Translated this reads:Goeie more Arno,
Net om jou te laat weet dat ons verlede Donderdag se treinrit na Cullinan terdee geniet het. Dit het my sowat 55 jaar terug geneem waar ek in Springs saam met my pa op die voetplaat gery het, veral in die 12AR en 15AR lokomotiewe. My skoonpa was ook 'n stoomtrein drywer daar gewees. Die reuk van stoom, rook, ghries en nat steenkool het baie aangename herinneringe gewek. Ek was ook beindruk met die seepgladde verloop van sake en die fokus op veiligheid van die treinpersoneel. As ek 'n nederige voorstel mag maak, wil ek voorstel dat die ketel en rookkas van 3664 met paraffien afgevee word voor die volgende rit. Dit was effe dof met roes merke!
Ek het een van my treinboek versameling afgestof en op interessante feite oor die Klas 24 lokomotief afgekom. Ek heg 'n uittreksel daarvan hierby aan. Ek het ook 'n paar fotos van een van die voetplaatpersoneellede (ek neem aan dis die stoker) in aksie geneem en sal dit per afsonderlike epos vir jou stuur.
Groetnis tot ons mekaar weer by die trein sien.
Good morning Arno,
Just to let you know that we very much enjoyed last Thursday's train to Cullinan. It took me back to about 55 years ago where, in Springs, I rode with my dad on the footplate, especially on the [class] 12AR and [class] 15AR locomotives. My father-in-law was also a steam train driver there. The smell of steam, smoke, grease and wet coal has awakened many pleasant memories. I was also impressed with the smooth running of the operation and the focus on safety by the train staff.
If I may make a humble suggestion, I would suggest that the boiler and smokebox of [FOTR's class 24 loco] number 3664 be wiped with paraffin before the next ride. It was a bit dull with rust marks!
I dusted off my train book collection and found interesting facts about the class 24 locomotive [the type that was used to haul this train]. I attach an extract thereof. I also have a few photos of the members of the footplate staff (I assume that's the stoker [fireman]) in action.
Greetings until we see each other again at the train.
Pictures all copyright by Dr. Robert J.E. Erasmus, 21 March 2013.
- 8_Klas24_3664_21Mrt13.JPG (292.96 KiB) Viewed 1815 times
- 13_Klas24_3664_21Mrt13.JPG (294.1 KiB) Viewed 1815 times
