Collecting the GMAM from Germiston: 1

[John Ashworth]

Photos and captions by Peter Odell, 27 February 2011

On 27/2/2011 Friends of the Rail took their 19D and 5 vehicles for brake power from their Hermanstad, Pretoria site to Reefsteamers site at Germiston, Johannesburg some +/- 70km away. A Transnet Freight and Metrorail trunk route normally off limits to steam.
Purpose was to transfer a derelict preserved GMA garratt to their Hermanstad site.

Locomotive is owned by New Zealander [and Steamnet 2000/CREA member] Ian Welch
I was priviledged to be selected by FOTR to drive 2650 and apart from the neccessary volunteer fitters and staff accompanying the move Gabor Kovaks and Steve Smith took turns driving as part of their practical experience prior to full certification as FOTR drivers.

All steam in S A is restricted to 60kph and the return move with the dead garratt further restricted to 30kph. Servicing/lubrication stops were made @ Isando & Irene. Roller bearings remained cold and no mechanical problems arose.

Outward move was 987996 06.00 Hermanstad/07.45 Germiston Actual 06.42/08.33
Return move was 978997 11.00 Germiston/14.50 Hermanstad Actual 12.35/17.17

FOTR & Reefsteamers staff performed faultlessly, alas not Transnet [nothing unusual here]. The 42 minute late departure was caused by late arrival of our Transnet pilot. And some of the time loss on return was caused by Transnet CTC sending us down the Bloemfontein line instead of Pretoria!

DSC01726.jpg off depot @ Capital Park, & Metrorail suburban
DSC01738.jpg "Gautrain" driver Gabor
DSC01741.jpg Between Hermanstad & Pretoria, fireman Dewald Heydenryk
DSC01746.jpg Metrorail sets at Pretoria Hbf.
DSC01758.jpg Reefsteamers fitter Peter Labuschagne reunited with Friends of the Rail driver Peter Odell and Liesel Hagen of Friends of the Rail
DSC01764.jpg Watering at the [Only servicable??originally sited] water column in SA@ Reefsteamers
DSC01765.jpg Ian Welchs exiled GMA stored untill today at Reefsteamers
DSC01766.jpg ditto
DSC01767jpg 2650 tows out GMA ready to marshall return load

[Derek Walker]

I find it quite ironic that there are at least 3 water columns situated in Germiston yard apart from the one that Reefsteamers has, yet only one works. This pics are realy iconic because this is the first time something like this has been done in years. It would be so great of Reefsteamers and FotR were able to do a joint trip to somewhere, but I can just imagine the chaos that would ensure with the powers that "run" the railways.

[John Ashworth]

It would be so great of Reefsteamers and FotR were able to do a joint trip to somewhere

We did a joint trip together to Witbank in August 2007. It was quite an impressive double-header, with their 15CA 2056 with our 19D 2650. Trips to Witbank are no longer possible as it has been designated a core freight route.

[Mike Haslam]

We also did a joint effort in 2001 when I fired our 15F, 3094 to Germiston, we then picked up with their 15F, 3016 and headed out to Witbank via the SentraRand line. We traveled with just the two locos and water tanks plus support caboos. Spoornet coaches (15) were to be delivered to Witbank by an electric unit, the following day.

As second loco, the driver (Germiston based) was making the lead loco do all the work and we were just drifting nicely behind them, making nice pots of tea and enjoying the view. However, just past SentraRand, Driver woke me from my reverie by shouting at me (in Afrikaans) 'Maak stoom' (make steam).

3016 had developed a problem with it's lubricator and they wanted us to push them. So I quickly got the stoker under way as the driver pulled on the regulator and got the needle of the pressure gauge swinging towards the driver. We proceeded thus for several miles until the lead engine took over again and I could revert to enjoying the ride.

Although 3094 is (was?) a good locomotive I liked 3016 for the simple reason that while 3094 had a hand operated grate shaker, 3016 had a steam powered grate shaker which made fire cleaning so much easier!

Over the years I had the privilege of working 3016 quite a few times, to Witbank via Ogies, to Magaliesburg and a memorable trip to Pochefstroom where we suprised the driver of an electric unit by roaring past him on the main (multi) line straight, 15 coaches in tow, throwing a nice light haze of smoke from the stack and sounding exactly like a good, strong steam engine should when it is enjoying itself with a frolic on the rails.

[John Ashworth]

Trevor's superb pictures of No 4 at work on the REGM from 1993-95 deserved a thread of their own so I've split them off and they can now be viewed here