Majuba pass Natal Mainline – 11/07/2016

Majuba pass on the Natal mainline between Newcastle and Volksrust is a major climb up to the highveld. These photos are taken from a hill overlooking “Trowe’s Viaduct” at the start of the climb. CORRECTION: After some input from Eugene Armer and looking at the maps again this is not Trowe’s Viaduct but the one lower down with no name or even a number. To get to this photo spot is a real slog up the hill, but is well worth it as it is one of the few spots I have found that give a good view of the complete train as well as having regular traffic. The pass continues with several more viaducts and tunnels until it reaches the town of Volksrust. Volksrust used to be a major railway town in the days of steam but the railway bypasses the town completely now.

Motive power on the Natal mainline is mainly class 18E 3kv DC locomotives that were rebuilt from class 6E1s. The Natal mainline is the rail corridor between the port of Durban and Johannesburg, featuring a variety of cargo such as containers, cars and fuel.

When I first arrived at the location there was very little activity and then the white road/rail maintenance truck came down the pass so I presume there was some issue further along the line as soon after a steady flow of trains up the pass commenced.

Coal action between Kendal and Dryden – 27 March 2016

As winter approaches on the high veld the cosmos flowers bloom alongside the line between Kendal and Dryden. Some Class 18E, 10E and 43 action with heavy coal drags on a beautiful Easter Sunday

Blue Train – 17/12/2014

18-691 leads the luxury blue train between Paarl and Wolsley on it’s way to Johannesburg. The train used to be pulled to 14E locomotives but a number of these locomotives catching alight resulted in the switch to 18E class. I have been reported that some of the new class 20E locomotives will be used on the train in the future. The close up of the lead locomotive shows the video camera that is used to capture the forward view for display in the train.

Rovos Rail – 14/12/2014

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Rovos rail with a matched pair of 18Es in new TFR livery between Matjiesfontein and Hex River valley

Natal mainline and Redan area – 28/04/2014

A break from Stars of Sandstone posts went out to the Natal mainline around Greylingstad, this area is very prone to mist in the morning and the 28th was no exception. Got PRASA 18 425 with a late running Durban passenger and 43 115 & 43 116 with a load of container coal for Tutuka power station near Standerton. I chased the train to the power station but really any photo ops on the branch due to limited access. Spent the afternoon around Redan but not much traffic probably due to the long weekend

Natal Mainline & Vereeniging – 21/03/2014

Selection of photos taken on the 21/03/2014 on the Natal Mainline and around Vereeniging. Aim of the day was get some photos of the second last running of the Durban sitter, this brought out almost all the Gauteng gricers Mark Berry, Eugene Armer & Jean Dulez and myself. Saw lots of trains but the weather forecast was partly cloudy and tended more to cloudy, so not great for photography. Had a look at the new branch to Grootvlei power station, most of track has been laid so hopefully will be opening soon.

Semaphores and 6E1s

On the 30th November I went down to area between Westleigh and Rooiwal on the Johannesburg Kroonstad line to photograph the Shosholoza Meyl trains from Port Elizabeth and East London with semaphores at Rooiwal. According to news reports these semaphores will probably be replaced with CTC next year. After chasing a few freights I moved up the line to the Vereeninging area and was very lucky to get a 6E with a 6E1 on a container train, in the close up the difference in bogies is clearly visible. Last photograph shows a set of 18E locomotives in the new TFR livery, these are conversions from the 6E1s

TFR trains Bapsfontein 1st September 2013

On the way back from Cullinan I managed to capture some 10Es and 18Es on empty coal trains traveling north from Sentrarand yard

Natal Mainline – 07/07/2013

Visited the section between Heidelberg and Greylingstad, the morning started off very misty but otherwise a good morning. Of interest was the pair of 43 class diesels on a load of coal containers, from research on the internet I believe these loads go to the Tutuka power station near Standerton, there is a 34 km branch from Standerton to the power station so hopefully will be able to visit in the future. Also got some 10Es at the Balfour tunnel, makes a bit of a change from the usual 18Es used on the Natal mainline.