Collecting the GMAM from Germiston: 3

[John Ashworth]

Photos by Liesel Hagen, 27 February 2011

The team you chaps put together worked really well! Everyone played their
part and did what they had to do.

A 5am start was a difficult start as everyone was loading their own baggage
into the caboose at the same time. Without lights things got really
interesting when John said the fridge was working. In the dark I thought I
was being helpful and unpacked my own & Gabby's all blue cooler boxes into
the fridge. I then spotted another blue cooler box & mistaking it for
Gabby's, I unpacked it too. Shortly after dawn Robert had lost his cooler
box. Realising my mistake I went to get his stuff out of the fridge. The
fridge chose this very moment to "lock" itself! Spikkles had the magic touch
in getting the fridge open. After that it was a pleasure working in the
clean, well equipped and organised caboose. John did his scrambled eggs on
toast, and I had the kettle on and served refreshments throughout the day!
Now if I could just learn how to work the oven??

The Reefsteamers crew treated us like royalty and serviced our loco when a
bolt had got lost. They helped tremendously by loading the cab and smoke
deflector as well as shunting our coaches into positing ready for the trip
home. We were all invited to tea & biscuits in the office. Wow their place
looks inviting. Amazing what some decent grass and a few flowers can do!

Our tech chaps looked a wee bit nervous when we left Rs as there was quite a
bit of squeaking and metal to metal sounds. After the first stop & I had
made John another cup of tea, everything eased up and everyone relaxed, even
the signals played their part and we chuffed steadily and happily home.

Everyone had a brilliant day!

Thanks for letting me be a small part of this historic day.