Witbank Marathon by Trainman - Part 1

[John Ashworth]

Posted on the sar-L by Nathan Berelowitz 05/09/07

Not much has been noted in the fading journals of steam train operations of
late, so to rekindle the coals in the fireboxes, one should report on the
activities over the last weekend in August.

It always dawns bright and clear, when rail tales begin, and this one, like
the others before, began in the same way.

Thursday 23rd August. Class 15CA number 2056, operated by the Reef Steamers
(RS) group in Germiston, made her way to Pretoria with a load consisting of
feeder tank, coal grab, and some passenger coaches. Destination: Capital
Park shed, where, at that very moment, the Friends Of The Rail (FOTR) class
19D number 2650, was busy shunting her load for the next day.

Around noon, the RS consist finally arrived and a bit of shunt work was
required including the turning of their train on the main line, so as to be
ready for the following day. Loco movements settled down by about 6pm, and
soon the firelighter took up his shift, to nurse the two locos through the
night.

The 15CA had been here in June on the Dave Rodgers safari, so the depot had
once more, the memories rekindled of CA's simmering away. Although sister CA
number 2850 has long been standing out of use in the depot, this was a live
one!

I was booked to fire the 19D to Witbank, combining with the CA. The event
was the annual Witbank to Middelburg Great Train Race. This year was the
first, in its 21 years of inception, that no coaches were available from the
railways. Thus, to cater for the huge amount of passengers, the two clubs
combined their stock and ended up with a whopping great train.

The day dawned clear, as mentioned earlier, as I made my way in the pre dawn
to the shed. Just like old times. The smell of smoke and steam and the
familiar hiss of open cylinder drain cocks. The sun not yet up, but the
forms of the loco's slowly beginning to take shape. Put my blik (scoff tin),
on the footplate floor, as I climbed up into the cab. I loved that sound of
metal scraping and in my mind flashed the scene of the driver doing that as
he came on duty so long ago. "More Maat", came the cheerful call, and I
would bend to pick up his blik, and place it on the clean swept bunker box.

Along side, the crew of the CA was stirring, and soon the air was filled
with sounds of steam shakers pshhhing away. The scrape of fire irons
prodding and pushing the fiery coals in the firebox, seeking that menacing
clinker. Blowers forcing the columns of fresh coal smoke into the air, and
the singing of injectors and ashpan coolers at work.The loco shaking off the
nights rest. Symphony of steam, for sure.

My engine prepared and driver Cliff on duty, we went and coupled to the CA
and then onto the load we had prepared the night before. Feeder tanks, coal
grab, elliptical roof stock mixed with swing door suburban set, all in the
old gulf red and grey colour scheme. Modern day heritage at its finest.
Paper work done and checked by the Guard, Train Load certificate, List of
Vehicles, Journals ready. The Spoornet pilot had arrived and we phoned out
to CTC operating to get the road. Soon we were off.

A heavy train, but an interesting one. Here we had the return of a 15CA to
these rails that they used to roam in their prime. Many of the last steam
workings of that class were over this very same route. The FOTR group was
also in its 21st year of operation, and this was the 21st year of the
marathon!

Green signals so far, and we are working hard, out on the main line. No
chugging along, we have a tight timetable. I swing the shovel and the needle
stays near the red. We are moving nicely now, gathering speed as we run up
to Koedoespoort. I look back on the train and see how wonderful it looks
strung out behind. The sensuous shape of the CA hunched up behind, almost
yelling, let me go, I am home!

Battling a bit with the water level now, and she seems to be a bit heavier
than usual in consumption. The injector is singing away, but the water stays
low. The fire is bright, but the firebox is starting to fill, as these are
ash, not clinker coals. We are heading down to EersteFabrieke, and I have
time to get the water and fire in order. Back then, we used to start the Van
Schoor train working here en route Witbank, and on the goods trains heading
east, one had to catch the tablet here. Now the station building glares at
us with vacant window frames and roof. The pedestal where the Station
Foreman stood, tablet at the ready, is empty, with the paint peeling slowly
away.

Up we go, and looking good. Hard grades ahead for the long trek to
Greenview. The firebox is getting full and the water is dropping again.
Whats wrong with me this time? Getting too old? Greenview, and we run down
towards Panpoort, and here is the hardest part of the journey, the slog up
to Rayton. Left back, right back, left side, right side. Pack the firebox,
and get those back corners full, while we have the downgrade. Boiler full
and were ready.

The hills at Panpoort, now smothered with high tech power pylons, resonate
to the beats of the different wheel diameters. Sand storms from the local
trucks nearby, brush the train with a buff tint, but soon we are passed and
fighting the grades to Van der Merwe halt and then to Rayton.

We make Rayton, and stop. I shake down the fire, as the box is full, I would
have battled to Witbank on this fire... One last heavy climb ahead now, from
Elandsrivier to Forfar, then a long drift down to Bronkhorspruit. All well
now. Again, I watch the shadow line of our train on the ground, as it passes
along, over graying cinders by the track. Spirits of steam long gone. The
rails trembling to a long forgotten motive power. (My, he does write sort of
prophetic romantic, nostalgic stuff, doesn't he?!)

Bronkhorspruit, and stop for a loco check over. Drivers out with their hard
grease guns, and Miemie, our on board caterer, brings out the lunch for us
crews. Wonderful, and the drinking water, on this hot day tastes so sweet.
Way back, the approach to Bronkhorspruti on the old formation, working heavy
loads back to Witbank, it was a wonderful sight to cross the river and just
wish to dive in those tempting waters, on a stinking summers day. The
station is deserted, save for the local signal technician compound, where
the faded red arms of semaphore signals, clings to a bleached portion of a
signal frame. The security guard's peer curiously at the train, while the
uprooted fiber name board, stares blindly at the sky.

Off again, up the grades, past the spot of the famous "Red Devil leaving
Bronkhorspruit" photo. On one side, the remains of the old bridge from the
original alignment, looks on. Looking back on the train, it is a great
sight to see. Like old times sake.

Still plenty grades ahead, but 2650 is holding her own. I am just concerned
about the low water level in the boiler; for it's a hard train this. Fire is
good and so is the steam. Swing the shovel. Left back, right back, left
side, right side. Left front, right front, sprinkle in the middle. Not too
much under the tube plate. A time honoured railway rhythm, repeated
countless times.

Balmoral, getting nearer, the national highway bridge crosses the road here.
Getting nearer to Witbank. Soon we reach Clewer station. Those days, we
often stood hours here, while the trains backed up, when the yards at
Witbank were too full to accept anyone. Often trains would combine to clear
the section as fast as possible.

The station is deserted, but not too vandalized. Coal dust lies thick on the
ground. Many rails are rusty. We used to try lay on one hellova fire in the
box, and see if we could make Witbank station on it. Many a bet was lost. I
tried it this time, and succeeded, as we panted up[ the last grade at Lybank
station, into Witbank. We used to call it "Blybank"(Glad bank), as we were
glad to be back home!



We had lights at yellow to the station where we ran around the load and went
off to the shed. It was a bit of tactical negotiation with the yard compiler
to get the load brought back down from the station, to a line in the yard,
adjacent to the loco shed. A while later we succeeded, and soon the locos
went off to the shed proper.

The old CSAR coal stage looked down on the new wave way of coaling a loco,
as the RS coal grab came into operation, filling the CA. The 19D ended up
with a hand job of coal trimming by the service crew of FOTR, as we usually
do on this event.

Soon fires were cleaned and the locos stabled under the shed roof of the old
repair sheds. A 15CA back in Witbank. A 15 BCA that used to work at
Witbank. Now back home. Darkness fell and the soft sounds of steam at rest
filled the hallowed spaces of the shed. Firelighter took their positions for
the night, and the rest of the crews went for a well earned shower and meal.
The next day was the day of the Marathon...

MORE TO FOLLOW..