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Still on our trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg on 14 January 2015. In Beaufort West a loco change is necessary, because the line from Cape Town is electrified with 3kV DC up to here, and from here to Kimberley with 25 kV AC. There are dual-voltage locos (class 14E, 19E, 20E and 21E), but they only run in freight services.
7E No. E7018 (UCW 1978) is the one that will take over our train
Next to our train, the "Blue Train", which was running slightly late, was waiting for departure with 7E No. E7100 (UCW 1979). Note the video camera mounted to the front to give the passengers the chance to watch a cab view on a big screen in the lounge car
"Blue Train" logo on the baggage car
There are always some locos standing around in Beaufort West. Here class 36-000 No. 36-013 (General Electric SG10B 40432/1975) with three 18Es No. 18687 (series 2, 2011 from 6E1 series 6 No. E1671, UCW 1976), 18685 (series 2, 2011 from 6E1 series 3 No. E1386, UCW 1971) and 18686 (series 2, 2012 from 6E1 series 5 No. E1581, UCW 1975)
One of the ten dual-voltage locos of the class 14E1: 14106 (UCW 1994). They used to haul the "Blue Train" and are painted blue
Class 7E AC locos: E7080 and E7095 (both UCW 1979)
36-013 again
These two 6E1 series 6 (UCW 1977) No. E1654 and E1666 are painted in the colourful purple livery of Shosholoza Meyl
After leaving Beaufort West (on time!) at 19:30 we had our supper at the restaurant coach - very nice fish and chips, here the food is not simply warmed up, as it is in Germany. Together with a delicious bottle of white wine it made for a good sleep for a couple of hours later. Outside it was getting dark, and in the distance a thunderstorm was providing a spectacular lightshow.
15 January, 00:50. Not much going on in De Aar...
Around 05:30 Uhr (by now we were running about 2 hours late) the loco was changed again at Kimberley, back to 3kV DC.
Unfortunately hidden behind two coal trains: the still quite new class 20E "China Dolls" dual voltage locos 20006 and 20009 (Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Company 2013) in Warrenton
There are six-axle locos on the DC sections as well: Here class 10E No. 10024 (UCW/Toshiba 1985), together with her sisters 10042, 10047 und 10035 (all UCW/Toshiba 1986) haul a long coal train and waits for our train to pass in Warrenton
Grain train with class 18E No. 18707 (series 2, 2012 from 6E1 series 3 No. E1319, UCW 1972) and 18226 (series 1, 2005 from 6E1 series 8 No. E1984, UCW 1981 - 18226 was once part of an overhaul scheme for the 6E1 and classified as a 17E)
Empty ore or manganese train with 10E No. 10010 (UCW/Toshiba 1985) and 10E1 No. E10119 (UCW/Toshiba 1989) in Christiana
Coal train with five 18Es, lead by 18733 (series 2, 2013 from 6E1 series 5 No. E1594, UCW 1975) in Makwassie
Another empty ore or manganese train: 10E2 No. E10109 (UCW/Toshiba 1989), 10E No. 10025 (UCW/Toshiba 1985), 10E2 No. 10118 (UCW/Toshiba 1989) and 10E No. 10036 (UCW/Toshiba 1986)
A grain load with the two 6E1 series 3 (UCW 1972) No. E1391 und E1401 in Regina
Class 35-200 No. 35-311 (General Motors GT18MC 102.11/1975) also in Regina
On the platform in Klerksdorp, class 7 Nr. 980 (Neilson & Co, Glasgow 4457/1892, wrongly numbered "345" this loco was Cape Government Railways (CGR) No. 332) is plinthed
Our train's locos: at the front 18E series 1 No. 18414 (2008 from 6E1 series 7 No. E1868, UCW 1978) in Shosholoza Meyl purple, and another 18E in PRASA blue
We're getting closer to Johannesburg: Metrorail trainsets class 5M2A in Randfontein
5M2A from the other side
In Robertson we passed a freight train with class 34-000 No. 34-090 (General Electric U26C 37899/1972)
Station building in Krugersdorp, our last stop before Johannesburg
In Johannesburg we got into a thunderstorm with pouring rain. Our train was 4 hours late now due to a signal defect between Kinberley and Klerksdorp, so that our train had to stop at every signal to wait for authorisation to proceed.
Heating car No. NSE-1 94-010-358 at Braamfontein, where the following photos were taken as well
10M units. The right one is for the Business Express to Pretoria
Now various 6E1 and 18E in different colours in Braamfontein...
18E series 1 No. 18409 (2009 from 6E1 series 7 No. E1821, UCW 1978) - Shosholoza Meyl purple
18E series 2 No. 18421 (2012 from 6E1 series 4 No. E1452, UCW 1973) - PRASA blue
6E1 series 4 No. E1449 (UCW 1973) - Spoornet orange
18E series 2 No. 18434 (2013 from 6E1 series 3 No. E1379, UCW 1972) - PRASA blue
18E series 2 Nr. 18424 (2013 from 6E1 series 4 No. E1490, UCW 1973) - PRASA blue
6E1 series 5 No. E1593 (UCW 1975) - old South African Railways "gulf red with whiskers" livery
6E1 series 6 No. E1657 (UCW 1976) - Shosholoza Meyl purple
6E1 series 3 No. E1383 (UCW 1972) - Spoornet orange
Class 36-000 No. 36-092 (General Electric SG10B 40511/1977)
18E series 1 No. 18406 (2008 from 6E1 series 7 No. E1829, UCW 1978) - PRASA blue
6E1 series 3 No. E1403 (UCW 1972)- PRASA blue. Note that the "E" in the loco number was omitted
18E series 1 No. 18412 (2008 from 6E1 series 7 No. E1857, UCW 1978) - Shosholoza Meyl purple
6E1 series 3 No. E1317 (UCW 1972) - Spoornet orange
6E1 series 4 No. E1455 (UCW 1973) - Spoornet orange
6E1 series 4 No. E1469 (UCW 1973) and 6E1 series 1 No. E1236 (UCW 1970), Spoornet-Orange
A police car
18E series 2 No. 18425 (2012 from 6E1 series 4 No. E1460, UCW 1973) - PRASA blue
6E1 series 6 No. E1667 (UCW 1976) - PRASA blue
18E series 1 No. 18401 (2008 from 6E1 series 7 No. E1815, UCW 1978) - PRASA blue
6E1 series 5 No. E1603 (UCW 1975) - PRASA blue
18E series 2 No. 18428 (2012 from 6E1 series 4 No. E1481, UCW 1973) - PRASA blue
After arriving at Johannesburg Park Station, we headed over to the Gautrain to get to O.R. Tambo Airport, where the last railway photo of our holidays was taken.
Gautrain at O.R. Tambo Airport, Johannesburg
I hope you liked the photos - I can't wait to get back to South Africa for more!
