Rotary's Greatest Train Race - Witbank Marathon August 2007

[John Ashworth]

The 2007 “Rotary's Greatest Train Race”, referred to within Friends of the Rail as the Witbank Marathon, went extremely well. There were no major operational hitches, a good time was had by all, and it signalled a further step forward in cooperation between Gauteng's two major heritage rail clubs, FOTR and Reefsteamers (indeed some would say “South Africa's two premier heritage rail clubs”!).

It was the 21st year of the Witbank Marathon, and it occurred during FOTR's 21st year as a club. Imagine how disappointed both Rotary and FOTR were when told several months ago that Shosholoza Meyl coaches would no longer be available for the event. FOTR alone does not have enough rolling stock to carry almost 1,000 race participants, supporters and spectators. Building on the blossoming relationship between the two clubs, FOTR approached Reefsteamers (RS) and proposed a combined operation. Both clubs would provide a locomotive and half a dozen coaches.

Weeks of behind-the-scenes preparations finally led to RS' 15CA arriving in Capital Park on Thursday 23rd August 2007 hauling a feeder tank, coal grab, power car and coaches. Crews from both clubs worked together to marshal the train using FOTR's 19D as shunting loco. Coal, which was donated by Rotary's sponsors, was loaded, water was taken, fires were cleaned, and the two locos were stabled overnight.

Early on Friday 24th August the long train was ready to depart. 19D number 2650 led the way (the smaller loco is always at the front of a double-headed train), followed by its water feeder tank, 15CA number 2056, another feeder tank, the coal grab, power car, RS' lounge car, then RS' main line day sitter coaches, followed by FOTR's suburban sitters and single main line sleeper, with the FOTR caboose bringing up the rear. We stopped briefly at Rayton to touch base with the fire chase crews provided by Rotary. En route to Witbank the two bakkies full of very professional fire-fighters quickly extinguished a small lineside fire started by one of the locos before it could take hold. Another quick stop at Bronkhorstspruit to grease the bearings and feed the crews, and before we knew it we were in Witbank Station.

After consultations with the shed staff our two locomotives, with feeder tanks and coal grab, disappeared off to the shed while the shunt diesels brought our rake of coaches into a road alonsgide the shed. The locos were quickly serviced, water tanks filled, coal topped up and trimmed, and before long our firelighters took charge of the engines while the rest of the crew went for hot showers and hot food. FOTR's coaches, only recently wired for lights, were plugged in to the RS power car and everyone had electricity all night.

Very early next morning the coaches were taken by an electric unit to Middleburg to pick up the runners and spectators. That train left about an hour late as Transnet Rail Freight (formerly known as Spoornet) apparently battled to find a driver, but it got back to Witbank in time for the race. The two steam locos were coupled onto the caboose, leaving water tanks and coal grab behind in the shed, in plenty of time for the crews to have a huge breakfast (a big thank you from all of us to Miemie for rustling up large and edifying meals in the cramped kitchen of the caboose, and always having the kettle on the go). Off we went to Witbank Station, where we set back onto the coaches when they returned from Middelburg.

Great excitement, and the runners are off. So are we, but only for a few metres. A false start for effect, but then we have to wait for the spectators to get on the train. Off again towards Middelburg. A long downhill gradient, plenty of time to prepare the fire, then a long steep climb. Over the summit, and time to relax – as usual they stop us to allow the runners to win. Isn't that cheating? Off again, and we stop at the race finishing line just before the station. Passengers disembark, and we pull forward to Middelburg Station.

A minor problem when we discover that the fire hydrant isn't working. We had planned to fill up from it. Never mind, all things seem to be possible for Rotary, and they arrange for the fire brigade to come and top us up. While we're waiting we pull the locos forward into a siding that has no overhead electric wire, and we clean fire and service the locos. We reverse the order of the locos, so that the smaller 19D is again at the front as we run tender first back to Witbank. We run round our train and couple on again. By this time a big shiny red fire engine has arrived and the two tenders are quickly topped up – both have fittings allowing them to be filled at rail level as personnel cannot work on top of a loco or tender under the electric wire.

For the return leg we switched crews – the FOTR crew operated the 15CA while the RS crew took over the 19D. Both our drivers were familiar with the different loco types, but it was the first time I had fired a CA, and the RS fireman was on a Dolly for the first time too. Neither of us had any problems – they're both very forgiving engines! Safely back to Witbank, we posed the 15CA by the old coal stage for the photographers, did our loco duties, and then knocked off for more hot showers. A braai was followed by an early night for most of us.

Sunday morning. Another early start for the footplate crews. Another big breakfast, a slight delay while we sorted out shunters to get us out of the yard, and another smooth trip. We made good time, with only a brief stop at Bronkhorstspruit. Home before noon, we did a little shunting, stabled the 19D, and left RS loading coal before they headed home to Germiston.

All in all, a good weekend from everyone's point of view. Operationally everything went very smoothly indeed, due largely to the detailed forward planning and the professionalism of our crews. Minor problems (eg delays beyond our control and dysfunctional fire hydrants) were dealt with before they became major ones, and indeed most people would probably not even have known there was a problem. The cooperation between the two clubs was very good indeed and bodes well for the future of heritage steam in South Africa, which needs a driving force which one organisation alone can't provide but perhaps two such active clubs working together can.

From FOTR's perspective, our own footplate and onboard crews worked extremely well together. It was a small tightly-knit team. Everybody pulled his or her weight – we were carrying no passengers (well, except the 900 or so who got on at Witbank Station!).

Thanks to the FOTR crew – driver Cliff, firemen Nathan and John A, firelighters Kobus and Dewald, third man Tony, technical guru John D, train managers and guards Steve S, Steve A and Jonathan, coach controllers James, John M(1), John M(2) and Joan, and cook Miemie. Thanks also to all those who were involved in the preparations, especially Chris J, who was also photographer in chief. Thanks to the Transnet Rail Freight pilots, shunters and Witbank shed staff for all their assistance, to the fire chase crew who prevented a veldt fire, to Rotary for inviting us and, last but not least, to our friends at Reefsteamers.

[Steve Appleton]

Good report, John.
May I add my thanks to everyone involved. A special thank you to the RS guys for all their help (and the electricity: such modernity). A real special thankyou to our galley-slave, Miemie W, - there were times when I forgot we were there to work trains, not eat endless meals and drink bottomless tea.

[John Ashworth]

A thread for posting photos of the 2007 Witbank Marathon has now been created in this forum in the FOTR photo gallery section under the heading "FOTR Trips and Events" at http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... .php?t=376