Sishen - Saldanha - Iron Ore Export Line. 

Thanks Rail Buddy, greetings to you too.

@@bernardjansen6205 Thank you Bernard

Baie Dankie Walter!! Ek stem, dai GE's is net iets anders, maak die 35's klein lyk.

Nice to see some action on the sishen line and the depot. From what I see there are only class 43 diesels now all other diesels locos, are gone

@@nigellennert8967 theres a few TAL locos aswell as the occasional Class 35s that come from Bellville.

@@Imsaptouw the last time I visited the depot the class 33 and 34 diesels were doing the shunting work to the harbour. Still remember the flatbed wagon they used for extra braking power

Thanks boet, that was a very cool catch indeed, fortunately i made use of my tripod, knowing i was going to be filming these monsters on our rails.

Thanks Tristan

Big Thanks Uncle!! I must admit it was stressful going up to Saldanha and Velddriff back and fourth because the trains are just sooo long. Im just glad i could get some footage and tick it off my bucket list. I havent seen any small GEs in the yard? Maybe they're on the other side where there is no access road.

@@Imsaptouw In my experience when the Saldanha Smelter was still in operation, Class 35's would bring trains from Bellville as far as LANGEENHEID. The locomotives sometimes spent some time stabled at Langeenheid before taking the next train to Bellville. SALKOR yard would fetch the trains left at Langeenheid with their own motive power which could be class 35's as well, and I assume the TAL2003 might now be deployed to do this work. The problem is that class 35 is on its last legs (wheels) with most locomotives in very poor mechanical condition - you can hear that by listening to the Malmesbury train on most days. Often trains appear to be on the very brink of failing.

@@RAILFANinSOUTHAFRICA thats true, when i went out to the station today, to see the Malmesbury, the diesels dont sound the same anymore, parts are an issue. When i visited Bellville yard/workshops, there were alot of 35s/parts around the grounds. They do what they can but its still not enough, the numbers are dwindling by the day, if its not fires its derailments or mechanical failures.

I Believe it is. They do it daily.

@@Imsaptouw Yes, heaviest and longest. And 5 or 6 loaded trains every day!

Thank you, Thats going to be a bit tricky that one 🤣😄

Yes I have, its only operating on the cape flats and southern line.

Thank you so much

I havent yet been out to see the 25Kv lines past Beaufort, maybe one day. But those 15Es are really Something.

50kV line therefore lower current, that is why it is so thin and light - different to the rest of Africa

@@rosshartley5386 oh ok. Our Pretoria Polokwane line is 25kv

I actually missed them splitting the train because the empty one departed