| There are three outstanding locations for South African two foot gauge railways. This tour beings them, and more, together. |
Day 1. 11 May 2008
The tour will start at Johannesburg Airport today. Meet at the Spurs Restaurant in the Domestic Terminal in time for a
12h00 (noon) departure. Drive to Ficksburg, where we will spend the night. All road transport during this tour will be in
quality touring coaches operated by Springbok Atlas.
Meals included: Dinner.
Day 2. 12 May
Before sunrise we will drive to the Sandstone Estate. The 2 foot gauge railway on the estate offers outstanding
photographic opportunities with a diverse collection of steam locomotives. We will concentrate on those locomotives
that were at one time in the South African Railways fleet. This morning two Garratts will be centre stage. NGG13 # 49
and NGG16 # 113 will run trains both single and double headed. The train will be a mixed, with a variety of wagons and
coaches. This afternoon we will use the NG4 # 16. The train will, of course, be shorter.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3. 13 May
Once more, we will arrive at Sandstone in time for sunrise and a morning of outstanding narrow gauge steam
photography, this time with their NG6 ‘Lawley’ #106, ex Beira Railway # 7. Sandstone plan to have their second Lawley
in steam as well. making possible photographic re-enactments that have, until now, not been possible.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4. 14 May
This morning we will have our last opportunity to watch a sunrise at Sandstone, this time with an NG15. Later today we
will drive to Ixopo in KwaZulu Natal.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 5. 15 May
Today is Cape Gauge day. This morning we will take short tendered, domeless 19D #2669 from Creighton to Riversdale.
This afternoon we will run to Donnybrook.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6. 16 May
Spend this morning travelling on and photographing the Paton Country Railway NGG11 Garratt. This afternoon is sugar
cane time. Re-enactments of loaded sugar cane trains with sugar cane steam, running through sugar cane plantations.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 7. 17 May
Today we will visit the Paton Country Railway again, concentrating on photographic locations not included yesterday
with the backdrop of the scenes described in Alan Paton's book 'Cry the Beloved Country'. The NGG11 Garratt will be in
charge, with the possibility of an NGG16 in steam as well. This afternoon, drive to our hotel just outside Durban on the
Natal coast.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8. 18 May
This morning we will fly to Port Elizabeth. On arrival, transfer to our hotel. This afternoon there will be a visit to the
Humewood Road locomotive depot, where NG15 and NGG16 steam and class 91 diesel locomotives can be seen.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 9. 19 May
This morning our train up the Langkloof to Assegaaibos (and we hope, beyond) will start its two day journey. We will
travel as far as Patensie at the end of a branch line that carries seasonal citrus fruit, a journey of about 111 kilometres.
We continue to plan to use NG15 # 119, but it is possible that the overhaul will not be completer in time, and a diesel
will have to be substituted. There are no hotels at Patensie, and so we will enjoy the hospitality of the local community
who run a number of Bed & Breakfast establishments.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10. 20 May
We will leave Patensie this morning, running back to the junction with the main line and from there continuing to
Assegaaibos. If the line is considered safe following the washaway damage late last year we will continue to Loterwater.
This evening, drive to George where we will spend the night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11. 21 May
Transfer to George Airport. From there you can take a flight back to Johannesburg that connects with your long-haul
flight home. Alternatively, you can stay longer in South Africa, flying to either Johannesburg or Cape Town.
GEORGE EXTENSION
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in May, and so it will be possible to travel on
Wednesday, 21 May.
We will be happy to extend your hotel booking to include 21 and 22 May, and to book the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe.
The tour will start at Johannesburg Airport today. Meet at the Spurs Restaurant in the Domestic Terminal in time for a
12h00 (noon) departure. Drive to Ficksburg, where we will spend the night. All road transport during this tour will be in
quality touring coaches operated by Springbok Atlas.
Meals included: Dinner.
Day 2. 12 May
Before sunrise we will drive to the Sandstone Estate. The 2 foot gauge railway on the estate offers outstanding
photographic opportunities with a diverse collection of steam locomotives. We will concentrate on those locomotives
that were at one time in the South African Railways fleet. This morning two Garratts will be centre stage. NGG13 # 49
and NGG16 # 113 will run trains both single and double headed. The train will be a mixed, with a variety of wagons and
coaches. This afternoon we will use the NG4 # 16. The train will, of course, be shorter.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3. 13 May
Once more, we will arrive at Sandstone in time for sunrise and a morning of outstanding narrow gauge steam
photography, this time with their NG6 ‘Lawley’ #106, ex Beira Railway # 7. Sandstone plan to have their second Lawley
in steam as well. making possible photographic re-enactments that have, until now, not been possible.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4. 14 May
This morning we will have our last opportunity to watch a sunrise at Sandstone, this time with an NG15. Later today we
will drive to Ixopo in KwaZulu Natal.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 5. 15 May
Today is Cape Gauge day. This morning we will take short tendered, domeless 19D #2669 from Creighton to Riversdale.
This afternoon we will run to Donnybrook.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6. 16 May
Spend this morning travelling on and photographing the Paton Country Railway NGG11 Garratt. This afternoon is sugar
cane time. Re-enactments of loaded sugar cane trains with sugar cane steam, running through sugar cane plantations.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 7. 17 May
Today we will visit the Paton Country Railway again, concentrating on photographic locations not included yesterday
with the backdrop of the scenes described in Alan Paton's book 'Cry the Beloved Country'. The NGG11 Garratt will be in
charge, with the possibility of an NGG16 in steam as well. This afternoon, drive to our hotel just outside Durban on the
Natal coast.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8. 18 May
This morning we will fly to Port Elizabeth. On arrival, transfer to our hotel. This afternoon there will be a visit to the
Humewood Road locomotive depot, where NG15 and NGG16 steam and class 91 diesel locomotives can be seen.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 9. 19 May
This morning our train up the Langkloof to Assegaaibos (and we hope, beyond) will start its two day journey. We will
travel as far as Patensie at the end of a branch line that carries seasonal citrus fruit, a journey of about 111 kilometres.
We continue to plan to use NG15 # 119, but it is possible that the overhaul will not be completer in time, and a diesel
will have to be substituted. There are no hotels at Patensie, and so we will enjoy the hospitality of the local community
who run a number of Bed & Breakfast establishments.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10. 20 May
We will leave Patensie this morning, running back to the junction with the main line and from there continuing to
Assegaaibos. If the line is considered safe following the washaway damage late last year we will continue to Loterwater.
This evening, drive to George where we will spend the night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11. 21 May
Transfer to George Airport. From there you can take a flight back to Johannesburg that connects with your long-haul
flight home. Alternatively, you can stay longer in South Africa, flying to either Johannesburg or Cape Town.
GEORGE EXTENSION
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in May, and so it will be possible to travel on
Wednesday, 21 May.
We will be happy to extend your hotel booking to include 21 and 22 May, and to book the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe.
| 11 to 21 May 2008 |
| Phone + 44 (0)1562 632000 69 Pitt Street, Kidderminster Worcestershire, DY10 2UN, England |
| Decided? Great! Booking is easy Just fill in a booking form. We will get back to you to confirm availability If you have any questions about booking with us, look at our Booking Q & A. If you cannot find the answer, we would like to hear from you Click here or phone: 44 (0)1562632000 |
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| Star Attractions This tour expects to use the following classes of locomotive that were at one time part of the South African Railways narrow gauge fleet. |
| NG 4 Photo - R Dickinson |
| Sandstone |
| NG 6 Photo - Geoff Cooke |
| NGG 13 Photo - Geoff Cooke |
| NGG 16 Photo - Geoff Cooke |
| Paton Country Railway |
| NGG 11 Photo - Geoff Cooke |
| Ex Sugar Plantation Locos Photo - Geoff Cooke |
| Apple Express |
| NG 15 Photo - Geoff Cooke |
| This tour will run primarily for railway enthusiasts and photographers Participants should be able to board and leave trains where there are no platforms, and walk some distance without assistance. Hotels will offer reasonable en-suite facilities and will be to three star standards wherever possible. Please contact us if you are unsure if this tour will be suitable for you. |
Price:
From 11 May until 21 May 2008.
£1,519.00 per person sharing twin accommodation.
£133.00 single room supplement
Price includes:
Coach transport and transfers starting at Johannesburg Airport and ending at George Airport.
Accommodation, bed and breakfast.
Extra meals as described in the programme.
All charter trains.
Flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth.
The price excludes:
Flights to Johannesburg at the start of the tour, and from George at the end.
Meals not included in the programme.
Gratuities and personal items.
Important information:
Minimum numbers to make the tour run: 25.
Maximum number of participants: 40.
Booking deadline:
Final payment is due on 10 March 2008. Bookings after that date will still be welcomed, but subject to confirmation
that accommodation and internal flights are available. There may be a small increase if the cost of the flight is higher
than for the original group.
Tour Manager: Geoff Cooke.
From 11 May until 21 May 2008.
£1,519.00 per person sharing twin accommodation.
£133.00 single room supplement
Price includes:
Coach transport and transfers starting at Johannesburg Airport and ending at George Airport.
Accommodation, bed and breakfast.
Extra meals as described in the programme.
All charter trains.
Flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth.
The price excludes:
Flights to Johannesburg at the start of the tour, and from George at the end.
Meals not included in the programme.
Gratuities and personal items.
Important information:
- The programme is subject to change if service suppliers are unable to operate any route or locomotive.
- Steam railway services is South Africa are regulated by fire risk ratings issued by the Meteorological Office.
- Additional information will be added to the programme as it becomes available. Please check regularly.
- Flights are not included, allowing you to extend your visit to South Africa.
Minimum numbers to make the tour run: 25.
Maximum number of participants: 40.
Booking deadline:
Final payment is due on 10 March 2008. Bookings after that date will still be welcomed, but subject to confirmation
that accommodation and internal flights are available. There may be a small increase if the cost of the flight is higher
than for the original group.
Tour Manager: Geoff Cooke.
| Updates Programme updated. 04 March 2008 Apple Express have had a further setback, the fitter they had contracted to work on NG15 #119 has withdrawn. They are talking to another fitter, but the possibility that the locomotive may not be ready is too great to ignore. Spending four days on the truncated Avontuur line without steam was not an attractive option and so I have adjusted the programme. We will spend one extra day at Sandstone, taking advantage of their extensive steam fleet. This should include two Lawleys in steam at the same time, opening up some great photographic opportunities. A day on the Cape Gauge in Natal has been added to our visit to their 2 foot gauge lines. We will use their domeless Class 19D, and the scenery is, of course, excellent. Paton Country have acquired some sugar cane wagons, and because we will be visiting during the cane season, they plan to run loaded cane trains through the cane fields. This should definitely be a photographic highlight. They also hope to have their NGG16 in steam alongside the NGG11. Our time on the Avontuur will as a consequence be reduced to two days. This will still allow us to cover the available line with steam if #119 is ready on time. Alternatively, we will have to use a diesel. The line itself is fascinating, and I sincerely hope that all participants will continue to value the opportunity to travel over as much of the route as is possible. George Extension. 12 February 2008 Transnet Heritage have advised that they will not operate steam for charters through 2008. The only steam train operation in the George area will be the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe. I have tried to find alternatives, but nothing has firmed up and reluctantly the Cape Gauge extension must be cancelled. The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in May, making possible a steam trip from George to Mossel Bay and back on Wednesday, 21 May. The cost should be Rand 95.00 per person. Geoff's Trains can book your hotel accommodation for the nights of 21 and 22 May if you wish. Avontuur line. 12 February 2008 I have kept in close contact with Apple Express, who will operate our Avontuur charter. Their NG15 #119 has been retubed, and all that remains is to re-assemble the locomotive. They have had difficulty employing a fitter to do this, but continue to assure me that #119 will be ready in time for test runs prior to our tour. It is also hoped that an NGG16 will be made good as a backup. The line beyond Louterwater is still reportedly blocked by a washaway. Apple Express continue to press the railway management to make repairs before May, but there is no assurance that this will occur. I have not been able to find out the extent of the damage, and must rely on the commitment from the operators. If the line is not open we will terminate the tour at Louterwater. This will not affect the programme up until that point, we will still have a four day 2 foot gauge journey. George Extension. 04 January 2008 I have received an email from Transnet in George, which advises that "Things are happening within Transnet ( restructuring) and I need to clarify a few things before I can respond to some of your questions. Currently all our Garretts are standing due to technical reasons and the future of HP will determine the repair of these loco's." I will update this report as soon as I have more information, but for the time being it will not be possible to confirm the George Extension. Avontuur line. 19 December 2007. The operators of the Apple Express tourist train, service suppliers to this tour, have advised that recent floods damaged the line between Louterwater (230 km, Alt 2,141 ft) and Avontuur. The Narrow Gauge management have inspected the line and advise that repairs will be completed before the tour. Any alteration to this information will be sent to all participants, and in the unlikely event that repairs cannot be completed, alternatives are being considered. The overhaul of Class NG15 2-8-2 # 119 is progressing well. The tubes are at present in Voorbaai for swaging, and on their return re-assembly will commence. After 119, it is planned to overhaul NGG16 # 131, followed by # 124 and NGG 11 # 54. Paton Country Railway. October 2007. This railway operates over a branch line that ran from Ixopo to Madonela, the station for the village of Umzimkulu. The line is severely graded through plantations and open countryside. A recent international group visiting the railway experienced problems when a train they were riding on failed to stop at an intermediate station. Some jumped from the train, and were reportedly hurt. Discussions have been held with the train operators, and it has been agreed that proof will be shown that all locomotives, coaches and wagons we use have undergone the required roadworthy examinations, and a brake test will be done in our presence at the start of each day. It is unsafe for passengers to ride on goods wagons that also carry a load, and this will not be permitted on this or any other part of the tour. It may be possible to ride in open wagons, but only if suitable seats are provided that ensure a reasonably safe environment. It is our wish that these arrangements should overcome any fears that you may have about the safety of this railway, and help them to develop their fine service for the benefit of South Africa's Narrow Gauge fraternity. |
| Click here for a printable programme in PDF format |
| Page updated on: 04 March 2008 |
| Bookings still available subject to availability of internal flights and accommodation |
| Click here for Geoff Cooke's Fotopic website |