Railways Africa Issue 7 2011 by Railways Africa

SEPTEMBER 2011

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SPECIALIST CASTINGS FOR THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY

The Scaw Metals Group (Scaw) is an international group, manufacturing a diverse range of steel products. Its principal operations are located in South Africa, South America, Canada and Australia. Smaller operations are in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Scaw’s specialist castings for the railroad industry include bogies used in freight cars, locomotives and passenger cars. Other products manufactured include: Scaw has produced castings for the railroad industry since 1921 and is a technological leader in this field and has participated in the development of unique designs such as the cast adaptor sub-frame assembly used in the “Scheffel” radial axle truck.

Freight car castings: • • • •

Side Frames • Bolsters Yokes • Cast steel monobloc wheels Draw-gear components Centre plates

Cast steel frames for locomotives: • Steerable locomotive frames • Mounting for electrical parking brakes and brakehangers • Traction motor end shields and suspension tubes in cast steel, manufactured to customer requirements

Passenger car castings: • High speed, high stability radial axle bogies for motored and unmotored passenger vehicles • Self steering bogies • Fully machined frames ready for assembly into bogies, including the fitting of bushings and wear plates • Integrally cast brake hanger brackets and mounting for auxiliary equipment Tel: +27 11 842-9303 • Fax: +27 11 842-9710 Website: www.scaw.co.za

Scaw manufactures castings under licence to various licensors, but is an open foundry with the capability to undertake work according to individual customer requirements. The company has produced thousands of sets of steel castings for freight cars for both the local and export markets. These include side frames and bolsters that have been approved by the Association of American Railroads for use on North American railroads.

Scaw supplies globally and also offers nationwide distribution in South Africa through its strategically located branches throughout the country.

SCAW METALS GROUP

RAILWAYS AFRICA / FOREWORD

Foreword

It’s an impressive-sounding strategy with an inspiring ring to it, though it isn’t altogether new. To tell the truth, it’s been promised before. Spoornet senior strategy manager Deidre Strydom - to take one example conceded at a 2006 Pretoria motor industry conference that rail freight services between Gauteng and the harbours were ‘’erratic at best’’, obliging manufacturers to rely on road transport. “We are one of the few countries that has not fully embraced the concept of scheduled rail services,” she was reported saying.

Gama says, as drivers are told their work hours and commitments well in advance. The on-time concept, now that its success has been demonstrated, is to be extended progressively to other lines.

SEPTEMBER 2011

At Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), trains running to schedule are the current ﬂavour of the moment. The new scheme of things was implemented several months back and results to date are encouraging. So much so there’ve been pats on the back from parts of the mining industry, a perennial source of dissatisfaction with rail service, one from which kudos are praise indeed.

This isn’t, mind you, what one might call reinventing the wheel. Once upon a time, operating trains to timetable used to be what railways were all about. For those of us who can remember that far back, it worked well. Admittedly, there were apocryphal stories about passengers welcoming trains arriving ten minutes early, with gloomy staff spoiling the effect by explaining: “Ja, but this is yesterday’s train!”

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PUBLISHER Barbara Sheat

Commenting on this at the time, the editor of Railways Africa pointed out: “Successive Spoornet top managers have been promising reliable, ‘predictable’, scheduled freight rail service for at least 15 years. In 2005, Siyabonga Gama – then Spoornet CEO – was talking about a ﬁveyear plan which had the aim of becoming a predictable, fully-scheduled railway.”

In some places, it was said, trains were so punctual one could set one’s watch by them, though I’m not certain that was ever the case in Johannesburg – or Durban for that matter. But even in the best families overseas today (railway families that is) trains that arrive within ﬁve minutes of the schedule are regarded as being on time. Then there was that curious art unique to timetable-compilers: no self-respecting train ever arrived or left exactly on the hour. One took the 7:31 to work and came home on the 4:59. In those days, of course, one went home for lunch too - on the wellpatronised 12:48.

ADVERTISING Kim Bevan

Not too sure how long Spoornet years used to be, but so what – here we are on 2011 and things aren’t looking bad at all. Measurably more ore was moved on the Saldanha line in the past few months, and considerably more coal carried on the route to Richards Bay. Crew morale is beneﬁting,

BARBARA SHEAT Publisher / Railways Africa

EDITOR Rollo Dickson DESIGN & LAYOUT Grazia Muto

SUBSCRIPTIONS Kim Bevan CONTRIBUTORS Andre Kritzinger Antonio Teixeira Bruno Martin Eugene Armer Hennie Heymans Jacque Wepener John Batwell Thomas Åkerblad Richard Grönstedt Roderick Smith

ISSN 1029 - 2756 Rail Link Communications cc PO Box 4794 Randburg 2125 Tel: +27 87 940 9278 E-mail: stationmaster@railwaysafrica.com Twitter: railwaysafrica Website: www.railwaysafrica.com The copyright on all material in this magazine is expressly reserved and vested in Rail Link Communications cc, unless otherwise stated. No material may be reproduced in any form, in part or in whole, without the permission of the publishers. Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers of Rail Link Communications cc unless otherwise stated. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, neither the Editor, Publisher or Contributor can be held liable for any inaccuracies or damages that may arise.

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September 2011 Railways Africa

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RAILWAYS AFRICA / CONTENTS

Contents

Pete the Pundit Round The World With Gautrain In 50 Days

Brazil High-Speed Rail Suspended

Africa Update Angola Orders From China

Oil Find Will Change Uganda

SA Rail News No To Saldanha For Manganese

SA Transport Infrastructure Conference

Railway Heritage Report from Mozambique

Rolling Stock Restoration at Sanrasm

Review The 150th Anniversary of the First Railway and the 10th Anniversary of the RailRoad Association of South Africa 44 www.railwaysafrica.com

September 2011 Railways Africa

OPINION – AND THE WIDER WORLD

PETE THE PUNDIT and a dramatic rail freight success story, a railway that ran out of fuel, a station with its own library & rounding the world with Gautrain in 50 days ROUND THE WORLD WITH GAUTRAIN IN 50 DAYS

UK PUNCTUALITY

On 20 September 2011, Gautrain completed ﬁfty days’ running between Rosebank and Hatﬁeld. Over 40 million passengerkilometres were recorded in this time – equivalent in the words of Bombela Concession company spokesperson Errol Braithwaite to about 1,000 times round the world.

According to the UK Ofﬁce of Rail Regulation (ORR), during the 12 months ending 23 July 2011, 87.5% of passenger trains ran on time, compared with 89% over the same period a year ago. Commuter services in London and the South East had 91.1% of trains arriving on time, compared with 91.4% last year. Among reasons given for the drop in performance were the severe winter and increasing incidence of cable theft.

Punctuality of 97.8% was achieved despite setbacks such as cable theft and power failure. By way of comparison, Braithwaite mentioned that 94.9% punctuality was notched up in the past 12 months by the London Overground rail operation. No other train service in Britain scored better than this. Well yes – but by way of comparison, Metrorail in the Western Cape averaged a fraction under 70% on-time running in the morning peak during August 2011. With decrepit infrastructure, obsolete signalling and life-expired rolling stock, arguably this is more remarkable than the achievements at Gautrain or the London Overground, where everything is brand-new-from-scratch. It all depends how you allocate money when you have (or don’t have) R30 billion to spend.

DRAMATIC RAIL FREIGHT SUCCESS STORY With growth of 9% compared with the previous year, the ﬁrst quarter of 2011 has been very successful for DB Schenker Rail, the rail freight business unit of Deutsche Bahn and Europe’s largest operator of rail freight. The ﬂeet includes 3,400 locomotives and 109,000 wagons. Employing some 32,600, the group runs trains in 17 countries in Europe, either directly or in association with other entities. It aims to increase market share in European rail freight from 26% to 30% by 2012. Annual investment is in the region of €400 million.

Innovative DB motorised container wagon. Metrorail in the Western Cape averaged less than 70% on-time running in the morning peak during August 2011. Photo: the late Malcolm Bates.

ONE-TIME KNYSNA STATION-MASTER, D J HAVENGA - From the Friends of the Choo-Tjoe Newsletter. Daniel Jacobus Havenga was born to farming folk on 7 October 1898. In later years he enlisted twice in the war effort by giving a false age and was twice fetched back from Potchefstroom by his mother. He was then put as a boarder at Grey College, Bloemfontein where he would be better supervised but he absconded with the collusion of the headmaster by changing his name and age. As Private Donald James [Don] Havenga, he was mustered at age 16 to the 1st South African Battalion, 2nd Regiment, D Company.

Gautrain: 1,000 times round the world in 50 days.

Railways Africa September 2011

Havenga took part in the Battle for Delville Wood at age 17 years and 8 months. Although hospitalised three times with war injuries, he survived two more years at the Western Front, taking part in many of the major battles. In doing so, he beat a 99.99% chance of being killed or maimed. Because of this he considered himself to be the very luckiest of people.

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His most serious injury was being concussed by a mortar shell bursting nearby, being hit by the shrapnel and left for dead, lying unattended for two days in the snow near Arras. According to the medics in England, he only survived because of his youth and ﬁtness. He was again hospitalised for a bayonet thrust to the groin. A comrade shooting the attacker at point-blank range saved his life. His war wounds healed completely and they never troubled him in later years.

The future of mobility

He was a big, strapping man - afraid of nothing and nobody. If the war could not kill him then nothing would! He was a sportsman of note and played rugby (reportedly representing the Orange Free State) and took part in inter-provincial athletics. At one meeting in Durban he took part in every foot race one afternoon, winning several including the mile and was rewarded with the Rosebowl Trophy for his achievements. He played tennis - winning many cups and trophies over the years - and loved cricket. He was a man’s man. Being a farmer’s son he loved the land and animals. His gardens were always the best and took prizes wherever he was stationed and he moved around a lot! He rose at 03:00 every day including Sundays and was still in the garden at 21:00. When he was promoted to be stationmaster at Knysna, his immediate and burning ambition was to win the coveted Lady Duncan Trophy for the best station garden in South Africa. If he could win prizes in the arid South West Africa and other drought-ravaged towns then surely this was his supreme chance to win the coveted trophy! He worked hard, long hours and in 1954 he indeed won the Trophy for Knysna and the townsfolk who donated towards his project of beautifying the station and surrounds. He gave excess produce and ﬂowers to poor and disabled folk and ﬂowers to the church every week. He was a humble man with great compassion for all people irrespective of colour and his black staff adored him. Newspaper clippings of his retirement a few years later at Uitenhage speak volumes of his compassion for the disadvantaged. His life was his “luck” and he gave it freely to anyone who needed his assistance and uplifting.

InnoTrans 2012 International Trade Fair for Transport Technology Innovative Components · Vehicles · Systems

18 – 21 September · Berlin · Germany www.innotrans.com

Class 19D 3324 at Knysna station in November 2003. Photo: Hennie Heymans.

LIBRARY AT DUTCH STATION A library of 1,500 books has been provided at the railway station in the Dutch city of Haarlem. According to Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS – the national railways of Holland), it is a unique feature, to be found nowhere else in Europe. The library already has several hundred members.

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Messe Berlin GmbH Messedamm 22 · 14055 Berlin · Germany Tel. +49(0)30/3038-2376 · Fax +49(0)30/3038-2190 innotrans@messe-berlin.com

OPINION – AND THE WIDER WORLD ALL-PURPOSE SIMULATOR In the global market, railway operators require manufacturers to provide proposals covering a broad range of aspects, such as differences in power-feed equipment used by different countries and lines, variations in types of rolling stock, and services passing through electrified and non-electrified zones. To meet these needs and provide swift answers, Hitachi Limited has developed an innovative “integrated railway systems simulator” which evaluates complete rail systems from an all-over viewpoint, including coordination between multiple types of equipment such as rolling stock, signalling and traffic control. It has the capability to evaluate the effects of changes in conditions, further facilitating the installation of new facilities and equipment in line with technological advances. Hitachi will be enabled to realise optimal equipment location and appropriate energy allocation, providing solutions that match global railway infrastructure improvement plans through comprehensive simulation.

MORE CHINESE HS TRAINS CURTAILED Eighteen trains running on high-speed rail links in China were suspended from 28 August, including some on the new BeijingShanghai line. “Rescheduling issues” were announced as the reason. However, press reports draw attention to a story in the Caixin Century Magazine which said that workers found a 7.1mm long, 2.4mm tall crack on an axle of a train made by China CNR Corporation - a claim denied by the company. The report came 10 days after 54 trains were withdrawn from the Beijing to Shanghai link, and the magazine speculated that the crack might be one of the reasons behind the recall.

NEW BERLIN AIRPORT & RAILWAY The new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, scheduled to open on 3 June 2012, will secure the air trafﬁc infrastructure for the Berlin-Brandenburg region and replace the area’s existing airport system. The closing of Tempelhof Airport on 30 October 2008 was the ﬁrst step in the overall project. Tegel Airport is due for closure in 2012 when Berlin Brandenburg Airport opens.

A fundamental feature of the new facility is a terminal (and railway station directly beneath) located between two parallel runways. Good connections to downtown Berlin and the surrounding region will be offered from the six-track railway station with three platforms. An important aim is to have every second traveller use public transport. The Airport Express already connects Schoenefeld Airport with downtown Berlin. From June 2012, trains will depart every quarter of an hour, reaching the city centre in less than 30 minutes. Many S-Bahn train services running every 10 minutes as well as a wide choice of bus connections will be found there. Berlin Brandenburg Airport is being included in Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance service and the trackwork is fully compatible with the ICE (intercity express network). A number of international and regional connections are to be provided, notably to Poland and the Czech Republic.

BRAZIL HIGH-SPEED RAIL SUSPENDED A federal court in Brasília has suspended all processes linked to Brazil’s $US17.6bn Rio-São Paulo-Campinas high-speed passenger train project until interstate bus concessions are put in order. Before continuing with the rail tender, national ground transport agency ANTT has been told it must publish tenders for the concession of all interstate and international passenger routes more than 75km in length. All contracting issues have to be resolved by September 2012. If ANTT fails to comply (it says it will, but intends to appeal), a heavy daily ﬁne will be applicable. ANTT previously put out two tenders to build and operate the 510km line. The ﬁrst was delayed and the second declared void due to a lack of interest. Separate tenders covering construction and operation are now planned for February 2012.

THE CANADIAN REVAMPED Over $22 million is being spent on revamping VIA Rail Canada’s transcontinental Toronto-Vancouver express, the Canadian. New carpets, new colours and warm woods are being employed to ensure that passengers experience maximum comfort, more space, and great views. New Deluxe Sleeper Class VIA’s new deluxe sleeper-class cabins offer a “boutique hotel ambience and an abundance of the little extras found on the most

Rail facilities at the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport are fully compatible with DB’s ICE intercity express trains.

Railways Africa September 2011

F40PH locos head the Canadian near Jasper, Alberta. Photo: Timothy Stevens

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ROLLING STOCK EQUIPMENT BUSINESS Specialist manufacturers of parts and sub-assemblies for locomotives, coaches and wagons. Processes include

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laser cutting, bending, forging and the fabrication of carbon and stainless steel alloys.

Tel: +27 (0)12 391 1304

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OPINION – AND THE WIDER WORLD luxurious trains in the world”. They are 50% more spacious than before, featuring private glassed-in showers and ﬂat-screen TVs, in addition to a dedicated service attendant, turn-down service, all-day room service (breakfast, morning and afternoon tea), priority luggage service and priority boarding. Dining on board Newly-refurbished dining cars are augmented by elegant settings of linen and china. Meals are freshly prepared by a skilled chef. Produce is brought on board along the way so diners may savour regional specialities.

PAKISTAN RAILWAY RUNS OUT OF FUEL According to the Khaleej Times, Pakistan Railways was “on the verge of collapse” recently, after running out of fuel. Many scheduled trains across the country stopped running as a result, or experienced substantial delays. The supply of diesel was stopped at one stage because “millions” were owed to the Pakistan state oil company PSO.

It is understood that only 86 out of the ﬂeet of 520 electric and diesel locomotives were in working order at the end of September. To meet the needs of 220 scheduled daily passenger trains, at least 152 are ordinarily required. Railway goods trafﬁc out of Karachi was brought to a complete standstill. It was hoped that a decision to lease 50 locomotives from India would provide some respite.

RAIL BUILDERS FIND ROMAN REMAINS In the course of the Thameslink rail building project, one of the biggest ﬁnds of Roman ruins in London was discovered on the south side of the River Thames. A team of specialist archaeologists, The Guardian reports, has been commissioned to excavate the site.

HIGH-HORSEPOWER LOCO FOR INDIAN RAILWAYS Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) has completed the design for a highhorsepower WDG5 locomotive to operate on Indian Railways. The design was completed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) of Indian Railways with the support of EMD. The diesel locomotive has a power output of 5,500bhp combined with tractive effort of 560kn. The WDG5 locomotive includes electronic fuel injection, radial grids and high adhesion, lightweight fabricated bogies. The airconditioned cab has adjacent toilet facilities.

WIN-WIN ON UK WEST COAST West Coast Trains, the Virgin group subsidiary holding the west coast passenger rail franchise in Britain (49% owned by the Stagecoach concern), paid the government £110 million in the 12 months to March 2011. Patronage has been increasing at around 11% annually, so income to the state is going to rise further. On top Pakistan Railways train at Rawalpindi.

Tel: +27 (0)12 653-4595 Fax: +27 (0)12 653-6841 www.vherail.co.za

PO Box 9375, Centurion 0046, South Africa

105 Theuns St. , Hennopspark, Centurion, 0157, South Africa

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Gautrain Turnout Assembly

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OPINION – AND THE WIDER WORLD of this, the operating subsidy from government is dropping in line with the terms of the concession.

The master plan was drawn up by consultants Lea Associates but construction was only begun on one line.

Virgin shareholders have nothing to complain about. Dividends totalled some £30.5 million in the year 2010-2011. It appears to be a case of win-win in all directions.

JAKARTA MONORAIL DUMPED On 19 September, after seven years and millions in public money, Jakarta aborted the city’s monorail project. Construction came to a halt in 2004 when Jakarta Monorail, a consortium of Indonesian and foreign firms, failed to secure financing. The Dubai Islamic Bank showed some interest, but wanted guarantees in the event of the monorail failing to attract the estimated 160,000 daily passengers. The city of Jakarta took over the project from Jakarta Monorail but a dispute over compensation for investments already made by the company was never settled. Since 2007, Jakarta Monorail has been demanding substantial sums in payment for work completed. In both the Senayan and Kuningan districts, uncompleted support columns erected seven years ago disfigure the landscape, covered in graffiti.

Virgin Voyager set near Edinburgh. Photo: Peter Skuce.

ANTI-GRAFFITI SPRAY Sensor-triggered sprays which cover stabled rolling stock in a fine mist to prevent aerosol paint from adhering have been developed by Auckland-based Graffiti Security Systems. The prototype Stormrail system has been installed at KiwiRail’s Palmerston North stabling area. KiwiRail commercial manager Neil Buchanan is quoted saying: “Protective coatings and misting systems are relatively expensive but they have emerged as the most effective graffiti control measures.” The Palmerston North deployment of Stormrail is being treated as a prototype. If it proves effective, use of the system may be extended to other areas. Interest has been shown in the product at the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Auckland Transport and by rail authorities in Australia.

There were to have been two monorail routes, totalling 27.8km in all, including two interchange stations. One line was to loop through the central business district, with the other running from Kampung Melayu by way of Casablanca and Tanah Abang to Roxy. The governor is quoted saying that the city needs cost-efﬁcient public transport with higher capacity – and lower construction cost – than a monorail. A mass rapid transit railway has been designed, partially elevated and partially underground. Construction of the ﬁrst phase, a 20km north-south line, is due to start early in 2012.

AXION LAUNCHES COMPOSITE SLEEPERS Axion International Holdings inc has launched EcoTrax, a new Axion brand-name for its existing composite railway sleepers, which have undergone extensive proof-of-concept testing over the past 12 years and are now being sold in many domestic and international markets throughout the railway sleeper industry. EcoTrax is easy to instal using traditional wood sleeper equipment. Since the sleepers are designed using 100% recycled plastic and plastic composites, they are long-lasting, environmentally friendly, and ideal for harsh climates and weather conditions. According to Axion president and CEO Steve Silverman, “It is safe to say this product is well proven and well tested. The patented technology has been used to manufacture and instal railway sleepers for many customers around the globe over the last 12 years. The products have been tested extensively both with customers and at the test track in Pueblo, Colorado, with over 1.85 million gross tons of freight trafﬁc recorded.”

South Africa too has big problems with grafﬁti. This Metrorail train in Cape Town was photographed by Andre Kritzinger.

ENTHUSIASM FOR MUMBAI MONORAIL WANES In 2007, an elaborate, eight-line monorail network was included in a transport master plan for Mumbai. Now, according to press reports, the idea has lost favour with the administrators, who regard it as a waste of state resources. Much of the routes proposed, it is suggested, duplicate other corridors. Mumbai was the ﬁrst Indian city to show interest in building a monorail, despite critics highlighting the limited carrying capacity.

Railways Africa September 2011

EcoTrax contains no toxic materials. It is impervious to insect infestation, will not leach toxic chemicals nor warp. It is completely recyclable at the end of its functional life.

“TRAINMEN SHOULD RESEMBLE AIRLINE PILOTS” For decades, train drivers in India have worn sky blue shirts and navy blue trousers. Following a series of accidents, many blamed on human error, railway minister Dinesh Trivedi has proposed changing to a smarter uniform. If trainmen looked more like airline pilots, he suggests, they would be better motivated.

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TAIWAN RAIL HOSTS VISITORS A group of 51 from Australia, Britain and Japan spent a fortnight in September travelling on the lines of the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit, Taiwan Railway Administration and Taiwan High Speed Rail. In organising the visit, the government worked closely with travel agencies in the different countries. Participants said they were impressed by what they saw, especially remarking on the cleanliness of stations and trains.

NO POUND SEATS ON EUROSTAR Though a member of the Common Market, Britain still relies on the pound sterling. Eurostar, which runs trains between England and France, has been running into problems handling dual currency on board. So for a week at the beginning of September, it experimented with accepting euros only – and ran into predictable trouble. UK citizens on the trains complained to their MPs and the MPs told the press and Eurostar was obliged to climb down.

UK-France cross-Channel Eurostar express.

“BAG TOILETS” FOR DUTCH TRAINS Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS – the Dutch National Railway) is introducing emergency plastic bags for passengers as part of its first-aid provision on some commuter trains that lack toilets. The bags are for urinating during emergencies such as power failures. Made by the firm Travel John, the bags are designed for use by “anyone without access to traditional or sanitary facilities”, according to the company’s website. The bag is attached to a spout and filled with a powdered substance that turns into a gel. Passengers interviewed by Dutch TV were dismayed by the idea. “No, no way, I just can’t see myself ‘going’ in that. For a man it may be easier, for a woman that’s just impossible,” said one female passenger.

CALIFORNIA BANS DRIVERS’ CELLPHONES The California Public Utilities Commission has banned the use of cellphones, pagers, satellite phones and other personal electronic devices by railway personnel. This makes permanent an emergency ban already in place, following the 2008 head-on crash involving a driver who was sending text messages on his cellphone. Cameras are to be placed in driver’s cabs to enforce the ban.

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AFRICA UPDATE

AFRICA UPDATE ANGOLA ANGOLA ORDERS FROM CHINA Angolan transport minister Augusto Tomás says new locomotives, carriages and wagons for Angola have been ordered from the People’s Republic of China. The orders were placed in 2010 and delivery is expected in 2012.

But now, according to Benin secretary-general Eugene in a speech on ORTB, the Cotonoubased, state-owned broadcaster, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation is to spend more than $US10 billion to build roads and extend the railway in Benin. Dossoumou said a group of ofﬁcials from the company met Benin president Thomas Boni Yayi on 13 September.

BENIN CHINA TO EXTEND LINE The government-owned metre-gauge railway from the port of Cotonou to Parakou (438km) is owned and run by Organisation Commune Benin Niger des Chemins de fer et des Transports (OCBN). Including Niger in the impressive title was wishful thinking and has remained so for many decades: Parakou is less than halfway to the border.

BOTSWANA BOTSWANA COAL PROJECT African Energy Resources (AER) has received promising results from a concept study - by a number of independent consultants - at the Sese Coal Project in Botswana. Viability from both the technical and commercial viewpoints has been conﬁrmed.

September, India’s minister of state for commerce and industry Jyotiraditya Scindia offered his country’s assistance in developing and strengthening the rail network as well as other modes of transport in Botswana. Scindia, who was on an official visit, emphasised the need for diversifying and increasing bilateral trade. “The current level of bilateral trade of $US64 million between the two countries – dominated by a few commodities like semi-precious stones, drugs and pharmaceuticals - needs diversification and deepening,” Scindia said. One or two Indian firms, including rail specialists Rites and Ircon, have provided technical consultancy services to Botswana in past years.

19DS TO SELEBI PIKWE

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It is foreseen that selling up to a million tonnes of washed coal for domestic and regional purposes could generate cash ﬂows from 2013. This could constitute stage 1 in the overall scheme of things. In stage 2, up to 3.5 million tonnes per annum (mta) could be processed, adding the sale of coal to a power station as well as (to some extent) export markets.

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According to the consultants, existing rail systems and ports would be fully adequate throughout stages 1 and 2. Thereafter, further increases in export sales would necessitate extensive investment in both rail and ports. A heavy-haul railway would have to be built, together with matching enlargement of port infrastructure.

Railways Africa September 2011

AER is underwriting another year of study to evaluate commercial and technical aspects in more detail. The obligatory environmental impact assessment (EIA) process will follow.

INDIA OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO BOTSWANA During a meeting with Botswana vicepresident Mompati S Merafhe on 19

On 8 September, 19D loco 2689 was seen near Klerksdorp en route by road to Botswana. Dr John Middleton explains: “We understand two 19Ds from the Jan Kempdorp dump have been sold to BCL Selebi Pikwe for overhaul and use by the mine there which still operates 19Ds. Not clear yet who will do the overhaul, Klerksdorp is not exactly on a direct route from JK to Selebi Pikwe so possibly they are going somewhere else ﬁrst. It’s not obvious who would be prepared to take on such an overhaul these days. Both of these locos were last used on the Vaal Reefs Gold Mine hire contract in the 1980s and were pretty well ‘used’ when they went to JK - add 20 odd years of standing unprotected and they will need a complete strip-down and rebuild to be suitable for the daily grind of mine life. However, this is great news as it shows steam has a future there for hopefully some time yet”.

CAMEROON CHINA TO PROVIDE CAMEROON COACHES The CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Company Ltd is to supply 38 passenger coaches to the Cameroon National Railway Corporation (CNRC). The new rolling stock is to comprise day coaches, sleepers, diners and baggage vans. CNRC comprises a

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LOCOMOTIVE BUSINESS Specialists and leading supplier of maintenance, repair, upgrade and manufacturing services in Southern Africa

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AFRICA UPDATE three-line, metre-gauge rail system with a total length of 1,173km. CNRC’s existing carriages are antiquated and require upgrading.

blueprint for commercial bulk commodity transport from Mayoko to Pointe Noire.

The CSR company has previously supplied coaches to Guinea and electric multiple units (emus) to Tunisia.

The terms of reference of the engineering study included: *

An analysis of the state of rail infrastructure for the transport of bulk commodities from Mayoko-Moussondji to Pointe Noire including: a rail capacity estimate; description of the current status of substructures and superstructures; and recommended actions required for the track to support a total capacity of 10mtpa. This analysis included a detailed physical inspection of the entire track between Mayoko and PointeNoire.

Identiﬁcation and recommendation of the elements of transport, namely train and traction equipment based on lengths of stations and towns along the route, track gauge and structure condition, and speed and terrain constraints based on the transport of 5mtpa;

Identiﬁcation of station, signalling and servicing infrastructure in place and recommendations for maintenance and refurbishment.

Yaounde station in Cameroon.

CONGO-OCEAN CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE NORTH-SOUTH RAILWAY Equatorial Resources Limited (ERL) has signed a further agreement with the state-owned, 1,067mm gauge, Chemin de Fer CongoOcean (CFCO), following a railway engineering study on the northsouth line linking the company’s Mayoko-Moussondji Iron Project to the deep water port of Pointe-Noire. CFCO is administered by the Republic of Congo (ROC) ministry for transport. Construction of the north-south section between Mayoko and Mont-Belo was completed in the 1960s by the French manganese producer Comilog, which operated the line from 1962 to 1991, transporting their mine’s entire production - approximately 3mtpa of manganese ore. Since 1991, the line has been used only for a weekly passenger service operated by CFCO. The line was originally designed and constructed to support 15t axle loads which could potentially be upgraded to 20t or beyond as part of future operations. CENT. AFRICAN REP. 0

CAMEROON

300km

Rail Study Findings The completed engineering study supports previous assessments that the railway is capable of transporting 10mtpa based on the completion of an accelerated maintenance programme, the upgrading of communications infrastructure, and the reopening of existing passing loops and stations along the line. R&H assessed the transport of 5mpta and advised this can be achieved using eight dedicated daily ore trains operating 350 days per annum. The recommended train conﬁguration is 38 wagons with two locomotives, resulting in a payload of 1,748 tonnes per train based on a 15t axle load. The departure schedule from the mine and port was provided for as follows: * * *

8 ore trains daily Up to 1 daily goods train for the mine Up to 3 spare slots at speciﬁc times to allow for occupations by maintenance teams and allow for “catchup” potential.

GUINEA LIBREVILLE

Owendo

Booué Ndjolé

GABON

CONGO

Moanda

Franceville

Loubomo Bilinga

Pointe-Noire 1.435 m gauge

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Mossenjo

ZA VIL

Monda

ATLANTIC OCEAN

CONGO, DEMOCRATIC. REP

b Ca

1.067 m gauge

In September 2010, ERL signed an MOU with CFCO, granting the company immediate access to the railway and committing the parties to cooperate in completing an engineering study, which was undertaken by independent experts between January and March 2011. ERL then commissioned R&H from South Africa to conduct a critical review of the study and to design an operations

Railways Africa September 2011

This proposed schedule allows for continuous track maintenance and the provision of a daily goods train conveying fuel, parts and equipment to Mayoko. The schedule would necessitate the use of crossing loops at 30km intervals, including approximately 5 to 7 minutes for passing of trains provided that section throughput times are relatively equal. The estimated total turnaround time (TAT) was given at 40 to 44 hours, although detailed runtime simulations were outside the scope of the studies and are still to be confirmed. It is possible that lesser cycle times could be achieved with improved scheduling. This would have a significant impact on rolling stock fleet size and capital cost. No consideration was given to extending train lengths by employing distributed power (DP) in order to reduce in-train forces. This aspect is still to be evaluated.

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AUXILIARY BUSINESS Specialists in products and services for rail cargo as well as ISO container refurbishing and wagon cleaning, including a diverse range of products and services like the supply of newly manufactured, repaired and washed

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tarpaulins and accessories.

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ShareCall: 0860 111 345

AFRICA UPDATE The locomotives recommended by R&H for the intended operations are available from a number of international suppliers with lead times of approximately 18 monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; maximum. Wagons are readily available and are estimated to have lead times of 12 monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; maximum. The agreement with CFCO details the terms on which ERL will invest in line refurbishing and outlines the responsibilities of the parties in relation to commercial transport. The key terms are: *

CFCO and ERL will cooperate in conducting a DeďŹ nitive Feasibility Study (DFS) of the railway, funded by ERL, analysing the capital required and the operating parameters for the transport of iron ore from Mayoko-Moussondji.

The DFS will accurately identify the works and costs required to upgrade and maintain the line. It will also identify the parameters and terms of a tariff agreement or â&#x20AC;&#x153;contract commercialâ&#x20AC;? to be signed between ERL and CFCO.

Equatorial will pre-ďŹ nance the required upgrades to the line as identiďŹ ed in a detailed work programme that will be deďŹ ned in the DFS. CFCO agrees that the capital cost of any work approved by the CFCO and ďŹ nanced by ERL will be treated by CFCO as a prepayment by ERL against any future rail transport charges.

If ERL purchases locomotives, rolling stock or machinery to contribute to completion of the work programme, CFCO agrees that this equipment remains the property of ERL and agrees to contribute to the operation of this equipment according to generally accepted technical and commercial provisions.

A tariff agreement shall be concluded between CFCO and ERL before any pre-ďŹ nancing takes place.

DeďŹ nitive Feasibility Study Equatorial is in contact with a number of internationally accredited railway consultants including R&H. The company intends to immediately prepare and issue (to a selected group of railway engineering consultants) letters of invitation to tender for undertaking the DFS.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) BELGIUM DONATES LOCOS TO DRC To mark the 51st year of Congo independence on 30 June, Belgiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s King Albert II handed over two regauged CKD Praha class 742 diesel locos to SociĂŠtĂŠ Nationale des Chemins de fer Congolais (SNCC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the state railway in the Democratic Republic of Congo). DPOV Nymburk sold the units to transport agency SCTP via Belgian company DAXI.

ETHIOPIA LIGHT RAIL LINES IN ETHIOPIA The Addis Abeba City Roads Authority (AACRA) has awarded Core consulting Engineers Plc a 9.2km, 40 metre-wide, ninemonth road design project worth 3.6 million Br. The route runs from Torhayloch to Megenagna, and is to include provision for a light rail line in the median. The road passes through Mexico, La Gare, Meskel Square, Hayahulet Mazoria, Lem Hotel area and Megenagna. Core previously won the design for the 8km road from Ayat to Megenagna, also embodying LRT provision.

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Railways Africa September 2011

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AFRICA UPDATE

LOCOS FOR SETRAG Two EMD IT42CWR diesel-electric locos have been shipped from Rotterdam to Société d’Exploitation du Transgabonais (Setrag – the state railway of Gabon). It is understood they were built originally for leasing ﬁrm Crossrail in 2008 but were not delivered.

ORE WAGONS FOR GABON On 15 September, CSR Yangtze Company Ltd of China delivered the ﬁrst batch of 44 new ore wagons to the Huazhou Mining Gabon Company Ltd in Gabon. Pending the arrival of the second batch of rolling stock, appropriate personnel training has been put in hand.

SETRAG – BRIEF HISTORY Contributed by Shall Ford (Australia), with updating: Gabon was a late starter, with construction of the country’s ﬁrst railway commencing only in 1974. Since no connections were intended with adjacent countries (Cameroon, metre-gauge, and CongoBrazzaville, 1,067mm), 1,435mm was chosen, having the advantage of off-theshelf equipment availability.

Investors with technical and ﬁnancial capacities to invest in the railway and mining sectors would be welcomed to explore these opportunities, Kamel told leaders of mining companies from Africa, Europe, Australia and North America in Accra. The Minister revealed that the recently completed mining sector support programme, funded by the European Commission, led to the discovery of new minerals. These include phosphate, nickel, chromium, copper lead, zinc and uranium.

BURKINA FASO Bolgatanga

Tamale

In 1999, the Transgabonais consortium gained a 20-year concession to work the line. Both passenger and freight service is provided. In 2005, interest resurfaced in iron ore deposits around Makokou and across the border in Cameroon. Chinese enterprise is currently involved in exploitation.

GHANA GHANA SEEKS INVESTORS The government of Ghana has invited local and foreign investors to partner the state in rehabilitating the country’s railway infrastructure and expanding it. Deputy minister of lands and natural resources Henry Ford Kamel, who made the invitation

Railways Africa September 2011

CITADEL ANNOUNCEMENT

Yendi

GHANA Bole

Nkoranza

Techiman

Volta Lake

Mampong Ejisu

Prestea

On 11 September, Egypt’s Citadel Capital announced the completion of a $US70 million capital increase for its platform company Africa Railways to fund portfolio company Rift Valley Railways (RVR). RVR holds a 25-year concession to operate the line linking the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa in Kenya to the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

Anyinam Akosombo

Awaso

Tarkwa

The 814km line built for and run by Société d’Exploitation du Transgabonais (Setrag – the state railway of Gabon) starts from the port of Owendo near the capital, Libreville. It was intended to serve iron ore mines in the north-east around Makokou. Due to the low price of iron ore at the time, and with the objective of capturing manganese trafﬁc going via the Comilog cableway and the Republic of Congo, the line was diverted to Franceville.

Sheini

Sawila

Dunkwa

“Other shareholders in RVR include Kenyan-based infrastructure investment company TransCentury with a 34% and Bomi Holdings of Uganda with 15%. ‘This ﬁnancing package is the backbone for an ambitious ﬁve-year rehabilitation programme that will see RVR make a quantum leap in operating standards,’ said Sadek in the statement.”

Kumasi

“Karim Sadek, Citadel’s managing director, said an additional $80 million will be raised from shareholders and the rest from internally generated funds.

Paga

Hamale

TOGO

GABON

on behalf of sector minister Mike Hammah, stressed that “there has not been a better time to invest in Ghana than now”.

COTE D’IVOIRE

The provision for LRT track in the road median is part of a city-wide plan to construct a mass transit network in the long term, comprising both LRT and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

Shai Hills Tema

Kade Humi Valley

Nsawam Accra

Secondi Takoradi

KENYA RIFT VALLEY RAILWAYS The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $US40 million loan to Rift Valley Railways (RVR). And according to a Reuters report datelined in Nairobi, “The operator of the KenyaUganda railway received a $164 million long-term loan financing on Tuesday [2 August] from six international financiers …. The investment, which is one of the largest in East Africa rail, is aimed at refurbishing the track, buying new wagons and locomotives and replacing information technology systems. “The six financiers in the project include International Finance Corporation (IFC), KfW of Germany and Equity Bank -- Kenya’s biggest bank in customer terms, a statement from IFC said. Egypt-based investment firm Citadel Capital, that has a 51% holding in RVR, said in February that it was to raise $287 million for a five-year upgrading project.

Four development ﬁnance institutions and a private equity fund focused on the Middle East participated in the capital increase which brought to $319.3 million the total equity raised by Citadel Capital and its platforms since the beginning of 2011. Participants were the IFC African, Latin American and Caribbean Fund, Dutch development bank FMO, German development ﬁnance institution DEG, FISEA, a vehicle dedicated to investment in Sub-Saharan Africa owned by France’s Agence Française de Développement and the International Finance Corporation.

MOROCCO KUWAIT FUNDING FOR MOROCCO HIGH-SPEED RAIL The Kuwait Fund for Arab and Economic Development (KFAED) has loaned Morocco $US89.2 million as part of the ﬁrst phase of its funding of the High-Speed Train (HST) project linking Tangier and Casablanca. According to the Global Arab Network, the project forms part of the country’s development programme aimed at meeting “the growing demand for environmentfriendly transport” and to support the development of Morocco’s transport infrastructure.

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WAGON BUSINESS Specialists in refurbishment, repair and upgrade of wagons and major supplier of new wagons to the heavy haul coal and iron-ore ďŹ&#x201A;eets with tare ratios as high as 5:1, as well as wagons for cement, car carriers, intermodal

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and fuel tankers.

Tel: +27 (0)12 391 1304

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Email: sales@transnet.net

AFRICA UPDATE MOZAMBIQUE NEW LOCOS AT MOATIZE Two different examples of industrial motive power that have appeared at Moatize in Mozambique include Vale’s type DDM 45 and Riversdale Mining’s GT26CW. Stewart Currie reports seeing a video of a Vale loco heading a 30-wagon train into Moatize.

Tracklaying at Moatize. Photo: Antonio Teixeira.

Slow passenger train crossing railcar set at Bengelene in Southern Mozambique, June 2011. Photo: Roderick Smith.

NAMIBIA

the project. According to GPT group chairman Dwarika Prasad Tantia, to date the factory has produced 7,000 sleepers for Namibia’s railway system. The GPT joint venture currently employs 70 workers and this might increase to 100.”

NAMIBIAN SLEEPER FACTORY Namibian Deputy Prime Minister Marco Hausiku has formally inaugurated the N$50 million GPT-TransNamib concrete sleeper factory, with capacity to produce 120,000 railway sleepers annually. TransNamib, Namibia GPT Infraprojects Limited, India and Dorros Investments invested approximately N$50 million in

The GPT plant in Tsumeb was commissioned in September 2010 by Namibian Deputy Minister of Works and Transport Chief Ankama.

RAIL VEHICLE SYSTEMS

International Railway Industry Standard

GM571_PRESSLINK

Knorr-Bremse South Africa (Pty) Ltd (KBSA) has had IRIS certification since January 2009 and has just successfully passed not only a re-certification but also an upgrade audit against revision 2 valid from 5 January 2011. KBSA is the first and only company in Africa to have obtained IRIS certification and has experienced the benefits of this certification by reduced non-conformities, improved customer support, improved product quality from suppliers – simply, improved business management across the entire supply chain. | www.knorr-bremse.com | Knorr-Bremse S.A. Pty. Ltd. 3 Derrick Road (Corner Green Road) 1610 Spartan Phone: +27 11 961 7800 Fax: +27 11 975 8249

AFRICA UPDATE The governments of Tanzania and Rwanda have agreed to closely monitor and speed up processes so as to start construction of the new railway between the two countries. Rwandan minister for foreign affairs Ms Louise Mushikiwabo told The Citizen (published in Dar es Salaam) that the two countries have committed themselves to ensuring that construction starts in mid 2012, to be completed within ﬁve years as scheduled. The line linking Dar es Salaam to Kigali is expected to cost at least $US5.3 billion. The agreement was among the outcomes of a meeting between Ms Mushikiwabo and her Tanzanian counterpart, Bernard Membe. Namibian-made sleepers. Photo: Thomas Åkerblad.

SIERRA LEONE

NIGERIA

RAIL SAFETY CAMPAIGN

BIG BLDGS IN WAY OF ABUJA LRT Responding to questions during a tour of work on the Abuja light rail project, Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE - Abuja Chapter) Joseph Olatunde Akinteye demanded the removal of illegally erected structures along the route. Apparently these include the NNPC Mega Filling Station and Danzali Plaza – amongst others - in the central business district of Abuja. Appropriate disciplinary steps need to be taken, Akinteye said, against ofﬁcials who permitted the use of this land.

The Sierra Leone government, with assistance from the public relations department of African Minerals (SL) Ltd, is engaging religious leaders, teachers, chiefs and other rural authorities in drawing attention to the hazards associated with railway operations. A map of close to hundred villages was drawn up with rallying points clearly identified, based on mutual proximity. Thirty-five rallying points were each expected to bring together at least six representatives from between eight and nine villages to one combined meeting where safety sensitising is being organised. The rail safety sensitisation community meetings began in September and are to run until mid-October, by when the team of dedicated safety officers, corporate assistants and communications support staff is expected to have met all community representatives from all chiefdoms in the mines and railway areas. The message reads: “At crossings you must stop, look, listen and you will stay alive.” This simple message around safety and hazards associated with railway operations and trains, supported by universally accepted safety measures, is captured in videos and projected on giant screens with vivid graphics, all self-explanatory.

Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria.

A slogan developed by community people in areas covered so far is: “LIFE IS ONE, LOOK AFTER IT.”

RWANDA NEW LINE TO BE FAST-TRACKED

The campaign forms part of AML’s comprehensive plan to complete the railway as scheduled. The message is easily translatable into local dialects and slang by people living in villages along the company’s 200km line across the Tonkolili, Bombali and Port Loko districts, in the north of the country.

Moshi

Bujumbura Kaliua

Singida Muheza

Mpanda

Manyoni

Kilosa

Tanga

The theft of rail material during recent months has been highlighted too. The cutting and removal of clips, sleepers and rail endangers safety and can cause accidents, apart from the cost to the company and setbacks to the construction schedule. Towns and paramount chiefs have promised to warn their subjects against theft or damage of rail facilities.

TANZANIA SOUTHERN TANZANIA’S MTWARA CORRIDOR The Tanzanian government is seeking infrastructure partners to develop rail, road and port facilities as part of the Mtwara Development Corridor in the south of the country. The proposed new railway will pass within 20km of the Uranex Songea Coal Project where a 3,000 metre drilling programme is to start

Railways Africa September 2011

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WHEEL BUSINESS Specialists in the manufacturing and refurbishing of all types of railway wheelsets for the Southern African

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AFRICA UPDATE shortly. The company expects to complete drilling during the fourth quarter of 2011. Recently the Tanzanian government signed a $US3 billion mining and infrastructure deal with Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sichuan Hongda. The deal is designed to develop the Mchuchuma CoalďŹ eld in the Ruhuhu Basin, adjacent to the Songea Coal Project (which covers 3,500 square kilometres), and to establish the funding required to develop the basin for both domestic and Asian export markets. The Ruhuhu Basin is known for large tonnages of high quality thermal coal including three substantial coalďŹ elds, Ketewaka, Mchuchuma and Ngaka, with published resources exceeding 1 billion tonnes.

the meeting, the two leaders formed a taskforce to oversee fasttracked implementation of the project.

SUDAN

UGANDA Pakwach

DRC

Lake Albert

UGANDA OIL FIND WILL CHANGE UGANDA Uganda will soon be exporting oil that has been discovered in the fringe of Lake Albert in Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s western Rift Valley. Tullow Oil, a UK-based oil exploration company, is reported to have discovered as much as 2.5 billion barrels of oil, enough to change everything in Uganda. The value of the oil windfall is estimated at $2 billion a year for the next 20 years. President Museveni is on record demanding that instead of exporting crude oil a reďŹ nery should be built, allowing Uganda to sell fuel to other countries in the region and proďŹ t more from the resource.

Kasese

Lake Edward

KENYA

Tororo

Kampala

Malaba

Lake Victoria

N 50

RWANDA

100

150 KM

TANZANIA

UGANDA SAYS NO TO TENANTS At a recent meeting, President Museveni and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania agreed to speed up construction of the proposed new railway from the Tanzanian port of to Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria. From there, cargo would be shipped to Uganda where another port would be constructed on the shores of the lake. According to a statement issued by State House after

Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has ruled out compensating former employees and sitting tenants currently on its land at Nsambya and Port Bell. The land was recently given to developers. URC managing director Emmanuel Lyamulemye told MPs on the commissions and state enterprises committee that contrary to the tenantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; request, there was no chance that URC would compensate them.

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AFRICA UPDATE URC would however - on humanitarian grounds - facilitate the exhuming and reburying of dead relatives. The committee, chaired by Patrick Amuriat, had asked URC to explain whether or not the tenants would be compensated. The committee was handling a petition by former employees and sitting tenants of URC challenging the government’s decision to sell 57 acres of URC land at Nsambya and Port Bell without advertising or giving ﬁrst priority to the sitting tenants.

Much as the company would like to make up outstanding pay and meet salary demands, je explained, NRZ could not afford to do so. “On average per day, NRZ makes about $225,000, translating to about US$7million in a month against monthly expenditure of about $10.5 million for fuel, salaries and spare parts,” he said.

The tenants appealed to parliament to stay the eviction orders, saying they had lived on the land for more than 30 years. And planned to develop the site into an up-to-date satellite town.

ZIMBABWE STRIKE COSTS NRZ $US5M The National Railways of Zimbabwe says it lost close to $US 5 million in one week due to strike action that cost about $1 million per day, general manager Air Commodore (retired) Mike Karakadzai told the Zimbabwe Standard.

Photo: Richard Grönstedt.

NRZ workers went on strike on 27 September, pressing for better pay, allowances and outstanding salaries dating back to 2009. The strike action drew the whole NRZ workforce afﬁliated to the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railway Workers’ Union, Railway Association of Yard Operating Staff, Zimbabwe Railways Artisans’ Union and Railways Association of Engineering. Karakadzai said the strike was holding back over 15,000 tonnes of unmoved cargo daily. “In terms of tonnage, we are losing about 33,000 tonnes of trafﬁc that should have been moved and that translates to about $2 million in two days since workers went on strike on Tuesday,” Karakadzai said after a crisis meeting held at the NRZ headquarters.

Railways Africa September 2011

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ROTATING MACHINE BUSINESS Specialists in refurbishing, upgrading and comprehensive testing of traction motors and auxiliary electric motors. All traction motors are expertly qualiďŹ ed and load-tested to full capacity on back-to-back motor

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Your track maintenance eq Physical Address 12 Laser Park Square 34 Zeiss Road Laser Park Honeydew South Africa

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SA RAIL NEWS

SOUTH AFRICAN

RAIL NEWS KZN DE-ELECTRIFICATION Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) goods trains arriving at KZN coastal stations behind class 6E1 electric units will soon be history. By the end of October 2011, all TFR trains on the north and south coasts are due to change over to 100% diesel traction, using class 34 and 37 locos displaced by class 43 diesels elsewhere in the country. It is understood that the 6E1 units are to be sent to Koedoespoort for conversion to 18E for use on the Natal main-line and presumably other routes out of Johannesburg. There have been complaints about track damage caused by excessive slipping on 6E/6E1 units, Apparently the 18Es are ﬁtted with more effective anti-slip equipment. Within the next few months it is intended to remove the overhead catenary equipment between Stanger - Empangeni and Kelso - Port Shepstone. (Information courtesy Ashley Peter).

NO TO SALDANHA FOR MANGANESE Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has excluded using the SishenSaldanha line for the transport of manganese as proposed by the producers, explaining the line’s full capacity is required for the expected increase in iron ore consignments from the Northern Cape. A feasibility study for the upgrade of the line currently used for manganese trafﬁc – that via Kimberley to Port Elizabeth - is due in February. In a related development, the existing manganese terminal at Port Elizabeth harbour is to be de-activated and replaced by a new facility in the port of Ngqura at Coega, around 30km further north. Capacity on the line from Hotazel in the Northern Cape to Coega – currently 4 million tons per annum (mta) - is to be raised between 7 and 12mta by 2013. The need for additional capacity beyond this is already foreseen. Transnet says it will invest as needed to reach between 18 and 22mta by 2017. Current work on the Sishen-Saldanha ore line will lift capacity from 47 to 60mta. Further studies are looking at the implications of lifting this ﬁgure to 90mta.

End of an era: one of the last electrically-hauled freight trains on the KZN south coast was photographed at Umkomaas in September by Jacque Wepener.

FRIENDS OF THE OUTENIQUA CHOO-TJOE From the latest “Friends” newsletter : At several events in which the Friends of the Outeniqua Choo-tjoe have taken part during the past year, the public has been invited to support the objective of reopening the George to Knysna line as a steam-hauled railway. The “Friends” gazebo was manned by members over several days at the Sedgeﬁeld Slow Festival and at the Knysna Waterfront during the Oyster Festival. At both these events new members were recruited and additional funds raised. A year ago, on Heritage Day 23 September2010, a meeting was held with Western Cape economic affairs and tourism MEC Alan Winde, to introduce the “Friends” and ask what they as a group could do to promote and support the line’s reopening. At that time, Winde thought the negotiations between the Western Cape and Transnet regarding transfer of the line to the province would be concluded by October 2010! It is now 12 months later and no announcement has been made. It is difﬁcult to understand why the envisaged transfer of assets from one state “pocket” to another is taking so long. “We wish we could be better informed on what the apparent stumbling blocks are. Whilst all this ‘negotiating’ is proceeding the asset becomes more time-expired and more of it gets stolen – and more importantly - opportunities to put the asset to work are lost. This seems at odds with the oft-stated national policy of getting people into jobs and working. The injection of tens of millions of Rand into the local economy would surely be welcomed by many local people and local businesses. “Our membership now exceeds 100 including several from overseas. We would like to further expand our membership so

Manganese tippler at Port Elizabeth.

Railways Africa September 2011

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COACH BUSINESS Specialist supplier of repair, refurbishing, upgrade and manufacturing services for suburban electric train sets

GM516_TRE Presslink

and mainline coaches and the Blue Train.

Tel: +27 (0)12 391 1304

Fax: +27 (0)12 391 1371

Email: sales@transnet.net

SA RAIL NEWS please do what you can to recruit others to join us! It is only R50 after all and being a member does give you a voice at the AGM. We are always on the lookout for additional support, both physical and ﬁnancial. Previous experience is not necessary as ‘on the job’ training can be given!”

Postal address: PO Box 846, Sedgeﬁeld, 6573 South Africa. Email: friendsofthechootjoe@telkomsa.net Website: www.friendsofthechoo-tjoe.co.za

Rowwehoek

C BRUNO MARTIN 1/2006

5 km kilometres

INDIAN

OCEAN

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Knysna

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Holy Trinity Church

Knysna

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NATURE RESERVE

Oesterbank

51k m

12m

24m 47k m

GOUKAMMA

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Gouna

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Sedgefield

210m (672ft) long, 36m (115ft) high comprising 4 straight spans of 12m (38ft) at centre with curved approaches at either end and carried on 15 concrete piers. Opened to traffic on 17 October 1928.

Summit 120 metres

64k m

KAAIMANS RIVER BRIDGE

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er Riv

Die Hoek

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202

11km 47m

340

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Kar ata

43k m

37k m

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metres

900 600 300 100 0

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Victoria Bay

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Ron dev lei 27k m Den 4m neb os 2 9 Sw km artv 7m lei Ble 32k sho end m 6m er 3

22k m

Onder-Langvlei

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Mossel Bay / Voorbaai

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0km 226m

.. k r a al r i v i er Ho e

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OUTENIQUA TRANSPORT MUSEUM

GEORGE

731

925

privier Die

Oudtshoorn

River

In happier times: 19D 2698 with the Choo-Tjoe at Bleshoender in September 2003. Photo: Hennie Heymans.

Thesen's Island Lagoon Leisure Island

The Heads

Steel bridge over Knysna Lagoon with 1700m causeway from west bank and 700m from east bank

The George-Knysna line; map by Bruno Martin.

Railways Africa September 2011

www.railwaysafrica.com

The moment of trust. From the efficient transport of its freight to the safe arrival of their loved ones, South Africa trusts the railroads. And the railroads put trust in Timken. Since 1932 Timken has played an integral role in the development of the South African railroad industry, delivering more than 900,000 locally made bearings for the most challenging environments and applications—from locomotives to rolling stock, freight to passenger service, trams to high-speed rail. With innovations ranging from the nation’s first Mobile Rail Service (MRS) units to the first Black Economically Empowered (BEE) agreement in the bearing industry, Timken is where South Africa turns for quality products, service and business leadership—today and tomorrow. Visit Timken.com/rail or call +27 11 741-3800 for more information.

SA RAIL NEWS

SA TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE CONFERENCE inadequacy in the region’s transport. Obsolete, inappropriate and inadequately maintained, system shortcomings are to a large extent attributed to financial difficulties and poor management. In several countries, protracted civil war played a significant role. Current developments and plans being presented and discussed during the four-day event include road construction and maintenance, the development and rehabilitation of commuter and long-distance rail, and local public transport and bus rapid transit (BRT).

SA Transport Deputy Minister Jeremy Cronin.

The opening address at the Southern African Transportation Infrastructure Conference (Johannesburg 21-24 November) is being given by South African deputy minister of transport Jeremy Cronin. Delegates are to examine the extent to which countries in Southern Africa are prejudiced in trade and exports through

Two class 14E dual-voltage locos head the Blue Train through Leeudoringstad, 253km south-west of Johannesburg, during September 2011. Photo: Jacque Wepener.

GREAT TRAIN RACE

METRORAIL PEOPLE FILCHED R8 MILLION

A number of race events between steam trains and road runners have been held in past years, notably at Witbank and Port Elizabeth. This year, KwaZulu-Natal got in on the act with a “Great Train Race” between Inchanga and Hillcrest on Saturday 24 September. Groups of athletes competed in a relay road race against Umgeni Steam Railway’s 99-year-old class 3BR no 1486 on a passenger train.

In parliament in Cape Town, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on transport Manny de Freitas asked minister of transport Sbu Ndebele to explain an incident involving theft of money at Metrorail in 2008. It was alleged that some R8 million was moved electronically from the company into certain private accounts.

PREMIER CLASSE JBG-DURBAN Weekend Premier Classe trains between Johannesburg and Durban are now running only once each month (with additional trains in the holiday season) as follows – • • • • • • • •

Fridays dep Jbg 18:20, arr Dbn Sat morning; Dep Dbn 17:30 arr Jbg Mon morning 25 November 2011 returning 27 November 2011 2 December 2011 returning 4 December 2011 16 December 2011 returning 18 December 2011 23 December 2011 returning 25 December 2011 30 December 2011 returning 1 January 2012 27 January 2012 returning 29 January 2012

Commenting on the minister’s reply, De Freitas pointed out that, though charges had reportedly been laid and processed against two persons, it was not clear whether they were still in Metrorail employ. Also, there was no clarity on an “ongoing police investigation”. The culprits, De Freitas said, had stolen a large sum of money. The public, whose money it was, needed to know whether they got away with it.

Signs at the end of a Metrorail platform – with a new addition suggested.

PRASA COMMISSIONS SIEMENS SIGNALLING

Premier Classe: service frequency trimmed. Photo: Eugene Armer.

Railways Africa September 2011

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has commissioned Siemens with the delivery of signalling equipment and the construction of an operations control centre in Gauteng. It is the largest contract for signalling equipment ever awarded in South Africa, worth approximately €90 million. It includes 15 type Sicas S7 electronic interlockings for the railway network in

www.railwaysafrica.com

SA RAIL NEWS Gauteng. This includes the interlocking for Johannesburg Park Station. In addition, more than 800 counting heads and over 380 points machines will be installed. The communication network is to be upgraded to meet the signalling requirements. The entire project is due to be completed by 2016. The current signalling equipment is a mixture of technologies, some dating from the 1930s, and sourcing spares is often a problem. In future, routes will be set and monitored electronically. The new control centre will be responsible for a total of 70 interlockings in the Johannesburg area, using an optic ﬁbre network provided by Siemens in 2010.

exclusively handled by rail.” Also: “More than 860km long, this heavy-haul iron-ore railway line [Sishen-Saldanha] is currently the second longest line in the world.” – Editor]

PENUMBRA COAL Earthworks have begun on Continental Coal’s Penumbra Coal Project, its third coal mine in South Africa, which is looking to produce 750,000 tons per annum, effective from the second half of 2012. Contracts presently in existence will cover the railing of output to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) in KwaZulu-Natal.

PRASA BURSARIES Siemens Mobility has already upgraded the Orex Line (Sishen – Saldanha) with type Sicas S7 signalling equipment. [The above appears to be based on a Siemens handout. It contains some highly imaginative stuff, such as: “Freight transport is a strong economic sector [in South Africa] and is almost

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is providing bursaries for the study of engineering, and the opportunity to be part of a new effort to boost essential skills in the rail industry. Students will gain practical experience through a minimum of four weeks practical vacation work per year at Prasa. Students may enrol at any South African university for full-time studies. Applicants may choose from any engineering disciplines, provided that subject choices are acceptable and advantageous to Prasa, ie electrical engineering (electronics), rolling stock (technicians), perway (rail maintenance), signalling (technicians), facilities and electrical.

Some signalling still in use in South Africa dates from the thirties. Photo: Jacque Wepener.

Bursary courses covered include bachelor and honours degrees in engineering or science. The bursary covers registration and tuition fees, books, residence fees and meals. Bursary candidates must have at least a grade 10 D-symbol in mathematics. Continuation of the bursary will depend on the candidate’s performance. Bursary holders required to repeat courses have to do so at their own expense. Applicants must be South African citizens and are subject to Prasa’s normal selection process.

Tel: +27 11 794-2910 | Fax: +27 11 794-3560 | Email: info@yalejhb.co.za | Web: www.yalejhb.co.za

www.railwaysafrica.com

September 2011 Railways Africa

SA RAIL NEWS HIGH-SPEED RAIL TAXIS TO DURBAN According to Sipho Masombuka, writing in the Johannesburg Times, South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) president Jabulani Mthembu says the organisation wants to get into sea and rail transport as well as air: “We are moving from a mode to a service-oriented position,” he was quoted saying. He added: “We are looking into a speed train between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.”

TOUR OPERATOR HEADACHES Ofﬁcially, the South African government says it wants to encourage tourism. Somebody should have a word with the Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa). On 16 August 2011, JB Train Tours were informed by Shosholoza Meyl (Prasa’s intercity division) that all long-distance tourist class passenger trains in South Africa would only run three times per week, departing on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, effective Monday 22 August 2011, ie six days after the advice.

On Friday evening 19 August 2011, JB Train Tours were informed that the decision to suspend the trains had been recalled and “everything is back to normal!” On Monday 22 August however it was advised that suspension of the trains will continue “at a date to be decided upon!” In the meantime the operator has to continue with its business, organise tours and keep people informed. Until more of the rug is pulled from under its feet, all tours scheduled to depart on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in 2011 are going ahead.

This short-notice change affected 31 JB tours scheduled for the rest of 2011. Some of these tours had to be rescheduled, others cancelled. Passengers had to be informed accordingly and their tour fees refunded. All the service providers involved (hotels, buses, places to be visited, etc) had to be informed and the operator had to face (again) the grunt of unhappy customers. Intercity expresses - to run only three times a week. Photo: C Baker.

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SA RAIL NEWS CHURCHILL TRAIN EPISODE A three-part documentary made in 2008 by Winston Churchill’s granddaughter Celia Sandys, rescreened recently in the UK, includes a sequence where she is ﬁlmed at a rural station in KwaZulu-Natal. She boards a 610mm gauge train pulled by a class NGG16 Garratt. It’s a nice touch, appearing to give the narrative authenticity – Churchill indeed travelled by train in Natal – only that was a full-size, 1,067mm gauge affair with much earlier locomotive power, some years before Garratts came into the picture.

SA RAIL CALENDAR 2011 Bulk orders by preservation clubs qualify for a reduction in the normal R60 price (ordinary postage included). ENQUIRIES AND ORDERS TO: Email: nbtrainman@gmail.com or janisch24@gmail.com Phone: 012-386 6248 or 073 244 962

Nathan Berelowitz and Chris Janisch have put together an impressive “Railways South Africa 2012” calendar. From classic steam train action to the biggest and best of modern motive power, and all sorts of other bits thrown in, this will make a great Christmas present. Well-known photographers like David Benn, Eugene Armer, Dave Rodgers, Peter Rogers and Dick Manton are all featured.

BANK DETAILS: Name of account holder: L Berelowitz Bank: First National Bank Account number: 77088 251 856 Type of account: 32-day Send name and posting address marked “CALENDAR” plus proof of R60 deposit to: Fax: 012 3866248 / Email: nbtrainman@gmail.com

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RAILWAY HERITAGE

Preservation is A Vital Part of The Picture

By John Batwell

Report from Mozambique

On-going steam operations in Kenya

A visitor to Maputo earlier this year found:

Kenya Railways has initiated a regular steam excursion, believed to be scheduled for the first Sunday of the month. It is now generally accepted that Beyer Peacock class 59 Garratt no 5918 will need significant repairs before it can be scheduled to operate further railtours (for a start, its superheater tubes are at least 35 years old); Kenya Railways are neither willing nor able to fund these. Half a dozen tour operators are said to be interested and the necessary work will presumably have to be financed by one or more of them if it is to run again. In the meantime, it seems the railway will concentrate on locally promoted short-haul steam trains with the smaller locos of class 24, no 2409, and class 30, no 3020, thereby building up the necessary experience needed for sustained steam operation in the future.

Inside the roundhouse next to the running shed: • 0-10-0T no 67 (Henschel 22381/1934), • 4-6-2 no 332 (Henschel 29067/1955) in very good condition, • 2-6-0 ex Xai Xai (frames, cab and tender bunker only thought to be no 082 – Alco 56023/1916). Outside in the yard: • 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt no 972 ex-Gondola (Henschel 28643/1956) was awaiting restoration to be placed in the new museum. At Xai Xai, the poor remains of ﬁve 750mm gauge locos accounted for, plus two steel coaches, seven steel covered wagons and one open wagon. The loco details read thus: • 2-6-2 no 05 (Baldwin 59204/1926) without tender. • 2-8-0 no 06 (Baldwin 58180/1925) with tender. • 2-6-0 no 012 (Alco 61464/1919 with plate 61465) with tender (bunker only). • 2-6-0 no 013 or 081 (Alco 61465/1919 or 55840/1916) without tender. • 2-6-0 no 083 (Alco 56024/1916) with tender.

The two British rail tours to Kenya in early 2012 (see August column) have now been put back to at least September 2012 – again based on favourable weather conditions photographically as well as allowing a greater window of time to sort out arrangements, pricing etc with the administration personnel.

Work on class 15 Garratt no 398 On the New Zealand “Flying 15 Group’s” ex-Zimbabwean class Garratt no 398, the boiler has been stripped for a thorough inspection. It looks pretty good overall other than some rust pitting around the safety valve pad - a legacy apparently of rainwater soaking into the asbestos insulation around the valves following outdoor storage at Kimberley.

Garratt no 972 ex-Gondola, built by Henschel in 1956, is awaiting restoration to be placed in the new museum in Maputo. Photo: R Smith.

Restoration work is under way on class 15 Garratt no 398 in New Zealand – the loco is pictured in action on the National Railways of Zimbabwe. Photo: Flying 15 Group.

Surface rust on the bunkers, cradle and wheels has been treated with protective red undercoat. The loco looks quite strange in her new unofﬁcial colour scheme! Meanwhile measurements have been taken to see what will be required to ﬁt the current New Zealand loading gauge. It is known that the cab will need narrowing and possibly reduced in height by about 50mm. Baldwin 2-8-0 no 06 of 1925 vintage is pictured at Xai Xai, Mozambique. Photo: S Currie.

Railways Africa September 2011

An overhauled cross-compound air compressor awaits being ﬁtted in the future - present thinking is for the compressor

www.railwaysafrica.com

RAILWAY HERITAGE to be mounted on the cradle behind the cab on the left-hand side. It seems there will be sufﬁcient space, though it may be necessary to provide an indent in the coal bunker.

Southern Africa steam 2012 Geoff’s Trains is planning a 20 May - 11 June steam tour to Southern Africa next year embracing Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. In South Africa, the itinerary includes running behind Reefsteamers’ classes 15F and 25NC between Bethlehem and Ficksburg; a ride behind the preserved class GMAM and class NGG11 in the KwaZulu Natal hinterland; and

behind Friends of The Rail’s class 24 to Rooiwal Power Station. In Botswana, more time will be spent with the class 19D locos still in service on the mine railway at Selebi Phikwe. Further north, the National Railways of Zimbabwe will provide classes 14A, 15 and 16A for travel around the greater Bulawayo area as well as the main-line operation to Victoria Falls. The privately-owned class 14A no 512 will run across the Victoria Falls bridge and in Zambia North British class 12 veteran no 204 will be steamed up to shunt in Livingstone. See Geoff Cooke’s website: www.geoffs-trains.com

Rolling Stock restoration at Sanrasm In September, roof repairs were started on 1897-vintage private saloon 15 Wesvaal. Neglect has caused damage to the malthoid, timber and interior. Sanrasm had already ﬁtted some new planks, but replacing one complete side of the roof timbers and rot at both ends of the clerestory will take some time. Work has been undertaken on 1930-built coach 7104 (type U-26-C) and the roof of 1938-built E-13 type 2nd class coach 2123. A-28 type diningcar no 229 Shashi is also receiving attention. The latter was built by SAR in Pretoria in 1937. Quite a number of planks have been renewed, using material from the coach bodies on their sides which will later be scrapped. All the malthoid has been renewed and new cover strips ﬁtted at roof level, as well as new gutters all round. Class 14A no 512 and class 12 no 204 are popular attractions in Livingstone, Zambia. Photo: G. Cooke.

Rail Welding

The single use crucible

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REVIEW

The 150th Anniversary of the First Railway and the 10th Anniversary of the RailRoad Association of South Africa By Allen A Jorgensen ISBN 0-86846-113-X Chris van Rensburg Publications (Pty) Ltd cvrpub@mweb.co.za R470.90, postage & high-quality packing included

Allen Jorgensen - best known for his co-authorship of Steam on the Veld, The Great Steam Trek and Steam in Africa, three deﬁnitive photographic tours de force.

The 150th anniversary of railways in South Africa deserved rather more ceremony than it enjoyed, but there was formidable competition – it fell in the middle of 2010, coinciding with the Soccer World Cup. Allen Jorgensen’s impressive chronicle goes a long way towards making up for this. The year 2010 also marked the tenth anniversary of the RailRoad Association of South Africa, an organisation that promotes a meaningful return of freight from road to rail. It isn’t possible, of course, to cover every detail of 150 years’ event-filled history in 244 pages. A railway as colourful as that in South Africa, with so many notable achievements to boast about, needs more – much more - than a single book to do it justice. But Allen has made a great job of it, his very comprehensive text enlivened by more than a thousand photos, some seen before but many unfamiliar, painstakingly sought out in the archives, dusted off and enhanced. The layout and printing, in A4 hard-cover format, is superb, complementing the thoroughness of the content. Look out for David Hall-Green’s paintings for Rovos Rail. The story builds from the early days to the turn of the 20th century, trains during the Anglo-Boer War, Rhodes’ dream of the line reaching Cairo and successive locomotive superintendents designing locomotives that were truly “world-class”. These included the very first 4-8-2 engines seen anywhere. In the early twenties, comparative tests resulted in South Africa abandoning the articulated Mallets for the Garratt principle, successful examples of which were among the most powerful steam engines on the planet, never mind the 1,067mm gauge. Three decades later, the legendary class 25 condensing engines solved the unending problem of water scarcity in the Karoo. Rail-related events during the hundred years to 2011 were remarkable. Electrification came comparatively early, on the mainline to Durban from 1925 at 3kV DC and from Cape Town to its suburbs at 1.5kV DC from 1927. The Sishen-Saldanha line followed at 50kV AC in 1978, then Beaufort West-De Aar-Port Elizabeth in 1984 at the new standard - 25kV AC. These developments resulted in the acquisition of dual-voltage locomotives, the classes 14E (1990, 5,470hp) and 19E (2009, 4,000hp). The latest class 15E (50kV AC, 6,000hp) are the most powerful locos in South Africa. Progress in recent times is concisely recorded, with many key achievements highlighted – the 245km/h high-speed tests, heavy-haul ore and coal lines, impressive concrete viaducts and other feats of civil engineering including the 13km Hexton tunnel, 4km-long trains with remotely-controlled distributed power - all on the supposedly restrictive “Cape” gauge. The opening of the showpiece standard-gauge Gautrain system in June 2010 was a fitting milestone to mark South Africa’s 150th railway year.

Railways Africa September 2011

An informative section at the end of the book, contributed by leading players in South Africa’s rail industry, brings the story up to the present with many topical photos - and it takes the pagecount to more than 350. Which means you get your money’s worth – and then some. - LRD

Headed by 3kV DC class 10E locos, the “Red Arrow” express conveying Sappi paper from Ngodwana in Mpumalanga heads for Durban.

Eighty years ago, Dr Eric Manken photographed this class 15A 4-8-2 heading a passenger train out of Cape Town station under the largest signal gantry in the country. It was replaced when the ﬁrst colour-light installation in South Africa opened in February 1928.

www.railwaysafrica.com

Step off not down.

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