Spotted on the rails to Magaliesburg

[Derek Walker]

Saw her in the area of Millsite on our way to Magaliesburg.

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[John Ashworth]

Two very nice pictures, Derek. Not sure exactly how to articulate it but I reckon you've got everything right in both shots - angle, perspective, colour, light, composition.

[Derek Walker]

Thanks John, I am quite chuffed, considering the one was taken from a moving train! That second diesel was an odd one, when we arrived at Randfontein he was sitting where I photographed him and he then went full astern out of sight onto the rail in front of us. They then must have changed the pouints because the next thing he came hurtling past us as fast as his engines could carry him, I had the odd feeling that the driver was in huff because our engine was better looking than his :-)

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Sheltham diesel certainly looks and projects a cleaner corporate image than the other railway operator!

[Derek Walker]

I have to agree, this orange colour that they are using just gets incredibly grubby very quickly. The Sheltham was a spotless, but also very attractive with a nice colourful hue about her. We also saw orange electrics and diesels on our trip and they just looked grubby, is it because they dont clean the things? or is the colour just too light? I saw some other diesels in a blue livery too which seemed to wear much better.

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My question is 'who or what is Sheltam?" they had a train full of sand that they were loading when we saw them.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

If you want to see grubby Loco's, come down to the Western Cape. You will be appalled when you see the condition of the Loco's exterior. If a clean Loco is spotted, it has recently arrived from up north. On our Premier Classe Trip last year, from Kimberley northwards, I did not see a dirty Loco.

[Gabor Kovacs]

Derek Walker asked:

My question is 'who or what is Sheltam?

Sheltam is basically a very diverse company that specializes in transport systems and is also a transport operator. They are a subsidiary of the Grinrod Group of companies.

Have a look at their website - CLICK HERE

Sheltam oprates their own fleet of locomotives, mainly diesel, however thay also own a few electric locos as well, all, mostly out of the retired stable of SATS - Spoornet - Transnet. They also have their own track maintaince division, locomotive repair and maintainance division, and operate private rail systems on behalf of large mines and other large private rail operators, as a good example - close to home, is the former Randfontein Estates Gold Mine rail system.

Sheltam also operates within the Aviation and Marine industries.

Pictures of Sheltam in the Rail industry can be found here and here.

[John Ashworth]

Thanks, Gabor.

Sheltam also operates outside South Africa and is the main player in the troubled Rift Valley Railway concession in Uganda and Kenya. In the Rest of Africa section of this forum there are quite a few press reports on RVR, and one or two photos.

[Derek Walker]

Thanks guys, these must be the people they were talking about in the Sunday Crimes that I posted the article about not too long ago. *Lightbulb goes on above head* They certainly can be proud of their clean locos. Maybe we should ask them to take a few steamers into their stable.

[Gabor Kovacs]

John!

Thanks for sharing the addtional info. I was unaware that Sheltem was involved in the RVR concession!