RailPictures.Net Photo: 39-204, 227, 246, 207, 249 Transnet Freight Rail Class 39-200 (EMD GT26CU-3) at Burgersfort, Mpumalanga province, South Africa by Eugene Armer
The lower (northern) section of the Belfast - Lydenburg - Steelpoort branch line twists and turns its way from an altitude of 563 meters (1847 ft) at Steelpoort to 1421 meters (4662 ft) at Lydenburg over a distance of 119 km (74 miles). Trains are scheduled to run on this section at night, making photography a hit or miss affair. On this occasion it was a very fortunate "hit", with train 9402 seen climbing through a sweeping S-bend between Apiesdoring and Kromkloof, five class 39-200's hauling 50 type CR wagons loaded with chrome ore from the mines at Steelpoort. The embankment carrying the right of way was recently widened to provide road access for permanent way crews who are currently busy with a rail and sleeper replacement programme on this line. The R555 road between Burgersfort and Ohrigstad is visible in the middle of the picture above the train.
