Class 32 Diesels at Newington Station 1967- 1970

[Steve Appleton]

Adelbert, I can imagine that to have been quite dangerous on the Selati line. Not simply the normal accident dangers associated with permissive working, but the additional dangers associated with the wild animals!
Imagine a train that fails under permissive working. It is essential that protection be provided in the rear fairly quickly to prevent a possible rear-end collision. I would not want to be the guard or train assistant who has to walk back down the track, avoiding lions, buffalo and elephants in the wild, to place the detonators and provide that protection.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Hi Adelbert, how long were you Station Master there. What other stations did you work at, and lastly or you still with the Railways. Please post some photo of this period. I am sure you must have plenty. These last photos of the 32's are classics.Thanx

[Dylan Knott]

32-101 is still at Danskraal awaiting scrapping. Sad end for a good locomotive.

Sheltam took over several high hood locos and subsequently rebuilt them with low hoods later. The "preserved" 31's at Bellville and Waterval Boven's 31 are still fitted with high hoods. All three 32's at Voorbaai are also fitted with high hoods. A 32 looks real with high hood.

Hell, imagine being stationed in the middle of the bushveld in those days!

[Luca Lategan]

The permissive system was to be able to handle more trains on single lines, as the following train would have to wait for the train in front to clear the section between to stations

permissive working (with its inherent dangers)

Wasn't there very strict rules when running permissive working, must keep your speed, immediately put out "knalpatrone" when breaking down, etc, etc?

When was the permissive system ended? Instructions for Van Schoor bell signals with permissive working was still issued during SATS days, so it couldn't have been in the 70's already.

[Adelbert Stigling]

Stefan - the stations that I was involved with the operating side was Newington, Steelpoort, Bityi, Ottosdal, Gobabis, Okahandja, Kalkfeld and Swakopmund.
Unfortunately I do not have so many photos. Do still have some of diesels that was involved in a head on collision between Newington Station and Wildpark intermediate loop, but I don't know if that is what you want to see.
I left the Railways the end of August 1990.

Luca - I'm not aware that permissive working on single lines was ever done away with, tho after 1980 I did not have much to do with the trains operating side