drove
down to Pietermaritzburg with my brother (newly acquired car!); packed up items I had
left there, and caught the train to Pretoria. Continuing to Onderstepoort Halt I noticed in
the marshalling yards pairs of locomotives coupled tender to tender, to give a powerful
unit for shunting. Only recently did I learn that in England the North-Eastern Railway had
used the same system, giving it the name of “dog and bitch working”.
The following day called for a trip into Pretoria, by bus from Pretoria North, and on the
return trip, between the poort (the Apies river gap through the Magaliesburg, the “onderste
poort”) and Pretoria North we crossed a train of iron ore gondolas, obviously from
Thabazimbi (“Hill of iron”, with apologies to the majority of readers but possibly helpful to
some), behind a condensing 25. I never saw this loco in the area again – standard motive
power for that line was the 15CA. On the Pietersburg line one also saw 15CAs, but mainly
15ARs with an occasional 16R, and there was a suburban service to Pyramid (why Pyramid
– it’s a long way from Nylstroom?) behind 19Ds.
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I must acknowledge that during the next four years I did not pay so much attention to
railway matters – trains passing Onderstepoort were uniformly as above with no abnormal
movements spotted, and after one uneventful trip home by train I too acquired a car and
travelled via Beitbridge, not then rail linked to the north. I recall seeing a 9B on most
transits through Gwanda. In Rhodesia (still prefixed by Southern to be precise) the 16As,
14As and 20th class were arriving plus dieselisation proper with the DE2s (the DE1s were
an interesting prelude). In Jan.1958 I spent some weeks with a vet at Banket and noticed
that a 16th alternated with a 14th on the daily train. Then I spent a few weeks at Mafeking
but loco movements were as I had previously known them.
In July 1958 I was in Durban learning meat hygiene at the abattoir there when, acting on
information received, a friend and I visited the docks and witnessed the offloading from a
Lykes Line vessel of a blue-painted B-B diesel-electric with narrow bodywork, continuing
as a full height nose in front of the cab (very different to the RR DE2!), the first of what
would later be classified as class 31. I am sorry I did not have a camera with me – but
probably photography would have incurred displeasure! In dock at the same time was a
Clan Lines vessel carrying DE2s and CTC signalling equipment for RR.
At the end of the year, having passed my exams and now B.V.Sc., I loaded all my worldly
goods into my 1940 Chevrolet and made it home. My first jobs were a brief locum at
Bulawayo – no time for train-spotting – and a rather longer one at Gatooma, where I
observed that DE2s had strayed away from the Salisbury-Umtali line to take over
passenger and mixed workings to and from Gwelo. I then travelled by coach to Pretoria
and on by train (boring day through the Karroo, uniform 25 /25NC traction) to Cape Town
to sail on the Edinburgh Castle. My first standard gauge loco was a USA class 0-6-0T
shunter at Southampton docks – and the USA stands for exactly what you expect, most
unBritish in appearance! At Waterloo I found a West Country at the head of our boat train.
Over the next few years I got to know a certain amount about the British railway scene. I
took something of a proprietorial interest in the English Electric type 4 (later the class 40),
being the “home” version of our DE2, and eventually rode “The Flying Scotsman” from
Edinburgh to Kings Cross behind one. My most eventful journey was travelling with my
recently-married wife from Pontefract, where we lived, to visit my mother in
Gloucestershire, on a York-Bristol train. We were behind a V-2 (2-6-2 ex LNER, Gresley
design) and it was dark when between Sheffield and Chesterfield we stopped in open
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country, for a signal I presumed, but we stood there a long time, the train began to get cold,
and then word got around that the loco had blown a gauge glass. Eventually we heard
whistling up front and then we were told that a loco had arrived but was unable to cross to
our (up) track because we were standing on the crossover. My reaction was to wonder
why the loco had not simply set back along the up line – at the time I was ignorant of trap
points. Eventually another loco arrived behind and pulled us clear, the rescue loco coupled
up and we were away. At Chesterfield I went forward and found a 9-F 2-10-0 attached,
which took us to Derby where a Peak class diesel (later class 45 or 46) took over.
Sometime later I was travelling, alone, in the reverse direction. At Cheltenham the train
came in behind a Peak diesel, which stayed on until Derby where it came off and a V-2
coupled up. I re-boarded the train – my coach contained a guard’s compartment and I
could see the guard tapping the vacuum gauge with increasing force – until he hit it hard
enough to break the glass! For some reason the loco could not create vacuum so they had
to re-attach the diesel for the rest of the journey (to York).
In 1965 I returned to Rhodesia and for the next few years lived in Salisbury. My first
observation was the new island platform at Salisbury station, and a footbridge always
provides a new vantage point. I satisfied my curiosity regarding the new DE3 and DE4
classes, and saw the introduction of the DE6, which had been intended to displace mainline
steam power, but events consequent to UDI saw the delivery limited to 10 locos. Shunting
in Salisbury was being done by 16th class and, rather surprisingly, three 11th classes, nos.
137, 147 and 148. The Wickham railcars were introduced and I twice rode one to Umtali
and back, noting the progress on relocations being carried out. On the Shamva line I twice
saw double-headers, pairs of 16th and 16A respectively.
In 1969 I was transferred to Wankie, where I was content to watch the 15th, 16A and 20th
classes roll past without too much curiosity. I discovered that the road to the Wankie
National Park (Sinamatella) was original railway formation as far as the Lukosi Bridge, and
explored as far as possible the old strip road to Victoria Falls which had been laid on the
original rail route.
The following year I was transferred to Bulawayo where I again met George Pattison, now
a headmaster, and through him became a member of the RSSA and the Bulawayo Railway
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Circle. As many of my railway observations since then have been written up in the
journals of these, this is an appropriate point to suspend this narrative.
(Continued)
Thanks Dr Richard Clatworthy! More from Richard next month!
Kison Meyer at Johannesburg: Les Pivnic
(I would love to see a detailed diagram of the tender!)
19D 2685: Edwin Andy Anderson
The Headlight is back on the Loco, the wheels are round and ready to Roll. 1 year to the
month since this heavy repair to 19D 2685 started, and the final steam test will be
conducted this coming weekend. All involved in this mammoth task are holding thumbs
that all will go well so that "Wesley" can again be seen out on the Old Main line hauling the
Inchanga Choo Choo!
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Photo: Ryan Fincham
Touwsrivier / Touws River History – Willie Marais (A son of Touws River)
The first town in the Karoo from Cape Town is named Touwsriver. The town dated from
28 Mei 1762 when farmer Johannes Botha received the right to farm on this land. He
received the permission from Stellenbosch, in the letter of permission the following words
appeared: “voor een jaar met zyn vee te moogen gaan leggen en weyden op de plaats
genaamd de Touse Rivier, gelegen aan het Zeekoeigat in’t te zyn en in consequentie te
trekken”. Botha paid 24 “riksdalers” i.e. R3.60 in a year for the right to be there.
Later the farm’s names become “De Draay”. Johannes Botha sold the farm in 1779 to Josua
Joubert and in 1780 it became Pieter Kemp’s Farm. In the 1800’s it became the property of
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Jacob Beck. Many people came to this land between the ‘karookoppies’ called Doas ab
(Hottentot) or “De Straat” (Hollands) during the years 1806 – 1870.
The plains between the koppies (kopjes) then grew into a town with a church, school and
houses on the farm now, “Die Draai”. When the railway arrived in 1877 it became a town
with the name Montagu Road.
The Railway was build 15 meters away from the first station on ‘Montagu Road’. ‘The Frere
Hotel’, dating 1881, was a local hotel for all the passengers of the trains.
A little young Scotsman, 20 years of age, James Douglas Logan born in Reston
Berwickshire, England settled on Montagu Road and hired the Railway Hotel from the
railway and offered accommodation and refreshments to all the train passengers, drivers of
ox wagons, cart drivers and stagecoach passengers on their way inland, or those to
Montagu spa and/or passengers to/from Cape Town.
Logan became the owner of the farm ‘Die Draai’. During 1897 the railway bought some of
‘Die Draai’s’ farmland from him. Logan also speculated and sold land of this farm to
individuals.
A Town was born and in 1912. ‘Jimmy ‘Logan built a second Hotel in the town. The hotel
is named after him. He named it ‘The Douglas Hotel’.
The Railway demolished the old ‘Montagu Road’ Station in 1913 and with a few additions
The Frere Hotel of 1881 became the new railway station. The town became Touwsriver
[Touws River] and grew rapidly because of the influence of the railway.
Jimmy Logan’s name is given to two streets in the town; ‘Logan Street’, the main road in
the town and ‘Douglas Street’. The Loganda Hotel is another hotel he build a few years
later. Jimmy Logan’s influence in this little Karoo town before he made a name for himself
with Matjesfontein is of historic value and must be kept in a museum.
The first place he make his money was The Frere Hotel, here he became a rich man in
Touwsriver. This hotel was changed into the Touws River station.
The railway left the building in 1992 and the building became empty. On 29 September
2012 a fire broke out in this historical building. All the old citizens, old railway men and
41
citizens of the town fought to turn this historic building of the town in a Tourist Centrum
or Museum, but failed because the railway owned the building.
Now, after the fire, we want it even more to rescue the building from demolition because
we see this building as the future of this old railway town.
Willie Marais
Photographs: Touws River
Willie Marais sent in photographs he has taken locally and we have photographs taken by our
Patron, Les Pivnic, as well as excellent pictures by Charlie Lewis. (I wish I could reproduce all
photogrpahs at optimum levels but it is impossible with the large numbers of pics placed in the
Ulolwe.)
Photo credit: Les Pivnic
Permission granted by Les Pivnic - HBH
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Permission granted by Charlie Lewis - HBH
43
Permission granted by Charlie Lewis - HBH
44
Permission granted by Charlie Lewis - HBH
Local Touws River pictures – Willie Marais
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46
47
1954: Electifiacation: Cape Town to Touws River: SAR&H June 1954 (HBH)
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49
50
51
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Railway Philately
Railway Philately
Stan Kantor and Terry Devine have sent some Southern
African railway philately:
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1947 Royal Visit: Rhodesia
Part of the Rhodesian philately exhibition
Braamfontein Rapport: Dr V Mostert
-
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KwaZulu- Natal report: Jacobus Marais
Main line: Cedara
Cedara
Station
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Howick West
Balgowan: Onderstopper
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Merrivale; this is where the old main road to Ladysmith crossed the main railway line just out of
Merrivale.
“The Python” at Lions River
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Hilton
Durban Harbour and “The Bluff”: Photos by Jacobus Marais
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Comments on Durban’s Bluff at Port Natal: HBH
They say Durban is full of bluff until you reach the point. (The Bluff and Point are two
suburbs in Durban.) This photo by Jacobus Marais makes me nostalgic! My third police
station was SAP King’s Rest. I could never figure out where the name of the police station
came from:
(1) Was it from Dick King, who with his horse swam across the bay, on his way to
Grahams Town and rested here nearby; or:
(2) Was it named after Lieut King, RN, who was buried on the Bluff: I don’t know?
The green hill was part of our beat at SAP King’s Rest police station. Three police forces
served here before us. It was the Natal Mounted Police / Natal Police, the SA Mounted
Rifles and only much later the SA Police. The (Durban) Water Police had a very long
history and these days the SA Police Service police the harbour. (During WW1 the harbour
was policed by the military.)
In our days there were two “beats”: One was the SA Railway Police beat, including the
Water Police of the SAR Police, and the national SA Police. [The history of the Water Police
goes back to the days when the days of the Durban Borough Police.] We in the SA Police
had to police the “green hill” on the photo. The SARP’s jurisdiction was the railway line
and the SAR property and the harbour. (The Wests Hotel was on SAR property but the
SAP had to police it because it was hired by private individuals.) We had our “fights” with
the SARP regarding jurisdiction: Let me give you an example there is a water pipe that
runs from north to south all along the railway line right next to the bush. The SA police did
the green hill from the water pipe eastwards. SARP had jurisdiction from the water pipe
west, including the harbour.
There was no road to Wests in those days. Transport was courtesy Water Police or you had
to catch the train from King Rest Halt to Wests. (We did not have rail warrants for such
trips!) The last resort was to take the patrol vehicle; drive all along the bay into various
other police precincts and finally into the SAP Point’s jurisdiction, catch the SAR ferry and
go over to Wests. We did not pay like other people did, we just said: “Please help, we have
to go over to the other side!” And it was done.
Now a disturbance at the hotel or any other problem was quite easy. BUT on a Sunday
morning it was “problem time”. One Sunday morning a prostitute was murdered, most
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probably after a party and some jollification: The police was called and I had to respond.
After some time I reached the scene and here was a corpse. Now we have to phone the
detectives and inform them.
The first question: “Sonnyboy, now where is this corpse exactly lying?”
“Sergeant, she is dead and she is lying near the railway line, near the bushes!”
“Is she east or west of the pipe?”
“Sergeant where she is lying I see no pipe!”
“Go and ascertain the facts and phone me back”
“Right Sergeant!”
Now you and your van crew go and look for a pipe inorder to establish in whose
jusidiction the unfortunate person died. Some places the pipe is below the sand. We find
the pipe and we “guess” she is on the western side of the pipe. We inform the detective
sergeant and his response is: “Call the railway police”. Only when the relevant detective
arrives can the body be moved. We follow procedure and later we have to help to carry the
corpse to the nearest point where the SAP mortuary van can pick her up. So the whole
Sunday morning is spent on a dead lady and we have to help to carry her. There are
strings and strings of trucks staged there. What can we do? We crawl under the trains
couplings or go over the top, but the corpse has to be pushed under the couplings and you
just pray the train stands still – which was fortunately always the case. All this I am sure is
against the law, but I soon found out that we do not live in an ideal world.
I have had to attend to rapes, murders and thefts on that hill, also on the other side where
the whaling station was. More correctly the green hill is Admiralty grounds. It belonged to
the Admiralty of the old Royal Navy.
I think we all would like to take the opportunity to pay homage the old stalwarts of the
Durban Water Police, and in particular to Major J McCarthy and his men, who have from
the inception of Port Natal faithfully served and protected the harbour and its customers
through peace and war:
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Water Police: Point & Bluff (1905 & 1918) – Hennie Heymans Collection
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Transnet: Durban Harbour: Jacobus Marais
Cape Town Report: Francois Mattheüs
See front page for cover photo
E1629 & E1950 met Premiere Classe te Brackenfell 10-11-2012.
E1629 & E1950 with Premiere Classe at Brackenfell 10-11-2012.
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These units look awful on a passenger train!
E1592 & E1597 met S.Meyl uit Bellville 15-11-2012
E1592 & E1597 met S.Meyl leaving Bellville on 15-11-2012
Blue Train’s 14104 & 14110 at Brackenfell on 21 Nov 2012
(We are waiting for the matching white & gold stripes on the 14 Classes.)
63
Premier Classe at Touws River – Willie Marais
Foto: Willie Marais
Hier staan die 'Perstrein' voor Touwsrivier se buitesinjale omdat die trein nie meer mag
stop op Touwsrivier stasie nie ... waar is die dae toe alle passasierstreine op dié stasie moes
stop? ... Na ons stasie deur vandale gebrand is, is sy nie eintlik meer aantreklik vir
passasiers nie. Hoop iemand sien die historiese waarde van die stasie raak en restoureer
dit, want die stasie was in die 1800's eers 'n hotel ... die Frere Hotel – Artikel deur Willie
Marais.
64
Railway History of South Africa
Dear Hennie,
As you can see, I have completed the first of the series. I am hoping the rest will go a little
better. Hope you like it and it is in time! Regards, Leith.
PS: I have found that van you were interested in, but will get back to you in a couple of
days about it.
Early Locomotives of the Cape Government Railway: Leith Paxton
“Little Bess”: The first Locomotive in South Africa on 3’ 6”
Little Bess standing at Zwartkops Station.Photo: Leith Paxton Collection
Background
The 4ft 8 ½in line from Cape Town had reached Wellington on the 4th November, 1863 and
there it stopped. Halted by the inability to find a suitable route through the mountains and
on to the interior. As a local service provider for the farmers in the area, the line must have
65
served its purpose, and one can only speculate how much longer it would have remained
the rail head had it not been for the discovery of diamonds in Kimberley in 1867.
This event gave rise to extensive and rapid expansion of our railways and motivated the
Government to undertake the management and construction of railways in the Cape.
Following the passing of Cape Act No.10 in December, 1872, the Cape Town-Wellington,
and the Cape Town-Wynberg lines were bought from the Cape Town and Wellington and
Dock Co. for the sums of £773,000 and £75,000 respectively. Attention was also paid to
finding a suitable route through the mountains. Although Mr. R. Thomas (who had
surveyed the Okiep Railway) in 1872 had recommended a route that ran through the
Breede River, it wasn’t until 1874 that a suitable route over the Hex River mountains was
found this time surveyed by Messrs Wells, Hood & Maltby under the instructions of Mr
Brounger. At about the same time a Parliamentary Select Committee, under Mr C.
Abercrombie Smith recommended a gauge of 3’-6”. These factors, all together, allowed for
the full scale planning and construction of the railways of Southern Africa to commence.
A start was made to re-gauge the existing 4ft 8 ½in line to 3ft 6in in 1873 although the last
of the broad gauge locomotives were not scrapped until 1881. Presumably, the re-gauging
process made use of the existing engines, and no new locomotives were ordered for the
Western Cape at the time.
In 1875 it was deemed advisable to divide the management of railways into three separate
Systems. Mr W.G. Brounger was made Chief Resident Engineer for the Western System.
Mr. Devonsher Jackson Scott, Chief Resident Engineer for the Midlands System. The
Eastern System was controlled by Mr Alfred Schmid.
The Cape Midlands Line
The citizens of Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage had, for a long time, been agitating for their
own railway into the interior. From early as 1863 several meetings of local businessmen
were held, but it would not be until July 1871 before the Uitenhage Railway Bill, after a
great deal of discussion and opposition was read for the third time and passed., the
Midland and North Eastern Railway System came into being.
The contractor appointed was Mac Donald & Co and Sir Henry and Lady Barkly, Governor
of the Cape, turned the first sod, in January 1872 and construction commenced June of that
66
year to a gauge of 3ft 6in. Progress was slow and by October, 1873, only enough material
had arrived to lay 3 miles of track. For the construction, a pair of 0-4-0ST locomotives were
ordered through the Crown Agents from Manning Wardle & Co and despatched in March
and May 1873 to their class “E”. They had 9in x 14in cylinders and 2ft 9in driving wheels.
They carried Manning Wardle Nos. 434 and 442 and were named ‘Pioneer’ and ‘Little
Bess’. They were also given running numbers 1 and 2.
1 September 1875 finally saw the official opening of the 20 mile line. Uitenhage station was
gaily decorated and crowded with dignitaries and townsfolk for the occasion. After the
arrival of the first train, invited guests retired to the Town Hall for a banquet. When John X.
Merriman, as Minister for Crown Lands and Public Works, stood up to make his speech, he
was pelted with soufflés and blancmanges as he was seen to be the cause of the delays in
getting the railway in the first place. The ladies were ushered out and the men left to get on
with the fight that broke out.
Another locomotive of the same type was ordered through the Crown Agents from
Manning, Wardle & Co and became their No. 494 and was despatched in February, 1874.
She was given the running number 46 and was intended for the construction of the line
that struck out north of Wellington and as such became the first 3ft 6in locomotive in the
Western Cape.
Leith Paxton
With thanks to John Middleton for technical backup.
• Espitalier, T.J. and Day W.A.J. The Locomotive in South Africa. South African Railways
and Harbours Magazine: June 1943 – January 1948.
• Harman F.W. The Locomotives Build by Manning Wardle & Co. Vol. 1 Narrow Gauge.
Century Locoprint.
• Holland D.F. Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2 1910-1955. David
and Charles, 1971.
• Littley D. C.G.R. Numbering Revised S.A.Rail May/June 1993.
67
Early South African Locomotives: HBH
CGR:
-
NGR:
-
Blackie: Cape Town Station
No official news yet! Please chaps what has happened to the “Old Grandmother” of Cape Steam?
We wish a spokesperson for Transnet will inform our readers about Blackie’s future! Blackie is
in “hiding”.
We must keep “Blackie” on the agenda
68
OVS Staatspoorwegen (OVSS)
-
NZASM
-
Anglo Boer War: Natal - Rudi Venter
Sir Winston SL Churchill
69
70
Anglo Boer War:Piet van Zyl
The Battle for the Whiskey Train, when Boer & Brit feasted together ...
Toe Boer en Brit saamgefuif het...
Ilse Cronje - 2012-11-13 00:00
Rita Britz van die Hotel Val saam met David Scholtz van die Military History Society of
South Africa voor die gedenksteen vir die Whisky-trein wat by die treinbrug op die plaas
Lawreston onthul is.
Die Slag van die Whisky-trein het verlede naweek ’n heerlike herlewing beleef toe tientalle
Boere en Britte op Val (tussen Greylingstad en Secunda) bymekaar gekom het.
Rita Britz van Val is ’n vrou wat haar beywer vir toerisme in die Val-omgewing. Sy het
besluit die storie van die Whisky-trein moet vir ewig vasgelê word.
Sy het ’n gedenksteen laat maak wat deur David Scholtz van die Military History Society of
South Africa geskenk is. Daarop is ’n stoomlokomotief, soortgelyk aan ’n destydse
lokomotief, gegraveer met ’n kort samevatting van hoe Boer en Brit die dag toe die trein
opgeblaas is vir eers die wapentuig neergelê en saam feesgevier het met die drank wat op
die trein was.
Scholtz het verlede naweek die verrigtinge by die treinbrug geopen en vertel baie
treinspore en Britse goederetreine is in die oorlog deur die Boere opgeblaas om
kosvoorrade en ander proviand van die treine af te vat.
In die Val-omgewing was die goederetrein weer onderweg met voorrade vir die Britte.
Twee broers, Jack en Gert van den Heever, het dié dag die trein voorgelê en dit opgeblaas.
Groot was die verrassing toe hulle agterkom die trein is gelaai met lekkernye en drank.
Dié dag het die Boere en Britte saam op die wrak van die trein weggelê aan die heerlike
verrassing.
Twee vroue wie se families deel was van die Anglo-Boere-oorlog het ook stories vertel wat
daar gebeur het.
Idelette Beute het die Van den Heever-familie verteenwoordig en gesê Jack en Gert was
71
twee van die vele kinders van ene Jan van den Heever.
Sy het ook genoem hoeveel Boeremeisies op die Britse soldate verlief geraak het. Van trou
het daar niks gekom nie en die meisies moes met gebroke harte agterbly.
Helen Lawrence se familie het saam met Australiërs aan die Britse kant geveg.
Ná die oorlog is al die mans terug na Australië, maar die Lawrence-familie het teruggekeer
en hulle hier gevestig op die plaas Lawreston, waar die treinbrug is en die gedenksteen die
naweek onthul is.
Bome is die naweek ook hier ter nagedagtenis van die Boere- en Britse soldate geplant.
Almal het die Saterdag ná die boomplanting en gedenksteen-onthulling by die hotel op Val
byeengekom vir ’n storiesirkel.
Daar het dr. Ann Samson van die Universiteit van Westminster in Brittanje en emiritusprof.
Louis Changuion van die Universiteit van die Noorde baie interessante stories oor die
Anglo-Boereoorlog vertel.
Daar was verskeie stalletjies en lewendige musiek en met genoeg eet- en drinkgoed het die
gekuier aangehou tot Sondag.
NGR
My guess: NZASM Locomotive covered in Union Jack & other flags with NGR Coaches. Photo
could have been taken anywhere between Charlestown and Elandsfontein (Germiston) – HBH
WRONG GUESS!
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NGR : Narrow Gauge
Re the above: I have guessed wrong, chaps! It has been pointed out that this is part of the NGR’s
narrow Gauge in Natal. Please see letter column.
Railway Stations
- Touws River: Willie Marais
- Ladysmith: Rudi Venter
73
- Frere Station: Rudi Venter
74
Park Station: Carlos Veiera
“Park Station after a fire circa 1910” – Carlos Veiera
From the Strike Album: A Night of Horror: Fiday, 4th July 1913
“The Burning of Park Station
On Friday evening none doubted but that there would be trouble. The only question was where
would it start. The wildest rumours had been current as to the rioters' plan of campaign.
Had half of them been well grounded, there would have been little left of Johannesburg the next
morning. About eight o'clock a dense crowd had foregathered in President Street, opposite the Post
Office, and several of the self-appointed leaders of the rabble delivered rabid addresses. The greater
proportion of those present could not follow the drift of the speakers' arguments; nor did they seem
to care much what was the portent of the speeches. They were prepared nut for words but for
world-devil's work. But they pricked their ears as one speaker, with lungs stronger than his
comrades, preached open revolt. "Arm yourselves!" he shouted. “Get rifles and ammunition; form
into regiments, and then-shoot straight! Wild speeches were made by Mrs. Fitzgerald and
"Comrade" Crawford, the latter labouring the point that it was Independence Day, and also the day
75
on which the workers of the Rand had asserted their independence of capitalistic thraldom. He
went on to boast of what had been done that afternoon in the way of stopping railway traffic, when
a gruff voice bawled out: "Tell us some other yarn. The trains are still running." The effect was
magical. The crowd melted like snow before the sun. Men perched on the balcony of the Standard
Buildings slid down the poles on to the pavement. Those at the back who had not heard the speech
or the interruption watched in amazement. The crowd poured down Rissik Street and Joubert
Street. A frenzied voice shouted: “The Railway Station - we'll burn it down." The vanguard of the
mob was met at the Railway Station by a posse of mounted police, who charged and scattered them
in all directions. But the main body was irresistible, if only reason of its dead weight. They swept
the police back, cursed them and stoned them, and one or two emptied their revolvers at the now
powerless constables.
Three policemen were badly injured, one being shot. Some twenty- or thirty hooligans then took
possession of the station. In their vandalism they were not molested, for the thousands of people in
Noord Street kept the police busy. There was something nauseating at the spectacle of a score of
ruffians, many of them youngsters, destroying property while many people in the crowd indignant
at the havoc that was being wrought were yet helpless to stop it.
An Incongruous Figure
A policeman at one entrance near the foot of Eloff Street had been overlooked by the howling mob.
He remained at his post, an incongruous figure, looking anxiously right and left, and when two
journalists asked whether they might be permitted to go on to the platform he almost collapsed in
astonishment. On the platforms the destroyers had worked themselves into a frenzy. The lust of
ruin had them in its grip. They smashed windows and notice boards, threw stones at the station
clock, overturned penny-in-the-slot machines, and as if the din were not loud enough they sounded
the station bell. A railway official could stand it no longer. He advanced threateningly to the
maddest of the rioters, but was pulled back in time by his friends. In the shadow of the footbridge a
detective calmly entered names in a pocket-book.
Soon he had to clear, for flames shot up from the little bookstall on the southern platform. Then the
booking and baggage offices became enveloped in lurid light and dense smoke. Over on the island
platform the bar was broken into and the contents carried away in triumph. One looter went off
with a bottle of champagne in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other. The bookstall on this
platform had also been set alight. The blaze was not a strong one. A young fellow pluckily
extinguished it with a cloth.
The south-western side of the station was by this time well ablaze, and the tower of flame and great
clouds of smoke carried a silent warning far and wide. The Fire Brigade arrived on the scene, but
76
were met with a shower of stones. The driver of the motor stuck grimly to his post, now and again
dodging a particularly well-aimed missile. "Put out your lights!" shouted the crowd. No notice was
taken of the command.
“Put out your lights!" and this time there was a threatening intonation. The headlights were
extinguished. Disaster followed, for now stones were thrown at the firemen from every direction,
and several revolver shots were also heard. Added to this the news was brought that there was no
pressure of water. So the brigade retreated as best they could, as the motor ambulance had done a
few minutes previously. Fortunately none or the men were seriously injured. When the rioters had
tired of their work of destruction, a squadron of the 10th Hussars arrived. With swords drawn, they
demonstrated in the street, and the crowd dispersed.
There was more devil's work afoot.”
Here are more photographs:
77
Station Burning!
78
79
The End
This story is continued and it came to a head during the 1922 Red Revolt on the Rand. Some of the
same agtitors were “kidnapped” sent down by special train to Durban and deported to the UK. As
far as I can acertain the first covert action by the (Smuts-)government and the police.
One of the instigators, Mr JT Bain, was first known as a spy for the Zarps in Johannesburg. Then HE
was known as “Dr Bain” to the Boers during the Anglo-Boer War. He had an ambulance and
attended to the Boers. He came to notice during 1913 and again 1922. These cryptic notes do not do
justice to Mr Bain’s various careers.
80
SAR RMT: Derek Walker
Found derelict in
Alexandra Township
– Derek Walker
81
SAR: World War 1
-
SAR in GSWA: WW1
-
SAR: World War 2
1945: Passengers in German Coal Trucks
SAR & H Magazine 1954:397
SAR Traction and Rolling Stock
-
82
Transnet Traction and Rolling Stock
35-676 by Rudi Venter
Tamping Machine: Rudi Venter
83
SA Metro Rail
Durban Metro
-
Narrow Gauge
NG: Question re NG: South West Africa / Namibia: Mike Boylee
Hi Hennie,
Hope you are well? Heard you were in hospital sometime earlier this year.
• NG Usakos to Kranzberg
I've attached an article I came across about a narrow gauge train that used to run from
Usakos to Kranzberg. I can't find much information about it on the internet. Have you
perhaps come across any information or photos about this train?
• NG Apple Express
Our local “Apple Express” is still not started running again despite all the promises. Much
of rolling stock has been vandalised while unguarded just like the train that used to be at
the Boet Erasmus Stadium (see attached). What a pity.
Mark Boylee.
84
Dear Mike, Thanks I am fine thanks. HBH
• Can anybody please help Mike with information on the NG line between Usakos
and Kranzberg in the former GSWA / SWA?
• I think an article with photos on this old line is overdue.
• I cannot off-load the photograph of the locomotive at Boet Erasmus Stadium.
Technology is wonderful! I have traced the letter quoted by Mike and here is the original:
Hoe ry die Choo-Tjoe as deel van kultuur: Pieter Visser
Pieter Visser 2012-09-28 07:00
Ek het met treine grootgeword (op Usakos, Namibië). Dit is in my gene.
Die legendariese smalspoor, met eie baba-lokomotiewe en “pop-waens”, het van daar die
Noorde bedien. Tussen Usakos en Kranzberg het drie spoorlyne geloop, die smalspoor
binne die breë-spoor. Ná Kranzberg het die smalspoor weggeswaai na die Noorde.
Die “mail” het pos en pakkies gebring, so twee keer per week. Drie dae en drie nagte per
trein het ons by die Hoërskool Paarl besorg.
Verlede week Donderdag, ná ’n afwesigheid van seker goed 35 jaar, staan ek op die
Klerksdorp-stasie en hoop om op ’n “vol” Shosholoza Meyl plek te kry. Daar is nie meer
85
stasiemeesters nie, net ’n kaartjieskantoor.
Ek bevind my man-alleen in ’n kompartement, eens vir ses passasiers, deesdae vir vier. Die
salon is steeds die aantrekkingskrag, maar jy hoef nie langer te worstel met die kommer oor
hoe die lang rye silwerware langs jou bord aangewend moet word nie. Die spyskaart met
Franse geregte is afgeskaal, en die lysie is soortgelyk aan dié van ’n vis-en-skyfie-kafee. Ek
het nie die vrolike deuntjie gehoor wat die kelner speel wanneer passasiers vir of die eerste
of die tweede sitting geroep word nie. Die rookwolke is weg, want stoom het elektrisiteit
geword. Verhitting het saam met die stoom in die slag gebly.
Dit is nog trein, dit is nog opwindend. Dit het net baie vuil geword. Toilette is vieslik.
Herlaai- en skeerkragproppe is buite werking. Matte is vuil. Storte is in ’n skokkende
toestand. Stasies is vuil en onversorg.
Dit alles ten spyt en met die regte tipe beplanning, laat die Choo-Tjoe gerus weer loop,
want dit is deel van ons geskiedenis en kultuur.
Pieter Visser
Wellington
Translation by Google (and slightly adapted to make sense.):
The Choo-Tjoe as part of our culture - Pieter Visser
2012-09-28 07:00
I grew up with trains (Usakos, Namibia). It's in my genes.
The legendary narrow gauge, with their own baby locomotives and "doll-wagons", were
serving the north. Between Usakos and Kranzberg we had three rail lwayines, the NG-
gauge line ran within the broad track. After Kranzberg the narrow gauge served to the
north.
The "mail" brought post and parcels, twice a week. After three days and three nights by
train from Usakos we were at Paarl High School.
Thursday last week, after a 35 year absence, I stood at the Klerksdorp station and hoped to
get a place on a "full" Shosholoza Meyl. There are no longer station masters, just a ticket
office.
I found myself in a compartment for six passengers, nowadays accomodating four. The
dining saloon is still an attraction, but you no longer have to worry how you should use the
86
long lines silverware beside your plate.
The menu of French dishes has been scaled down, and the list on the menu is now similar
to that of a fish-and-chip shop. I did not hear the waiter calling, the diners, by playing the
merry tune to the first or the second sessions. The smoke clouds of the steam locomotives
have made way for electricity. Heating of coaches stayed behind with the steam era.
This is another train, however it's still exciting. It has just become very dirty. Toilets are
disgusting. Recharing plugs and plugs for shaving are disabled. Carpets are dirty. Showers
are in a shocking state. Stations are dirty and unkempt.
This despite everything but with the right kind of planning, the Choo-Choo can run again,
because it's part of our history and culture.
Pieter Visser.
Gautrain
Both sides of the Gautrain Card.
• We need a Gautrain correspondent - HBH
87
Photo reports
Robert Maidment-Wilson
-
Jez Smith (UK)
-
Derek Walker: SAR Adverts 1970 & 1979 (Blue Train)
88
Lourens Sturgeon
- White E1’s ?????
Green F15 – Adrian Hill
Adrian is buiding 15F’ and is looking a Green 15F.
89
Railway People – Spoorwegmense
Mr Wilfred E Collins, SAR Zastron: Grandfather of Div (Leon) de Villiers
Mr Wilfred Collins (left) sitting in the middle row. Look how neat and clean the station is.
1922 SAR Zastron
We must remember 1922 was another turbulent year in South Africa’s history! The two
labourers in the back row are most probably former Boer burghers (soldiers). They have
90
suffered hardship when the 1899 – 1902 Anglo-Boer War ended. 12 yrs later we had the
declaration of WW1. Those who heeded the clarion call had two choices: Join Government
troops under Gen Louis Botha or as “Rebels” join the commandos under Gen CR de Wet.
1922 saw the Red Revolt on the Rand! Once again burger forces were called up from all
parts of the Union to serve under Gen Smuts. It was only after WW2 that farmers in the
former Boer Republics became more affluent. It was a hard and long way! They worked as
labourers on the railways, built roads and dams! There were no free hand outs!
Ray Ellis: Australia
Hi Hennie,
A little bit about my background!
I was born and raised in Brisbane, and apart from four years living in London, and various
overseas trips, have been here all my life. I am also 66 years of age, same as you!!
My first “encounter” with a “steam engine” was when I was about 4, and my paternal
grandfather put me up into the cab of a standard gauge New South Wales Railways C35
class 4-6-0 which had arrived, with my aunt, from Sydney (the NSWGR comes into
Brisbane). I was hooked, and have been a “railway enthusiast” ever since! I have travelled
on a number of footplates since!
My railway interests are many and varied. I am a steam enthusiast, and apart from early
diesels & electrics, have never really embraced the “new” technology!! My particular
interest is British colonial railways (India is high on the list), and British owned railway
companies overseas (e.g. South America etc.), mainly from the 1880s to WW2. My interest
in military history comes from my maternal grandfather, Frank Common, who I wrote
about for your mag. He was a professional / semi-professional soldier for both WW1 &
after, and WW2 & after. Both my parents served in the military in WW2, but had no
overseas postings.
My parents were both born in England, my mother went to India first, and then came to
Australia, whereas my dad came from England to Australia; I have no brothers and sisters
unfortunately. My parents were both professional musicians all their married life, teachers
and adjudicators – dad (piano, organ & choirs), mum (singing, choirs and speech & drama).
Although I love music, I did not follow in their footsteps unfortunately, but did participate
in choirs & concerts my parents organized. My parents were always very supportive of my
91
railway interests. My nearest relatives now are two female cousins, and their mother, an
elderly aunt. Fran, my eldest cousin, who lives in Sydney and visits quite often, is deep into
our family history, in which I participate as well.
I joined the Queensland Division of the Australian Railway Historical Society in the early
1960s, was involved in the management, and served as its president for 10 years, amongst
being editor of their Divisional magazine, Sunshine Express for some years. Apart from the
South African groups I belong to, I am also a member of a number of British societies.
In 1965 I went with my parents, by ship, to the UK, and worked at Thos. Cook & Son, the
travel agents, until I came back to Oz four years later. Amongst my years at Cooks I
worked in the editorial section of the Cooks International Rail Timetable, under its long-
time editor, the late John Price, a fellow rail & tram enthusiast.
When I returned to Australia in 1969 I joined the shipping industry, and worked in that
until I retired about 4 years ago. Unlike you I don’t have any formal education, just in the
school of experience and hard knocks, and it has stood me in good stead over the years!!
I have travelled to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and India (3 times!!), as well as
travelling extensively through Europe.
My current major project is I am writing an e-book on Malawi – working title Rails to the
Shire Highlands – in the steam era. It is written, but since joining the Society of Malawi so
much additional and info has come to hand, it will be like doing a big jigsaw putting all the
additions into the text!! I hope to get it finished by the end of this year.
And there you have it!! Hope you find it of interest… Cheers, Ray. 27 Oct 2012
Ray Ellis: Half-world away, right on the other side of the globe, down under!
Dear Ray, Nice to know you! Welcome into our South African circle of ferro-equinologists! Thanks
for the phone calls. I find it amazing that two people, a world away, can have so much in common!
We hope to see you in South Africa soon! I am sure that we could visit other places and other
people with the same interests! Thank you, Hennie.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The photos: me (right) at my retirement party with Brett Currier (left), my “adopted” son
(Samoan/Australian) and my computer whizz!]
92
Next are the girls from my office enjoying a bottle of Drambuie with me!!
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Kyk Spoorwegman, ek skryf en bid vir jou! Koot Swanepoel
Railway Padre: Koot Swanepoel
U kan Koot direk kontak by 082 041 9123
U kan Koot per epos kontak by: J.C. Swanepoel [email protected]
Previous issues of Uloliwe
For previous all previous issues of Uloliwe click on: http://issuu.com/hennieheymans/docs
Rail Humour
-
Book Shelf
Natal Province – Descriptive Guide & Official Handbook
Good morning Hennie,
Hope you are well. Loved your editorial and the latest Uloliwe. I can see there some of the
important things you and I spoke about in our phone call!! Very wise words…!!
Do you have the book – Natal Province – Descriptive Guide & Official Handbook, no author as
such, published by the South African Railways in 1911??
We must talk again soon…
Cheers
Ray
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Black Diamonds: Dennis Moore via J & J Wepener
New Book "BLACK DIAMONDS (Steam Locomotives at work on the colliery
railways of South Africa)"
Hi Ladies and Gentlemen,
Trust you are all well.
It's been about 6 months since I last published a book on South African Steam, so I hope
you won't mind me telling you about this new one.
It's called BLACK DIAMONDS (Steam Locomotives at work on the colliery railways of
South Africa) and provides thorough pictorial coverage of, well ..... what it says on the tin !
Plus anecdotes, technical information, maps etc.
24 different classes at work. Sadly, photographic coverage of colliery railways has been
fairly scant in all previous S.A. Railway photographic books (including my own) and this
long overdue tribute to these unsung workhorses hopefully puts this right. All collieries
operating steam in the 1980s and 1990s are covered, with a special feature on Greenside
colliery and extensive coverage of Enyati and Coronation, the more scenic locations.
The book is of landscape format, hardcover, with dust jacket. It runs to a massive 300
pages. Print on demand books are unavoidably expensive, although at under $90 for 300
pages it is not too bad. The book is also available in a VERY large landscape format, albeit
at a higher price. (As always multiple book orders cost the same to despatch as single
copies, so prospective purchasers are advised to consider other titles and/or combine
orders with those of their friends. )
The book may be viewed, in full and for free, at www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/3675073
To view all thirteen of my books (mainly South Africa, but also India and Zimbabwe),
including some E-books for i-Pads at a very nominal price, please go to www.blurb.com
and enter Dennis Moore steam in the search engine.
Thanks very much
Dennis Moore.
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“Railways of Southern Africa 150 Years”: Jean Dulez via Rinke Blok
Hi Hennie,
Hiermee die “launch-foto”. Die funksie is van 12:00 tot 14:00 hierdie Sondag (25 Nov 2012).
Jean sal aanwesig wees om boeke te teken. Reefsteamers gaan ook hier wees met ‘n stand
en ek probeer om ‘n hele klomp ScaleCraft en Precision Miniatures HO-
stoomlokomotiewe op skou te hê. Maak ‘n draai as jy in die omgewing is. Groetnis, Rinke.
NB Boek gaan R495 kos.
96
97
Boek: Die brullende leeu getem: GF Malan via Robbie Green
Naand,
Hiermee info oor die smalspoor trein wat ek raak gelees het in die boekie: “Die Brullende
Leeu Getem.” Groetnis, Robbie Green.
Die boekie gaan oor die water voorsiening in die Gamtoos vallei, met net so paar bladsye
oor die vervoer van die tyd ... ongelukkig is die boek by die huis en ek is eers teen 28 ste
weer terug in Nelspruit. Ek gaan ook op die net kyk of daar iets oor die boek is.
Groetnis, Robbie Green.
98
(Page 37: The first wooden bridge during 1908 over the Gamtoos River. The boat was
owned by Capt Burney. He lived on the boat. Passengers and goods were conveyed from
the river’s mouth to Hankey which is situated inland.)
(The new bridge over the Gamtoos River.)
Below: The “little train” loaded with oranges crossing the bridge over the Van Staden’s River.)
(Literally: The “little-orange-train”)
99
Dagsê Hennie,
Ek onthou dat ons 'n kopie van daardie boekie in die SAS-Museum se biblioteek gehad
het. Ongelukkig, geen verdere inligting i.v.m dié boekie - jammer! Groetnis,
Les Pivnic.
English Synopsis: NG Line in Eastern Cape
The title translated into English means: The Roaring Lion Tamed and the author is GF Malan. The
book is brought under our attention by Robbie Green. He says the book is about water and
irrigation in the Gamtoos River Valley and about transport. He shares the cover of the book with us
and some pictures featuring the narrow gauge line in the Gamtoos.
• I asked Les Pivnic for more information on the book. [Few of you know that Les Pivnic can
speak, read and write Afrikaans!] He recalls that the Library of the SAR Museum had the
book, but naturally cannot recall the contents. If the book, like those written by Sydney
Moir, Les would have known about it. This book is of interest to us asa far as the the old
pictures are concerned.
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Leon “Div” de Villiers’ Books: Cape Town
AFRICANA & OTHER BOOKS BOUGHT & SOLD, including:
Book Collections, Manuscripts, Maps, Paintings, Prints, etc. Pertaining to our Literature,
History, Historic Buildings & Places, Hunting, Nature, Wildlife, Railways, Maritime,
Military, Wars, People etc. as well as related Topics on the African Continent.
Contact Leon at TEL/FAX: 021 592 3460
CELL: 084 436 0842
e-mail: [email protected]
http://antiqbook.com/bookdealer.phtml?o=australafrica
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/seller/435994/Boekesmous
http://www.facebook.com/africabooks
(Free advert for our readers)
Road Motor Transport Service [RMT]:
SAR Bus: Johan Jacobs
101
Cape Town: Tramways Bus – Johan Jacobs
[Nostalgia via Johan Jacobs: This reminds me of the old Dinky Toys we had as boys! HBH]
South African Airways
A340-200 ZS-SLD: Johannes Botha
102
SAA History : Sent in by Lt Gen RP “Roy” During (Cape Town)
Text: Johan Jacobs (Benoni)
103
Photo 1: ZS-ASP Lockheed L18-08 Lodestar (1939) These American built airliners were
ordered by SAA shortly before the outbreak of World War Two. Upon delivery the
majority were taken over by the SAAF. After the war a total of 19 saw service with SAA,
the last one of the type being sold in 1955. A surviving example, ZS-ASN, was donated to
SAA in 1973 and is resplendent in 1940s livery at the SAA Museum Society complex at
Rand Airport.
104
Photo 2: Lockheed L749A Constellation (1950). The graceful Lockheed Constellation was SAA’s first
pressurised airliner. Four were put into service in 1950 on the routes to Europe. The Constellations
were later relegated to internal and regional services and were sold in 1964.
Below: Photo 3: Douglas DC-7B (1956) This was the world’s fasted piston-engine airliner and in
1956 SAA became the first non-American airline to place the type in service, replacing the Lockheed
Constellations on the European routes.
SAA’s service across the Indian Ocean to Perth was pioneered by the DC-7B. The four aircraft were
later used internally before being sold in 1966/7.
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Photo 4: Swartberg: Douglas DC-4 Skymaster
(1946) c/n 10307, ZS-BWN. South African
Airways "Swartberg" SAA operated a total of
seven DC-4 aircraft, the first joining the fleet in
1946. SAA’s Skymasters took over the
Springbok Route to London in 1946 and
operated extensively in Southern Africa until
1967. They were used to inaugurate the
Skycoach services in 1959.
Photo 5 above: The airport was founded in 1952 as "Jan Smuts Airport", two years after his
death, near the town of Kempton Park on the East Rand. It displaced the "Palmietfontein
International Airport", which had handled European flights since 1945. In the same year of
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its inception, it had the honourable distinction of ushering in the jet age, when the first
commercial flight of a de Havilland Comet took off from London Heathrow Airport bound
for Johannesburg.
Photo 6: DC4-Skymaster, Douglas decided to produce a four-engine transport about twice
the size of the DC-3 and, in 1938, developed the single DC-4E to carry 42 passengers by day
or 30 by night. It had complete sleeping accommodations, including a private bridal room.
Douglas built 1,241 of the DC-4s and its military counterparts. During the war, C-54s flew a
million miles a month over the rugged North Atlantic - more than 20 round trips a day. In
the years immediately following the war, new DC-4s and used C-54s carried more
passengers than any other four-engine transport. Some were still flying through 1998. After
World War II, commercial airlines placed more than 300 civilian DC-4 transports into
service.
107
Photo 7: DC4- Technical staff from the SAA works on the power plants of this aircraft’s
four 1.450 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2000 ‘Twin-Wasp’ engines.
108
Photo 8: The Lockheed Constellation ("Connie") was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four
18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350-DA3 Turbo Compound 18-cylinder supercharged radial
engines, 3,250 hp (2,424 kW) each.
Photo 9: DC3- ZS-BXI ‘Elandskop’. The Douglas DC-3 Dakota entered service in May 1946
on the Johannesburg–Durban route. The Dakotas came from the surplus SAAF Douglas C-
47 inventory; and were converted into passenger airliners by SAA. This aircraft became a
DC3-TP(turbo prop) in SAAF service.
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Comet 1: BOAC
Photo 10: South Africa was the destination of the world’s first passenger jet service when a
BOAC Comet 1 landed at Palmietfontein on 3 May 1952, the journey had taken just under
24 hours to complete. Although the Comet had a high cruising speed it did not have a good
range, time was lost on the five refuelling stops on its route. SAA entered into the jet age
using two chartered Comets from BOAC; the first service was operated from London to
Johannesburg on 4 October 1953 with Comet G-ANAV. The two aircraft had dual BOAC–
SAA titling and logos and were operated by SAA crews.
110
Photo 11&12: SAA air hostesses were introduced in September 1946, at first on domestic
routes, then on Springbok Services.
111
Photo 13: A typical cabin service – interior of a DC4.
Photo 14: ZS-SBV. The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 is a medium
sized turboprop airliner originally designed by the British firm Avro in the late 1950s as a
replacement for the now-aged DC-3s then in widespread service as feeder liners. Avro
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concentrated on performance, notably for STOL operations, and found a dedicated market.
380 aircraft were built by Hawker Siddeley.
Photo 15: SAA Vickers Viscount 813 ZS-CDT ‘Blesbok’ powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 530
engines. SAA took delivery of 8 of these popular British aircraft. They were initially used
on the main domestic routes and later served most destinations in Southern Africa. They
were withdrawn from service in 1971.
Photo 16: Before the days of Hi-Jackers and armed police! A popular car from the 1950’s the
Ford Fairlain with a Constellation at Port Elizabeth airport
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Vaaldam, the Country’s First International Airport: by Johan Jacobs
A Short history of Deneysville
In early stone-age times, the San had settled along the shore of the Vaal River, where
Deneysville is established today. They were followed by the Khoi-khoi and ruins of their
dwellings can be seen in the area today.
Vaaldam was built during the depression years and completed in 1938. It is the fourth
largest in the country with a shoreline of almost 800 kilometres’s and is the water supply
for the PVW area, the Vaal Triangle and many towns in the Free State. Originally known as
Lake Deneys after Deneys Reitz, the then Minister of Agriculture, the name was never
formerly adopted. The town, however established on the shores of the dam was named
after him. The stone cottage on the waterfront built by the Reitz family is now St. Peter's
Church, a popular wedding venue. The town which boasts two yacht clubs and two large
marinas is popularly known as the Gateway to Vaaldam.
A short history of the flying boats to SA
In 1937 Canopus, a S23 Empire Class flying boat delivered 3,500 lbs of mail to South Africa
and soon after this Deneysville could boast of having the first international airport in South
Africa. Flying boats landed here until 1950. The first sailing club, Lake Deneys Yacht Club,
was formed by the Empire Airlines crews and their burgee has the speed bird logo which
was still used by the later BOAC airline. The departure of the flying boats was the end of a
romantic era. The picturesque castle built by the Sumner family in the early days has
become a landmark in the town.
The original village management board
became a municipality and today falls
under the large area council of
Metsimaholo. The town was slow in
developing until the turn of the century
when it was rediscovered and is today a
fast developing recreational centre with
many new holiday homes adding to
permanent working and retired population.
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In June 1937, Canopus the first S.23 Empire Class flying boat operated by Imperial Airlines
landed on Vaaldam carrying 3,500 lbs. of mail. The S.23s were also known as "C-Class"
flying boats, because each was given a name beginning with the letter
"C", Canopus and Centurian, to name a few that flew this route. The S.23 measured 88 feet in
length, 31 feet 9.75 inches high, and had a wingspan of 114 feet, it weighed 40,500 pounds
fully loaded and fuelled.
It was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XC nine-cylinder radial engines each rated at 920
horsepower, which in turn provided a cruising speed of 164 mph. It had a service ceiling of
20,000 feet and its range was 760 miles. It carried a crew of 5 accommodating 24
passengers.
With the lack of landing facilities across Africa, British Imperial Airways used the S.23
Empire Class flying boat built by Short Brothers to fly passengers and mail to South Africa
using waterways to land and refuel. They remained in service until 1947. The wartime
Sunderland was developed from this plane. Later a further development the Solent was
used on the South African route until 1950 when they were replaced with land planes.
They used to take off from Southampton flying to Augusta in Italy, on to Cairo, then
Khartoum, Port Bell, Victoria Falls and Vaaldam.
During flights, which were at a low enough altitude, for passengers to get a good view of
the Nile and the wild African landscape, the purser would lay out a cold buffet on a bench.
Dinner would be "ashore" in a good hotel while the great silver craft spent the night riding
at anchor under the African moon. Johannesburg-bound passengers would disembark at
Deneysville, near the Vaaldam wall, an hour's bus journey from Johannesburg.
British Imperial staged its flights through a hub at Alexandria in Egypt, with the S.23's
known as Clio and Calypso flying the mail to and from Southampton. An aircraft
named Centurion served South Africa, while Calypso continued east to India and beyond.
Meanwhile, the longer-range Caledonia was used to open a service to New York by way of
Newfoundland. In 1938, the Cambria was experimentally refuelled in flight as a means of
extending its range.
115
The Sunderland was then developed from the successful Empire class for the Royal Air
Force by Short Brothers for wartime service. Flights continued during World War II and
many of the Empire boats remained in service until 1947. British Overseas Airways (BOAC)
continued with the flying boat service to South Africa. The Sandringham was a post war
development from this plane as was the Short S.45 Solent which was placed into service on
the Springbok run to Vaaldam. On March 10, 1948 Solent G-AHIV ‘Salcombe’ arrived at
Vaaldam on the proving flight from Southampton and was followed by a special flight for
the press on May 1, flown by G-AHIN ‘Southampton’ piloted by Capt. E ‘Teddy’
Rotheram. He was one of BOAC‘s more experienced captains having joined Imperial
Airways in 1935 and given his command in 1938.
The first commercial service was introduced on May 4, 1948, flown by G-AHIT ‘Severn’.
The route was Southampton - Augusta - Cairo - Luxor - Khartoum - Port Bell - Victoria
Falls - Vaaldam in 4 1/2 days.
On November 17, 1950, the Handley Page Hermes 4 was introduced with G-
ALDR Herodotus making the first service to Palmietfontein. The following year NOTAM 53
of 1951 announced the cancellation of the aerodrome license for Vaal Dam. It was the end
of the Flying boat era.
The press and VIP’s disembark
from Southampton a BOAC Solent, to be ferried
to the old hotel in Deneysville Vaaldam in May
1948. Photograph courtesy of the South African
Railway Museum. The photograph was taken by
the brother of Wim Hoek, a one time resident of
Deneysville.
116
Personnel at this time included:
Mr. Balborough - BOAC
Graham Bradford - Station Commander
Dr. J. Hutchinson - Port Health Officer & BOAC doctor
Captain Norman Cook - Harbour
Captain Woodhouse - Pilot
Cucj Lomax - Water Affairs
Dr. F. Gunn - Mayor
Canopus the first Empire Class flying boat lands at Vaaldam.
A painting by Julien Girard
Foundations of the old BOAC terminal, now below the waters of Vaaldam.
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The writer remembers seeing a PHY-5 Catalina flying boat moored at Deneysville during
the early years of the 1970’s. He believes it was moved to Rand Airport in Germiston.
PHY-5 at Rand Airport
© Johanjacobs26/10/12
Harbours
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Catering Division
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SA Railway Police -
Water Police
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GSWA/ SWA/Namibia (NamRail)
-
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Rhodesia Railways, National Railways of Zimbabwe
RR Memorial: Bulawayo
Railways: Tourism, Steam, Preservation, Societies & Clubs
Rovos Rail
-
RRL Grindrod
-
Atlantic Rail Cape Town
Contact Tel: (021) 556-1012 or [email protected] or visit their website at
www.atlanticrail.co.za
-
Memories: Bosveld Train Safaris – HBH
-
Railway Society of Southern Africa Natal – A Peter
RAILWAY SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
NATAL
Founded 1960
P. O. BOX/POSBUS 33202,
MONTCLAIR, 4061
SPOORWEGVERENIGING VAN SUIDELIKE AFRIKA
NATAL
• Dear Ashley– thanks for the Natal Newsletter - HBH
Reefsteamers: Lee Gates
Reefsteamers: Contact details
Bookings : [email protected]
Reefsteamer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/reefsteamers/
Depot Mobile: 083 651 5424 (Attie de Necker)
Depot Phone: (011) 025-4363
Enquiries: [email protected]
Marketing: [email protected]
119
Postal Address: P.O. Box 1736, Germiston 1400
Reefsteamers Web Master: [email protected]
Reefsteamers Web Site: www.reefsteamers.com
Umgeni Steam Railway: GMAM 4074
Contact Mr. Rob McGregor at Tel: 031-303 3003; 082-353 6003 or 087-808 7715 or
or visit their website at www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za
Paton’s Country Railway
Patons Country Railway: Annual Aloe Train Trips
-
Umgeni Steam Railway - Ashley Peter
-
Friends of the Rail (FOTR)
FOTR Calendar – Nathan Berelowitz
Hi Hennie, if you can open this could you publish the calendar advert in the next issue. I will also
post you a complimentary copy if you send me your postal address please. Cheers, Nathan.
Nathan [email protected]
120
FOTR
Enquiries Friends of the Rail: Via J & J Wepener
Here is letter from FOTR that Jacque Wepener kindly forwarede to me, as the contents are
in the interests our hobby here goes:
Dear Jacque,
It is the end of October and in 60 days we will be waiting for the start of 2013. That is if we
ignore the predictions that the earth will come to an end on 12 December 2012. Just thought
that I quickly write to you and bring you up to speed with what will be happening at
Friends of the Rail till the end of 2012.
We have scheduled train trips to Cullinan for November - 3 Nov, 23 Nov, 24
Nov, 25 Nov, 30 Nov and December - 1 Dec, 2 Dec, 7 Dec, 8 Dec, 9 Dec, 15 Dec and 16 Dec.
So if you need to take a break you have quite a number of trips to choose from and arrive
back at work on the Monday refreshed. Every year we have a number of Santa Trips and
on these trips the guy in the red suit (Father Christmas) joins the trip and hands out
presents to the children. The trips that will be Santa trips are 2 Dec, 9 Dec and 16 Dec. All
the Cullinan trips will depart at 08h30 from the FOTR Depot in Hermanstad Pretoria,
arrive in Cullinan at 11h00 and depart back at 15h00.
Prices are R175 per adult, R150 per pensioner, R125 per child 13-18y, R100 per child 7-12y,
R75 per child 2 - 6y and R0 for children younger than 2 years. A booking of more than 15
paying passengers will receive a group discount of 10%. Bookings can be done via our sales
office 012 7677913 / 0820986186, www.friendsoftherail.com or any Checkers/Shoprite
Moneymarket.
For those needing a break, but you are on a tight budget. We have thought
about you as well. On 18 November we will be running a Tshwane Xplorer at
14h00 for only R100 per adult and R50 per child 2 - 12 yr. The bookings for
this trip is open to everyone, so please invite all your friends.
This time of year is year-end function season and we have added quite a
number of extra venues for groups, such as adventure packages, spa packages,
etc. We have scheduled trips on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to
121
accommodate the corporate groups and other groups. We have information
available on our group trips, so if you are interested just send me a
request and I will gladly email it to you. For large group we also have
private coaches available - 55 seater R7000, 65 seater R8000 and 75 seater R9000.
Friends of the Rail are a not-for-profit company and only survive on running
train trips. So we want to thank you all for the support received during
2012. For all of you writing examinations in November we want to wish you
good luck and remember we have a trip this coming Saturday, if just need to
relax before the exams.
Kind regards
Arno Victor
Friends of the Rail: 012 7678145
Contact Mr. Arno Victor at Tel: 082 293 4616 or [email protected] or visit their
website at www.friendsoftherail.com
Sandstone
-
JB Tours: Treintoere in Suider Afrika
JB Tours issue a lovely program with beautiful pictures. Unfortunately I cannot copy,
save and paste it as a word.doc/x . Please subscribe to their annual program! For full 2012
year programme here is the email adres:
[email protected] ; www.jbtours.co.za ;
Tel 011 913 2442; 086 152 8687;
Fax: 086 687 7344; 011 913 0552
Railwayana
A very good friend is selling his Railwayana. When I saw the plates the first time I gave a whistle!
Well, you know the kind of whistle a mechanic gives when he opens the bonnet of your Ferrari and
he is trilled! That sort of whistle! On questioning my friend he said he bought them from a British
dealer. He is selling them on eBay.
122
123
124
NBL Preservation Group to sell SAR No. 1443 'Chaka': Ken Livermore
NBL Preservation Group PRESS RELEASE 22nd November 2012
Dear All,
It is with great regret that the NBL Preservation Group are announcing their intention to
sell their South African Railways 3ft 6in gauge Class 1B 4-8-0 No. 1443 'Chaka'.
NBLPG purchased 'Chaka' in 2009 with the intention of returning it to the UK for
preservation but given the current economic situation and with four other locomotive
projects currently in place, fund raising for the shipping costs for this engine has been very
slow.
125
Currently stored at Gledhow Sugar Mill, near Durban, the attached photos show No. 1443 -
first in its heyday at the Mill in February 1990 and secondly whilst being examined by
members of the Umgeni Steam Railway on behalf of NBLPG in November 2008.
Designed by the famous Scottish locomotive engineer David Hendrie, No. 1443 was
constructed at the NBL Queens Park Works in Glasgow for the Natal Government
Railways in 1905. It represented a giant step forward in locomotive design at the time and
even more importantly, ran for several years as one of the World's first 4-8-2's being one of
six Class 1 locos that Hendrie converted to this wheel arrangement as an experiment.
NBL Secretary Ken Livermore said that No. 1443 is an historic locomotive and fully
deserving of preservation. However, it is in open storage and starting to slowly deteriorate.
NBLPG are not likely to be in a position to move and restore it for several years so
realistically, its best chance of survival is likely to be with a new owner.
All enquiries regarding No. 1443 should be directed to NBL Preservation Group, 4
Porchfield Close, Earley, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 5YZ, telephone + 44 (0) 1189 864 706 or
email Ken direct at [email protected]
Thank You.
Ken Livermore
SAR 1B 1443 'Chaka' at Gledhow Sugar Mill (Feb 1990) Ken Livermore
SAR 1B
126
No 1443 Stored (Nov 2008) – Photo by Andy Anderson
South African Models
Scalecraft: - Adrian Hill
www.scalecraft.co.za
http://www.facebook.com/Scalecraft
021 592 72 69
+2721 592 7269
Scalecraft news
Locomotives, locomotives, locomotives…that is our war cry for the foreseeable future. Our
model of the iconic Class 15F has become highly sought after. The model runs well and
blends in nicely with our range of rolling stock. So where to from here, well, we have the
Class 23, Class 16E, 6E, 6E1, 5E, 5E1 & 18E on the drawing board. The 23 and the 6E will be
available shortly with the rest following shortly thereafter. Our steam locomotives are built
around Mehano running gear and the electric locomotives are built on Bachmann. We
install either constant current lighting or DCC depending on user preference. Keep in mind
127
that the models are designed and assembled in such a way that DCC can be fitted later on
if not factory fitted.
Our aim is to provide the avid modeller with products of the highest quality that are an
asset to their collection. We have decided to appoint two official agents with this in mind.
Our agents will ensure that your SAR modelling needs is met. Scalecraft products are only
available via three channels, namely; ourselves (of course), Mr. Shaun Le Roux of Cape
Model Trains and Mr. Rinke Blok of The Model Train Shop. Shaun and Rinke’s businesses
are the ONLY two official Scalecraft representatives so please feel free to speak to me,
Adrian, Shaun or Rinke should you be interested in our products.
Shaun and Rinke’s contact information is as follows
Shaun le Roux, Cape Model Trains, 081 475 4786
Rinke Blok, Model Train Shop, Tel: 011 795-3270
[email protected] www.modeltrainshop.co.za
Scalecraft product information
Scalecraft product information is available in the following publications:
• The Uloliwe1
• RMIG (Railway Modeller’s Information Group Newsletter)
Dream Trains – Wynand Vermeulen
16 Besembos Avenue,
Pellissier, 9301
Bloemfontein,
South Africa
PO Box 32882, Fichardtpark, 9317
www.dreamtrains.co.za
Hopefield: Terry Rowe
-
1 We are honoured, Adrian Hill! – HBH.
128
Railway Modellers’ Information Group: Lionel Penning
129
Usefull information: Last page of Lionel Pennings newsletter
130
From the Press
-
SA RAILWAY RELATED INTERNET GROUPS
• Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe (sic)
Visit our website: http://www.facebook.com/groups/74709226744/
It is an “open group” on the railways in South Africa. Keep abreast with the latest developments of
the railways in South Africa. It was started by Hennie Heymans some years ago. Johannes Marais is
co-administrator. No politics or no language questions. Keep it simple: only one thing on the
agenda: Railways in Southern Africa.
672 Members
• Yahoo: SAR-Miniatures – Adrian Hill
Please join us on our mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sar-miniatures/join We
not only talk about modelling SAR but also about modelling in general. The list is free of
politics and bickering and our aim is not only to advance SAR modelling but also to
exchange ideas and techniques.
• Facebook: ‘RHODESIA RAILWAY’ Group - John Batwell
A recent innovation on Facebook has been the start and rapid development of a
RHODESIA RAILWAYS site. Started by former railway employee Eddie Roussot, the site
has grown in leaps and bounds and has over 260 members already and a plethora of
photographs which depict the historical milestones and development of the small country’s
railway since those pioneering days back in 1897. Besides photos of stations, sidings,
locomotives of all types of traction, there are a number of photos posted too depicting the
human resources of the railway. The facility has enabled so many folk spread far and wide
across the world to reunite electronically and share their nostalgic and contemporary
photographic records and short comments of another time and age working on one of
Southern Africa’s most efficient rail systems. The facility also enables technical questions to
be shared and responses offered, new publications to be marketed, as well as a catch-up
time with old friends and work colleagues of yesteryear.
• Website for Reefsteamers: Lee Gates
You can find the latest information (albeit a bit scattered) on the 15F 2914 on our
Facebook Page at:
131
https://www.facebook.com/groups/387773301244867/
• Well worth a look
Reefsteamers Website is : www.reefsteamers.com
Reefsteamers Page is : www.facebook.com/groups/reefsteamers/
Reefsteamers Locomotive Restoration Project Page (15F 2914) is:
www.facebook.com/groups/387773301244867/
• Andre Kritzinger
André Kritzinger, Cape Town, Website:
http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/grela/chessie01.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Locomotives_of_South_Africa
http://grela.rrpicturearchives.net/
http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=12115
• Dennis Moore Steam
New book "BLACK DIAMONDS (Steam Locomotives at work on the colliery
railways of South Africa)"
The book may be viewed, in full and for free, at www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/3675073
To view all thirteen of my books (mainly South Africa, but also India and Zimbabwe),
including some E-books for i-Pads at a very nominal price, please go to www.blurb.com
and enter Dennis Moore steam in the search engine. [Thanks to J & J Wepener.]
• Adrian Hill says:
“Take a look at my website www.scalecraft.co.za “
• Touwsrivier / Touws River
Touws River on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/77640489112/
Railway Groups NOT mentioned above:
You are welcome to ad your group’s particulars here ...
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Rest of Africa & the World
Angola: Nostalgia Old CFB Coaches (part 2) - Anton van Schalkwyk
Map: Bruno Martin
CFM: Lourenco Marques or Maputo
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Tanzam-line
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Liberia Railways
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Pandora’s Box
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Mail Bag
Ray Ellis: Australia
Hi Hennie,
I have received your two emails thanks. I have only had a chance so far to have a quick
browse of what you have sent. As we say in Australia, I am a very happy little vegemite at the
moment!! So heaps of thanks for what you have sent. I am going to have many interesting
hours looking through it all!! You have amassed an amazing amount of stuff on the NGR
over the years!!
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I hadn’t realised what a great fan of the NGR that you are!! I share your passion with the
same railway. Apart from Campbell’s book, and Heinie Heydenrych & Bruno Martin’s
book on the NGR main line, the railway has not got much coverage in the press
unfortunately. I believe that Mike Cotterell’s RHG group in Natal are trying to put together
a book on the old main line, which will be great.
When I went to South Africa in 1980, I enjoyed Natal the most. It is so much like
Queensland. Sadly I haven’t been back since, although Les Pivnic now lives in Sydney, and
Bruno Martin lives in Brisbane, although he’s at the other side of town and getting there is
a bit of a problem. We have many South Africans here these days, plus a lot Rhodesians
too. So it mustn’t be too bad here!!!
I noted your thoughts on copyright, and that’s not a problem as my researches are
generally for my own use, except when I write stuff for your magazine and the RHG
Bulletin. And so far that’s been for railways other than the NGR!!
I am also fortunate to have a full set of the English magazine The Locomotive (Jan. 1896 >
Nov. 1959). There may be some articles & photos in there about the NGR which you may
not have. So, if I find anything I’ll send it on.
You’ve mentioned very little about your “history,” apart from fact that you were a
policeman, rising to the rank of inspector. I gather your father was an engine driver, and
that in early life you grew up in Van Reenen, but would love to know more?
Many, many thanks and I’ll talk to you again soon….
Cheers,
Ray Ellis; 26 Oct 2012
Dear Ray,
Both my father and I were policemen in the defunct South African Police Force; moulded in
the traditions of the SA Constabulary, Cape Mounted Police, Natal Police, OVSRDM, the
Zarps and many other forces. My father grew up in Van Reenen where my grandfather
was a businessman and farmer. My love for trains comes from my maternal Uncle who was
an engine driver. I love the history of Southern Africa, particularly Natal – HBH.
The Uloliwe November 2012
26 Oct 2012
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Dear Friends,
Thank you for all your contributions etc. Here is the link to the Nov issue of The Uloliwe -
just click on the link below: http://issuu.com/hennieheymans/docs/3_no_11_uloliwe
Some of our friends are sick - we also think about them!
Kind regards
Hennie Heymans
NG: Bob Hogan - Charles Collins
Dear Hennie,
Thank you for another issue of "The Uloliwe". I thoroughly enjoy this publication but
especially this issue because of Bob Hogan's article on EPCC #2. I am an avid two foot
gauge fan and long time lover of the SAR NG lines. I live in Northern California USA not
far from the San Francisco area where Bob resided for many years but I never meet him. I
would love to make contact with Bob as I am modelling the SAR Avontuur line in 16mm
scale.
To Your Health,
Charles Collins
Dear Charles
Thanks for your kind comments. Please contact me at: [email protected] and I will
bring you in touch with Bob.
Kind regards
NG: Bob Hogan - Terry Rowe
Hennie
As a 24" fan I would like to join Charles, first with another fine mag. and then Bob's article
on the EPCC number 2 is a gem, again thank you and Bob.
Terry
NG: Gavin – Estcourt - Weenen
Hi Hennie and all,
I doubt your description of the NGR photograph as the bottom of page 84, I think that it
might be a 2' gauge 4-6-2T which limits it to being on Stuartstown Railway, Estcourt -
Weenen or the Alfred County railway, as I'm not sure about the local geography I'd guess
that it might be near Port Shepstone....
Gavin
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NG & CGR: The Paxtons
Morning Youngster,
Thanks for the link to your latest Uloliwe – very interesting. You certainly cover a lot of
ground. Thanks too for the kind words, it means a lot. I am certainly not out of the woods
yet. Now that nerves to my feet are establishing themselves, pain is becoming a problem –
after 10 months. The body works in mysterious ways!
To answer a query first: The photo on page 84 is the open train on the Estcourt-Weenen line
18th April, 1907. The loco is a Hunslet 4-6-2T and a picture can be found in my book page
110.
I was also intrigued with your lovely old CGR diagram on page 81 of the Cape 1st Class 2-6-
0. These old Cape engines are favourites of mine, and I have built up a series of drawings
of them, but didn’t know anybody else was interested. While I ‘sukkel’ through the other
piece you and I have been discussing, how about I send you some of my CGR drawings
with a photo of each and a brief description of each? I have 13 ready to go, with another 4
still to draw. Heavens knows when I will get around to them.
Regards,
Leith
Dear Leith,
So nice to hear from you! Thanks for solving the mystery. May I suggest: You send me in
word.dox/c and drawings/photos in jpg - And I can run a monthly series for more than a
year. Please send me a photograph of yourself and some background (as the others have
done!) My prayers go with you! All of the best, Hennie
NB I can’t wait to hear from you!
I am nuuskierig!
Good Morning Youngster,
Hope you well. Just before you start sticking pins onto models of me!!! The first in the
series on locomotives of the CGR should be ready by the weekend, with a drawing and
photo. The exciting bit is that I have, in the process, discovered yet another loco Holland
missed, and what is more have to able to get a drawing of it to copy. This will form part 2,
and you will be amongst the first to see it. Who would have thought that in 2012 we would
still be finding new engines! They are only ‘pugs’, but to me it is important.
Regards,
Leith
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• Thanks Leith, I have received your first article with great appreciation. As we say in
the classics: “Alles van die beste Ou Kêrel!” - HBH
Uloliwe: PS Venter
Goeie middag,
Ek het toe die Uloliwe gekry dis uitstekend hou dit so.
Groete
Piet
Kevin Naylor
Thanks for all the info on the Pretoria-Pietersburg Railway Co! Wonderful thanks!
Telephonic report: Eric Samuels (26 Nov 2012)
PRASA’S Surprises
PRASA is at present expanding their image over South Africa’s (sub-urban) railway lines.
They are erecting state of the art station name boards and signs depicting shelters and all
other relevant signs to passengers and even GAUTRAIN-signs are displayed. All these
signs and pictograms are in blue with white lettering.
The name board of the Stations states for e.g. “PRETORIA” followed by “STATION” i.e.
“PRETORIA STATION”. Bosman Street is now BOSMAN STATION and that goes for the
stations at MEARS-, WALKER- & DEVINISH Streets. However “Rissik” station is now
called “RISSIK STREET”.
Eric asks whether PRASA think we are stupid. Why change names of old stations? Why ad
the word Station?
Stations and buildings between Eerste Fabrieke and Pienaar’s River
Eric informs that for more than two years trains were forced to move between these
stations using pilots. After two years everything has come to a grinding halt. Amongst the
structures are just weeds. The line between Pyramid South and Sentra Rand has been cut
and portions removed. Are the lines stolen or officially been removed, asks Eric.
Sightings
• On Saturday (24 Nov 2012) at Capital Park a steam loco was observed delivering a
Rovos observation car to the Carriage and Wagon Workshops at Capital Park.
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• Friends of the Rail (FOTR) Class 24 3665 did the shunting at the Electric & Diesel
Depot.
• A breakdown crane of the breakdown train was observed. What was remarkable
was the fact that three diesel electric cranes were seen. No 3 was painted brown with
SHELTAM painted on it!
• Also noted were three 43-Class diesels
• At Koedoespoort a solitary PURPLE Class 35 diesel was seen. The question Eric asks
where PRASA would use a class 35 diesel these days.
Stop Press
The Blue Train: J & J Wepener
Hi guys.
Today (26 Nov 2012), for once the Blue Train was on time, well just before it came past us anyway...
We phoned Leeuhof and later Klerksdorp and they told us she is running right time. When we
reached Leeudoringstad, we were told she is just at Leeubos - so a couple of minutes away.
We decided to head down the line towards Daalder. Almost 45 minutes later still no Blue. Then
Klerksdorp informed us that there has been a derailment between Daalder and Eersteling and
EVERYTHING is standing. So we head back to Leeudoringstad and here we find the Blue Train
standing, funny once when a person can get some nice shots, the locos are fugly.
The driver told us the derailment just happened and that they were probably going to be standing
there "Tot die son ondergaan..." - pointing towards the sun.
Now IF Transnet were clever enough they could easily have organized the Blue to run back to
Klerksdorp, organize diesels and let her run over the newly re-laid line to Westleigh. This could be
a test for Sunday's train...
We noticed new ballast and a tamping machine from Bothaville towards Mirage, so maybe the Blue
Train is coming this way on Sunday??
Will try to get to the scene of the derailment during this week, today would be impossible and we
would be in the way of the break down crew.
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Cheers.
J & J.
Comment on Blue Train Woes: Hennie Heymans
My wife nagged me to accompany her to a second hand book dealer. (I was busy “writing” this
newsletter.) So I was dragged off by my ear to the shop where I fell in love with four books! I
bought them very cheaply! What’s the point? One book is by Lawrence G Green: Full Many a
Glorious Morning. “A recent journey by rail and road in four countries of Southern Africa …”
(Howard Timmins, Cape Town, 1968.)
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I was amazed to read here and there through the book. The first chapter of the book is
devoted to the Blue Train and how splendid and good the train is. The chef on the Blue
Train has the freedom to decide on the menu, etc etc. Imagine the large amount of goodwill
built up by the former SAR to get an eminent author to write such flattering comments on
the Blue Train. The SAR’s Blue Train was the flagship of South Africa!
(Let’s digress for a moment: Say the Presidential Mounted Escort of the (former) SA Police
or the Canadian Governor General’s Mounted Escort is performed by officers without their
No 1 step out ceremonial uniforms, their steeds look mangy and are not groomed neither is
the saddlery polished! Some members of the escort wear their underpants, tekkies and T-
shirts on parade! Some are without headdress while others have baseball caps on.
One question: What do you think will happen to the relevant Minister, the Commissioner,
the Guard Commander and the Force as a whole? They would all be fired for dereliction of
duty! It would be an international disgrace!)
Look, I love my country and its people and our “Flag Ship”institutions (including the
railways). But this is bad, very bad for our image! Please TRANSNET do something!
Show that you care!
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Stop Press: 3E Models by Lourens Sturgeon
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Contact: “Lourens Sturgeon” <[email protected]>
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Below at the Vet River, heading towards Theunissen – J & J Wepener
The next issue of “The Ulolwe” will be Vol 4 No 1 and will be published, DV, sometime
during late January 2013.
Send in your comments, anecdotes and photographs please.
Take care! Issue / Volgende Uitgawe
Stuur solank u stories, herinneringe en eie foto’s aan [email protected] in jpg-formaat
Hennie Heymans – Pretoria, ZA © 2012