A very unusual train consist! Pictured here while stopped at Boughton Station in Pietermaritzburg, with this special pantograph recovery train, is Class 5E1 Series 5 locomotive, E1102 (originally built in 1968, but together with E1101, she was extensively modified in 2007 and they remain the only two of their class in service with Transnet Freight Rail), and Road knowledge Coach No. 40117 (which is fitted with locomotive driving controls, a large viewing window at each end and has a classroom type setup in it) are, for the most part, a permanent coupling, used for driver training / road knowledge. On this occasion they have a DZ Wagon coupled to them for the purposes of collecting all the discarded pantographs from hook-ups that had occurred on the Natal Main Line between Cato Ridge and Ladysmith, which had accumulated in the months building up to this day.
Rare South African photographs (older and newer) on RailPictures.Net, where the potential to recreate them either no longer exists for any number of reasons, or the chances of another opportunity are very slim or non existent!
