This is 18-401, with one of PRASA / Shosholoza Meyl's flagship long distance passenger rail sets - Premier Classe, crossing over the Pentrich Viaduct enroute to Durban, on one of the more clear winter mornings in Pietermaritzburg. It is unusual for the Class 18E locomotives to work as single units, as they are not capable of being driven from both ends. Prior to an extensive upgrade and refit, which commenced in 2000 (and is still ongoing at Koedespoort - Pretoria), all the Class 18E locomotives were Class 6E1 locomotives of various series. In their Class 6E1 configuration, bi-directional driving was possible - a crew toilet now replaces the driving controls of one end.
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!
