Rayton Station in 1972

[John Ashworth]

The name remains the same. Rayton junction for the Cullinan branch comes to
life on a Saturday afternoon with the arrival of the all stops passenger
from Pretoria. The branch line of 10km long was operated on a different
method of train working, namely Wooden Train Staff. The Station Foreman is
ready to accept the Van Schoor tablet, used at that time on the train
workings to Witbank, whilst holding the wooden train staff for the branh.

Semaphore signalling was still in operation, and earth and trackworks for
the electrification had not yet begun. Railway uniforms were proudly worn and
the railway was then called "South African Railways". Today, there is an
island platform, all the buildings have been demolished, and CTC and
catenary is the order of the day.

[Chris Janisch]

Great to see this stuff coming out. Trevor's scans?

[Gabor Kovacs]

Nathan, love the pics!
It's just a pity that Rayton Station today is shamefully just a lonely, desolate location of its' former glory!
The station must have had a great atmosphere every day around the clock, back then, when an assortment of trains either called at the station, or just simple add to the almost endless precession passing through.
Surely it must have been an experience to be on the station platform in those days waiting for a train? With the Van Schoor Tablet Instruments’ bells being heard through the open windows of the Station Foreman’s Office on a hot summers day, the clanging and harsh thuds of steel on steel of the signal frame, signalling wires singing alongside the platform, as the signalman operates the signal and points levers on the signal frame, setting up the route/s required The phone rings, while the Station Forman scuffles back behind his desk in the adjoining office and answers the ringing phone, while in the distance the exhaust of an approaching steam train becomes loader by the minute . . . . .

[John Ashworth]

Very poetic, Gabor! Brings back nostalgic memories of an era long gone throughout the world. Reminds me of an occasion in Kenya in the late 1990s when I was on the Nairobi-Mombasa train. As we pulled out of a small station the Station Master was standing to attention, wearing a spotless white uniform and a white pith helmet. Wish I'd had my camera to hand. So much nicer than the current Rift Valley Railways uniform of a green boiler suit with high-vis stripes.