Port Alfred, Grahamstown and Alicedale
(03.11.06)
This day was
devoted to the various sights along the partly abandoned railway line
from Port Alfred through Grahamstown to Alicedale. Weather was rather
unstable, with a somewhat entertaining mixture of bright sunshine and
wet surprises.
The existence of
the Kowie Chu-Chu at the old railway station in Port Alfred has been
discussed before, but I cannot remember to have seen any
pictures of this jolly little operation. So there you go. The loco is a
two-of-a-kind 15ton 4wDH built by Bonds Industries, Klerksdorp in 1982.
It was delivered new to Sentraal Westelike Ko-op MPY BPK at their
Wilsonia depot, East London. It was named 'Flippie' there. When the
ko-op ceased rail traffic it went to Port Alfred. It now carries number
plates of 15AR 1840 and 19D 2530, and
pulls three coaches of unknown origin; the problem of
getting spare parts, however, saw it out of use in 2006.
And then there is the trolley, without any doubt one of the most
picturesque things running on Cape Gauge:
In case you want to ride the train, this is the 'timetable' and contact
information:
We
proceded to Grahamstown for the local Alicedale service, but first we
came across GDA 2257 in the staton forecourt. The loco carries no sign
of identity; the number hence is from JM94/JM02.
And finally, we
met the famous Grahamstown - Alidedale service. I am not really sure
why I think it is famous, maybe because this service has returned from
the dead. In 1988, passenger service on the mountain line Port Alfred -
Grahamstown line was stopped, and a short while later the end of all
service came. Passenger service between Alicedale and Grahamstown
ceased in 1990 but was resumed on 30.08.1995, connecting Grahamstown to
the ALGOA to and from Johannesburg. There was and still is no
connection to Port Elizabeth to avoid competition with the local taxi
industry. I remember that when the story came through the sartrain list
10 years ago, I found this arrangement so peculiar that I printed and
kept all the material about it - it's still in my folder. So finally,
after all these years, I wanted to see the train. This is it, consisting of
Spoornet 35059 and three coaches that are nicely filling with
passengers:
It runs
Monday-Friday: Alicedale
8.30 – 10.30 Grahamstown 14.30 –
16.30 Alicedale
The train runs
through a very fine scenery to Alicedale, where it now connects with
the ALGOA's nameless successor to Johannesburg, which on 03.11.06 was
hauled by Spoornet's E7089. On the video take, one can very nicely see
the sun disappear just 100 yards ahead of the loco...
We took another few pictures north of the station area (still cloudy)
and proceded to Port Elizabeth.
.
pictures from 03.11.06, compiled on 15. Aug. 2007
Kowie Choo Choo loco history updated following comments from Roger
Darsley on 21.Aug. 2007
Ralph Timmermann
Literature:
JM94:
John N. Middleton: Railways of Southern Africa - Locomotive
Guide, 1994 Edition.
JM02:
John N. Middleton: Railways of Southern Africa - Locomotive
Guide, 2002 Edition.
back to the index
