BOTHA'S HILL

Botha's Hill is on the Old Natal Main Line between Rossburgh and Cato Ridge, but is on the section west of Pinetown that now sees virtually no traffic, aside from specials. Accordingly, the station lost its semaphore signals around 1990, and as can be seen in this picture of the station area, the electric masts have also been removed. The station has a 146m loop and 139m loading siding with a loading bank and shed, There used to be another 66m siding off the loading siding on the Inchanga side which had a loading platform there, but this has now been removed.

Fortunately the station building still survives reasonably intact (given the horrors that have happened to so many buildings) and the small signalling area can be seen quite clearly.

The small 12 lever frame remains. If you look at the diagram close up you’ll see that portion for the second siding has already been patched up. It would have been operated by hand tumbler. The individual lever functions are

1 Up Outer Home Signal
2 Main Up Home Signal
3 Main To Loop Up Home Signal
4 Main To Loop Down Facing Points
5 Main Safety Bar
6 Switching Out Lever
7 Spare
8 Loop Safety Bar
9 Main To Loop Facing Points
10 Main To Loop Down Home Signal
11 Main Down Home Signal
12 Up Outer Home Signal

Van Schoor machine and token- these are possibly from Botha's Hill and date from the 90s when the equipment was operated by train crews after the signalling was removed.

A picture of the neat station, including the signalling area, from the "good old days" of 1978. Pictures and information on this page courtesy of Greg Hart.
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