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Contents

WELCOME ................................................................................................................. 5

COVER PHOTO ......................................................................................................... 5

EDITORIAL: MOLTENO ............................................................................................. 6

WEBSITE: WORK IN PROGRESS ............................................................................ 7

WEPENER‘S PERAMBULATIONS ............................................................................ 8

20140325 ......................................................................................................... 8

Filler ......................................................................................................................... 12

WESTERN PROVINCE ............................................................................................ 13

THROUGH THE LENS OF TISH ARCHER ............................................................. 13

C-22: Forlorn at Knysna ........................................................................................ 13

Class 23: ―MAKADAS‖ Touws River ............................................................... 17

Laingsburg ...................................................................................................... 18

Geography .................................................................................................. 21

Flash flood................................................................................................... 21

Economy ..................................................................................................... 21

Bridge: Buffels River ................................................................................... 22

OUDTSHOORN: ANTON VAN SCHALKWYK ......................................................... 23

Headlines Restaurant: Oudtshoorn ................................................................ 23

Oudtshoorn Station ........................................................................................ 27

BRETT ―VUURHOUDJIE‖ RADLOFF ....................................................................... 29

New Prasa set in Cape Town ...................................................................... 29

WESTERN CAPE: DAVID SETTLE ......................................................................... 31

32-047 ............................................................................................................ 31

35-039 ............................................................................................................ 32

35-052 ............................................................................................................ 32

33-511; 33-001& 33-505 ................................................................................. 33

Movies & the railways ..................................................................................... 33

WESTERN CAPE..................................................................................................... 34

Graaff Reinet: Deon Kotze ............................................................................. 34

Touwsrivier: Fabian Maans ............................................................................ 37

Train 41258 at Touwsrivier .......................................................................... 37

Francois Mattheüs .......................................................................................... 38

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18-097 (Rovos) & 18-697 ............................................................................ 38

Blue Train pulled by Blue 18E‘ .................................................................... 39

E18-163 leading .......................................................................................... 39

35-053 & 35-038 ......................................................................................... 39

Metro: Bellville na Brackenfell ..................................................................... 40

Blue Train: Hilton Marx ............................................................................................. 40

NATAL SYSTEM: BILL DEYZEL .............................................................................. 41

The Python ..................................................................................................... 41

Refurbished 7E – E7180 ................................................................................ 41

37-087 from Durban to Glencoe ..................................................................... 42

Glencoe .......................................................................................................... 43

Vryheid Shuttle arriving in Glencoe ................................................................ 43

THE SAR EXPERIMENTAL SUCTION GAS-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE ................ 44

Dr Mike Parsley & Hennie Heymans .............................................................. 44

CHRIS DE VOS ....................................................................................................... 51

Treinramp 'wás iemand se fout' ................................................................... 51

From the Press: Wet coal? Chris de Vos answers ...................................... 54

FREE STATE: DANIE BOTES ................................................................................. 55

Kloofeind ........................................................................................................ 55

Van Tonder ..................................................................................................... 56

Hamilton ......................................................................................................... 58

Sannaspos ..................................................................................................... 59

TESTING CLASS E20 .............................................................................................. 60

Eastern Transvaal: Nicky Grobler ................................................................... 60

HSITORICAL SERIES: HILTON TEPER .................................................................. 61

NATAL: JACOBUS MARAIS .................................................................................... 63

18E-784 .......................................................................................................... 63

Clairwood Station ........................................................................................... 63

Rovos Rail ...................................................................................................... 64

NEW RECONDITIONED LOCOMOTIVES: JAN THIRION ...................................... 65

New 18-795 .................................................................................................... 65

New Class 33‘s ............................................................................................... 65

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BORDER WAR: JOHAN HERSELMAN ................................................................... 65

RAILWAY MAP ........................................................................................................ 67

15E: KALLIE BUCKLE ............................................................................................. 68

DE AAR: KOBUS NEL ............................................................................................. 68

Where Steam Dreams: Waar stoom droom .................................................... 68

FROM THE CABIN OF LEON STRYDOM ............................................................... 71

Class 35: Beaconsfield ................................................................................... 73

35-500 ......................................................................................................... 73

35-638 ......................................................................................................... 74

RAILWAY LIVERY / SPOORWEG LIVREI ............................................................... 74

SABOTAGE: MOLTENO .......................................................................................... 76

Via Les Pivnic .............................................................................................. 76

Via Noel Welch ............................................................................................ 76

NOEL WELCH: EASTER CAPE .............................................................................. 77

Exporting manganese in containers ............................................................ 77

PRASA Eastern Cape .................................................................................... 79

E7014 with train 37012 in the Algoa pass near Eagle's Crag ..................... 79

Metro .............................................................................................................. 80

Despatch-Uitenhage-Despatch ................................................................... 80

Ermelo mishap: Phil du Plessis ................................................................................ 81

43-111 ...................................................................................................................... 81

Natal Mainline: Rudi Venter ...................................................................................... 82

Metro Natal: Schalk Claasen .................................................................................... 83

Durban to Pinetown ..................................................................................... 83

LIGHTHOUSES ....................................................................................................... 87

The Milnerton Lighthouse ............................................................................... 87

AIRWAYS ................................................................................................................. 87

Nostalgia: Flying aboard a Handley Page HP-42: Imperial Airways (1931 –

1939) .................................................................................................................... 87

Kempton Park: Johannes Botha ..................................................................... 92

SOUTHERN AFRICA: CFB ...................................................................................... 94

New Chinese built coaches: ........................................................................... 94

GAUTRAIN ............................................................................................................... 97

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GAUTRAIN NEWS: MARCH 2014 ................................................................. 97

Roadworks around Loftus during the rugby season .................................... 97

PANDORA‖S BOX ................................................................................................... 98

Timber Light Railway: USA ............................................................................. 98

NEXT ISSUE & GREETINGS .................................................................................. 98

WELCOME

Welcome ... pour a cup of coffee and enjoy the contributions of like-minded people.

Most of our information is from our FACEBOOK page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/74709226744/ We have 1382 members who share with us. Please respect copyright and don‘t use other people‘s photographs without their permission.

COVER PHOTO

A beautiful photo taken by Francois Mattheüs near Cape Town.

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EDITORIAL: MOLTENO

As a retired policeman I have served in troubled areas and I always sit back and

think: ―Why did this happen?‖ Why?? What‘s the

problem?? What went wrong??

Yes, here in the Molteno event we have mens rea -

criminal intent. To me this is attempted murder; even

terrorism and sabotage because of dolus eventualis.

However sit back and think: Think of the years of

slogans that the masses have been bombarded and

conditioned with: School boycotts [Remember:

―Liberation before Education?‖], consumer boycotts,

strikes & stay-aways. They said ―an injury to one is

an injury to all ....‖ The poor and uneducated have been conditioned with negative

slogans since the 1950‘s and those fires of hatred and destruction have been kindled

by clergy, academics, liberals, the media, useful idiots et al.

I am sorry but you don‘t need a security analyst or a fortune-teller to tell you where

we are heading; unless we restore law and order and quit all the stupid and silly

laws we are heading for disaster.

If this is democracy; then I think it is hell!!! I don‘t see any bishop standing up and

saying: ―Dearly beloved, please stop the carnage, the theft, the corruption!‖ Where is

the media? No, they are all quiet! We live in a crazy world!

We Boers lost the war against Great Britain after fighting 32 months in the first real

global war. The Brits came from all over the Empire to fight about 40 000 Boers. (I

doubt if there were so many in the field at one time!) We fought the Empire in all its

glory. We had heroes on both sides! Then we made peace: ―The Peace of

Vereeniging!!‖

After peace, we started working! Our parents brought us up and taught us the correct

basic values. I remember putting my little shoes on the bunk in a compartment. I was

smacked and told not to put my feet on the bunk. Strange, I even remember the

aroma of the coaches.... and the sepia pictures.

We were driven to study. We started at the BOTTOM and worked our way UP. In the

police you started on the beat, and then progressed though the various tasks. In

lighter vein to prove my point: A certain class of people were employed to tend to the

gardens at the Union Buildings. There the pecking order was: ―Spades & shovels,

then picks, then rakes, then wheelbarrows and then the cushy job for the seniors:

hosepipes‖. One day there was a disturbance, a bit of nepotism crept in and the gist

of the complaint was: ―He started two months ago and he is already on hosepipes!‖

Many whites started as the cleaners of steam locomotives and then progressed

through the ‗ranks‘ to become special grade drivers etc. How on earth can you be

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proud of your achievement if you lose the race, but you are declared the winner?

That‘s patronising. We Boers emulated the Brits and started our own economic

power houses and banks. We must cherish the correct values and we must get

people to obtain a decent education. To-day we don‘t have any institutions of five

star academic excellence! We don‘t have dedicated teachers anymore.

All I can say: ―Things will get a little worse, before it gets any better!‖ The railways

have my sympathy; they are victims of bad law and criminals. They must use their

challenges and threats and turn them into opportunities ... e.g. employ people to

clean the rolling stock, stations, marshalling yards etc. Instil pride into the

organisation! Cut stupidity! Work smarter! Entice us to use the railways like in days

of old, give us the assurance that we as passengers will reach our destination safely;

in comfort and peace (and quiet.) Today we have computers as an aid to efficient

operations and I have the feeling that the old SAR had many more trains running

then, than now.

WEBSITE: A WORK IN PROGRESS

Some of you may already be aware that Glenn Elsden and I are in the process of

building a website – http://www.enongqaipublications.com. The 2014 January,

February and March editions of The Uloliwe are available for reading on the site.

New editions will always be announced on our Home Page, where you will find a

direct link to an easy-to-read scrollable (large view) format of the latest edition. The

magazine will be published on the website within 24 hours after it has been uploaded

to ISSUU. The same applies to our two other publications namely, The eNongqai

and Africa Police Journal. There is thus no need to download our free magazines,

although we‘ve also catered for readers who prefer to do so.

By the way, we are looking for good photographs of SAR Steam Locomotives from

Class1 to Class 26 the Red Devil. We are also looking for short, good quality; videos

on the SAR especially steam from days gone by.

Contact details: Hennie Heymans email: heymanshb@gmail.com

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The first locomotive in South West Africa - Walvisbaai

WEPENER’S PERAMBULATIONS

20140325

Hi Guys.

At Friedesheim we found 34 453 just finishing the Mondi timber shunt. As you

can see there is also mielies1 in the consist - since Transnet have lost the

fuel contract to Bothaville these two pick-ups are now combined. Actually

this is one of the reasons the fuel contract was lost - someone "clever"

decided to combine these trains which meant that the fuel was delayed,

sometimes for two days at a time, unfortunately the same guys have the fuel

supplies in Viljoenskroon, so they scrapped both rail contracts... There are

very few trains to Bothaville nowadays.

An alarming sight in our areas are the rows of road trucks loading at the

silos - seems like Transnet is going to lose this traffic as well...

Harmony Surface Rail at Steyn 4 shaft, the line to the left is to the

exchange yards with Sheltam and the old Saaiplaas shafts.

Sheltam was loading waste at Saaiplaas 4 shaft but the train was standing

bad for photos.

Welkom station with RRL taking a break.

1 Maize - HBH

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Another shot of HSR - this time heading towards the Gold plant and onwards

to the exchange yard with RRL.

Some photos of the old President Brand loco shed. This area is slowly being

destroyed and these might be some of the last photos of this old coach

intact, I have mentioned before - one of the bogies is dated 1918.

Cheers.

J & J.

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Filler

Photo by Les Pivnic – note the SAR Police in attendance

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WESTERN PROVINCE

THROUGH THE LENS OF TISH ARCHER

C-22: Forlorn at Knysna

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Class 23: “MAKADAS” Touws River

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Laingsburg

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Laingsburg: The area where the town stands was initially a farm named Vischkuil-aan-de-Buffelsrivier (fishing pond on the Buffalo River).

In the 1870s, the government of Prime Minister John Molteno oversaw a massive expansion of the Cape Colony's railway system. The route (chosen by the Prime Minister with a map, pen and ruler) ran past the farm, which a man called Stephanus Greeff bought for the purpose of development. The line was completed in 1878 and a small siding named Buffelsrivier was built at the farm.

With railway access, a town soon began developing. It was initially renamed Nassau to avoid confusion with Buffalo River in East London, and finally changed to the name Laingsburg, after John Laing who was Commissioner of Crown Lands at the time.

The town was laid out in 1881 and became a municipality in 1904. The Laingsburg Local Municipality has since been expanded to include Bergsig, Goldnerville and Matjiesfontein.

Geography

Laingsburg is situated along the N1 route, at Lat: -33.20, Long: 20.85, in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

The town is situated in the Great Karoo, a semi-desert region of South-Africa. The town's total rainfall is about 150mm per year. The main water supply is the Buffels River. Summers are extremely hot and dry, with temperatures usually exceeding 30°C. Winters are crisp to sometimes very cold, with snow occasionally occurring in the surrounding region.

Flash flood

On 25 January 1981, in Laingsburg's centennial year, the largest part of the town was swept away within minutes by one of the strongest floods ever experienced in the Great Karoo. After a cloud burst to the north-eastern hinterland, south of the Komsberg, a massive wall of water rushed down the Buffels River and swept away everything it encountered in its way. Animals, humans and their possessions were swept along and later dumped under meters of silt. Archaeologists estimate that such a freak flood can only occur once every 100 years.

Before the flood, rain initially started with a light drizzle that was welcomed by farmers in the area, since it didn't rain often. But, the soil of the area is of such a nature that it can't absorb much rainwater. The consequence is that water drains directly into the rivers. Water built up in both the Baviaans and Buffels Rivers and their confluence at the little town. The rivers quickly grew from normally small streams to a roaring wall of water almost 6 m high. Within hours the whole town was under water and residents had to fight for their lives.

Economy

Laingsburg‘s economy is mainly based on farming of goats, sheep, lucerne (Alfalfa)

fruit and vegetables. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laingsburg,_Western_Cape ]

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Bridge: Buffels River

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OUDTSHOORN: ANTON VAN SCHALKWYK

Headlines Restaurant: Oudtshoorn

Items on the walls of the "Headlines ―restaurant in Oudtshoorn:

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Some menu‘s from the old SAR Catering Department

They sure bring back pleasant memories

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The bar where I would like to drink a Castle Beer ... or a Black Label on a dry, hot,

dusty day in the Karoo – with a piece a dry ostrich biltong!

Oudtshoorn Station

Fortunately Oudtshoorn has track ...

Ufortunately Oudshoorn has no trains ...

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Anton says: ―A pretty lonely and desolate place, even with such an impressive

sandstone station building.‖

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BRETT “VUURHOUDJIE” RADLOFF

New Prasa set in Cape Town

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Lounge car 807. Originally built for the old Blue Train. One of two built by UCW the

other being 808.

Dining Car and Kitchen Car

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GD-2 Compo

WESTERN CAPE: DAVID SETTLE

32-047

32-047 working the Choo-tjoe many years ago

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35-039

35-039 with the Spier train in 1997

35-052

35-052 in brand new Spoornet orange — at Cape Town Docks

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33-511; 33-001& 33-505

33-511; 33-001& 33-505 at Worcester with the Southern Cross

Movies & the railways

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WESTERN CAPE

Graaff Reinet: Deon Kotze

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During 1991 Hennie Heymans was a student at the Police Academy in Graaff-

Reinet. During the course he visited the railway station and the decline was even

then evident. He and his colleagues travelled from Pretoria to Graaff-Reinet by bus;

provided by a private tour operator. The Dept of Police used this mode of transport

there and back instead of a passenger train. What a pity we could not travel by train!

Graaff-Reinet is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the fourth

oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and Swellendam.

History

The town was founded by the VOC Dutch East India Company in 1786, being named

after the then governor of Cape Colony, Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff, and his wife,

whose maiden name was "Reinet".

In 1795 the burghers, smarting under the exactions of the VOC, expelled

the Landdrost and proclaimed a republic. Similar action was subsequently taken by

the burghers of Swellendam. Before the authorities at Cape Town could take

decisive measures against the rebels, they were themselves compelled to capitulate

to the British. The burghers having endeavoured, unsuccessfully, to get aid from a

French warship at Algoa Bay surrendered to Colonel (afterwards General Sir) JO

Vandeleur.

In January 1799 Marthinus Prinsloo, the leader of the republicans in 1795, again

rebelled, but surrendered in April following. Prinsloo and nineteen others were

imprisoned in Cape Town castle. After trial, Prinsloo and another commandant were

sentenced to death and others to banishment. The sentences were not carried out

and the prisoners were released, March 1803, on the retrocession of the Cape to

the Netherlands.

In 1801 there had been another revolt in Graaff-Reinet, but owing to the conciliatory

measures of General F Dundas (acting governor of the Cape Colony) peace was

soon restored. It was this district, where a republican government in South Africa

was first proclaimed, which furnished large numbers of the Voortrekkers in 1835-

1842.

The Cape Colony received a degree of independence in 1872 when "Responsible

Government" was declared and, in 1877, the government of Prime Minister John

Molteno began construction of the railway line connecting Graaff-Reinet to Port

Elizabeth on the coast. This was officially opened on 26 August 1879.

Graaff-Reinet became the centre of British military operations for the whole Eastern

Cape during the Second Boer War. In 1901, a number of captured Boer rebels were

tried in the town for crimes ranging from high treason, murder, attempted murder,

arson and robbery. Nine were sentenced to death, with eight of these being

executed by firing squad on the outskirts of the town, while the ninth sentence was

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carried out in Colesberg. The Burgher Monument in Donkin Street commemorates

the fallen Boers.

The teachers‘ college was an educational centre of some importance; it was rebuilt

in 1906. The Graaff-Reinet Teachers College was closed down in 1990. The

institution was taken over by the South African Police. Graaff-Reinet is a flourishing

market for agricultural produce, the district being noted for its mohair industry, sheep

and ostrich farming2.

Touwsrivier: Fabian Maans

Train 41258 at Touwsrivier

2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graaff-Reinet

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Francois Mattheüs

18-097 (Rovos) & 18-697

Sondagmiddag, 23 Maart 2014, 3 minute na ―Rovos‖ - E18-697 lei hierdie trein met houers vir Bellville en die hawe. My skoonpa, drywer JN ―Langbrand‖ Brand vertel my hy het 75 trokke hier getrek.

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Blue Train pulled by Blue 18E’

E18-163 leading

35-053 & 35-038

35053 & 35038 met mielies oppad deur Brackenfell, Sondag 23 Maart 2014

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Metro: Bellville na Brackenfell

Bellville na Brackenfell. Enkellynbedryf. Brackenfell, 18 Maart 2014.

Blue Train: Hilton Marx

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Beaufort- Wes na Kaap vanoggend met 18E's.

Note different colours on prestige train.

NATAL SYSTEM: BILL DEYZEL

The Python

The Python before departure with five 18E‘s - Phyton net voor vertrek met 5 oranje

Eenhede.

Refurbished 7E – E7180

Refurbished 7E being hauled to the Rand

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37-087 from Durban to Glencoe

A Class 37 diesel being hauled from Durban to Glencoe where it will be used for

shunting.

37 Klas diesel word gesleep vanaf Durban na Glencoe vir rangeer

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Glencoe

Glencoe Yard from Uithoek

Glencoe-werf vanaf Uithoek

Vryheid Shuttle arriving in Glencoe

Five diesels with staff from Vryheid arriving with the shuttle at Glencoe

Vryheid se personeel kom Glencoe binne met 5 diesels op die shuttle

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THE SAR EXPERIMENTAL SUCTION GAS-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE

Dr Mike Parsley & Hennie Heymans

Few people know that the good old SAR had a Gas-Electric Locomotive, which

operated during the 1920‘s between Kimberley and Winter‘s Rush.

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During October 1922 the Assistant General Manager (AGM) of the SAR asked the

Mechanical Superintendent, Mr. C. Lawson, whether it would be practical to devise a

motor vehicle, which would use fuel other than petrol. This was an attempt to reduce

the cost on infrequently used branch lines. Diesel locomotives were then in its

infancy.

Lawson saw no reason why carbon monoxide (CO) gas could not be used instead of

petrol and made a proposal to the AGM. Who viewed the proposal in a favourable

light and obtained the General Manager‘s approval who then sanctioned the

experiment.

The general outline of the experiment was a gas-electric locomotive based on the

same principle as the Swedish Diesel-Electric locomotives of that early period. That

is, instead of a diesel engine, a petrol engine burning CO-gas would be used. An

electric generator-motor combination would be used to transfer the engine‘s power to

the wheels.

First Mr. Lawson had to obtain a suitable plant. After some fruitless searches for a

suitable plant he remembered that the Union Defence Force had some Whippet

tanks.

The Nongqai 1918: 516

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The only tram in Kimberley

Mr Lawson remembered that they had a pair of ―Tilling-Stevens‖ high-speed petrol

engines of a suitable design although of limited power. This the Department of

Defence kindly put at the disposal of the Railway Administration.

Further components were obtained Mr. Winstanley, an early optimist, of the firm

British General Electric who lent the SAR a dynamo (known as an electric generator

these days); while the De Beers Company of Kimberley lent the SAR two tramway

motors and a control gear.

The carbon monoxide gas generator was built out of the smoke box section of a

Class 6 locomotive boiler.

47

The basic principle of operation of this gas generator will be described later in this

article. Lawson described the scrubber, i.e. a device to remove solid matter from the

CO-gas in this case, as ―a tank of curious dimensions‖ which was ―resurrected the

Pretoria scrap bank‖ and was pressed into service. A section from an ancient

chimney had to serve as a gas expansion chamber.

The engines, dynamo, tramway motors, control gear, gas generator, scrubber and

gas expansion chamber were assembled on an under frame supplied by Salt River

scrap bank. Lawson experienced problems with the under frame; it had cross

bearers and struts in exactly the position where they were not required for his

purpose. Where he required support for the engines and dynamo there was none,

while the cross bearers were invariably in the way!

After all the components were finally assembled the complete device was tested in

Germiston one evening at 19:00. Lawson, with considerable hope, turned on the

controller after steam had been raised and sufficient gas was being generated to run

the petrol engines. The result was strange noises underneath, due to the electric

motors running in opposite directions. Once all the wires were changed the machine

moved, for the first time, on its own power out of the shed.

The Railway Board heard of the on-going experiment and wished to view ―GAS

ELECTRIC NO 1‖ at Johannesburg Station. Although not exactly in exhibition form,

while still full of teething problems, with engines that had seen better days they

travelled to Johannesburg Station. En route the circuit breakers jumped out once or

twice before their destination. This either meant that the electric generator-motor

combination was overloading at times or the switchgear was not adequate. However,

the then Minister of Railways, the Hon. J .W. Jagger, MLA, and the Board inspected

the vehicle and their remarks were most encouraging.

48

At this stage of the experiment the team found that the following items were not

really necessary, as in the case of the normal stationary engines, the wet scrubber,

the dust collector, a 400-gallon circulating tank and various other items were

eliminated one by one.

On a test run to Volksrust (167 miles) various adjustments were made to the water

circulating arrangements. Once all the improvements were affected, the power

increased and the motors showed that they could not stand the continuous current

that was generated. Mr. Winstanley then procured two 50 hp. Siemens traction

motors. The result was that these motors could take more current than the engines

could generate.

Mr. Rodgers (of Messrs. Fraser and Chalmers) came to the rescue with the

information that they had a 120 hp. ―Holt‖ Caterpillar Tractor in Bulawayo and would

place the engine at the disposal of the SAR for experimental purposes. The engine

arrived in due course and they struggled with their old enemy, the under frame. After

re-arranging the machinery they continued their tests.

The equipment in the engine now consisted of:

- A gas generator, - A scrubber; (not the original wet one) - An expansion chamber; - A 120 hp Holt internal combustion engine; - An electric generator; - Two 50 hp Traction motors; and - Two tramway series-parallel controllers for the control of electrical current, actuated in a similar manner to the ordinary tram; - Resistances to be used with these controllers to ensure a range of speeds.

At this stage the current generated with the engine running at normal working (750

revolutions per minute) was 140 amperes and 500 volts. By speeding up the engine

600 volts could be obtained but this meant a heavy load for the electric generator.

The General Manger‘s decided that the engine had to start earning revenue and it

was decided that it would serve on the Winter‘s Rush branch line. All the machinery

was housed in a separate compartment and accommodation was provided for 20

third class passengers. In addition a Cape bogie coach, serving as trailer, was

attached to the experimental locomotive.

Gas Electric N0 1

49

Capable of 85 hp. Carried 20 3rd class passengers on 40-foot under frame. [More

accommodation would have been possible if a 60 - 65 foot under frame was used.]

Built on a heavy under frame, weight 32 tons.

Cape bogie coach had a 16-ton tare.

The gas generating plant was never altered in principle from their first experiment

and the generator, scrubber and the expansion chambers were kept as they were.

The train worked for several years on the Kimberley — Winters Rush line.

50

The Gas Suction Principal (1924)

Combustion gasses rich in carbon monoxide are known variously as Water Gas,

Producer Gas and Mond Gas. These are generated by passing air and steam though

some kind of red-hot carbonaceous fuel, usually coal, which is in a state of

incandescence, i.e. burning red hot. The gas generator consists of a combustion

portion where the coal is initially burnt, to generate the required steam. The steam is

then blown through this same burning coal, taking air with it, and a ―producer gas‖ is

liberated as a product of this type of combustion. Ordinarily, the combustion of coal

produces carbon dioxide. However, forcing steam through the burn causes a certain

amount of incomplete combustion. The product of this incomplete combustion is

carbon monoxide. Depending on the vessel used, the gas created might be under a

slight pressure caused by the velocity of the steam. In order to reduce this pressure

an expansion chamber is provided. It seems that it was later established that the

suction created by the petrol engine increased the generation of the gas. Obviously

this suction would draw more steam and air through the burn to accomplish this. This

would probably make the expansion chamber superfluous. For this reason the term

―suction gas‖ was applied to gas generated by this method.

The advantage of this process was that the amount of gas produced depended on

the speed and throttle opening of the engine, thus the harder the engine worked the

greater the draw of air and steam through the fire, which generated more gas!

Lawson found that the more steam he could draw through the fire the better the

quality of gas; but on the question of what the mixture of steam, gas and air really

had to be used could then not be estimated because he was without the necessary

scientific appliances. ―The Indicator cards taken a fair index to the explosion of the

mixture in the cylinders, as to whether it is quick firing, but of course do not divulge

the composition of the mixture‖ [Lawson p 360] Once the Ammeter and the Voltmeter

in the unit showed signs of falling it was a sure sign that more was needed. Letting

down char (fine coal) from the hopper had an immediate effect on the gas. Lawson

found, on a long run, that the air valve required no alteration, which proved that the

gas produced was of a uniform composition.

At that stage the layman did generally not know the efficiency of the internal

combustion engine with electric transmission. This method is about 30% efficient if

the internal combustion engine is a diesel. A steam locomotive is only about 5%

efficient. A petrol engine, as used by Lawson, is not as efficient as a diesel engine.

Then there is the efficiency of the gas generator that Lawson was not able to assess

without ―appliances not at his disposal‖ i.e. Orsat‘s Apparatus.

All in all the ―suction gas‖ method has been superseded by the diesel-electric

locomotive, which has proved to be a more convenient machine to operate over long

distances. These locomotives require diesel fuel only and not coal and water.

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BIBLIOGAPHY

Conradie, Eric Photos and Map of Branch line.

Lawson, C: Suction Gas-Electric Locomotive, SA Railway‘s and Harbours

Magazine, April, 1924. Johannesburg [p 357 — 360].

Paxton, L & Bourne D: Locomotives of the SAR; Struik, 1985, Cape Town. [P 119].

The Nongqai: 1918.

CHRIS DE VOS

Treinramp 'wás iemand se fout'

2014-03-15 23:19 - Pieter-Louis Myburgh

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Chris de Vos, ‘n voormalige treindrywer, sê die Suid-Afrikaanse spoorweë is in ‘n benarde toestand. Een van Suid-Afrika se dodelikste treinrampe tot nog toe – waarin onder meer 16 kinders dood is – is glo veroorsaak deur ‘n treinbeheeramptenaar se nalatigheid en nie deur kabeldiefstal soos wat spoorwegowerhede al jare lank aanvoer nie. So sê een van die mees senior figure in die Suid-Afrikaanse spoorwegwese na aanleiding van Rapport se onthullings oor eksamenbedrog, peperduur ongelukke en onbekwaamheid by die spoorwegreus Transnet. Voorts wys dokumente van die spoorwegveiligheidsreguleerder (RSR) van die passasiersdiens Metrorail se treine het nie eens werkende kajuitradio‘s vir hul drywers nie. Rapport berig vandag vir die eerste keer dat verlede jaar se twee ergste Metrorail-ongelukke, waarin sowat 180 mense beseer is, van wie sommige kritiek, ook deur nalatigheid veroorsaak is. Chris de Vos, voormalige hoofsekretaris van die spoorwegvakbond Utatu en tot einde verlede jaar raadslid van die RSR, sê die ware toedrag van sake in die spoorweë moet blootgelê word. De Vos het in ‘n voorlegging aan senior spoorwegamptenare by die RSR se

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veiligheidsberaad verlede jaar vir die eerste keer onthul die verwoestende KwaDukuza-ongeluk in KwaZulu-Natal in 2002, waarin 24 mense dood en 168 beseer is, is veroorsaak deur ‘n treinbeheeramptenaar (TBA) wat die drywer van ‘n Metrorail-trein toestemming gegee het om op ‘n lyn te ry wat reeds deur ‘n stilstaande goederetrein van Transnet beset was. Die daaropvolgende botsing het onder meer 16 kinders se lewens geëis. Die betrokke TBA was van Transnet. Laasgenoemde het kabeldiefstal die skuld vir die ongeluk gegee. De Vos sê dit is twak. ―Daar was wel kabeldiefstal wat veroorsaak het dat die sinjale nie gewerk het nie, maar die TBA het nogtans die Metrorail-trein op die lyn toegelaat sonder om by die naasliggende stasie se TBA te hoor of die lyn skoon is,‖ sê De Vos. Hy dra eerstehandse kennis van die ongeluk omdat hy die betrokke TBA in sy hoedanigheid as vakbondleier by Transnet se interne verhoor oor die ongeluk verteenwoordig het. De Vos sê die TBA is onskuldig bevind omdat Transnet die verhoor verbrou het. ―Die TBA en die ander getuies is nie eens gevra om te getuig nie,‖ sê hy. Transnet hou by sy storie. ―Ons ondersoek het gewys die kernoorsaak van die ongeluk was die feit dat die tegniese treinbeheerstelsel nie gewerk het nie weens kabeldiefstal,‖ sê Sandile Simelane, Transnet se woordvoerder. * Rapport het ook ‘n RSR-verslag van 2013 bekom wat wys van Metrorail se treine het nie werkende kajuitradio‘s nie. Treindrywers gebruik dié radio‘s om met TBA‘s te kommunikeer. Babalwa Mpendu, die RSR se woordvoerder, sê Metrorail gee aandag aan die probleem nadat die RSR hom daaroor berispe het. ―Metrorail het sedertdien radio‘s gekoop en begin installeer. Altesame 85% van die radio‘s is al geïnstalleer,‖ sê sy. Die twee groot Metrorail-ongelukke verlede jaar, onderskeidelik in Pretoria in Januarie en in Durban in Desember, is albei deur nalatigheid veroorsaak. Altesame 170 mense is in eersgenoemde beseer, van wie 20 ernstig. In die Durban-ongeluk is 12 mense beseer. Van die oorsake van die ongeluk in Pretoria sluit in dat die drywer te vinnig gery het en dat daar ‘n gebrek aan kommunikasie tussen die drywer en die TBA was, sê Mpendu. Die ondersoek na die ongeluk in Durban is nog nie afgehandel nie, maar die voorlopige bevindings wys die drywer het ‘n gevaarsinjaal verontagsaam. Die Passasierspooragentskap, onder wie se bestuur Metrorail val, het weer nie op Rapport se navrae gereageer nie. http://www.rapport.co.za/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Treinramp-was-iemand-se-fout-20140315

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From the Press: Wet coal? Chris de Vos answers

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FREE STATE: DANIE BOTES

A story without words.

Kloofeind

The coffin does not keep the criminals away!!!

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Van Tonder

Old SAR house

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What story does this old building have?

Van Tonder silo

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Hamilton

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Sannaspos

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TESTING CLASS E20

Eastern Transvaal: Nicky Grobler

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HSITORICAL SERIES: HILTON TEPER

NZASM No 50: 40-ton locomotive at Komatipoort

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Emil Kessler

NZASM No 28

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NATAL: JACOBUS MARAIS

18E-784

Highest serial number of an 18E captured by Jacobus

Clairwood Station

Clairwood stasie 23-02-14

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Rovos Rail

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NEW RECONDITIONED LOCOMOTIVES: JAN THIRION

New 18-795

18-791 @ KDS

New Class 33’s

New 33 class locomotives.

BORDER WAR: JOHAN HERSELMAN

Police trucks sent by rail

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RAILWAY MAP

Grant Slater: Map to display all the railway lines in South Africa by name:http://firefishy.com/tmp/railway-lines/ (beta. Many bugs like unsorted list.) There are mistakes, like the Apple Express "passenger route" being listed (Avontuur is listed). The background can be changed to aerial imagery by using the little selector top right of map. Map can be zoomed by using scroll wheel or panned by dragging using mouse. The data is pulled live from the OpenStreetMap project which I have been involved with since 2006. All data is sourced from scratch. It has been a multi year effort for me. South African Railway Lines (Beta) Grant Slater: I've created a little website to show all passenger rail routes in South Africa (work in progress) http://firefishy.com/tmp/railway/ — in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. South Africa Railway Routes (Beta) Bill Deyzel and 5 others like this.

Grant Slater Any feedback greatly appreciated. If anyone has a list of freight routes I'd love to add those.

Grant Slater The website is still in progress, but collecting all the data has been a multi-year effort.

Hennie Heymans Grant Slater - excellent map! I studied all the old Durban lines I knew - I see there are no tracks around the Bluff to the old Whaling Station. 4 March at 06:21 · Like

Stefan Andrzejewski The Boland Express goes right through to Worcester. 4 March at 06:48 · Unlike · 2

Grant Slater Another link which features railway lines by name: http://firefishy.com/tmp/railway-lines/ (beta). The background can be changed by click small icon top right of map.

South African Railway Lines (Beta)

Grant Slater Stefan: This document seem to imply the Boland Express only goes as far as Huguenot: http://www.capemetrorail.co.za/.../Business_Express...

The Business Express service operates between Huguenot - Cape Town and Strand

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Stefan Andrzejewski That's the Business Express. The Boland Blitz (sorry) goes to Worcester. Is that on your schedule?

Grant Slater Unfortunately my website does not work with Internet Explorer properly. Best to try it Chrome or Firefox.

Grant Slater I've made it much faster and got it to work with Internet Explorer

Grant Slater Lists are now sorted.

15E: KALLIE BUCKLE 15E teen 100% krag; vrag bestaan uit 5 x 15E op vier verskillende plekke in die trein en 41040 ton vir 1368

asse. Trein lengte 3780 meter

DE AAR: KOBUS NEL

Where Steam Dreams: Waar stoom droom

Staged GO 2586, 12A 2123 and old railway trucks

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FROM THE CABIN OF LEON STRYDOM

Train 921745 at Modderrivier with E7016 en 2 6E`s

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Modderrivier-stasie; Kyk hoe rook die vakuumpomp ;silo op Modderrivier

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Staan vir 50 minute by ʼn kruising met trein 3454 op Modderrivier, die 6e`s is goed geplunder.

Class 35: Beaconsfield

35-500

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35-638

RAILWAY LIVERY / SPOORWEG LIVREI

Martin Nel Ek het nou weer so deur my kiekies gekyk van die verskillende livrei (dis wat die HAT die Engelse begrip "livery" noem) van ons elektriese en diesel lokomotiewe. Negentien-lank gelede was die elektriese eenhede groen.

Later het hulle die SAS rooi/ maroen gehad.

Toe die diesels inkom was hulle algar in die rooi/maroen geverf behalwe 'n paar wat spesifiek vir die Bloutrein geverf was. Hulle was ook die Bloutrein se blou met geel strepe wat net so op die neus was ( 34 klas 900's).

Later het dit ontaard in 'n bont spul van oranje, vuil blou, vaal rooi of bruin en wie weet wat nog.

Ons lewe in 'n dinamiese wêreld en om alles net eenvoudig af te skiet omdat dit in die "ou tyd" so was, is myns insiens baie kortsigtig. Vir my lyk die livrei (hel, ek laaik hierdie woord) wat TFR nou aangeneem besonder mooi.

PRASA se pers pas ewe mooi op die SM treine en ook die PRASA blou lyk nie sleg nie. Dink net hoe sal dit wees as alle lokomotiewe weer netjies en skoon sal wees in die livrei van die organisasie waaraan hy behoort. Dit sal ook meer trots begin terugbring. Hierdie bontspul kan geen mens iets van uitmaak nie.

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Andre Somers 19 March · Worcester stasie op pad na Johannesburg 28 Februarie 2014.

Above a photo taken by Andre Somers. In my opinion the purple colour scheme with

the Premier Classè looks beautiful. The purple locomotives look nice even on the

ordinary PRASA coaches.

However from my schooldays (c1950‘s) there was one train: The ‗old‘ Orange

Express that passed near our school in Umbilo from Durban to Cape Town.

The old Blue Train and the Royal White Train also looked lovely. But even our

post 1961 colour scheme of dove grey and red (in the various variants) looked

beautiful especially with the silver roof.

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SABOTAGE: MOLTENO

Via Les Pivnic

Via Noel Welch

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NOEL WELCH: EASTER CAPE

Exporting manganese in containers

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PRASA Eastern Cape

E7014 with train 37012 in the Algoa pass near Eagle's Crag

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Metro

Despatch-Uitenhage-Despatch

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Well done thank you, Noel! - HBH

Ermelo mishap: Phil du Plessis

43-111

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Natal Mainline: Rudi Venter

Rudi Venter has railways in his veins! Photo taken in his front office.

Kosmos time

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Metro Natal: Schalk Claasen

Durban to Pinetown

The cockpit

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Going next to the Southen Freeway between Maydon Wharf and Umbilo

Rossburgh

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The ―Old Bull & Bush‖ was just across the road. [One night the SAP attended to a disturbance at the ―Old B &B‖. One of the inebriated customers grabbed the police van‘s mike and entertained the police in Port Natal on the old soldier‘s song: ―Pack up your troubles‖. The SAP showed their appreciation for his talents and he was rewarded with an admission of guilt fine for obstructing the police.]

The old SAR viaduct at the South Coast line, Umlazi line, Chatsworth line, Bluff line and inland line. There was an alternative route between Pietermaritzburg and

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Durban. – I wish Bruno Martin could do a map on this section.

Malvern station in the old NGR-style

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LIGHTHOUSES

The Milnerton Lighthouse

Artikel deur Johan Jacobs

Die Milnerton-vuurtoring is 'n vuurtoring aan die Atlantiese Oseaan op die noordoostelike punt van Tafelbaai in die Kaapstadse voorstad Milnerton.

Foto: Wikepedia Die 21 meter hoë silindriese beton toring is wit geverf. Dit is op 10 Maart 1960 in gebruik geneem. Die kort stukkie kus tussen Groenpunt en Milnerton het meer skepe geëis as enige ander deel van Suid-Afrika se kuslyn: Meer as 150 skepe het hier vergaan.

AIRWAYS

Nostalgia: Flying aboard a Handley Page HP-42: Imperial Airways

(1931 – 1939)

Received via email (per Johan Jacobs)

Flying the airlines in the thirties was a lot more fun than it is now. It was more leisurely and had more class. Certain elitist and anti- British people have no time for these period "rich types". People like these, the risk takers (especially with their own money) were the backbone of the UK. They flew from the first airline operations across the Channel in 1919.

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If people had serious money in the 1930s and travelled internationally, they may well have flown on one of these large (130 foot wingspan) Handley Page bi-plane aircraft, which were the mainstay of British Imperial Airways at the time. They carried 26 passengers in first class only, in three different compartments. The first class saloon, the bar and cocktail area, and the smoking section. These machines were ubiquitous, extremely safe (no passenger in a HP-42 was ever killed in 10 years of international and domestic operations from 1930 until 1940), very comfortable in seating, leg room and service, hot meals were served on bone china with silver cutlery, free liquor flowed, overnights were in the very best hotels. There was no rush, no waiting in lines and everyone was well dressed. Flying along at a few thousand feet, one could see, (down to the quality of the washing on the backyard clothes lines) every interesting feature passing below. At 95 to 100 mph. one also had time to look at the passing panorama. It took four days to a week (depending on headwinds and weather) to fly from London to Cape Town, South Africa. By only flying about four hours a day, staying at the best hotels in Europe, Cairo, Khartoum and the Victoria Falls. All stops to India also made for an interesting choice of destinations. Old fashioned and good mannered ideas and behaviour, like dressing up to have evening drinks on the balcony and certainly not ever being in a hurry - one can only salivate at how pleasurable that would be. In a modern jet, one can get from A to B quickly (even with stop-overs), but nowadays there is nothing to be seen on the ground from 35,000 feet, the modern airline food is at best, basic (unless you are in first class) and passengers are so jam-packed in that one tends to feel like an immigrant in steerage as the Clipper Ship (ca 1844) creaks and strains along. We will not get on to the subject of terminals.

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HP-42 "Hanno" at Samakh, Lake Tiberias in Palestine, 1931. Bi-plane aircraft,

such as Tiger Moths, can land anywhere; wherever there is a stretch of grass. This

airliner was a little more speedy than a DH-82 Tiger Moth, but the landing speed

would be quite similar,.

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A 1930 flying magazine's view of the new HP-42 airliner. Note crew member as the radio operator. The Bristol Jupiter engines were initially 450 hp and later bumped up to 550 hp. Cruise speed was 100 mph or 87 knots. Maximum speed was 120mph or 104knots. No airline passenger was ever killed in one of these machines - in 10 years of service. They flew all over the UK and Europe and down to South Africa on a regular basis.

They also conducted regular services to India via many places en-route. There were occasions, flying down to Cape Town, when the strong headwinds from the south reduced the groundspeed to such an extent that the crew turned the machine around. They flew back to their point of departure and sat it out in the hotel.

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The crew. The Captain, almost certainly, would have flown in the First World War

(love his cigar).

Khartoum, Sudan. Boarding for the flight south. Only one more overnight and then

they will be taking in the sights of Lake Victoria.

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There was only one class; First Class. This is the forward saloon. Note the

gentleman's pith helmet in the rack. Airspeed indicator and altitude displays - as in

modern jets - are on the bulkhead.

Imperial Airways at Cairo. 1932. Note the refuelling equipment, including the ladders

resting on the upper engines. Note, also, the modest terminal building.

Kempton Park: Johannes Botha

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SOUTHERN AFRICA: CFB

New Chinese built coaches: Anton van Schalkwyk

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96

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GAUTRAIN

GAUTRAIN NEWS: MARCH 2014

Compiled by Johan Jacobs

Roadworks around Loftus during the rugby season

Due to the City of Tshwane‘s BRT project, there are currently road works taking place in Pretoria that may affect your travel plans to Loftus Versfeld. Lynnwood Road is closed for all traffic between University and Walton Jameson. This area will, however, be open to pedestrian traffic.

We urge all our fans and patrons to allow sufficient time when making travel arrangements to the stadium. Please note that the Gautrain services will be fully functional for this time! The last bus leaving the Loftus precinct will be at 20h00.

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PANDORA”S BOX

Timber Light Railway: USA

NEXT ISSUE & GREETINGS

The next issue of ―The Uloliwe‖ will be Vol 5 No 5 and will be published, DV, sometime during late May 2014.

Send in your comments, anecdotes and photographs please. Take care!

Stuur ASB solank u stories, herinneringe in word.doc/x of per epos en eie

foto’s in jpg-formaat aan uloliwe@gmail.com

Hennie Heymans – Pretoria, ZA © 2014