End Of The Line ~ The last Trains at CDM

[Michael Alexander]

Here is an interesting and historical article, from the Newsletter August 1972.

It's all about the last train at CDM.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Remember well when they took out the last of the old line to the screening plants. 

When I worked at 4 plant used to watch the coco-pans tipping into the big bins under the lines.

Malcolm

[Michael Alexander]

How far North did the actual rail run for?

Were they connected to the rails that were in town, just to the west of the mine store?

[Malcolm Bertoni]

I think the line ran at least as far as Uubvlei and probably down to 50G.
I'm not sure where the locomotive workshop were.  Possibly close to town?

Malcolm

[Alfred Boehme]

I think the locomotive workshop is where driver training offices are today, I did google the rail lines a few times there's no evedince of lines north of Uubvley.
You can still see today the heaps of ground where the line's where . Starting at Uubvley running south crossing the east cliff road going under our HT line past the main substation turning slightly south west passing Mooimiesies turning west and south again in the area where the bucket wheel worked then they stop you can pick up the heaps again near 4 plant.
Did they not turn into town after passing 50G I recall our GPS showing rail lins heading for Town and if I'm not mistaken there are tracks at the mine store

Alfred

[Michael Alexander]

I wonder if there is actually a map on the railway lines somewhere in a dusty room ..... the old timers always documented everything..... would be nice to see a map of where the lines actually ran...... I remember as a kid the railway lines coming into the west side of the mine store and then a single line crossing over into the carpenter workshops....

[Alfred Boehme]

I Googled the heaps where the old tracks where

[Bob Molloy]

During my time, which ended in '67, the line ran from 120M, a screening plant just north of Mittag workshops, via Uubvley to the HMS (I think later No. 4 Plant) and then past the Loco Shed next to North Electrical workshops to 20G, a screening plant just south of Central Fields. A spur line ran from the HMS to an old screening and crushing plant behind Gemsbok worshops at 50G. There was no connection to the township.

[Alfred Boehme]

That explains - All the heaps north of Uubvley where removed by the S800 Bucket Wheel and the section between U0 and 4 Plant with the S400 Bucket Wheel

[Malcolm Bertoni]

I know that the line connected all the screening plants.  So I think definitely to 50G, but not sure how far north or what the last screening plant was.  Anybody know the locations of the screening plants? There were 13 of them, that's all I know.

Malcolm

[Gordon Brown]

Hi Malcolm
There were 18 Field Screening Plants in total.In the south were 32G;65G(Dry inland plant); 68G: 103G (dry inland plant);100G; 122G; 2U;42U;142U;6M and 120M which is as far as the rail line went to the best of my recollection.50G was a clay sampling plant. The railway line did not extend further south of the HMS at 4Plant and so the screening plant concentrates from 32G;65G;68G and 103G were transported to the HMS on Mercedes Benz tipper trucks.
Kind Regards
Gordon

[Michael Alexander]

Gordon, When I was an appie in 89, I am pretty sure that when we drove to Appie Training , south of 4 plant, we took the tarred Uubvley north road and turned off just south of 4 plant heading down towards the haul road, I am almost certain there were a line of cocopans on rails just south of the east west road joining the tar road to the haul road, thus leaving the lines south of 4 plant,

Did'nt somebody mention on another post awhile back that Training was the original train sheds?

How do we explain the rails in town?

ANyone?

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

The train track ended inside the mine store/magazine ... goods could be loaded there for transport to the mine.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

Thanks for that Gordon - I was hoping someone would know all the screening plant numbers.

So the line may have gone as far as 120M.  Still think the line went south of 4 plant, but memory is too dim now . . .

Malcolm

[John Creedy]

I wonder if anyone is in contact with Tony Dunster?  In the cape Town area I should guess. He will know about the loco systems.  You there Dieter???  Maybe someone can contact him?
John