vol 2 no 11 the ulolwe
DESCRIPTION
Monthly southern africa rai8lways magazineTRANSCRIPT
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THE ULOLWE
SOUTH AFRICA – SUID-AFRIKA
A monthly railway research / historical publication
‘n Maandelikse spoorweg historiese en navorsing publikasie
Vol 2 No 11
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
November 2011
Bosveld Train Safaris staged overnight at Port Shepstone
My compartment mate Old Boon woke me up to take this shot from our compartment window! - [Photo: Hennie Heymans]
Patron - Les Pivnic - Beskermheer
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Contents
Welcome ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
Front Cover - Voorblad ............................................................................................................................. 5
Bosveld Trein Safari’s ........................................................................................................................ 5
Editorial - At your service? ....................................................................................................................... 5
Main Story – Harbours and Ships............................................................................................................ 6
Klipfontein .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Klipfontein – 1939 - 1953 ................................................................................................................... 8
Jagersfontein – 1940 - 1967 .............................................................................................................. 10
Oranjefontein – 1940 - 1967 ............................................................................................................. 11
MS Randfontein – 1958 - 1971 ........................................................................................................ 12
MS Nieuw Holland 1971 - 1975 ...................................................................................................... 14
MS Yu Hua – Hai Xing 1974 - 1996 ................................................................................................ 16
Wepener’s Perambulations – Jacque Wepener [Welkom] .................................................................. 18
Photographs .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Gilletts ................................................................................................................................................ 18
Hillcrest ............................................................................................................................................. 20
Kloof ................................................................................................................................................... 21
Umkomaas ........................................................................................................................................ 21
Winkelspruit ..................................................................................................................................... 23
Steam Action! Sappi Saiccor Umkomaas. Saiccor – No 3 ........................................................... 24
Railway History ....................................................................................................................................... 26
1 Question? ........................................................................................................................................ 26
2 Question? Salt River Workshops - Christo Mays .................................................................... 26
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- CGR: ................................................................................................................................................. 26
- NGR ................................................................................................................................................. 27
- OVSS ................................................................................................................................................ 27
- NZASM ........................................................................................................................................... 27
- Anglo Boer War - IMR .................................................................................................................. 27
- SAR .................................................................................................................................................. 27
- Transnet ........................................................................................................................................... 28
Photographs .............................................................................................................................................. 29
Stations .................................................................................................................................................. 29
Cape Town – “Meet you under the clock”! .................................................................................. 30
1951 - Kalkvlakte .............................................................................................................................. 30
2011 Feedback – Kalkvlakte ............................................................................................................ 30
Old Free State mainline alignments ...................................................................................................... 32
Map No 1 ........................................................................................................................................... 33
Railway Map No 2 – Part 1 ............................................................................................................. 38
Railway People - Spoorwegmense ........................................................................................................ 40
Pieter Jacobs en Rosie die Stasiekar van Germiston ..................................................................... 40
Book Shelf .................................................................................................................................................. 41
RMT ............................................................................................................................................................ 42
Waterpoort ........................................................................................................................................ 42
South African Airways ............................................................................................................................ 43
Harbours.................................................................................................................................................... 44
Pipelines .................................................................................................................................................... 45
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Catering Division ..................................................................................................................................... 45
SAR Police ................................................................................................................................................. 45
Railway News & Railway Sites .............................................................................................................. 46
Working on the Track at Cedara Tunnel – Jacobus Marais........................................................ 46
South African Models .............................................................................................................................. 48
HBH’s model of No 116 NG “Etiro” ............................................................................................. 48
Terry Rowe’s No 116 Etiro .............................................................................................................. 48
“Etiro” SAR-NG116 Dinning Car by Terry Rowe ....................................................................... 50
Diagram of Etiro – Lourens Sturgeon ........................................................................................... 51
Photo of Etiro by Charlie Lewis ..................................................................................................... 52
Outside South Africa ............................................................................................................................... 53
Australia – Bruno Martin ................................................................................................................ 53
Pandora’s Box ........................................................................................................................................... 56
Mail Bag ..................................................................................................................................................... 58
Phelophepa train ..................................................................................................................................... 59
Indemnity / Vrywaring ........................................................................................................................... 60
Goodbye Virginia! – J Wepener ..................................................................................................... 60
Next Issue .................................................................................................................................................. 60
Welcome
Welcome to this issue. It’s a mixed bag of all kinds of railway related subjects! Thanks for your
photographs, scans and articles. Last month 181 people read “The Ulolwe” on ISSUU.
Dankie vir u insette en bydrae in terme van berigte en foto’s.
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Front Cover - Voorblad
You can smell the salt in the
air!
Bosveld Trein Safari’s: Boon skud my wakker: “Toe jong
staan op en neem ’n foto. Kyk hoe mooi kom die son op!” Ons
het die vorige nag by Port Shepstone geparkeer en dit is die
gesig wat ons die volgende oggend vanuit ons kompartement
begroet! Die vorige nag het ek en Boon die natuur bewonder –
dit was ’n mooi aand! Ek kon sweer ons het Mauritius se ligte
op die gesigseinder sien flikker! Dankie Boon – sal ek jou ooit
vergeet? Jy het so baie vir ons land en sy mense gedoen! -
Hennie
Editorial - At your service?
We all love our South African trains. This month a bouquet for the staff of Shozaloza Meyl who
work the “old” Trans Karroo route. Ladies and Gentlemen thank you for a job well done!
My friend “Ou Willie” is also a retired policeman and he and I share fond memories of train
travel. He once acted as SAR barman on the long and slow SWA-route when the barman fell ill.
From all reports received “Ou Willie” performed well. During this bitter cold winter “Ou
Willie” took the train from Standerton to Durban. His intention to take “Mevrou Dup” – the
local school teacher - down to the sea again!
He complained and said they had an awful trip – frozen
compartment, no heat, bad bedding, frost all over and so he
went on! Although they had return tickets they came back
by bus. “Ou Willie” hails from the Kalahari – they are a
tough bunch – but Mevrou is from a finer breed! Not up to
trips to the South Pole and all that!
This is not good!!! Bring back the good service like on the
Johannesburg – Cape Town run! I am proud of you lads!
Keep up the good work!! Not all of us can afford to travel
with the Blue Train, Rovos, Premier Classe or other luxury
trains – there’s nothing wrong with the old Trans-Karoo or
Trans-Natal! When we’re aboard we want to enjoy the trip!
I must say I have travelled up to Victoria Falls by train and the service on Zim Rail was good.
Bulawayo Station was clean and the platform was polished in red Sumbeam polish. I must also
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say I travelled from Nairobi to Mombasa (return); beds were good and in both cases the tables
were set with silver and cutlery!
10E 110 captured by Jacobus Marais. The 10E is on the way from Durban to the Rand.
Main Story – Harbours and Ships
This article has been sent in by Ms Margaret Truter from the USA. She is an old Durbanite and
her father was a Marine Engineer with the SAR & H. The author of this fine article is unknown
and the article is “floating” in the public domain all over the globe. Strictly speaking our interest
are only in the railways and harbours of Southern Africa, however there is an exception to
every rule. This is a fine piece of Africana. All these ships carry the suffix “-fontein” and they
show some splendid shots of our harbours and our tugs which do fall under the ambit of our
studies and interest. I wonder if there are railway stations who carry the same names?
WHAT WHO WHERE are/were these? Jagersfontein, Randfontein, Oranjefontein,
Bloemfontein, Klipfontein. Fountains? South African Towns? Maybe yes also…? These were in
fact names of ships built by the Dutch Holland-Africa Line. VNSM - Vereenigde Nederlandsche
Scheepvaart Maatschappij.
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Klipfontein
Klipfontein - The first of the four “Fontein” combination-passenger liners
The Fontein sisters exuded an understated luxury which endeared them to the Dutch, English
and South African travelling public. In those days, many preferred to sail on smaller liners for
a good number of reasons. These ships offered comfortable accommodations, and delightfully
intimate lounges and bars. Holland-Africa Line and the Fontein ships famed for their superb
personalised Dutch service and fine cuisine. The Fontein interiors were likened to the larger
passenger liners, but missing the crowd.
This trio of ships had four passenger decks, accommodating 100 First Class and 60 Tourist
(Klipfontein 104 First – 42 Tourist). First Class was located amidships, and Tourist aft. All
First Class lounges as well as the swimming pool were located on Promenade deck, with
Tourist facilities on lower decks aft. Cabins ranged from singles and twin bedded cabins in
First Class, some having upper Pullmans. Just over half of the first class cabins had private
facilities. Tourist Class had some two berth cabins, but most were four or six berth cabins, all
with shared facilities. Cargo space was considerable, each ship having four holds, two
forward and two aft.
As will be read below, the first three Fontein ships featured had interesting beginnings, this
being due to World War II.
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Klipfontein – 1939 - 1953
MS Klipfontein
MS Klipfontein was the first of a trio of ships to be built between 1939 and 1940. These were to be a
new class of combination passenger liners, offering new standards of comfort.
March 4, 1939, Klipfontein is launched
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Klipfontein career between from the Netherlands and South Africa prior to the war was short-
lived, as in 1942 she was taken over by the US War Shipping Administration to be used as a
trooper.
Soldiers seen departing on the Klipfontein on September 3, 1946 She survived the war and after her duties were completed she was returned to VNSM /
Holland-Africa Line on February 1, 1946. After a comprehensive refit, she re-commenced her
Netherlands, UK, South Africa and Mozambique service, which continued until a dramatic day
in 1953.
January 8, 1953, was a calm day at sea, but, it was the day the Klipfontein would strike some
submerged rocks off Mozambique, just five nautical miles off Cape Barra. The captain realising
the ship was badly damaged and doomed, immediately called for the ship to be abandoned.
Passengers and crew remained calm and went about the evacuation with great efficiency, which
was aided by the calm seas, and the knowledge they were close to the shore. Klipfontein sank
within a hour after the accident.
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MS Klipfontein goes down
Thankfully, the Union-Castle liner, RMS Bloemfontein Castle was close at hand and she rescued
all 234 passengers and crew. Captain of the Bloemfontein Castle, Captain J. A. Fergurson and
his Senior Officers later received commemorative gifts from Holland-Afrika Line in thanks for
an efficient rescue of all Klipfontein’s passengers and crew. Bloemfontein Castle was later sold
to become the Chandris Lines Patris, a ship that transported thousands of European and British
emigrants to Australia and New Zealand.
Union Castle’s RMS Bloemfontein Castle
Jagersfontein – 1940 - 1967
MS Jagersfontein in Durban Harbour
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Jagersfontein, was laid-down as the Rietfontein, but renamed Elandsfontein before her
launching on 30 March, 1940. Within weeks the Germans invaded the Netherlands. After the
invasion, although unfinished, she was seized by the German Navy, but was laid up, with her
decks cluttered with unassembled machinery parts. Still idle and unfinished, on March 14, 1945,
she was damaged by artillery fire near Gotehafen, and partially sank at the mouth of the
Vistula. She was raised on March 20, 1947. By August, she was sufficiently patched up, and
towed to the De Schelde Shipyards in Vlissingen in the Netherlands, where she was fully
repaired and completed. During her completion in 1948, she was renamed once again and
became Jagersfontein. On March 11, 1950, she was officially returned to Holland-Africa Line
and Jagersfontein commenced a successful career.
In 1967 she was sold to Embajada Cia Naviera SA Piraeus Greece, who in turn sold her for
scrap. Renamed Devon, she arrived at Kaohsiung on December, 23.
Oranjefontein – 1940 - 1967
MS Oranjefontein
The Oranjefontein was built by P. Smit Jr, Rotterdam, and was launched on March 21, 1940 and
was completed on December 20. On March 17, 1941, she was seized by the German navy. Just
five months later she was damaged by bombs that fell nearby. Oranjefontein was transferred to
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the renamed German-Africa Lines Hamburg, but strangely enough, she at one time was used
for target practise by the Luftwaffe and U-Boats, happily she survived.
In 1945, whilst briefly named Pioneer, she was used to transport refugees from the eastern
German territories.
On July 12, 1945, Oranjefontein was returned to VNSN - Holland-Africa Line, and was taken to
Newcastle in the UK for a comprehensive refit. She departed on September 12, 1945, heading for
the Dutch West Indies to repatriate Dutch citizens. Upon her return she commenced the
Netherlands, UK, South Africa and Mozambique service.
MS Randfontein – 1958 - 1971
MS Randfontein sets sail for South Africa
To replace the Klipfontein, which has sunk off Mozambique in 1953, VNSM - Holland-Africa
Line ordered a larger updated version of the Fontein ships. She would join her two older sisters,
the 10,574-ton Jagersfontein and Oranjefontein on the Netherlands, UK, South Africa and
Mozambique service.
Built in a graving dock by Wilton-Fijenoord, Schiedam in the Netherlands, the 13,694-ton liner
became the largest Holland-Africa Line liner to be built. On June 28, 1958, she was floated out of
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her graving dock, and was officially named Randfontein. The launching was officiated over by
Mrs. Geldenhuys, the wife of the Republic of South Africa’s Ambassador to The Hague. When
completed, she was handed over on November 24.
Randfontein departed Amsterdam for her maiden voyage to Africa in January 1959, calling at
Southampton, Las Palmas, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban and return, a
service she maintained for the next eleven years.
Randfontein was designed to accommodate a larger number of Tourist Class passengers, than
the two older Fontein’s. All First Class cabins were located on A Deck, all having private
facilities. Most were twin bedded cabins with a number of singles. In addition some cabins also
had upper Pullmans. Tourist Class offered two, four or six berth cabins, all with shared
facilities. Both classes had a good number of lounges and bars, in addition both classes had their
own fully tiled swimming pool, which was virtually unknown those days for ships of this kind.
Like her older sisters Randfontein had a large cargo capacity, including refrigerated ones. Her
six holds were distributed, four forward, two aft. She also had deep tanks to transport vegetable
oils.
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MS Randfontein arrives in Durban
Having a boutique type atmosphere, Randfontein became a popular ship with the Dutch,
English and South Africans, thus she enjoyed excellent passenger loadings, until the late sixties.
Then, as air travel became more popular, passenger loadings dropped rapidly and it was
decided to terminate her service mid 1971.
MS Nieuw Holland 1971 - 1975
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Royal Interocean Lines: MS Nieuw Holland
Randfontein was sold to RIL - Royal Interocean Lines in 1971who renamed her Nieuw Holland.
She was dispatched to Hong Kong and given an extensive refit. Notable changes were the
removal of a pair of derrick posts forward, which was replaced by a large crane. All cabins and
public rooms were extensively upgraded to become a one class ship, accommodating 390
passengers. Although Nieuw Holland was still registered in the Netherlands, her home port
was now Hong Kong.
Nieuw Holland replaced the smaller RIL Tjiluwah (known as the “elegant white yacht”) on the
Japan Australia service. She departed Hong Kong for Her maiden voyage to Australia on
January 21, 1972, arriving in Brisbane on January 30, Sydney February 2, and Melbourne
February 7. Together with the Tjiwangi (Tjiluwah’s identical twin) Nieuw Holland continued on
the Australia Japan Hong Kong Australia service. With bookings to Asia dropping off, RIL
thought to use the Nieuw Holland as a cruise ship. In 1973, she undertook her first, and what
turned out to be her last cruise to New Zealand. She sailed with just over 200 passengers, and
the idea of using her as a cruise ship was abandoned.
With the rapidly dwindling bookings, the smaller Tjiwangi was withdrawn from service in 1974
at the same time Nieuw Holland commenced a new service departing from Adelaide, sailing to
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Risdon Tasmania, Sydney, Port Moresby, Bali, Surabaya, Jakarta, Singapore, Penang Belawan,
Singapore, and return to Adelaide. However, this service proved to be unpopular and was
cancelled after just four round voyages.
At the time, P&O’s Chitral and Cathay, operated a similar service as RIL, but they, like the
Nieuw Holland were suffering poor passenger loadings, and both Chitral and Cathay were of
the market and eventually sold. Sadly, the age of combination-passenger liners was rapidly
coming to an end. The time had come, that RIL decided they would pull out of the Australian
market, and Nieuw Holland’s last voyage from Australia saw her depart Sydney, the last
Australian port, without any fanfare on October 22, 1974. This would be her last official sailing
to Singapore where all passengers disembarked. RIL sent Nieuw Holland to Hong Kong
without any passengers. She was laid up and placed on the market.
MS Nieuw Holland departs for Japan
MS Yu Hua – Hai Xing 1974 - 1996
Within several months she was sold to the Peoples Republic of China, Canton who renamed her
Yu Hua. Accommodating 297 passengers and now registered at 12,191 GR, she was paced on
the China-Africa service and later transferred on the China-Hong Kong service. In 1981, Yu Hua
was transferred to the Shanghai Hai Xing Shipping Company, who renamed her Hai Xing and
she continued the Shanghai to Hong Kong route.
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Hai Xing seen here looking very smart in a rare photograph
She remained in service on the China-Hong Kong service for ten years and every now and then,
I received information that she was seen either in Shanghai or Hong Kong looking relatively
smart.
MS Hai Xing is seen here laid up at Hong Kong
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In 1991, Hai Xing she was laid up at Hong Kong, where she lingered and sadly deteriorated for
five years. She was finally sold to Indian breakers in 1996. She was registered in St Vincent and
renamed Herbert. By now, looking very much the worse for wear, MS Herbert, ex Hai Xing, Yu
Hua, Nieuw Holland, Randfontein departed Hong Kong under tow on May 28 1996, and
arrived at Alang, India on June 13, and was beached four days later and was demolished.
The Randfontein enjoyed thirty eight years of service and she was the very last of the “Fontein”
liners.
Wepener’s Perambulations – Jacque Wepener [Welkom]
Photographs
The Wepeners went on a tour to Natal. Here are some of the photographs that Jacque Wepener
sent us of Gilletts, Hillcrest, Kloof and Umkomaas:
Gilletts
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Hillcrest
• Beautiful NGR architecture, thanks for sharing this J & J – HBH!
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Kloof
Umkomaas
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Winkelspruit
As an old Durbanite, I always thought it was “Winklespruit”.
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Steam Action! Sappi Saiccor Umkomaas. Saiccor – No 3
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Railway History
1 Question?
Is this an old CGR or a NGR “Old Timer”? My money is on NGR – HBH.
2 Question? Salt River Workshops - Christo Mays
Hi, I am looking for info of the then “Called” SALT RIVER workshops. We want to do a
documentary on the workshops. Please if you have any info or know where we can get more
info please contact us, Many thx,
Christo Mays : Asset Manager:
Transnet Rail Engineering
- CGR:
• Nothing to report except: Salt River Workshops supra.
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- NGR
- OVSS
• Nothing to report
- NZASM
• Nothing to report
- Anglo Boer War - IMR
• Nothing to report
- SAR
14CRB 2010
Gawie Botha sent in these photographs he took at Ashton:
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- Transnet
7E’s – Vaughn Mostert
Vaughn Mostert sent the following from Braamfontein:
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Photographs
Stations
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Cape Town – “Meet you under the clock”!
Gerhard Dekker sent some old photographs of Cape Town that regularly does the rounds on
the internet. We place one here, one under the airways and two under harbours:
Down a Lion and feel satisfied! How I miss a Lion!
1951 - Kalkvlakte
2011 Feedback – Kalkvlakte
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Old Free State mainline alignments
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Greetings Hennie
I was thinking along the same ‘lines’ so to speak when I saw Jacque’s images on the SAR-L
website – how is that for mental telepathy! Good idea - just recently I was in contact with Jacque
about a number of queries I had about the railways in his area.
I did not realise how much the old Free State mainline deviates from the alignment built by the
CGR until I had access to scans of 1:50,000 mapping and high resolution Google earth imagery,
and more recently, scans of ‘out of copyright’ 1:50,000 maps made available by Grant Slater of
OpenStreetMap, which are most useful in refining the location of old stations. I’ve attached two
of the Atlas maps (as samples) with labels pointing to the location of the images posted by
Jacque referring to Virginia, Doringrivier (south of Welgeleë not Doringspruit south of
Allemans), Welgelegen, Boschrand, Elders, Vetrivier, Mooizicht, Theunissen/Smaldeel.
I’ve been scanning a whole lot of slides, black & white prints and other documents of what I
have titled “Railway Relics around Pietermaritzburg” which I collected during the 14 years I
spent there. When done; I’ll email them to you.
I’ll be away for most of next week - I’m off on another long distance train ride with Queensland
Rail to Charleville, a town some 777 km west of Brisbane aboard the 'Westlander' on 11 October
and returning on the same service on 15 October. QR still operates what must be the last of the
old ‘mail trains’ in all of Australia to Charleville and I want to experience the trip before QR
decides to discontinue the service due to ‘light patronage’.
After all of the flood damage in January it was feared that QR would take that as an excuse not
to reinstate the passenger service, however trains started running again in April but only as far
as Charleville, apparently no goods or cattle trains have operated on the 200km branches west
and south of there. The itinerary for the time spent in Charleville will include a visit to the
National Parks and Wildlife centre to see the endangered Bilbies (a carnivorous marsupial), a
visit to the weather station and Charleville airport (used by US forces during WW2), followed
by a night of stargazing at the Cosmos Observatory (hope it’s not cloudy that night).
On day 2, a visit to the School of Distance Education to experience how children living on
remote cattle stations receive their education and a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Base. I'm
looking forward to seeing what life is like in Outback Australia away from the bright lights and
comforts of city life. Best wishes, Bruno.
Map No 1
Railway Map from Theron in the South past Kroonstad in the North – The area where J & J
Wepener have taken photographs of the old alignment which they shared with us:
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Gentlemen:
Thanks for copying me with your correspondence.
I have always had a great interest in old formations and I had planned to "walk" some of them
like the old Estcourt - Highlands Bank but by the time that I was ready to start, the crime
situation and personal safety in South Africa had become an issue that could not be ignored. So
I never got around to walking any of them but, I always paid great attention to them from either
my compartment window on a train or my car if travelling by road.
In my experience, the great areas for old formations were in no particular order:-
The Cape Eastern Main Line; the Cape Midlands main line south of Noupoort; the OFS main
line from Kroonstad to Noupoort; and perhaps the best of all -the Natal main line - both in the
Transvaal (Union to Volksrust) and from Volksrust all the way to Rossburgh - especially south
of Estcourt.
The Cape main line south of Beaufort West also has wonderful bits of old formation still visible
from the train.
Bruno, I would be thrilled to see anything that you can produce.
Thanks Hennie for the idea - absolutely wonderful!
J & J - please keep walking the old formations in your area - also most enjoyable!
Regards to all
Les
Gentlemen:
Another quick word re old formations.
Looking at Bruno's splendid maps of the OFS main line - Kroonstad to Bloemfontein - I recall
travelling over that old main line on the Orange Express and watching the various NEW
formations being built in preparation for the doubling and eventual electrification.
I was absolutely fascinated by the massive reduction in curvature that was being effected with
the new alignment.
Regards,
Les
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Greetings Les, Hennie, John & Jacque
I had a most enjoyable train ride last week which took me to far western Queensland to the
regional centre of Charleville (3500 inhabitants) in what is known a ‘Mulga’ country – the
Mulga being one of the hardy tree species that survives the harsh climate out there. I guess in
that part of Queensland it would be comparable to living in Brandvlei or Kenhardt in the Bo
Karoo.
When I travelled on the “Westlander” last week Tuesday we had Diesel-Electric #2485H,
followed by D-E #1743D and a seven car consist comprising a baggage car, 2 first class sleepers,
club car, economy class sleeper, a sitter car (economy class) and a power car at the rear. The
“Westlander” was delayed due to the late departure of the “Spirit of the Outback” (Brisbane-
Longreach) from the same platform (all long distance QR trains depart from Platform 10 at
Roma Street station in Brisbane). With only 30 passengers waiting to board, I quickly headed -
with camera in hand - to the front of the train to take a photograph for the record and then
made my way to my allocated ‘twinette’ compartment in car D, a first class sleeper. The low
level of patronage on the “Westlander” is very disconcerting given the relative frequency of the
service (2 return services to Charleville each week), but with mid October regarded as the tail
end of the tourist season for travelling to the ‘Outback’ it may not be all that unusual.
Unfortunately the most scenic section of the trip is done at night – that is the 30km long ascent
of the Great Dividing Range on sustained 1:50 grade through nine short tunnels, 157 cuttings,
126 curves, the tightest down to 5 chains (100.5 metres) radius to Toowoomba, 586 metres above
sea level and 161km from Roma Street station. From there the ribbon of steel heads in long
straight stretches across the plains connecting a number of small towns until Charleville is
reached after 17 hours travelling and 777km from Brisbane. The railway continues on from
there, in fact until 1995, the “Westlander” was split into two sections, one going to Cunnamulla
(200km to the south) and while the other part branched off at Westgate (Junction) and trundled
some 201km further west to Quilpie. Apparently this extension has not seen any rail traffic since
the floods earlier this year and ‘road trains’ are providing the service to these towns. (Road
trains are common in the remote areas of Australia, a ‘B-triple’ comprises a truck pulling 2
trailers, overall 33.5 metres long and carrying a load of close to 80 tonnes, but there much bigger
ones too).
On the way back to Brisbane on Friday night there was a spectacular lightning display followed
by torrential rain. The only disappointment of the whole trip was not seeing the descent of the
Ranges from the train - the “Westlander” service terminated in Toowoomba on Saturday
morning and we were taken by coach to Rome Street station (line closure due to maintenance
work on the track). One consolation though, the dense mist would have obscured much of the
view anyway.
Getting back to merging some of your images of the Free State mainline relics with my Atlas
Maps – I made a start with John & Jacque’s images taken around Vetrivier and Elders. I’ve used
37
the low resolution images from the SAR-L webpage to see how they would come out – is this
what you were envisaging, Hennie?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Bruno
• The photographs were filed under “Australia” in this issue - HBH
Hello Bruno
Thanks for the photo spread of your trip in Queensland. It was very interesting to make
comparisons with Aussie-inspired Union Carriage stuff that we had on the SAR/SATS.
The Free State Main Line portion looks just great! I would think that it is worth pursuing.
Lets see what Hennie and J & J have to say.
Thanks again.
Regards
Les
Dear Friends
This is beautiful - this scheme adds value to both the maps and the photographs - making "old
lines" alive again! The maps and the photographs complement each other and place one another
in context - I agree with Les and I feel it is worth pursuing - I would like to suggest that we
"ration" the series - please send me a section per month to place in "The Ulolwe".
Thanks for sharing on the Queensland trip - how about a short article with map? - you know we
all had geography at school but we tend to forget - however with my Mom being a school
teacher I will never for Kalgoorlie and Galkoordie & a few other places like Kampala & Ginja.
With the diaspora of the South African's it will also be good to place your trip in "The Ulolwe"
as South Africans now have family there and it is good to refresh the memory!
Keep up the good work! HBH
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Hi all.
Bruno – what a lekker trip!
Yes the maps/photos are great; I should have a couple more photos in my collection of old
alignments in the Free State area. I do agree with Hennie to “ration” the articles – keep them
begging for more!!
Reading Bruno’s write up gave us an idea, Les can do a write up of an old SAR train trip with
photos and we could do the modern day version of a trip on Shosholoza Meyl perhaps?
Keep us posted.
J & J.
Sorry, I forgot, maybe we can post more pictures of a specific location at a time, thus prolonging
the series??
I agree - we focus on short parts - but cover it well. HBH
Hi everyone,
I like the idea of doing a text/photo trip from the 1950s but it will have to wait until my stuff is
unpacked. The container is now on its way to OZ.
I should be able to do something towards the end of the year.
Regards, Les
Railway Map No 2 – Part 1
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40
The result of co-operation between the photographer and the mapmaker! This looks like great
fun!! I for one would certainly like to see more of this co-operation! Thanks guys!
Railway People - Spoorwegmense
Pieter Jacobs en Rosie die Stasiekar van Germiston
• Ter nagedagtenis aan my oorlede broer wat ’n stoker op Rosie gedurende die vroeër
1970’s was.
Hittig stomend en met grasie staan sy daar langs die westelike platform van Germiston stasie
blinkend in die oggendson pryk haar naam Rosie op die plaat voor op haar ronde neusie. Maar
eindelik is sy net die stasie kar met kolebak en ronde watertender en blinkende lyf wat wag om
passasierswaens van een trein na ’n ander te rangeer.
Germiston stasie is die middelpunt van roetes na die suide, weste, ooste en noordelike rigtings
en dien as aansluiting vir baie passasiers. Nagenoeg 200 000 passasiers pendel tans deur hierdié
stasie.
Dit is ‘n besige oggend op die stasie, lokale treine beweeg in en uit rondom die platforms. Van
die passasiers staar haar aan en loer na die blink lyf, ander stap nader om beter kennis te maak
en om haar van binne te leer ken.
Pieter die stoker vryf die helder pype en instrumente met sy lap en loer kort-kort na die
passasiers vanuit sy kajuit venster. Hy is immers nog jonk en loer na die jong meisies wat per
lokale trein na hulle onderskeidelike werke pendel. Onder die voetplaat se blinkende koper
pype en silwer instrumente is ’n gapende vuuroond mond waarop ’n koffieketel en potjie kos
staan en warm word vir hongerige drywer en stoker se mond. In die potjie wag ‘n geurige
gereg van aartappel ‘mash’ gemeng met ertjies en vark worsies. Die potjie koffie staan heeldag
rond om gedrink te word en al is dit nie baie warm nie, geniet die voetplaters dít kort-kort. Rosie
het pas twee passasierwaens vanaf die Trans-Natal sneltrein vanaf Durban ontkoppel en aan
die Pretoria lokaal gekoppel wat ‘n rukkie terug na Pretoria vertrek het.
Later in die oggend doen Rosie ook rangeerwerk tussen die passasiers trein vanaf Bloemfontein
en die lokaal na Pretoria. Die rangeerders se stem word duidelik oor die tweerigting handradio
gehoor “stadig drywer...stadig nou...koppel. Vorentoe drywer, ontkoppel”. Tussen die
rangering staan sy en stoom afblaas...en hou die stoker haar reg vir nog ‘n rit na die passasiers
treine, die water moet voldoende wees die vuur moet net reg brand en die stoom mag nie te
veel afblaas nie. Met middag ete word daardie lekker potjie kos saam met brood en koffie
geniet.
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In die middag kom ’n lokale passasiers trein vanaf Pretoria aan, sissend, stomend en rokend
stoot sy uit om van die waens daar te ontkoppel en tot by haar platform te stoot wagtend vir die
Durban ‘melk’ passasiers trein. Vroeg in die aand voor sy terug keer na die depot doen sy haar
laaste werkie om passasiers waens vanaf Pretoria aan die Trans-Natal sneltrein te koppel. Nog
‘n dag se werk is verby as haar blinkende lyf met grasie na die depot terugkeer...sy is maar net
die stasie kar... met die naam van Rosie, en more wag nog ‘n dag vir haar!
©05/10/2011Johan Jacobs
• Dankie – Johan Jacobs (storie) en Fanie Kleynhans vir die foto.
Book Shelf
• Nothing to report
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RMT
Waterpoort
• Note NZASM-coach - HBH
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South African Airways
Cape Town airport – place for three planes! One SAA and one USAF.
44
Harbours
45
Pipelines
• Nothing to Report
Catering Division
• Nothing to Report
SAR Police
• Nothing to Report
46
Railway News & Railway Sites
Working on the Track at Cedara Tunnel – Jacobus Marais
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• Suid-Afrikaaanse Spoorweë / SA Railways / Ulolwe link:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/74709226744/
• http://grela.rrpicturearchives.net/ here you may view Col Andre Kritzinger’s excellent
photographs.
• Col Andre Kritzinger also has a valuable site on all South Africa’s steam, electric and
diesel traction – see for e.g. South African Locomotives A-Z (Class GMA 4-8-2+2-8-4)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Class_GMA_4-8-2%2B2-8-4 also see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_African_locomotive_classes
South African Models
HBH’s model of No 116 NG “Etiro”
Not right!! We have to redo the model
as we had very bad diagrams!
However it’s quite fun to build
something like this! ( We used HO-
scale) Our intention is to put up a
clerestory roof.
Terry Rowe’s No 116 Etiro
49
50
Hi Hennie
At last 99% finished, just needs lettering and coat-of-arms. Photo 069 is the body showing
construction in plastic card, 1st 023 shows the same but decked out, note Oom Jannie Smuts1
reading the paper. The 2nd 023 shows the construction of the Fox Bogies. 003 and 001is the
finished coach. I've also attached a small piece on “Etriro” and my model.
All the best
Terry
“Etiro” SAR-NG116 Dinning Car by Terry Rowe
Built in 1926 in Salt River Works for the South West African two-foot gauge line.
It measured 34’ 4” over the Headstocks and was 7’ 3” wide. It could seat 12 covers. It sported a
small bar and an enclosed kitchen where a chef worked in a confined space of some 12’ 4” by 5’
3”. She ended her days in South West as ‘Staff Caboose’ and when the line was re-gauged in
1962, she was transferred to the Avontuur Branch in the Eastern Cape.
1 I think I have a photograph of Gen JC Smuts at Windhoek Station with a special coach behind him. Did
he travel on Etiro?
51
My model was made using plastic card to the scale of 7mm to the foot (O Scale) running on OO
track. The bogies are brass with a resin casting of the Fox Bogies applied to the outside of the
brass bogie frames, these came from Bruce Green at Inscale Models. The roof is from two
Bachmann ON30 coaches.
I made interior and have a chef, Oom Jannie Smuts reading the paper and a fellow propping up
the bar.
This model was my the first scratch built model I’ve ever tried to build, in hind sight I should of
tried something little easier but I’ve learnt a lot during this project and it started me on the road
of SAR-NG modeling.
I’ve fallen in love with this grand lady. At some point will re-make her doing her proper justice.
Along with this I will make two of the Sleepers that ran with her. I also plan to build the dining
car, No.115 - Saldanha - which ran on the Hopefield line.
TR - I must confess I am also in love with her – as well as with a guards van painted in
passenger livery! Thanks for sharing and keep up with the good work! - Hennie
Diagram of Etiro – Lourens Sturgeon
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Photo of Etiro by Charlie Lewis
The attached photo of Etiro off bogies was taken soon after it arrived at PE and dumped along
with the entire fleet of SWA NG sleeping cars (also off bogies) at Humewood. Unfortunately I
did not have the wit to photograph the other side which was quite different in terms of window
spacing and the external door which was diagonally opposite this one. Sometime later in
1962 Etiro disappeared. Years later, when I was working in PE, I heard this legendary vehicle
had been removed to Uitenhage Workshops to be used as an office for the carriage works
charge hand but was scrapped c 1978 - Charlie Lewis
53
Outside South Africa
Australia – Bruno Martin
No 2485H - Westlander at Toowoomba station
54
Westlander arriving at Roma Street stn Westlander at platform 10 Roma Str
Club Car interior 1st class twinette compartment
1st Class converted to sleeping
Wash basin folds out
55
Stop at Mitchell - note overgrown track Morning stop at Morven
Westlander waiting to depart from Charleville Entrance to Charleville yard
Toowoomba station platform Typical landscape west of Mitchell
56
Pandora’s Box
Anything can come out of Pandora’s Box, here are I few random pictures received this month:
Desperate to get home!
57
Fakir on holiday?
Itchy toes?
58
Let’s hope the train does not catch
him!!!
Mail Bag
Thank you for all the interesting correspondence and comments. Here are some letters:
Dear Hennie
Thanks for the latest ULOLWE.
I particularly enjoyed your extract from the SAR & H Magazine about the opening of Stage 1 of
the new Johannesburg Station.
Having returned to Johannesburg from Durban in 1946, I was able to watch the whole process
of the building of the new station. At that time, I was too fascinated by all the construction
work to realise that the new station would NEVER replace the grand 1932 station in terms of
atmosphere and grandeur.
By the time that I realised what had gone, it was a fait accompli! Johannesburg was now
saddled with a concrete jungle for a station!
The actual change-over to Stage 1 of the new station occurred on a weekend to reduce
disruption to train services. The overhead power was obviously switched off and Braamfontein
Loco provided steam locos to haul everything. At times the number of locos would pile up at
one end - either at Jeppe or Braamfontein and a whole lot of locos would be worked in one
group across the dead section. The longest group that I personally observed was ELEVEN locos
all coupled up!!
It was an incredible sight - classes included 3R, 4A, 4AR, 15A, 15AR, 15F, 16CR, GF, GM, S, S1
etc.
59
I just stood at the Wanderers Street end of the Station and watched them slew the tracks - one
by one - from the old Station to the new one.
Through all this I did not take one photograph myself but I have official SAR photos of the
change-over which I published in one of my Photo Journals and which I can post to the List
when my container is unpacked next month.
Regards
Les P
Hallo Hennie,
My Oupa was minister van spoorweë en hawens vanaf 1924 tot 1933. Weet jy van ’n CW Malan-
gedenkfonds wat binne Transnet of een van sy filiale bestaan?
Groete, Charl Malan in Grahamstad
Hello Hennie
I obviously know about Charl Malan but apart from not having access to my papers yet, I
would believe that the reference material that I would have consulted would be in books left
behind in South Africa because they fall into the category of Heritage material.
I saw a collection of SAR & H volumes in your house when I visited you some years ago - you
might find the answer there - I'm not sure.
A "gedenkfonds" is a little off my beaten track with the old SAR.
Jammer Hennie!
Groete uit 'n warm Sydney,
Les Pivnic
Phelophepa train
60
Hi
I found your email on a website on trains (Ulolwe Vol 2 No 2) and I am interested in the
Phelophepa train specifically – and I am trying to locate the evaluator that was qauoted in the
document/volume – his name is Ben McGarry – do you have any contact particulars for this
person? Sincerely, Dave Bell
David Bell
Associate Professor of the Practice of International Development and Social Change
Department of International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE)
Clark University
950 Main Street, Worcester, MA, 01610
USA
Indemnity / Vrywaring
The The Ulolwe contains various and sundry personal opinions of different correspondents and
the compiler of The Ulolwe cannot be held responsible for any of their comments.
Die Ulolwe bevat die uiteenlopende en diverse persoonlike menings van verskillende
korrespondente en die opsteller van Die Ulolwe kan nie vir enige deel van die inhoud daarvan
in sy persoonlike hoedanigheid verantwoordelik gehou word nie.
Enige advertensies of enige sake voortspruitend is tussen u en die ander party.
Goodbye Virginia! – J Wepener
Next Issue
The next issue will be “The Ulolwe” (Zulu for the railways) Vol 2 No 12 and will be
published in December 2011 – Please send in your comments, anecdotes and photogrpahs.
Walk Tall! & Take care!
Stuur solank julle stories, briewe, foto’s en feite – Mooi loop!
Hennie Heymans – Pretoria, ZA. © 2011 [email protected]