Two electrics class 6E1 in Pretoria 1995

[Andreas Umnus]

Whil my Metro train (see here: Arriving in Pretoria 1995 went into the station I saw these two electrics standing near the station of Pretoria. Also interessting are the coaches behind them. Unfortunately I have no more photos of them.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Hi Andreas, you have photographed something unique here. These are not 6E1's but 12E's. Seen in your photo in Pretoria, they were used to pull the Blue Train from Pretoria to Kimberely until the 14E's took over in 2005. They were origanally built to run a high speed suburbun train between Pretoria and Johannesburg called the Metro Blitz. When the Metro Blitz stopped running they were converted for Blue Train purposes. Have a look at my photo and compare. Look at where the Loco plate is situated below the yellow stripes instead of between them. Well done Andreas. Its a pity you don't have anymore photos.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

The Blue Train locos still stable there. These two units ran on the Metroblitz service and looked quite smart in that colour scheme. The coaches in the background are up in the 1 yard area near the Blue Train shed. This area is where the old Pretorias steam loco depot was before it was relocated to Capital Park. You can still see where there was an inspection pit for the locos and rail. There was a turntable there.
Coaching stock is still stored there today and one can get a variety of colour schemes. Much of the stored stuff has been vandalised.

[Andreas Umnus]

Oh, thank you for telling me that these two locos are something special. I had just a look in the book "Locomotives of the South African Railways" and found out that there have been five of the 12E locos. And yes I compared the pictures of other locos with the 12E now. It's interesting that the Loco plate is below the yelolow stripes. Has it a special meaning?

[Craig Duckham]

http://sa-railnews.blogspot.com/

By pure coincidence, I featured the locos this week. Andreas take a look.

Servus aus Linz, Craig

[Andreas Umnus]

Craig, Thank you for the link.