Shosholoza Meyl trip part 1

fanie kleynhans · Post by **fanie kleynhans** » 25 Apr 2010, 22:52

Hi all, some time ago i decided it is time for a train, not having done one in many years, so we booked from Bellville to Matjiesfontein on the Friday and back on the Monday morning. We left in a light rain, having it up until Tulbaghkloof, from there partly cloudy for the rest of the trip. Not counting Metro trains we passed a 35 with some grain wagons between Muldersvlei and Klapmuts, next train was the southbound economy at Hugenote, the Premier Classe at Malan, unfortunately no pic as i was busy eating! At Worcester we had a crew change, do freight trains also change crews there? The only other train we pass was a lengthy container train at Touwsriver. Here are a few pics of the trip there, to be continued with part 2.

: IMG0334_fotr.jpg (107.42 KiB) Viewed 8337 times

fanie kleynhans · Post by **fanie kleynhans** » 25 Apr 2010, 23:22

I posted this topic from my phone and somehow the text is not on top but a pic! Can a mod pls change it as i dont see a edit button? Thanks

John Ashworth · Post by **John Ashworth** » 26 Apr 2010, 06:21

I've changed it, Fanie. Thanks for these pictures and we look forward to part 2.

Stefan Andrzejewski · Post by **Stefan Andrzejewski** » 26 Apr 2010, 08:40

Great pic's Fanie. Hope you enjoyed your stay at Matjiesfontein. We have not been there for some time. How many trains did you see at Matjiesfontein?

Andreas Umnus · Post by **Andreas Umnus** » 26 Apr 2010, 08:58

Hi Fanie,

I really like the pictures. Very interesting and especially picture 5 is beautiful with the colours of the coaches.
Can you please post the name of the stations I see in the pictures?
Thank you.

Stefan Andrzejewski · Post by **Stefan Andrzejewski** » 26 Apr 2010, 16:28

Andreas, you should know the 1st one. You were there last year. Perhaps on the Cape Town side of the station. Its Worcester.

fanie kleynhans · Post by **fanie kleynhans** » 26 Apr 2010, 17:02

John thanks for fixing my post.

Stefan I enjoyed the stay quite a lot, I think most people will get quite bored after a day because there's not much to do but for a railfan that is the perfect place to stay! From the Friday afternoon that we arrived till Monday morning when we left I counted all trains that I saw and heard go by and it was something in the 20's, can't remember the exact number now, which I think is a decent number for a weekend.

Andreas sorry I should have add comments with the pics, the 1st pic is at Worcester facing away from Cape Town, 2nd our train arriving at Bellville station, 3rd at Hugenote where we met the southbound economy train, 4th going through Tulbaghkloof, 5th between Worcester and De Doorns, 6th as we are about to enter the 4th tunnel between De Doorns and Touwsriver, the one which is a couple of km long and the last pic is at Touwsriver where we passed a container train.

Andreas Umnus · Post by **Andreas Umnus** » 26 Apr 2010, 18:06

Stefan, after Fanie wrote the first one is facing away from Cape Town in Worcester it makes sense why the train is not standing at the platform to the left. My view in Worcester was mostly in direction to Cape Town, so I also didn't recognize the "street bridge" crossing the tracks. So you're right.

Fanie, you also have help me to find out which tunnel I took a photo of.
This picture was taken in 1995 when I was on the Trans-Karoo, travelling to Cape Town.
It's a nice comparition.

: The 4th tunnel between De Doorns and Touwsriver in 1995; img172-L.jpg (77.74 KiB) Viewed 8284 times

Stefan Andrzejewski · Post by **Stefan Andrzejewski** » 26 Apr 2010, 20:29

Fanie 20 is a decent number for a weekend as I thought that all Freights were stabled on a Saturday afternoon till Monday. Does that no longer apply. Probably about nine Passenger trains would have past you. We have been there numerous times. The first was in 1984. That 24 hour period over 40 trains went through. At one stage there were two in the sidings waiting for a passenger on the mail line. I hardly slept that night.

Stefan Andrzejewski · Post by **Stefan Andrzejewski** » 26 Apr 2010, 20:33

That third photo of the Economy passing Hugenot must have been running very early (about 45 min) as you normally pass then at Gouda. Unless you were running late.

fanie kleynhans · Post by **fanie kleynhans** » 26 Apr 2010, 21:55

Nice photo Andreas, if you have more pls share them.

Stefan I also thought I'm not going to see many freights but was quite surprised on the Saturday evening. At about sunset a westbound container train went past and at about 9pm an eastbound mix freight, 5 min after this another eastbound consisting only of ballast wagons. No freights during Sunday, only at sunset things started to happen again, 2 coal trains and a grain train westbound but nothing the other way.

I think that Economy that we past must have been running early as we were about on time and worked out we will pass if from Wellington onwards only.

Andreas Umnus · Post by **Andreas Umnus** » 26 Apr 2010, 22:06

Okay Fanie.

I will post the other photos I took here. Unfortunately I don't really know where exactly I took the photos but I know it was before Worcester.
Of two locosI know the number. 1950 and 1951 but the third one I don't know.

: Before we reached Worcester; img173-L.jpg (99.93 KiB) Viewed 8270 times

: Here can you see my three locos which are in the painting for the Blue Train. Still before we arrived in Worcester.; img178-L.jpg (104.72 KiB) Viewed 8270 times

: View through two locos in Worcester.; img183-L.jpg (58.91 KiB) Viewed 8268 times

: The view in direction to Cape Town.; img184-L.jpg (92.71 KiB) Viewed 8268 times

to be continue......

Andreas Umnus · Post by **Andreas Umnus** » 28 Apr 2010, 17:10

Here the next pictures after we left Worcester.

: A man watches the train.; img187-L.jpg (87.89 KiB) Viewed 8241 times

At milepost 45 - 18 it became interesting.

: From Cape Town the Trans-Karoo arrives at a siding. We were already waiting for the train.; img189-L.jpg (110.33 KiB) Viewed 8243 times

: E 1956 is leading.; img190-L.jpg (99.82 KiB) Viewed 8243 times

Now we arrived in Hugenot, where I took these two pictures.

: It's a nice scene with the lady, the lamp with the name on it, the baggage barrow and last but not least the old signal.; img195-L.jpg (91.07 KiB) Viewed 8241 times

: A metro rail train arrives in Hugenot.; img199-L.jpg (81.34 KiB) Viewed 8241 times

: Here the Trans-Karoo is crossing the N1 (I assume).; img196-L.jpg (83.65 KiB) Viewed 8241 times

: And here Cape Town comes in sight.; img198-L.jpg (83.74 KiB) Viewed 8241 times

These are all pictures I took of my journey with the Trans-Karoo in 1995.

Stefan Andrzejewski · Post by **Stefan Andrzejewski** » 28 Apr 2010, 18:28

To all the experts. Where is that siding where the two Transkaroo's cross? My guess is Romans River. Great photo's of the original 6E'1s. I still love those head boards. It makes you proud. (Me any way). Wish I could get one.

fanie kleynhans · Post by **fanie kleynhans** » 29 Apr 2010, 03:28

Thanks for sharing Andreas, that blue and yellow looks very nice on that locos.

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