Friends of the Rail Forum

Does anyone know the status of this part of the line? Whenever I'm in the area I go have a look at Bredasdorp and Napier stations, there is very little activity, the lines look disused. Late last year I saw three FZLJs parked at the Napier silos, but nothing since. I've also noticed a decrease in ...

Apparently the Bellville - Caledon train has derailed somewhere between Eersterivier and Firgrove. Can't find details anywhere.

I'm sure this could work, but why not from Firgrove with a stop in S/Pass?

I've noticed that there are hardly any 35-000s on the line anymore. Mostly 35-400s these days.

Thanks Aidan. I see it carries 50,000kg compared to the 44,000kg of the FGLJ wagons we normally see.
First time I've seen them out this way, wonder if it was a for a special customer or what.

Came past this morning, FCMJ, haven't found any info on it yet.

This one came past my place last week, spotted it again in Caledon on Tuesday. Have looked on the Spoornet website, closest I could come was that it's used to transport refined sugar, never seen one like this on the line (my garden fence is about 10m from the line). Thanks. I have attached a picture ...

Interesting stuff Dylan. Is it similar to the Outeniqua Power Vans? I hope it runs again during the next holiday season. I would definitely make the trip up there to check it out. Is there any other traffic on this part of the line? I remember watching the diesels doing their thing from the Protea ...

Hi Allan, we ended up staying with friends, did pop past the train to have a look. Has changed a lot since I was last there, looking good. The line that runs past to the harbor looks disused? Although I heard from one of the locals that there was a tram running between Mossel Bay and Voorbaai during ...

Hi Allan. Haven't made a booking yet, been waiting for things to settle down after the holidays. Going to try make a booking for sometime next week.

I wasn't even born in 1981. What is that yellow loco in the second picture? Never seen that colour scheme before.

Durban - Four people were injured when a goods train plunged into the Amanzimtoti River near Durban on Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal emergency workers said. "The raging river has eroded the sand from under the train tracks, causing the train to plunge several metres into the torrent waters," said Netcare ...

I'm planning a trip to that part of the world in January, will be spending a night or two on the train.
I stayed at the Protea hotel just across the road when I was a kid (apparently the hotel has moved?), had lunch on the train a few times, always wanted to stay for the night.

Early Sunday morning while I was still half asleep, this vehicle came crawling slowly past on the Caledon branch. Sounded like street sweeper. Can anyone help me identify it. Sorry for the poor quality picture, taken with my phone.

A gentleman and a scholar. Couldn't ask for a better reply.

How is the maximum axle load determined for a line? I stay by the Caledon/Overberg branch, the max axle load is 18.5 to Caledon and 16.5 to Bredasdorp which seems very low. So only a class 33, 35 or 36 to Caledon and a 33 or 35 to Bredasdorp? What is it about the infrastructure that limits the ...