Re: Some reminiscing

John,
We never bothered with the NG either. We did specifically go to Waterval Boven and got 2 different GMAM shunting, and Bill and I got a cab ride in one switching. Also we got the Ballast train with a GMAM to Carolina/Breyton which we had hoped to get. It was the last mainline duty for the GMAM aside from shunting. We chased a train with doubleheader 24's from Breyten to Lothair the next morning, and ran into Alan Miller near Lothair. Then we did Behtlehem-Bloemfontain for a few days, then Bloom, including a nice shop tour by accident. Shot some on both sides of Bloem including great morning at Kloofiend. Then De Aar-Kimberly, George-Knysna(Side trip to Mossed Bay on a Sunday), then back to Bethlehem for 2 more days near the end. Spent a little time at Randfontein Estates gold mine then headed for the airport. We went through 2 Budget rented vans, and had wrecks in 2. At Randfontain the last day we were sitting there waiting for the next mine run when the rear license plate fell off(We had been rear-ended near Poupan). So we felt it was time to leave!!! 30 days in 1984, but spent 30 in 1977 as well. Garratts on Mainline workings and other cool stuff back then. My brother was there earlier than I was starting in 1973.
We had "World Steam" as our main guide as well as some contacts down there, including Nathan(Who was doing the cooking on that video I posted). He met us for a day at one place we stayed. Also ran into Charlie Lewis and his son shooting a special doubleheaded passenger train on the George-Knysna line at the Kaimaans River Bridge location. Wish we could go back in time. Super steam and great memories. We felt we were in the US during the 50's. By contrast we went out to the C&TS and D&S In 1985!!!
Greg



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2018 03:24PM by Greg Scholl.