A selection of photographs covering three trips from Cape Town to Ceres operated by the Ceres Rail company in December 2017
The trains during this period were pulled by oil fired 19D 3321 “Jessica” between the Cape Town docks and Ceres. A really magnificent site of the train leaving the docks with table mountain as the backdrop.
Hopefully this operation will go from strength to strength.
A selection of flowers seen on a couple walks in the south peninsula during my holiday in Cape Town over December. Not a very good display this year due to the severe drought Cape Town area is experiencing.
TFR 35 Class diesels 35-037 & 35-065 bring back a short train from the SAB malting plant in Caledon. Normally four 35 class diesels are used for a full load on this heavily graded branch line.
Traveling down from Johannesburg to Cape Town in December I stayed overnight on the small Karoo town of Fraserburg (karoospace.co.za/fraserburg/) to avoid the traffic on the N1. The Karoo semi-desert area is famous for it’s windmills that pump water for the sheep farmers.
This is a selection of landscapes and starscapes I took around Fraserburg, there is something magnificent about the Karoo in the late evening and early morning.
I would recommend if you are traveling in the area to get off the national roads and explore the quiet and solitude of the Karoo back roads.
For the day 2 photographic train if NG\G 16 153 and NG 15 “Kalahari” 17 doing the honors during the Stars of Sandstone 2017 event held on Sandstone Estates in April.
Star of Sandstone 2017 event was held at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State in April this year. On the estate there is a 15 km 2 foot narrow gauge line that is used to display a large variety of preserved South African 2 foot locomotives and rolling stock. The morning photography on the 1st day was NG\G 16 153 pulling a freight train. See http://www.sandstone-estates.com/ for more information on the operation.
Attended a photo morning at Dullstroom Bird of Prey centre ( Dullstroom Bird of Prey Facebook Page ) just outside Dullstroom. This centre does amazing work rehabilitating, releasing birds of prey and educating the public about birds of prey. In addition to their normal shows a special photo session can be organized where they will fly birds specially for photographers.
All the birds in the photographs below cannot be released due to imprinting on humans or injury and are used as part of their shows to educate the public.
Did a night walk around Sandton with Jo’Burg Photo Walkers to capture some of the new buildings in the area. Lots of new buildings have gone up since I worked in the area with several more under construction, nice to see some distinctive architecture in South Africa.
Bowman’s Building
Bowman’s Building
Discovery Building
Webber Wentzel Building
Discovery Building
Webber Wentzel Building
Construction Continues
Construction Cranes
Webber Wentzel Building
With the arrival of spring Johannesburg’s Jacaranda trees come into full bloom along the streets in suburbs such as Houghton and Rosebank. Native to South America they have been declared invasive plants and it is now illegal to plant them, but with their long lifespan residents will be able to enjoy their display fro many years to come. Joined #joburgphotowalkers for an early morning walk to photograph the trees, felt more like winter with temperature around 10 degrees and overcast skies. I find Jacarandas very challenging to photograph and truly capture the displays.
I ticked off a bucket list item and got to photography the ore trains on the Belfast Lydenburg line. These chrome ore trains are hauled by four Transnet Class 44 diesels built by GE (Class 44 details) The line was opened in 1910 and has steep grades with an almost continuous climb from Lydenburg (1376 m) to Belfast (2025 m). This line was one of the last stomping grounds of the class GO Garratts in the steam days.
Load of empties passing through Santa siding the highest siding in South Africa
Vermont siding on the way to Lydenburg
Almost at journey’s end approaching Belfast
Famous stone bridge just outside Santa siding
Spring has arrived with a display of wild flowers beside the line
Was really great to see diesels working hard on a proper branch line without wires. Over the weekend I was there was a early morning up train passing Santa around 06:00 am or later with the return working from Belfast leaving around mid-day definitely worth a visit if you get an opportunity.
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