Maintenance Facilities

Cambridge Locomotive Shed and Maintenance Facility  

During mid-2008, 10 Class 7E electric locomotives, 8 Class 34 Diesel-electric and 11 Class 33 Diesel –electric locomotives were attached to this depot. The electric locos work the main line to Springfontein but they are increasingly being supplemented by diesel locos because of the urgent need for them in other parts of the country. The fitters at Cambridge depot have returned a number of old Class 33 diesels to service and they are proving to be very reliable. They are used mainly for shunting and local transfer traffic and are 40 years old.  

The operating staff compliment consists of 7 locomotive crew members (driver and assistant) for all train services including Metro trains which consist of suburban trailer coaches. Main line train crews work crossing point with crews from Queenstown which also work to Burgersdorp. 

Photo: Class 7E locomotives at the Cambridge locomotive shed 

Humewood Road Loco Shed 

This shed was opened in 1973 when diesel locomotives were introduced on the Avontuur narrow-gauge line. 20 Class 91 diesel locos are stationed here but there use has diminished since the limestone traffic from Loerie ceased in 2004. Only 9 of the Class 91’s are actually listed as being in service. Virtually the only traffic left on the line is the roundwood being railed from Assegaibos. 

Steam locomotives reserved for use on the ‘Apple Express’ are maintained at this depot and the coaches are kept on sidings adjacent to the shed. The old Humewood Road steam loco shed is now disused and is expected to be demolished in the near future. 

Photo: Line-up of Class 91 Diesel-electric locomotives at Humewood Road shed

Photo: Class 91 diesel pushing Apple Express coaches to the Humewood Road Station

Queenstown Loco Shed 

The former steam loco shed has been dismantled but there is a small covered area, not generally used. A single diesel-electric locomotive is stationed here to service the industrial area and provide for shunting requirements in the station area.  

Burgersdorp Loco Shed 

This former steam loco shed is no longer used although it is a booking on and off point for crews working to crossing point with Queenstown crews and to Springfontein and Aliwal North as required. 

Swartkops Locomotive Shed and Maintenance Facility 

This large facility caters for electric and diesel locomotives used in and around Port Elizabeth and on the main line to Noupoort, De Aar and Kimberley. There are currently 60 Class 7E electric locomotives for main line use although the maintenance facility caters for the requirements for other western region locomotives. There are, in addition, 8 Class 34 Mainline Diesel-electric locos, 6 Class 35 Branch-line Diesel-electric and 12 Class 36 Diesel-electric shunting locomotives attached to the depot. 

Locomotives based here run to Beaconsfield (Kimberley) on manganese trains before returning to home base. Crews work to Rosmead where they book-off, and trains meet Kimberley crews which have also booked-off at Rosmead. There are currently and average of 14 manganese trains run per week, 30 – 40 other goods trains and 8 passenger trains.  

Photo: Line up of Class 7E electric locomotives 

Noupoort Locomotive Shed  

This shed was closed in about 1996 and any locomotives used for local work in the area a staged near the passenger station. Four locomotive crews are based at this point.