So much for privatisation!

[Jez Smith]

Hi all!
I see that the splitting of the remaining parts of South Africa's rail system is going as well as it did in the early days of the UK rail network's privatization.
Back in the 90s (and even in the 80s under the aegis of British Rail) 'sectorization' was introduced, meaning certain train operators, whether they be freight (bound by geographical areas/commodities carried) and passenger (bound by geography/status - intercity, or local), had their 'own' locomotives and stock. This never happened until relatively recently, and provided us enthusiasts with something a bit different.
Imagine my amusement when I saw this pic of one of the 20 'Dedicated' Shoz 18Es hard at work on the NATCOR!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/railwaysaf ... waysafrica

Jez Smith, Liverpool

[Luca Lategan]

Don't let the paint scheme fool you. Yesterday there was a train with DZ trucks again hauled by a 'special' Shoz 18E. Remember that they only have 20 purple 18E's and that those cannot go between Beaufort-West and Kimberley, other lines not electrified or also 25Kv like East London and PE. Apparently they are in the process to get their 'own' 'dedicated' drivers that may only work for PRASA and not TFR trains. When that is going to become a reality is just another question...

[Jez Smith]

Luca, it just makes SA's railways that bit more colourful, as is befitting the rainbow nation! I hope to see most of the new liveries (and lots of the remaining original SAR/SAS liveries) in January 2010!

Jez Smith, Liverpool

Videos : http://www.youtube.com/PrentonPimp

Images : http://www.flickr.com/photos/35869448@N05/

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

More like a box of Smarties.

[Eugene Armer]

Let them keep the SM 18E's on freights, that way there's more chance of getting 6E1's in old SAR red on the passenger trains!!!

[Jez Smith]

Let them keep the SM 18E's on freights, that way there's more chance of getting 6E1's in old SAR red on the passenger trains!!!

I agree, Eugene!!
An interesting question is this - If you follow the link again, I notice the purple 18E has no raised pantographs. Is this possible on a moving train, when the lead loco is not drawing the juice? It most certainly does not work in the UK! Also, what is the extra yellow jumper cable? I was lead to believe that the 18Es only had 1 either side...

Jez Smith, Liverpool

[fanie kleynhans]

Question about the paint schemes, are they planning on painting all the locos in the new paint scheme or only the new locos?