Peter Odell wrote:Jeffrey joined Wednesdays “work party†[needle gunning] but disappeared after 10 mins as AFRO4010 had offered more entertainment 35km away at Modderriver.
Arriving on site today,friday at 11.00 to take outer firebox ultrasonic readings our attention was again diverted. This time by AFRO4002 derailed at the Beaconsfield fuelling point & blocking Steamnet 2000 access points. !
I expected a hostile reception from the supervisors but instead they came & apologised for forcibly breaking open our points lock, the key of which is in our possession, to protect our lines against TFR movements.
This is not the first AFRO diesel to cross these points. Apparantly AFRO4002 derailed Thursday night & was rerailed at 05.00 today.. Trackwork was completed about 14.00 & all is back to normal.
Supervisors further confirm that Tuesdays passenger derailment/concertina was indeed caused by P W I installing “temporary crossover points†on Monday, no doubt thinking there were no trains due to the “blockade†which was lifted today. The special notice informing crews of the new crossover/speed restriction was TODAY being distributed to crews !
And the reason for a “temporary crossover†one can only presume is to take advantage of the reinstated/electrified 2nd running line asap, rather than wait till the Modder River girder bridge is raised for OHTE & energised. One can ponder that there are plenty of places to reinstate the 2nd running line to form “long loopsâ€. Why choose the only spot on the 235km route to De Aar where there is a girder bridge needing [expensive] raising ???
And all these incidents must be delaying Mark producing the CREA newsletter. Every day a new story, and monday another big one when our “Public Protector†releases her report & findings on PRASA mismanagement !
4 pics attached. Taken by P J O 21/08/2015
