the uloliwe

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THE ULOLIWE

SOUTH AFRICA – SUID-AFRIKA

A monthly railway historical and research publication

‘n Maandelikse spoorweg historiese en navorsing publikasie

Vol 3 No 6

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

[email protected]

June 2012

15F 3098 by R S Maidment-Wilson

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Contents

Welcome ...................................................................................................................................................... 6

Front Cover – Voorblad:............................................................................................................................ 6

Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................... 6

Editorial – Redaksioneel............................................................................................................................ 7

Anglo Boer War Graves: Railway Property: Brian Kaigs ............................................................. 8

Cartoon: Victory Cavalcade: Cape Town – Corp JH Jackson .................................................... 10

Main Stories .............................................................................................................................................. 11

1. A Visit to Langkloof - HBH ............................................................................................................ 11

- Impression ...................................................................................................................................... 17

2. Catching the Falling Stars - Lee Gates ........................................................................................... 18

- Who is Lee Gates? .......................................................................................................................... 20

Wepener’s Perambulations ..................................................................................................................... 21

Plasserrail at Gunhill ....................................................................................................................... 21

Blue Train at Makwassie ................................................................................................................. 21

Wesselsbron Class 34-453................................................................................................................ 23

Demise of the Harmony Line ......................................................................................................... 24

Industrial Archaeology SAR Gewin (Station Name) .................................................................. 25

More industrial archaeology .......................................................................................................... 27

Grasslands ......................................................................................................................................... 28

Trainspotting ............................................................................................................................................ 29

Railway History of South Africa ............................................................................................................ 31

CGR: 1st Class Stephenson No 413 .................................................................................................... 31

NGR: 6- Wheeled Coupled Tank Engine – Beyer Peacock ............................................................. 31

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Cape Town Station - Blackie - [4’ 81/2”] ................................................................................................. 32

- What has happened to Blackie? ................................................................................................... 32

OVS Staatspoorwegen (OVSS) ............................................................................................................... 32

- Kroonstad ........................................................................................................................................ 32

- President MT Steyn’s Carriage .................................................................................................... 33

NZASM.................................................................................................................................................. 33

- First NZASM Driver & Boulder at Waterval Boven ................................................................. 33

Anglo Boer War – CGR ....................................................................................................................... 35

Stations ...................................................................................................................................................... 36

Bonnievale as it was – Luca Lategan ................................................................................................. 36

Bonnievale as it is now – Alida van der Linde (Die Burger).......................................................... 37

SAR Brits ............................................................................................................................................... 38

SAR Bridge: Selati Line – Piet van Zyl .................................................................................................. 38

SAR and World War 2 ............................................................................................................................. 40

SAR Traction and Rolling Stock ............................................................................................................. 42

1E – Some were new in 1945 ............................................................................................................... 42

E1 & other electric locomotives staged at Ladysmith – Rudi Venter ........................................... 42

A Historical Potpourri from Paul Els ................................................................................................ 45

19BR 1410 .............................................................................................................................................. 48

Transnet ..................................................................................................................................................... 48

- Vierfontein - Orkney ..................................................................................................................... 48

SA Metro Rail ........................................................................................................................................ 52

More Durban Railway stations - Rudi Venter ................................................................................. 52

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- Jacobus Marais: .............................................................................................................................. 52

George Railway Museum – HBH ...................................................................................................... 56

Old Free State mainline alignments – J Wepener & Bruno Martin ................................................... 63

Railway People – Spoorwegmense ........................................................................................................ 64

Plaque for Mr AD Webster: SAR Patensie – Mark Ruddy ............................................................. 64

Obituary: Ted Hamer [13 January 1943 - 16 May 2012] – John Batwell ....................................... 64

Admiral HH Bierman .......................................................................................................................... 67

Railway Police ...................................................................................................................................... 67

Water Police ...................................................................................................................................... 67

Railway Police Camouflage Uniform – Danie Els ....................................................................... 67

Previous issues of Uloliwe ...................................................................................................................... 68

Rail Humour ............................................................................................................................................. 68

Book Shelf .................................................................................................................................................. 69

24 Inches Apart – Sydney Moir .......................................................................................................... 69

Broomfield Siding: PMB .......................................................................................................................... 71

Not the Whole Truth – FN Broome (University of Natal Press, PMB 1962):16 ........................... 71

Natal Newsletter: Railway Society of South Africa – Ashley Peter .............................................. 71

SAR’s Road Motor Transport Service [RMT] ....................................................................................... 72

Old RMT Base - Ventersburg – J & J Wepener ................................................................................. 72

South African Airways: Palmietfontein – HBH ................................................................................... 73

South African Airways - Johannes Botha [Boksburg]: ........................................................................ 74

SAA History: Blue Crane – Marthinus Botha ...................................................................................... 76

Harbours.................................................................................................................................................... 77

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Catering Division ..................................................................................................................................... 77

Rhodesia Railways, National Railways of Zimbabwe – J Batwell .................................................... 78

Rovos Rail – Lindy Lou: Jan Steenberg ................................................................................................. 80

RR & RRAF Harvards – John Batwell ................................................................................................... 81

Memories: Bosveld Train Safaris - HBH ............................................................................................... 82

Situation Reports: Reef Steamers – Lee Gates ...................................................................................... 84

Umgeni Steam Railway: GMAM 4074 ................................................................................................. 89

Paton’s Country Railway ........................................................................................................................ 90

Patons Country Railway Annual Aloe Train Trips ..................................................................... 92

Train: Bokkie Park: Boksburg – Johannes Botha ................................................................................. 94

South African Models .............................................................................................................................. 95

Scalecraft: 15F - Adrian Hill ................................................................................................................ 95

From the Press .......................................................................................................................................... 98

Mense vertrap mekaar by Pretoriastasie .......................................................................................... 98

SA RAILWAY RELATED INTERNET GROUPS................................................................................. 99

• Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe (sic) ................................................. 99

• Yahoo: SAR-Miniatures – Adrian Hill .................................................................................. 99

• Facebook: ‘RHODESIA RAILWAY’ Group - John Batwell ............................................... 99

• Website for Reefsteamers: Lee Gates ................................................................................... 100

• Andre Kritzinger .................................................................................................................... 100

Outside South Africa ............................................................................................................................. 100

Saloon used by Cecil John Rhodes................................................................................................... 101

Pandora’s Box ......................................................................................................................................... 102

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Mail Bag ................................................................................................................................................... 103

- Leith Paxton [Cape Town] .............................................................................................................. 103

- Jeff Manning (UK) ........................................................................................................................... 105

- Stoker & Driver long for the days gone by – J Wepener ............................................................ 107

- Derelict Track near Defence HQ – Sgt Gert Visagè (Pretoria) ................................................... 109

Peter Micenko ......................................................................................................................................... 110

Treintoere in Suider Afrika: JB Tours .................................................................................................. 113

Stop Press ................................................................................................................................................ 115

Welcome

Once again it is our honour and privilege to bid you welcome to this issue. We have visited the

Langkloof and we will focus a bit on the demise of our railway treasures. We will have our

usual look at a potpourri of railway history. We find your visits, letters and your contributions

stimulating and interesting. All of us have so much to share with one another! Sit in your

armchair and enjoy the journey.

Front Cover – Voorblad:

15F 3098 on a windy day between Moravia and Koringberg 29

May 1993. Photographer Robert Maidment-Wilson.

Disclaimer

Readers and/or Viewers may use content from The Uloliwe for non-commercial

purposes on condition that such material is attributed to The Uloliwe and appropriate

acknowledgement is given to the author and source. Where it is clear that any material

and/or comment is not made by The Uloliwe, this must be clearly stated.

The Uloliwe makes every reasonable attempt to screen or edit content in The Uloliwe

by third parties, but does not accept any liability for illegal, defamatory or obscene

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content. Readers and/or Viewers are encouraged to inform The Uloliwe of any content

that may be offensive or illegal.

Save where the views expressed are clearly those of The Uloliwe, no responsibility is

accepted for the view of other contributors.

The Uloliwe does not accept any liability, nor will it be responsible for any damages

howsoever arising when this information is obtained and/or utilised in an unauthorised

and/or illegal manner.

All advertisements are placed in the interest of our Readers and/or Viewers. Such

advertisements are placed free of charge at the discretion of The Uloliwe. The Uloliwe

does not accept any liability nor will The Uloliwe be responsible for any damages

howsoever arising from such advertisements.

The main purpose of adverts is to be of an informative nature.

Editorial – Redaksioneel

Many of us are retired. This is not the end of the world! This is only the beginning of

“phase two”. Speaking to a friend the other day, he is a former Chief of the SADF, he

has become an accomplished author after his retirement. He told me how “difficult” it is

when one was used to a great support staff. How he misses them in these days that we

need to produce so much! However without his support staff he has moved mountains.

As a young Constable we had a well liked and famous Divisional Commissioner of

Police in Port Natal, Brig CC ‘Curt’ von Keyserlingk. He later became a Member of

Parliament for Umhlatuzana. Later in life I was the station commander of the SA Police

at Louis Botha Airport and I met the Brigadier regularly before or after flights. We had

many interesting historical chats over a cup of coffee. (He was a Major in the Royal

Wilshire Regt during WW2.) He also lamented that when one serves, one has many

assistants – but go on pension!? Then you stand alone and you have to stand in the

queue again!

The point is; once one is on pension one has to do something worthwhile with lasting

value – one has to put back into life what one has so thoroughly enjoyed!

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As an example, and to name a few, take a look the marvellous work being performed by

Les Pivnic and Charlie Lewis. Jannie Geldenhuys has written numerous books on the

revolutionary war, Curt von Keyserlingk became a MP for the United Party and Andre

Kritzinger has completed a unique encyclopaedia on South African locomotives. All

these gentlemen did it alone, without personal staff officers, secretaries and orderlies.

They put passion into it! They will be leaving something worthwhile behind!

Think one moment: If these people had typists and assistants how rich and complete

our history would be – whether railway-, national security or police history!

Back to reality, we each have something worthwhile and everlasting to contribute even

in the realm of Railway History. I started on rolling stock especially coaches and it has

become like a stamp collection – numbers, types, diagrams and photographs. Another

interesting subject could be railway stations or station name boards...

It is my clarion call to each reader to start today with the conservations of our rich

heritage – I can assure you nobody is going to do it; we have to start now! For a start

you only need passion but it will be great if we coordinate our efforts – if you find new

info on locomotives share it with Andre Kritzinger or if you find a locomotive that is

plinthed somewhere pass the information on to Piet Conradie.

Anglo Boer War Graves: Railway Property: Brian Kaigs

I have “met” a man, Brian Kaigs – he has completed his interest

and research in the Siege of Ladysmith that took place during the

Anglo-Boer War. He now has started to collect photographs of the

graves of British Soldiers who died during the Anglo-Boer War.

[He has sent me the particulars of many policemen who died in

the Anglo-Boer War and or in Natal.]

With your kind permission let’s support this worthwhile project

while we still have the graves to photograph – many graves are vandalised or the metal

markers or metal crosses of graves are stolen for scrap metal. There are many graves

along our railway lines or next to or right on railway property.

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On a personal level, I am doing my own similar project on “Police Graves” – whether

they be Zarp’s, South African Constabulary or Natal Mounted Police1 I collect

photographs of their graves. It goes without saying I collect memorials and graves of

the SA Police as well and “railway related” graves. These will be sorted and stored in

cyber space for the use of other researchers and family.

We don’t have assistants anymore, but we have the internet, our digital cameras and

our computers - let’s use them as our force multipliers! We all have a duty to preserve

our history and rich heritage.

Train over the Orange River at Upington - HBH

1 My father’s station commander was the son of the last commissioner of the famous old Natal Police

(1874 – 1913). I believe I have a golden thread of history somewhere or a “connection” of some kind with

the old Natal Police who fought the Zulu at Isandlwana and the Boers at Majuba – HBH.

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Cartoon: Victory Cavalcade: Cape Town – Corp JH Jackson

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Main Stories

1. A Visit to Langkloof - HBH

A friend had to collect some furniture in De Rust and he asked me to accompany him on the

trip. We went from Pretoria to Joubertina where we spent some time to visit all the little railway

stations in the Langkloof that is served by a Narrow Gauge line from Port Elizabeth.

Along the way we saw very few trains but many, many heavy trucks along the route. Here are

some pictures from Joubertina:

NG G 80 plinthed at Joubertina

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Fortunately the number –plate’s are still on!

Maker’s plate: Hanomag No 10632.

Loose parts are ripped off and the loco is being vandalised. What a pity!

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Koot Swanepoel, son of a railwayman, re-bending a piece of iron back to the top of the tender –

somebody had tried to rip it off for scrap iron.

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Waiting for destruction.

It’s only a matter of time, before....

Joubertina Station:

Main station building

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Goods shed

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View to Port Elizabeth

No more red “Fire / Brand” buckets!

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- Impression

Dereliction. The score is:

Road freight: One.

Narrow gauge line: Nil – Sorry, Spoornet you have completely lost the initiative! I

doubt whether the rails will ever be used again! This is a lovely tourist route.

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2. Catching the Falling Stars - Lee Gates

The weary, bloated sun sags into the skyline – the sullen furnace glow lending solar lie

to the typically sudden chilling of a clear highveld winter’s evening. A pair of sunset-

blinded Class 34 diesels have just grumbled to a halt, as directed by the elderly evening

shift shunter. His mind is obviously no longer on the job – his sun-squinted eyes

peering westwards under a cupped hand and his yearning ears listening for a sound

that he hasn’t heard in decades. Watched by the bemused diesel crew, the shunter

clumsily mounts up onto a dull edged concrete column footing for a better view, his

walkie-talkie radio forgotten amongst the torched-off brackets. Then they notice it too.

There is a star moving beneath the horizon…

It is a steam train that is approaching under the spider’s web of the cantenary, her dark

form as yet invisible behind the earthbound star of her headlight. However, like the

grand sailing ships of old, her top gallant is visible - her position clearly marked as the

exclamation’s point under a pulsating, billowing tower of gold-bushed steam.

Imperiously regardless of her audience, the eastbound steam train roars on meteorically

with the staccato exhaust beat echoing steadily back from the line-side structures in

ringing counterpoise. The proudly embellished smokebox door points the way

forward, the freshly painted buffer beam its footstool, the beaming star of the headlight

its crown. The fierce, passionate, fiery-hearted machine is followed by the comet tail of

coaches leaning into the bend, the serried rows of windows playfully heliographing the

ember-light back into the eyes of the entranced shunting team.

The white rimmed driving wheels whirl, their blurred spokes and counterweights

barely visible behind the intricate multi-jointed choreography of the shuttling valve

gear and the dancing coupling rods. There is a trailing pennant of steam from the

brassily glowing left injector. The cloth-capped fireman straightens up and appears as a

mysterious back-lit outline leaning out of his cab window, elbow comfortably cocked on

the padded window sill cushions.

On the straight now, the mighty steam locomotive hammers on alongside on the main

irons, a multi-wheeled vision of fury, steam, smoke, frantic movement, and blast. The

very rails tremble under the heavy steel-wheel beat. There is too much to take in at

once.

The huge angular smoke deflectors dominate above the stainless steel sheathed

cylinders with their proudly carried hand-crafted brass heralds. The angled boiler feed

pipes flash copper bright in the dusking light against the mighty gleaming, black barrel

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of the boiler. The cab interior offers just a glance into the very soul of this impressive

creature of living iron – the fleeting furnace glare of the firebox backlighting the

expertly flipped coal shovel. The burnished oval of the cab side badges briefly

commemorate a lapsed name once spoken of with pride, ‘South African Railways.’

15F 3046 at Night

Amidst the hoarse four-quartered chanting of the exhaust steam, there is a brief passing

Doppler whine from the steam wreathed turbo-dynamo, a clearly heard shovel scrape

from the cab and then the hollow booming rumble of the nearly empty tender. Then

the thunder and the blast is past – after a brief sonorous growl from the power van’s

generator set, the coaches roll by, murmuring their steel-flanged lullaby to their sleepy

sun-kissed passengers. The gentle coach song of hollowly rumbling wheels is

accompanied by a clickety-clack over points flange-ways and the rhythmic swish of the

air at the gangway accordions. There is a cheerful goodbye clatter as the last coach

passes by with the ruby red lenses of the rear wing lights and the tail marker aglow.

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The lone star steam locomotive has passed and is heading closer to her home … her

sisters are all gone, furnace-hearted iron stars that fell and have now been darkened

forever. But their memories still burn brightly on within her mighty firebox as well as

the mighty, selfless hearts of those who care for her. Her enthrallment slowly disperses

along with the fading exhaust beat. The lofted cinders have finished falling. The

shunter’s forgotten walkie-talkie radio suddenly crackles and snarls querulously with a

distorted request – which is ignored … for he is remembering his days.

As the sun finally eases behind the skyline of Johannesburg, and the darkling indigo

shroud of the Highveld winter’s night silently settles behind the Reefsteamers train,

high above in the clear, arching firmament, the first scattering of stars are becoming

visible…

- Who is Lee Gates?

Reefsteamers member, Lee Gates, age 43, has a lifelong interest in trains. He has unwittingly

followed in the footsteps of his late Granddad Percy Jones, being involved in trains and

photography. Lee recalls visiting the Germiston Steam Depot several times in 1992, in its last

year of steam, and little dreamed that he would be there again 15 years later when joining

Reefsteamers in 2007. Enjoying the use of his camera in his first projects, Lee ended up as

Reefsteamers’ assigned depot ‘photie’, thus freeing up other fellows to do their work without

exposing their cameras to damage. Lee’s camera and love of writing then combined to form

the Reefsteamers Depot Report. Being handier with a keyboard than a wrench, Lee has since

settled into the role of assisting with Reefsteamers’ reports, marketing, communications and

photo archiving, although he keeps the calluses firm with yard-based footplate work such as

loco-minding, fire-lighting and even firing the occasional shunting turn. Lee also owns and

runs a beautiful 1:12 scale SAR Class 10BR and thus spools out his footplate miles in miniature.

This particular story was originally a part of a mini-book that was commissioned by Steam in

Action in 2008. The story was later updated for inclusion into Paul Hloben’s ‘Steam

Encounters’ book in 2011. This is the version that you see here.

The photograph is of the Reefsteamers sleeper train, headed by Class 15F No.3046 Janine,

staged overnight at Bethlehem station before departing to the Cherry Festival at Ficksburg the

following morning.

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Wepener’s Perambulations

Plasserrail at Gunhill

Blue Train at Makwassie

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Wesselsbron Class 34-453

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Demise of the Harmony Line

Hi guys.

We have heard rumours of the Virginia to Glen Harmony branch being closed.

Today we went to investigate and found what you can see on the pics. Track

Warrants in Kroonstad confirmed the closure of the line. Official or

unofficial - no trains are coming this way again, ever...

Sheltam now has to travel all the way through the mine systems to Welkom

station for a Transnet connection.

Cheers.

J & J.

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Industrial Archaeology SAR Gewin (Station Name)

Hi guys.

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As promised, Gewin. The farm near Vet River station has the name of Gewin,

not a very friendly farmer... "Ek sien julle is op die Railway kant."

Photo 1(4) is looking towards Eensgevonden, the old track bed is clearly

seen.

Photo 1(9) is in the direction down to Vet River, again the old alignment

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can be seen.

The old alignment can actually be followed ALL the way down to the old Vet

River bridge and then over the river and as far as Theunissen. If you know

where to look, the old line can be followed, from Kroonstad, all the way to

close to Bloemfontein until it disappears. Plenty of earthworks and

Sandstone culverts remain.

The other photos are the remains of (SAR) Gewin itself from all angles.

Quite satisfying finding these old hidden stations!

Cheers.

J & J.

More industrial archaeology

Hi all.

This is what we found today at the old FSG loco shed. The "intact" pictures

are a couple of years ago, the others today.

Has anybody got more info on this coach??

Thanks.

J & J.

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Grasslands

Hi guys.

The 10E's are near Grasslands. The 6E is waiting for the derailed wagons to be cleared at

Boskuil. (see Sar-list). The truck is between Bothaville and Schuttesdraai.

Cheers.

Jacque & John.

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All photos by J & J Wepener carry their copyright.

Trainspotting

Hi guys.

Today our timing was perfect. On arrival at Whites we were informed that a

train was coming in from the branch - blue 34 406. Also that another train

was coming. This turned out to be maroon 34 067 on the Welgeleë and Virginia

- Glen harmony pick-up. Later we got one of Sheltam's 31's heading towards

the gold plant near Harmony. Cheers. J & J.

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Railway History of South Africa

CGR: 1st Class Stephenson No 413

NGR: 6- Wheeled Coupled Tank Engine – Beyer Peacock

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Cape Town Station - Blackie - [4’ 81/2”]

Foto - HBH

- What has happened to Blackie?

Is there anybody out there who could give us a situation report on Blackie – the last

time I visited Cape Town she was not there. Apparently she was stored somewhere for

safe keeping - HBH

OVS Staatspoorwegen (OVSS)

- Kroonstad

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SAR & Harbours Magazine: 1945-02-164

[First Railway Group Photo that I see with Dog!]

- President MT Steyn’s Carriage

No news

NZASM

- First NZASM Driver & Boulder at Waterval Boven

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Anglo Boer War – CGR

SAR & Harbours Magazine: 1945-02-160

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Stations

Bonnievale as it was – Luca Lategan

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Hallo Oom Hennie,

Nog 'n foto van Februarie 2012. Dit wys nou wel nie die stasiegebou

nie, maar ek het hierdie klomp tasse en sakke in die ou goedereloods

gekry en dit toe so gepak asof dit wag op die trein daar tussen al die

onkruid. In een van die tasse was daar 'n Landbouweekblad van 1976 en

plakkers bo-op wat lees van bagasie (Dit het soos iemand se

bagasie gelyk wat net nooit opgeëis is nie en die laaste dag van

bedryf net so gelos is. Terwyl daar nog goed in die goedereloods was

van redelike waarde (klere, sakke en ander goed met min 2de handse

waarde). Die stasiegebou was egter 'n gemors. Byna alle deurkosyne,

vensters, alles was uitgeruk en daar was ontlasting orals. Tenminste

was die buite gebou nog in een stuk.

Het Oom dalk intussen 'n foto ontvang van hoe dit nou lyk? Hoe ver het

hulle met die sloping gekom en is dit nou gestop?

• Luca volgens Die Burger is die gebou gesloop – HBH.

Bonnievale as it is now – Alida van der Linde (Die Burger)

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SAR Brits

SAR & Harbours Magazine: Brits Station - 1945-01-08

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.

SAR Bridge: Selati Line – Piet van Zyl

Brig Hennie, Ek was afgelope naweek in Krugerwildtuin en hierdie twee foto’s

geneem van die ou Selati spoorlyn wat vanaf Komatipoort deur die Kruger

wildtuin gelê is. Die ou brug staan nog sterk maar ek sien een deel het of weggespoel of

is verwyder. In die laat sewentigs het my oudste dogter by die veldwagter op

Krokodilbrug se vrou kleuterskool bygewoon. Wanneer die laagwaterbrug onder water

was het die kinders van Komatipoort kant na die veldwagter se huis gestap. Die

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veldwagter was Johan Steyn en ‘n legende in die wildtuin gewees. Walk Tall, Piet.

• Thanks Piet! [Piet was one of our police officers stationed on the border between the

RSA and Mozambique.]

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SAR and World War 2

One wonders with the Ossewabrandwag and other anti-war groupings active during that

period whether the war materiel ever came under threat. During the South African

revolutionary war all explosives and war materiel was sent under guard or in collaboration

with the SA Railways Police and the Explosives Division of the SAP’s Security Branch - HBH

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SAR Traction and Rolling Stock

1E – Some were new in 1945

SAR & Harbours Magazine 1945-05-345

E1 & other electric locomotives staged at Ladysmith – Rudi Venter

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Somebody wrote to me recently about this locomotive. I can’t trace the post – but it went

something like this: “This 1E was painted black and was used by the SAR Police to patrol the

railways lines in Durban ... It was a sort of a mystery loco, used for special ops ...”

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Below a filler: An excerpt from an unknown Historical Comic on Sir Winston Churchill

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A Historical Potpourri from Paul Els

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19BR 1410

Transnet

- Vierfontein - Orkney

Hi guys.

We have heard that the first trains must start running in November. Apparently they

are re-laying the line at both ends from the Vaal river bridge. Will visit the site soon.

Environmental issues about sandblasting the bridge are a major concern. A “tunnel” is

to be constructed around the bridge/work area so no pollution will fall into the river

below. This is costing several million rand!

Traffic is slowly staring to pick up as the harvest season begins.

Cheers.

J & J.

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SA Metro Rail

17 commuters were injured at Bosman Street station on 11 May 2012.

More Durban Railway stations - Rudi Venter

-

- Jacobus Marais:

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Bridge at Lions River

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With the toilet-sides one after the other – they should be coupled with the toilets on the inside?

A bad paint job on 18-110?

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Rail-maintenance vehicles – Jacobus Marais

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George Railway Museum – HBH

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Crane 551

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No 40081

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No 468

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Side of Dining Car No 275 with old Coat of Arms

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A point to ponder ... are we really doing enough for conservation? Do our authorities have the

passion to preserve? It is my wish that we do more for conservation which in turn will foster

tourism. The George Museum is the “right” museum at the “wrong” place. [Tongue in the

cheek: The registration letters of George are: “CAW” which stands for Cold And Wet.] The old

SAR Museum in Johannesburg was in the “right” place - it could have had a satellite museum

for rolling stock at Esselen Park or at Salvokop in Pretoria.

• What is the status of the lovely blue and grey Transnet Heritage Tour Trains standing in

Cape Town? They were newly and neatly done up. Could they still be saved for future

generations?

Old Free State mainline alignments – J Wepener & Bruno Martin

-

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Railway People – Spoorwegmense

Plaque for Mr AD Webster: SAR Patensie – Mark Ruddy

Obituary: Ted Hamer [13 January 1943 - 16 May 2012] – John Batwell

At sixty-nine years of age, one of former Rhodesia’s and Zimbabwe’s rail-writing

personalities has passed away. Ted Hamer was very well known for documenting and

publishing, during the early 1980s and then again in 2001, the definitive works

regarding the motive power of the Rhodesia Railways and National Railways of

Zimbabwe. These hard-back publications were complemented by myriad features and

articles printed in British and South African periodicals as well as the in-house railway

publication, Rhodesia Railways Magazine, later renamed Railroader.

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Ted was born in Lichfield, England, and grew up as a young lad visiting - on the quiet -

engine sheds like so many other British-born rail enthusiasts in the making. Despite

thinking initially that he might like the medical world, Hamer moved instead into the

railway field in 1964. He joined the District Engineer’s drawing office in Taunton and so

carved an early career on British Rail’s Western Region.

In 1972, Ted Hamer came out to Bulawayo, in then Rhodesia, and was a draughtsman

in the Chief Civil Engineer’s drawing office. It was during a six-year stay with Rhodesia

Railways that Ted felt there was a need for a book profiling the locomotive history of

this amazing little colony at the bottom of Africa. Hamer took up biblical studies back in

England, but the first manuscript was on the roll and in 1981 Books of Zimbabwe put

out the landscape publication, “Steam Locomotives of Rhodesia Railways”. Two years

later, Swedish publisher, Frank Stenvall, reproduced the same book but in a more

appealing glossy finish.

Nearly twenty years on, Stenvall undertook publishing another glossy book, but in

portrait format, under the title, “Locomotives of Zimbabwe & Botswana”. In the years

between, Hamer also put out a small soft cover book called “Sidelines” which

documented a large variety of anecdotal material relating to the Rhodesia Railways.

Latterly, Hamer was the editor of the Permanent Way Institution quarterly in Britain.

Besides his literary contributions on rail matters, he also was a huge collector of railway

memorabilia during his time in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.

An unusual Christmas treat for his older children during the family’s Zimbabwe years

was a Footplate ride on a class 15 or 20 Garratt locomotive on the mainline - the girls

loved steam engines!!

As well as a church minister, Ted Hamer was a Science and English school master. It

was during his ministering and teaching period in Zimbabwe in the small rural

Midlands town of Kadoma that Hamer turned his hand to preservation. Two Rhodesia

Railways’ Garratts – a class 14 and the initial class 15 (significant for its haulage of the

Royal Tour of Southern Africa in 1947) – were rescued from Bulawayo and plinthed in

the town. A narrow gauge 0-4-2T Peckett from the Selukwe Peak Light Railway, east of

Gweru, was added to the static exhibition as well as a wooden, balconied 3rd class

saloon from the Rhodesia Railways.

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Meanwhile, sitting in Ted Hamer’s school-house garden at Jameson High School in

Kadoma during the mid-eighties was former Selukwe Peak Light Railway 1914-built

Orenstein & Koppel 0-6-0T named “Elsa”. Needless to say, the school children were

fascinated by their teacher’s “toy train”! It was this little German industrially-employed

(in both South Africa and Rhodesia) steam engine that returned to the United Kingdom

with the Hamer family. The latter locomotive will return to steam in England once

more, according to Ted’s hands-on, grown-up son David.

At the time of Ted’s passing, a further manuscript awaited publishing. Ted Hamer is

survived by his, Diane, and four children.

• Our condolences to the family – HBH

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Admiral HH Bierman

Admiral HH Bierman a late Chief of the SADF recently passed away. During the 1940

he was employed by the SA Railways & Harbours when he was decorated with an OBE.

Railway Police

-

Water Police

-

Railway Police Camouflage Uniform – Danie Els

Danie Els sent in the camouflage of the SA Railways Police – the also performed duties in the

Operational Area – escorting RMT vehicles and convoys. They received praise from the chief of

the SADF.

68

Previous issues of Uloliwe

For previous issues of Uloliwe click on: http://issuu.com/hennieheymans/docs

Rail Humour

On a train from London to Manchester, an American was berating the Englishman

sitting across from him in the compartment.

"You English are too stuffy. You set yourselves apart too much. You think your stiff

upper lips make you above the rest of us.

Look at me... I have Italian blood, French blood, a little Indian blood, and some Swedish

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blood. What do you say to that?"

The Englishman replied, "Awfully sporting of your mother, old chap!”

Book Shelf

24 Inches Apart – Sydney Moir

This is in interesting book focusing on the Narrow Gauge lines of the old Cape Province. As I

have visited the Langkloof for the first time in my life I found the book valuable to go through it

again in order to capture something of the ambience of days gone by. There is also an

interesting excerpt on the post of Intelligence Officer and Agricultural Assistant – one can say

that the old SA Railways developed the Langkloof nor only by putting a railway there but also

developing the area on an agricultural level. Something that Transnet can emulate today! (I am

thinking of the Umtata-line to East London.)

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The book is an essentail companion on a visit to the Langkloof. It is full beautiful diagrams and

useful information.

Editorial Note: The computer just refuses to change his font to “normal” below the following

two items. I am compelled to write here. The book by Mr Justice Broom: He tells the story of the

name of Broomfiel suding. Then our thanks to Ashley Peter for the Natal Newsletters. His

contact particulars are: [email protected]

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Broomfield Siding: PMB

Not the Whole Truth – FN Broome (University of Natal Press, PMB

1962):16

Natal Newsletter: Railway Society of South Africa – Ashley Peter

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SAR’s Road Motor Transport Service [RMT]

Source: South African Railways & Harbours

Magazine: 1945-01-24

Old RMT Base - Ventersburg – J & J Wepener

73

South African Airways: Palmietfontein – HBH

74

South African Airways - Johannes Botha [Boksburg]:

SA ZS-SAZ

75

ZS-SBK

ZS-SBS

76

SAA History: Blue Crane – Marthinus Botha

77

Harbours

-

Catering Division

South African Railways & Harbours Magazine: 1945-03-247

78

Rhodesia Railways, National Railways of Zimbabwe – J Batwell

80

1. CAPTION: Class 15 4-6-4 + 4-6-4 No. 271 is pictured up front of a double-header in

Bulawayo at the time of the 1947 Royal Tour of Southern Africa.

2. CAPTION: Rhodesia Railways 14th class 2-6-2 + 2-6-2 Garratt No 500 (BP Works No.

6618/1930) was plinthed at the Midlands town, Kadoma.

3. CAPTION: Rhodesia Railways very first class 15 4-6-4 + 4-6-4 Garratt No. 271 (BP

Works No. 6936/1940) sitting at Kadoma, Zimbabwe, in the early years of its

preservation.

Rovos Rail – Lindy Lou: Jan Steenberg

Hennie,

Hierdie foto het 'n vriend van my broer wat 'n drywer is op Tzaneen, Jan Steenberg, geneem van

die Garratt wat hy die Rovos Rail mee getrek het. Ek het 'n link gekry vir die video waar dit

getrek word, maar ek sukkel bietjie om dit te kry. Jy moet blykbaar Google vir Jan Steenberg en

dan gaan na Lindy Lou Sandstone Rail.

Groete uit die Kaap,

Jeannette Victor

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RR & RRAF Harvards – John Batwell

From Salisbury to Lourenco Marques

82

Memories: Bosveld Train Safaris - HBH

The SA Police has a holiday club and Boon and I wanted to promote Bosveld Train

Safaris and the SAP Holiday Club. So, on one of his first trips - on my advice - we hired

a lounge car. That made the trip very good and from then on Boon always used a

lounge car with bar (which he stocked). Ice was always a problem.

I was fortunate that Boon invited me on quite a number of trips especially after I bought

my first digital camera.

I use to share his compartment with him. He would speak to the driver on the walkie-

talkie and explain what photo he would like, when, where and how. I was fortunate to

learn photography under his guidance. My first picture was "Three Sisters and the

train" - I had to run about kilo to get the train and the koppies in! But I got them in!

Yes, we all took railway related photographs and gave it to him. Many passengers also

sent him their shots of the trip. Once I was with him when we spoke to Transnet about

the hire of the complete train annually - but his offer was turned down. (At that time

the private railway operators paid Spoornet about R8mil annually.) Their reason was

they had no haulers. Just before the meeting with Spoornet he asked me to bring some

real nice photographs on a CD. We presented them to the lady of Spoornet and we even

emphasised that Black South Africans were also using this method of seeing the

country.

A month or two later a Spoornet publication saw the light of day advertising Spoornet

passenger services with yours truly's lovely picture of the sunrise over the Orange River

rail bridge near Upington on the cover. [See photograph page 6.] I am a self confessed

"chancer" - I immediately wrote and complained that my photograph was used without

permission and I proposed that they give me and my wife a free return trip on the Blue

Train!

Well, I never received the courtesy of a reply!

With Boon I met very interesting people, former SAR drivers and stokers, railwaymen

across the country even "Old" Ashley in Durban! And the “young” Sue Lawrence in the

Cape on a trip and the Wepeners in Namibia - to name a few.

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Peter Ashley and Mike du Plooy

Old Boon was like a General at War - he was busy with strategy and tactics the whole

time. We had a good dosage of Murphy Law - "if things can go wrong; they will!" The

train departs late and we have to pick up people along the route ... they have to be

taken care of ... meals etc.

On some trips back, somebody has to catch a plane back to the UK and the train is late

or the line is blocked!

I learnt quite a lot of operational rules in due course being in Boon's company. On

about 10 trips I saw and heard a lot – a driver’s assistant died on a trip, train delayed

because it did not have marker at the back, once in a city when arrived and I heard the

technical guy saying this train would leave late as they needed "overtime" - we did not

reach our destination in time - we missed a lot. But Old Boon always improvised!

Old Boon also sold liquor on the train, I acted many a time as barman until one day I

asked him what about a liquor licence? He never thought about it! We went

"international" without customs & excise in the bar!!! (Duties and all that! Swaziland

and Namibia).

Once I was the cook on the train - when we came to our destination it was raining

heavily - so I braaied in the train (heavens forbid!) on a gas braai - but I had no choice!

The whole train had a lovely aroma. At other places passengers took the braai fork out

of my hands and they enjoyed the braaiing! The whole train as like a family!

Once we came to Vic Falls and Boon had arranged with the station master that we could

use his braai. On arrival I went to buy the meat and rolls BUT: there was no braai

facilities! SM went on holiday without leaving his braai facilities! So I took an iron lid of

a drain, placed it on three stones on the platform on Vic Falls and made a fire and

braaied - everybody enjoyed it.

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The only thing in his book - and I am only stating it for the record only - some of my

photographs are credited to other people and vice versa. But I never said anything

about it to him - however it is no issue, because all my photographs are in my collection

and my clever camera says “he took them”.

Strange things have happened and old Boon could always cope! He knew the lines and

he knew the people on the "operational" side. Once we went right through South Africa

with no hitches until we came to Randfontein and Irene - there we stood some hours!

Life on Bosveld Train Safari's was certainly fun! I will always remember Old Boon and

BTS! We even had crayfish in Kroonstad and fish & chips on departure from Cape

Town.

Situation Reports: Reef Steamers – Lee Gates

Dear Reefsteamers and Friends of Steam,

The Reefsteamers 15F 2914 locomotive donations drive project is now standing at R

43,219 out of R 45,000.

Nearly there and almost piping the red line! Well done!

Hott-Nutts George is now getting the costings to resolve the newly discovered

foundation ring problems and we'll announce the new target towards which to strive.

It will probably be about R60 000. But our thanks to all those that have given, or

committed to giving so far. I am presently working on a combination 15F 2914 / RS

Depot Report for this week, which will have the details and photos for this project as

well as some of the coach work that has been done.

I can’t promise a delivery date though as I will be involved in a software product

launch tomorrow which raises risks of overnight work during the week if things go

wrong or they add last minute stuff that breaks. The last launch had me working for 4

days of the recent long weekend-that-wasn’t ... sigh…

For some other startlingly good news in steam preservation, Atlantic Rail’s rescued

Class 16DA No.879 ‘Theodora’ is going to serve as a stationary boiler in a Epping-based

Nampak paper factory for 10 days (to substitute for a failed plant boiler), and in return,

will receive sponsorship to be restored to running order later this year. She will even be

moving there by rail! Check out the 879 group at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/250959558325322/ . Thanks,

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Dear Reefsteamers and Friends of Steam,

Here is the latest Reefsteamers Depot Report, which is fronted by an update on the

Class 15F 2914 firebox repair project.

It has been quiet at the Depot for the last few weekends as certain volunteers were

‘bunking’ to go and attend the annual Steam Nationals at Centurion. But they well

deserve a bit of time away from The Shed. The coach gang have been busy with

marking, cutting and removing rusted patches from the ‘Sandstone Sleeper’ – which is

definitely not glamorous work even though it will take several weekends to get the

welding done. That is one project that has been ‘flying under the radar’ for a while.

Work continues under the corrugated iron during the week however, and our Class

12AR No.1535 ‘Susan’ is being tested and repaired prior to her next boiler inspection.

This is fairly urgent work as we only have one legal operating locomotive at the

moment, the Class 15F No.3046 ‘Janine’. Class 25NC No. 3472 ‘Elize’ and GMA/M

No.4079 ‘Lyndie Lou’ are capable of operating but are not permitted on the high irons

until their wheel profile wear issues are sorted out. And for that we need a functioning

wheel lathe….

We’re workin’ on it!

We have done VERY well on the donation drive for 2914 and on behalf of Reefsteamers,

I do thank you. All the donors of whom I am aware of are credited on the front page of

the attached report. If you donated or committed to donating, and are not credited yet,

please inform me at [email protected] to make matters right and also to get

the figures correct. As soon as I get a break, I’m going to ask our financial person to

reconcile the reported amounts with what has actually been paid into our bank

account.

As you will read in the report, we will probably need to raise the donation target to

cover extra repair work that we have discovered that needs to be done. I will get the

prices from the 2914 team as soon as THEY get them, and will publicize the new

donation target ASAP.

Thanks, Lee Gates

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Hi everybody!

The Kitchen Coach that is operated by Reefsteamers is now under new management.

Elize Sewell is now managing the catering service and the associated logistics for

‘Kango’ the Kitchen Coach, which usually accompanies our steam train on our regular

trips. As with most of the functions of running an old-fashioned steam loco depot and a

fleet of old ‘choo-choo’ trains, this work is all done on an unpaid volunteer basis. (And

takes up a lot of time too!) All the profits earned from running the Catering Coach are

put back into steam preservation.

We are sending this email out to Reefsteamers’ passengers, members and friends to ask

for suggestions for improvements to the coach itself, the menu or the service. What

would encourage you to use the catering/tuckshop type services again? Please give us

your honest assessment of things, some constructive criticism where necessary and

pointers on how we may improve.

Please reply to me (Lee Gates) by return email. I will summate everything and send

them along to Elize Sewell and the Board of Directors. I will not have time to respond

to each email’s suggestions individually, but I will undertake to send a response notice

out once Reefsteamers has received and analysed the input over time.

Thank you for your assistance,

Lee Gates

Stubbornly unrepentant ferro-equinologist !

Owns 1:12 scale 10BR No.751 ‘Little Empress.'

Steam Power – It’s the Wheel Thing!

15 May 2012

Hi everyone!

Reefsteamers Association will be running another winter steam-hauled lunch train this

year – departing from our Germiston Depot at 11:30, Saturday, 9th June 2012. (Just over

three weeks from today.) This particular train will be offering a pie, chips n’ gravy pub

lunch with a canned cool drink included. The cash bar will be available on the train as

well.

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Last years’ lunch trains were quite successful. This one will be a little different as we

will be running on a continuous out-and-back route to the South and West of

Johannesburg, instead of running through to Springs and changing direction there. It

means there will be less ‘standing around’ by eliminating the need to turn the

locomotive. The new route also means that there will be some new scenery to watch,

for those who have ridden a Reefsteamer Lunch Train before.

Feel free to peruse the brochure attached and come aboard for a pleasantly different

Saturday afternoon.

Pre-Booking is essential. Seats are assigned on a first-PAID basis. Because we will only

be hosting two meal-sittings in the dining coach, the total number of tickets available

will be limited – so book yourself in early to avoid disappointment!

All the prices and the contact details are included in the brochure.

For any further queries, please contact our Lauren Ackerman at

[email protected] or call (011) 025 4363.

Reefsteamers Members – as this is a special train, no ‘freebie rides’ will be permitted.

Please do not address your queries to me as I am merely passing the

message on and I am not involved in the arrangements for this train.

See you there!

Lee Gates

Stubbornly unrepentant ferro-equinologist!

Owns 1:12 scale 10BR No.751 ‘Little Empress.'

Steam Power – It’s the Wheel Thing!

18 May 2012

Here is a little something for your Tuesday morning.

This is a collection of contemporary pictures of the Germiston Steam Locomotive Depot,

said pictures being taken to approximate the angle of those taken within Philip

89

Braithwaite’s excellent and poignant ‘Germiston Remembered’ series. Phil’s pictures

have been posted on Facebook. However, in this collection, Phil’s B&W images remain

his property. To see the album on Facebook and to read the captions, visit

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10150842403298737&type=1

The contemporary pictures were taken with the assistance of Alan Lawton and Gordon

Bennett. Alan, in particular knows every single rail joint, electric socket and bird’s nest

on the premises – all discovered in his ceaseless search for facts and coach spares!

Gordon, as a relatively new member, isn’t that far behind!

This was quite a fun little project and a welcome change for the aforesaid Lawton and

Bennett from cutting out and welding exterior skin patches to the ‘Sandstone Sleeper.’

Examining the pictures makes me grateful; that the old depot actually survived even if

it did lose a lot of fittings and fixtures. The then-Spoornet could have taken a scorched

earth policy to cut all those steel-framed buildings down and lift up the rails for instant

scrap revenue – leaving an overgrown wasteland behind with stubs of walls and

scattered concrete footings hidden amongst the foliage.

Enjoy!

Lee Gates

Umgeni Steam Railway: GMAM 4074

Hi Gents,

Thought you may be interested in the Photo Essays I did on the restoration of GMAM

4074 by Umgeni Steam Railway for Ingwe Municipality for the Eshayamoya Express,

operating out of Creighton.

The Project was co-coordinated by Umgeni Steam Railway members, Marc Bouchier,

Project Manager (Director @ Duys Engineering), Ronald Collyer, former Helicopter

Flight Mechanic, (Self Employed), Benni Pieterse, (Tool & Die Maker) Simon Anderson,

Tool & Die Maker (Tweed Tools). The boiler work was carried out by Keith Stevens

Mechanical (Howick) Boiler Engineers.

The locomotive is on a back to back donation from USR to Ingwe Municipality with a

90

legal document in place. Should the Eshayamoya Express project fail, the locomotive is

to be donated back to USR "As Is" This was done so as to get the loco onto the Ingwe

Municipality's asset register in order that the funds (mostly from European Union &

KZN Natal Tourism & Provincial works funds) could be released for the project.

It is interesting to note that USR is the first preservation group in South Africa to

actually remove the boiler completely from the frames for the boiler work to be carried

out. We plan to do the same with our 3 BR by end of 2012. A full overhaul will be

undertaken on the 3BR!

I hope you enjoy the photo essays as much as I enjoyed putting them together in my

spare time during the project process!

Best regards

Andy

PS please feel free to pass this photo essay around your railway enthusiast contacts.

Andy Anderson

Umgeni Steam Railway Section 21 Company Reg. No.: 94/05381 USR TRUST Reg. No.: 2792/88 www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za Fax: (+27) – 0865024401

E-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 559 Westville

3630

KwaZulu Natal

Republic of South Africa

Paton’s Country Railway

THE GREAT STEAM TREK ON THE CAPE NATAL LINE PIETERMARITZBURG TO

CREIGHTON - SUNDAY 10 JUNE 2012.

Travel on the 19D or GMAM Eshayamoya steam train from Masons Mill steam depot

Pietermaritzburg to Creighton Station.

Patons Country Railway will take you with the Eshayamoya coaches and steam train of Ingwe

Municipality on one of the most memorable standard gauge steam safaris ever. A once in a

lifetime opportunity to travel by steam hauled passenger train from Pmb to Creighton

91

STEAM TREK:

SUNDAY - Depart from MASONS MILL at 8-30 am and travel through the rolling hills

passing old stations such as Taylors Halt, Ncwadi, Deepdale, Donnybrook and

Creighton. Pass through some stunning rural scenery.

Arrive Creighton at 2-00 pm.

You can get off at any of the stations along the way:

Ncwadi near Richmond at about 10-00 am

Deepdale at about 11-00 am

Donnybrook at about 1-00

Cost of the trip irrespective of where you get off is: R 175-00 adults; R 100-00 Children 2

to 12 years. There will be a bare carpeted coach for children to run around and play in

and can serve as a picnic area as well. Transport back to Pietermaritzburg from

Creighton can be arranged by taxi at R 100-00 per person.

For more Information and Bookings: Reply to this address, or Phone 082 374 1417 or 039

8342963

92

Directions to Creighton are simple: >From Durban or Pmb. take the Thornville,

Richmond, Ixopo road. As you enter Ixopo take a right turn signposted as Ixopo /

Underberg. Travel along that road for approximately 18 Kms. and take the left turn to

Creighton. Drive straight on until you see the beautifully restored Creighton Station on

your left. Distances from Pmb is approximately 105 km and Durban 140 km

Patons Country Railway Annual Aloe Train Trips

PATONS COUNTRY RAILWAY ANNUAL

ALOE TRAIN TRIPS

You will be hauled by the 19D steam locomotive in the Eshayamoya coaches of Ingwe

municipality.

Costs: Adults R 180-00

Children R120-00

93

Sun 8 July 2012 Depart

Creighton - Riverside 10-00 am Stop for photos in the gorge

Sat 14 July


Sun 15th July


Sat 21 July


Creighton - Riverside 2-00 pm Stop for photos in the gorge

Sunday 22 July

Creighton – Donnybrook 7-00 am Take cyclists to Donnybrook

Cost cyclist with bike R 250-00. Passenger only R150-00. Combined ticket with 11-00 am trip

R250-00


Booking Essential - reply to [email protected]

or phone 0823741417 or 0398342963

Filler: King’s Rest – Rudi Venter

94

Train: Bokkie Park: Boksburg – Johannes Botha

95

South African Models

Scalecraft: 15F - Adrian Hill

97

Adrian Hill says: “The model is built on a Mehano 4-8-2 chassis. The tender is custom built and

has custom built bogies. Both loco and tender are weighted with lead and their KaDee couplers

are set at the correct NMRA standard height. The model has a 3mm led in front and a 1mm red

98

led in the rear. The lighting is constant current which means that it will come on and stay on

from about 3V without flickering at all. The lights are set up to shine whether the model is

travelling forwards or backwards. Adding directional lighting is no problem from a technical

point of view, somebody just needs to tell me where the lights should be and what colour. The

tender connects to the loco via a sub miniature plug thus allowing the separation of the two. I

plan to make various versions in various liveries but I also think that there is a need for a real

weathered rough and ready workhorse (you know, all matt black from soot - the way they

really looked) I also ship each model in its own dust proof Perspex display case.

The model is made for HO. We manufacture lots and lots of different SAR models. You must

please keep in mind that we have a very long list of models that customers already have on

order, so you will have to be patient with our manufacturing schedule. Take a look at my

website www.scalecraft.co.za “

From the Press

Mense vertrap mekaar by Pretoriastasie

Vrydag, 11 Mei 2012 08:31 SAPA

Sewentien mense is vroegoggend beseer gedurende 'n stormloop by die Bosman-

treinstasie in Pretoria.

Johan Pieterse, woordvoerder vir die metro se nooddienste, sê tien pendelaars wat

ernstig beseer is, is na die Steve Biko- akademiese hospitaal geneem.

Sewe ander mense met ligte beserings is na die Tshwane-streekshospitaal geneem.

Een van die pendelaars, Tshepo Mashele, sê oorvol treine het tot die stormloop gelei.

Hy sê treine wat oorvol is, is 'n daaglikse verskynsel.

"Ons word elke dag gestamp en gestoot. Ongelukkig is baie mense vandag [Donderdag]

beseer," het hy gesê.

"Ons verstaan nie hoekom ons soos minderwaardige mense behandel word nie... ten

spyte van die onlangse tariefverhogings," het hy gesê.

Mashele sê swak kommunikasiemetodes en die treine se onbetroubaarheid het tot die

chaotiese voorval gelei.

99

"Mense moet stamp en stoot terwyl hulle ook moet raai waarheen die trein gaan. Die

personeellede hier [by die Bosman-stasie] kommunikeer nie met pendelaars nie," het hy

verduidelik.

'n Ander pendelaar, Jeff Khupane, sê nog sulke ongelukke gaan plaasvind indien die

treindienste nie drastiese opgeknap word nie.

Metrorail-personeellede by die stasie wou nie kommentaar lewer nie.

http://praag.co.za/nuus-magazine-402/suider-afrika-magazine-400/11635-swartes-

vertrap-mekaar-by-

pretoriastasie.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fee

d%3A+praag+%28Pro-Afrikaanse+Aksiegroep%29

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 also an administrator. No politics or no language questions. Keep it

simple: only one thing on the agenda: Railways in Southern Africa.

611 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

100

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

Remember that while I have undertaken to do a

Reefsteamers Depot Report-styled progress

document, at intervals, you can find the latest

information (albeit a bit scattered) on the 15F

2914 Facebook Page at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/38777330124

4867/

Thanks, Lee Gates

• 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

Outside South Africa

Rhodesia (Now Zimbabwe)

101

South African Railways &

Harbours Magazine:

1945-01-34.

Saloon used by Cecil John Rhodes

South African Railways & Harbours Magazine: 1945-02-159

102

Pandora’s Box

Anything can come out of Pandora’s Box, here are some pictures we received this month:

103

Mail Bag

- Leith Paxton [Cape Town]

Hello Hennie,

104

Just to let you know it is coming up to 6 months since I had my fall on the mountain

and I am still making steady progress. I now realize that the cause of my fall must have

been a sort of a ‘blackout’, as I remember very little of the incident. I sustained burst

and fractured vertebrae which resulted in nerve damage with diminished feeling in my

legs, and I fractured both ankles. Recovery has been slow, although I am grateful for the

progress I have made and continue to make. Initially I was in a wheel chair for 2

months while my ankles knitted together, and then I was allowed to walk with crutches

and orthopaedic boots. Last Thursday I was allowed back into normal shoes with

crutches. I start physio on Thursday to get movement back into my ankles and start

building up some tone into my muscles.

I am glad at least that my hospital experience is over. I remember one evening, my

daughter phoned me in the middle of my ‘bed bath’ and there I was completely naked

with a pair of ‘robust’ nurses on either side of me washing me down and here I was

excepted to have a conversation with my daughter! I could write a book about the

indignities I experienced associated with my hospital stay, but it was all good!

You will be pleased to hear that I have succumbed to pressure and in my recovery stage

I am working on completing my Narrow Gauge Wagon and Coach drawings with a

view to publishing them. I will be returning to BG coaches, when I can stand

comfortably again. I stand and draw at my PC, just like a ‘real’ draughtsman!

I would also like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to you and all my

friends up country (even those I don’t know) for their messages, thoughts and prayers,

it has been overwhelming.

Kind regards,

Leith Paxton

Dear Leith,

Hallo Old Man! We hope and pray for your complete recovery! We are anxiously

waiting to see your latest work!

Alles van die beste!

Hennie & Our Readers!

105

- Jeff Manning (UK)

Good evening Hennie,

These three attached photos of the old Rhodesia Railways come via Roger Capper, an

ex-member of the BSAP. .... I told him you would be interested in them and he said "no

problems......" Taken in the 1960's.

Enjoyed the Sharks -v- Lions game: sorry your "Banana boys" got torched, but the Lions

were on fire (for once!)

The best,

Jeffers (41482)

107

Dear Jeff,

Thanks ever so much! Yes, today the Old BSAP is everywhere! Thanks for the nostalgia!

HBH (43630).

- Stoker & Driver long for the days gone by – J Wepener

Hi my ou Drywer.

Vandag verlang ek weer KWAAI na die goeie ou dae op die stoom by die myn,

aai ek sal like om weer ‘n graaf te swaai, man ! Lekker wors op die graaf en

firebox-koffie.

Mooi bly ou drywer.

Jou stoker.

Jacque.

Hi my ou Stoker

Ja. Ai dit was die beste jare ooit. Ek droom elke nag nog van St Helena en as ek

wakker word is ek sommer lekker moerig. Die ergste is om te dink dat al kon dit kan

dit nie weer wees nie.

Ek het altyd uitgesien na Saterdae as jy kom, dit was cool tye met wors op die graaf

en later jare melktert op ‘n Diesel. Haha.

Dankie vir die foto’s, dis lekker om weer te sien en terug te dink. Mens kan nie glo

dis al 10 jaar terug nie. Ek het net gister ge-Google St Helena Stoom locos maar daar

is nie te veel op die web nie.

Ek wonder party dae wat het van al die drywers geword wat saam my daar gewerk

het. Daar was nogal karakters wat skrik vir niks!

Ek is spyt want ek het die video beeld van die Gold Express-dag verloor langs die

pad, ex-vrou het dit seker nog iewers. Dit sal cool wees om te sien want ek onthou

dat Bianca die mooiste fluite gegee het oor al daai crossings. Sy was regtig ‘n stunning

loco en heng sy kon die wiele laat rol het. Ek het haar by oom Harry oorgekoop vir

108

R50.00 - daai tyd, want dit was sy loko maar hy wou haar nie skoon maak nie.

Nou in die ou jare het net die beste loko’s die Unisel pad gewerk en die swakker

lokos het St Helena gewerk. Toe ek nou Bianca kry het Richard Kies (Loko Voorman)

die loko by my laat bly, so as ek St Helena se kant was het ek Bianca gehad en die

ander ouens die swakker loko’s op die Unisel pad. Dit het nogal oorlog veroorsaak

want toe is hulle spiteful en het time and again teen Unisel bank gaan staan net op die

show op te neuk, maar dit was nie ‘n probleem nie, met Bianca aan my kant het ek St

Helena se kant leeg gery en hulle elke vrag teen die bank gaan haal en oor getrek.

Een nag was ek lekker moody en het ou Oom Dolf weer teen Unisel gaan staan, ek het

my vrag los gemaak en hom te hulp gesnel. Toe ek vasmaak agter sy loko toe klim

ek uit en sê vir hom hy hoef nie te help om die vrag op te tel nie en hy kan maar

agteroor sit en die "ride geniet". Wel so gemaak en ek sê toe vir Erick, my stoker, om

haar gat goed warm te maak want vanaand is vanaand! Bianca tel toe die vrag met

sy loko op teen die bank en daar gaan ons, toe ons Brand 5 oor kom, toe is ek nou

klaar met die games van die ou drywers wat net te sleg is om te werk. Nie lank nie

toe het ek haar vol oop. Waar ons altyd toegemaak het so end van 8 # af het ek haar

steeds bo in die mik gehou regdeur 8 # teen 80 km/h tender eerste. Jis, dit was een

stof wolk en hoppers en loko’s wat wild heen en weer swaai, so dat almal moes

vashou aan iets om nie van die stoel af te val nie.

Ek was nog besig om die moment te geniet toe ek skielik ‘n loko hoor erg reverse,

vacuum op nil, toe weet ek: ou Oom Dolf se senuwees het nou sy breekpunt bereik.

Maar steeds het ek Bianca vol oop gehou van 8# af, tip toe, sleep ek hulle met briek

en al tot by die tip se wissels. Toe ons daar stop klim ek uit ewe onskuldig en vra

Oom Dolf: "Wat de fok maak oom, hoekom gooi Oom die brieke weg??? "

Sy Antwoord: "Jy is fokken mal man!!”

Haha, dit was die laaste dat hy my om hulp gevra het en wonderbaarlik het die

loko’s skielik oor die Unisel bank kon loop sonder om te gaan staan.

Ja, daar was goeie dae en slegte dae maar alles saam maak hulle die dae wat ek mis.

Ek sukkel regtig om dit te aanvaar en dit maak die lewe moeilik, hoe kan mens

aangaan sonder hulle in mens se lewe?

Sandstone, nee die NG doen dit nie vir my nie, die 3'6" loko’s is die wat diep in my

hart praat! Die NG was ‘n troos op ‘n manier maar ek het darem af en toe ‘n kans

109

gehad om die 15F in Ficksburg op te steek en dan die hele Saterdag op en af te ry in

Ficksburg stasie. Ek sal kyk, ek het iewers video clips daarvan - dan sal ek vir jou

stuur. Ja, en toe vat hulle die F Reefsteamers toe en dit was die einde van die F in

Ficksburg. Ons het haar skelm opgesteek sonder dat iemand weet, sou nice gewees

het as jy daar was.

Ek het toe uitgevind, die 10 Klas is darem nog heel en nie gesny nie, dis ‘n verligting.

Any way, jy moet ‘n lekker dag hê my Stoker!

• Real Railway-Afrikaans! Like the driver who asked the shunter: “Hey Koos, is die

crossing ge-protek!?”

- Derelict Track near Defence HQ – Sgt Gert Visagè (Pretoria)

110

Peter Micenko

Thanks Hennie,

I enjoyed your latest Uloliwe. Some highlights;-

• The track maintenance machine that Jaques Wepener photographed on

Wesselsbron line? This is a “Utility Vehicle” introduced by Lennings in the late

1980’s. It looks like it is the version with tamping heads on the front which can

pack sleepers but not lift, level and line track (Need a tamper for that.)

• The Boer War graves. I remember seeing many of these scattered around the

country at various stations. It was interesting to see that these were actually

railway men. I know that the Boer war was largely fought along the lines of

transport/communication which at the time were the railways but never really

appreciated that railwaymen were also victims in the conflict.

• And the photo of the Sub Nigel engine and ore hopper at Nigel. It is decades

since I last saw that display and I was pleased to see it still in existence.

I have taken the liberty of attaching a few photos taken in 2007 I think (ignore the

camera date) at what was left of the memorial in Anzac (suburb of Brakpan) to the

special policemen and mine officials killed during the “Miner’s strike”. I lived in Anzac

for 26 years and knew this memorial in better days. Possibly you are interested. I have

not been there since then due to an adjacent squatter’s camp where they raped and

murdered a school girl recently. The last photo shows the road into the place which as

you can see is in a pretty poor state even then.

Best wishes

Thanks

Peter Micenko

112

Thank you so much, Peter. I will place all the photos in our Police Veterans Magazine, The

eNONGQAI - HBH

113

Treintoere in Suider Afrika: JB Tours

Wanneer laas het jy op ‘n oornagtrein in Suid Afrika geslaap? Onthou jy nog die klik-

klak van die treinwiele op die spore? Die kelners in die eetwa met hul wit baadjies en

swart broeke? Die silwer eetgerei en die kwaai kondukteur?

Hoeveel mense jonger as 40 jaar oud in Suid Afrika het al op ‘n trein geslaap wat

oornag deur die Karoo voortsnel? Waarskynlik baie min.

Watter jongmense weet waar is Hutchinson, De Doorns, De Aar en Belmont? Almal

vervloë en huidige dorpe met stasies op die hoofspoorlyn tussen Johannesburg en

Kaapstad.

Vroeër jare was dit vry algemeen dat gesinne en families per trein gaan vakansiehou

het. Hetsy vanaf Pretoria na Hartenbos of vanaf Upington na Durban of sommer net

iewers heen. Die ‘Spories’ het hul Vrypasse gebruik en die ‘Vliegies’ hul vlugpasse!

Dit is algemene kennis dat die meeste passasiers-rytuie in Suid Afrika al verby hul

lewens-siklus is of baie naby daaraan is. Feit is egter dat die Trans Karoo (tussen

Johannesburg en Kaapstad), Trans Natal (tussen Johannesburg en Durban) en Algoa

(tussen Johannesburg en Port Elizabeth) treine nog steeds loop. Nie so gereeld en op tyd

as in die verlede nie, maar wel tog nog dikwels. Die regering egter wel onlangs

aangekondig dar daar nuwe rytuie in die afsienbare toekoms gebou gaan word.

Tot in 2006, toe huurtreine nog geredelik beskikbaar was, was daar ‘n tiental treintoer-

operateurs wat nog treintoere in Suider Afrika aangebied het. Bekende name soos

Bosveld Trein Safaris, Hotel-on-Wheels, Nkosi Exprees, Koka Moya en vele meer het ‘n

verskeidenheid van treintoere na verskillende bestemmings gereël.

Vandag is dit nog net JB Train Tours wat bestaan en wat primêr op die plaaslike mark

gerig is en ten doel het om plaaslike mense op vakansie-, kunstefeeste-, sport- en ad hoc

114

treintoere te neem. Die maatskappy bied reeds sedert 1975 toere aan, maar het eers in

die jaar 2000 begin treintoere aanbied.

Vandag bied hul sowat 160 treintoere per jaar aan wat toere op die Toeristeklas trein,

luukse Premier Classe trein en ultra luukse Bloutrein insluit.

Die jaarlikse treintoere na bestemmings soos die Namakwalandse Blomme, Kruger

Wildtuin en Laeveld, die KKNK in Oudtshoorn en Durban bly immergewild terwyl

sporttoere na die Argus en Amashova fietswedrenne, Twee Oseane en Comrades

marathons, rugbytoetse en korporatiewe toere vir maatskappye ook gereeld aangebied

word.

Volgens Me. Jolene Matthysen, Bemarkingsbestuurder van JB Train Tours, groei die

gewildheid van die treintoere nog steeds en die immer hoërwordende petrolprys dra

daartoe by dat talle mense weer begin treinry het om met vakansies of om na spesifieke

sportgeleenthede te gaan.

Volgens Me. Matthysen is daar ook talle ouer mense wat hul kinders en kleinkinders op

‘n treintoer neem. Hierdie toere wissel vanaf 4 dae tot selfs 12 dae. Die meerderheid

toere is egter sowat 7 dae en daar word in goeie hotelle oornag wanneer daar nie op die

trein geslaap word nie.

Beddegoed en etes word op die trein voorsien en ‘n toergids reis ook saam en

uitstappies per bus word onderneem.

“Die treintoere is bekostigbaar, ontspanne, gerieflik en veilig, terwyl mense van alle

vlakke van die samelewing en alle ouderdomme gereeld saam met ons reis. ‘n Groot

persentasie van ons passasiers ry meermale met ons saam,” aldus me. Matthysen.

“Rail Tourism in South Africa has got a lot to offer to make a meaningful contribution

to tourism in our country. It is actually a pity that there are not more operators willing

and able to take up the challenge to host train tours in Southern Africa” said Mr. Johan

Badenhorst from JB Train Tours.

“Our country has got so much to offer and so many beautiful places to be seen and

travelling by train is another but meaningful and interesting way of doing so’ he said.

115

Anyone interested in going on a train tour with JB Train Tours may contact their offices

at Tel: 011 913 2442 or e-mail them at [email protected] or write a letter to them at PO

Box 17406, Sunward Park 1470 to obtain more information.

TREINTOERE na NAMAKWALANDSE BLOMME

Vanaf Johannesburg en Durban

Vyf x 7-dag toere in Augustus en September 2012

Toerprys vanaf R5800 per persoon

Ingesluit: Retoer treinrit, etes en beddegoed op die trein, 4 nagte akkommodasie in

hotel, twee etes per dag, toergids wat saamreis, busvervoer na uitstappies en

toegangsfooie by besienswaardighede.

JB Train Tours (Sedert 1975)

Tel: 011 913 2442 Faks: 086 687 7344

E-pos: [email protected] Web: www.jbtours.co.za

Posbus 17406, Sunward Park 1470

Nota: Die maatskappy bied nog ‘n verskeidenheid ander treintoere ook aan.

Kontak ons vir meer inligting

Stop Press

1. Eric Samuels

“I want to know”, says Eric Samuels when he phoned. He watched the Diamond Jubilee of QE2

on the TV. He says there was no commentary. He says he saw a steam locomotive appear on

Battersby Bridge and it whistled when the Queen and flotilla passed below. The engine then

reversed back. Later the engine reappeared and once again whistled. He says the locomotive is

painted maroon with LMS on the tender. He want to know is it a Duchess Class 4-6-2 of the old

LMS? Does anybody know the story of the locomotive and its role in the jubilee?

2. Transnet-pensioene: Klasaksie teen Transnet word in Mei geloods

Adv. Anton Alberts: VF Plus-LP

Die Vryheidsfront Plus kan, na konsultasie met sy senior regspan, bekendmaak, dat die

klasaksie en eis deur Transnet-pensioenarisse teen Transnet binne die volgende twee tot

drie weke geloods gaan word. Die siviele eis teen Transnet bestaan uit twee dele,

naamlik die aansoek tot die hooggeregshof vir toestemming tot ‘n klasaksie en die

daaropvolgende kerneis dat Transnet die twee pensioenfondse, naamlik die Transnet

116

Tweede Vastevoordeelfonds (TTVVF) en die Transport Pensioenfonds (TPF) aanvul

soos uitgestippel in die parlementêre opdrag. “Daar sal egter ook verder geëis word dat

Transnet bykomende befondsing van die pensioenfondse onderneem sou dit blyk dat

die R1,9 miljard wat betaalbaar is ingevolge die parlementêre opdrag nie genoegsaam

sou wees om aan die pensioenarisse se behoeftes te voldoen nie,” het adv. Anton

Alberts, VF Plus-parlementêre woordvoerder oor ekonomiese sake, gesê.

Daar kan ook aangekondig word dat, benewens senior advokaat Jaap Cilliers, wat die

eis hanteer, nog twee senior advokate hulle by die regspan aangesluit het. Een van hulle

is senior advokaat Leon Kellerman, ‘n spesialis op pensioenfondse wat tans ook werk

aan die bestaande Pensioenfondswet. Die span glo dat die pensioenarisse ‘n baie goeie

kans staan op sukses en sien daarna uit om Transnet te dwing om sy verpligtinge

teenoor sy vorige werknemers na te kom.

https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&shva=1#inbox/1374b96cd8e345da

3. Edwin Andy Anderson December 24, 2011

Good morning Hennie, compliments of the season to you and the family. Umgeni

Steam Railway pages of Facebook: The following message was posted in the Umgeni

Steam Railway pages on Facebook

" Dear Mr Heymans,

I understand that you publish a magazine (amongst several) associated with the history

of South African Railways.

I am currently researching my family history and have discovered that my great grand

Uncle Thomas Henry Croxford died in a railway accident at Vereeniging on 29th

November 1910. From the death notice I have obtained he was employed as a railway

guard at the time and presumably he perished in the accident.

I wondered whether you would be able, through your existing research, to give me any

information about the accident in which he died. It would be helpful for me in

establishing the circumstances of his death. If not, could you put me in contact with

someone who might be able to help?

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to read this email.

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Regards

Steve Croxford"

I have invited you to the Umgeni Steam railway page so that you can respond to Steve

if you have any answers for him.

Best regards

Edwin Andy Anderson.

Dear Andy, I am sorry that I have missed this enquiry. It just disappeared from my

radar! I will be glad if our readers could be of assistance – HBH.

118

Next Issue / Volgende Uitgawe

The next issue of “The Ulolwe” will be Vol 3 No 7 and will be published, DV, sometime

during July 2012 – Please send in your comments, anecdotes and photographs. Take care!

Stuur solank u stories, herinneringe en eie foto’s aan [email protected] in jpg-formaat

Goodbye from Senekal in the Free State – J & J Wepener

Hennie Heymans – Pretoria, ZA © 2012

the uloliwe

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