Diesels at Firgrove

[Chris Janisch]

The Pyramid Photter recently completed another Cape Town holiday, and got see a few railway scenes in the area again.
The daily train to Caledon still runs, behind 4 usually grubby, growling gas-guzzling Class 35s. Although these locos are now heritage pieces, being over 35 years old, they still put in a good day's work.
Here we see them starting up from Firgrove on the line from Somerset West to Eerste Rivier, which is still semaphore-controlled. The late evening light complements their rugged appearance.

[Dylan Knott]

Yup 16h55 today another 4 were seeing storming out of Firgrove!

[Steve Appleton]

Interesting that the cab windows are covered with an expanded-metal frame. Not seen this elsewhere so this must be a uniquly Western Cape modification necessary to save on replacement glass.