An afternoon of heavy overcast with dust storms and even some rain (in a region ravaged by severe drought), finally saw the sun dropping below the clouds shortly before sunset and just in time to ... (more)

After a change in direction at Hennenman on the Free State main line, as well as a switch from diesel to electric traction, Transnet's Phelophepa 1 health care train is seen crossing the Sand Rive... (more)

Running about six hours late, Shosholoza Meyl's "Algoa" from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg is crossing the Sand River between Virginia and Hennenman, on the Free State main line. This w... (more)

The sun has already set on another cloudless winter day in the Free State, as Sheltam's #1202 (ex- SAR 31-001) running long hood forward, hauls its train of empty hoppers from Harmony Gold's Centr... (more)

The late afternoon light catches Sheltam's #1202 (ex- SAR class 31-001) unloading waste from Harmony Gold's Masimong 4 shaft at Central Plant. Sheltam operates the eastern end of the Harmony Gold ... (more)

Sheltam's ex- SAR class 31 #1202 climbs the grade away from Harmony Gold's Central Plant with its train of empty hoppers, returning to Masimong 4 shaft to collect another load of waste for process... (more)

The first General Electric diesel-electric locomotives ordered by the South African Railways (SAR) were the class 31 (GE U12B), imported from the USA and placed in service in 1958. All have been w... (more)

The first General Electric diesel-electric locomotives ordered by the South African Railways (SAR) were the class 31 (GE U12B), imported from the USA and placed in service in 1958. All have been w... (more)

After a few hours sleep, I left home at 02:45 and drove 300 km (186 miles) to arrive at this location just before the sun began to rise over the river. There was no sign of any trains on this doub... (more)

Fifty three years after being delivered to the South African Railways from the USA, this class 31 Bo-Bo (GE U12B) survives in service with Sheltam, but rebuilt with a low short hood. Previously Sh... (more)

Not much is known about this little GE 40-tonner, except that it once operated at Eskom's Arnot Power Station in Mpumalanga. It is currently based at Sheltam's Saaiplaas depot in Virginia.

On a quiet Saturday afternoon Sheltam no.4 sits waiting for its next assignment on the Harmony Gold system. Until recently, this loco was based at Randfontein, working on the Rand Uranium system.

Fifty two years after being delivered to the South African Railways from the USA, the first of the class 31 Bo-Bo's (GE U12B) survives in service with Sheltam, but rebuilt with a low short hood. N... (more)

At the end of their shift, the crew of 2013 leave their locomotive to make their way home. Introduced to service in South West Africa (now Namibia) in 1966, this former SAR class 32-200 survives i... (more)

In the early 1960's, the South African Railways dieselised the railway system in South West Africa (now Namibia), with 115 class 32's (U18C1) imported from GE in the USA. Special bogies were fitte... (more)