System 5

Orange Free State, based in Bloemfontein

by Les Pivnic ©

The Orange Free State System 5 had its HQ in Bloemfontein. This covers the beautiful eastern Free State with the track winding through the foothills of the Malutis to the Main Line from Makouvlei in the north to Arundel just before Noupoort, offering relatively flat stretches where our fine locomotives could be given their head. There was also a wonderful variety of settings – from trains chugging through the middle of the dorp in Fauresmith to main lines where large locomotives would go thrashing past at 60mph plus! The lines include:

• • Part 1   - Bloemfontein: Steamtown RSA prior to 1965

  • Part 1a - Bloemfontein: Steamtown RSA post 1965

  • Part 1b - Bloemfontein: Steamtown RSA: the Hump Retarder Yard, the Running Shed and the Mechanical Workshops

  • Part 2   - OFS Main Line (1): Makouvlei to Bosrand

  • Part 3   - OFS Main Line (2): Bosrand to Glen

  • Part 4   - OFS Main Line (3): Glen to Bloemfontein

  • Part 5  - OFS Main Line (4): Bloemfontein to Springfontein

  • Part 6 - OFS Main Line (5): Springfontein to Noupoort and the Koffiefontein branch

  • Part 7 - Bethlehem to Modderpoort

  • Part 8 - Bloemfontein to Modderpoort including the trunk route to Aliwal North, the Maseru branch and the Ladybrand branch

  • Part 9 - Kroonstad to Bethlehem and Harrismith