Soetendal

[Andreas Umnus]

When I drove on the R44 in direction to Paarl I saw a sign to the Soetendal station. I thought why not have a look. I was surprised how far away from the road the station was.

When I arrived at Soetendal I saw the follow:

Where are the tracks?

From the other side it was clear that there are tracks.

A sign that Spoornet locomotives have to stop here.

Because it looked very calm there, I walked a while around and found this sign:

Wait until private locomotives have cleared the yard.

The track in the foreground looks old but the track in the background looks really new.

Which private railway is it leaving from Soetendal? When I look at Google Earth, it seems to end at a fabric or something else.

Another sign for drivers. On the main line (on the left in the picture) came unfortunately no train when I was there.

Rusty tracks at Soetendal.

Hand lever weight of the switch seen in the picture before.

This are all pictures I took there. Maybe someone can answer the question about the private railway which was working there. I also would be glad if someone has pictures of the railway and can show them here.

[Dylan Knott]

Rheinmetal ex-Denel Ammo Plant. Served by a 4WDH "Zeus" shunter. Not too sure if there is any traffic left there though.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

That single line branching out to the left, does that go anywhere

[Andreas Umnus]

Yes, but it ends at the houses top right on the picture: Google maps

@Dylan: Rheinmetal sounds German. Thanks for the answer. And it didn't look like as if there is any traffic on that track.

[Andreas Umnus]

Another view at the map:

Google maps card

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Thanx Andreas. That certainly is a strange meandering line.

[Christopher King]

Where is Soetendal? I thought it was on the main line. Beyond Wellington.
Can someone advise me please/

thanks

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Hi Chris yes you are right. Soetendal is outside Wellington towards Gouda. Malan is the next station

[Christopher King]

I have just played with Google Maps and seen the extent of the branchline. Pity nobody ship by rail out offactories anymore!

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Its all by road now