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South African Narrow Gauge Tour 2008
Report
Day 1. 11 May 2008
As is now traditional for our South African tours, the
participants met up at the Spurs Restaurant in the
Johannesburg Airport. From there we drove to Ficksburg
where we would, spend the next three nights.
Day 2. 12 May
Before sunrise the 22 participants descended on
Sandstone Estates. The Estates boast 22 working steam
locomotives, and so expectations were high that
everyone would get something special. The Waenhuis
refreshment area was a welcome sight in the pre-dawn
gloom with coffee, tea and rusks supplementing the
hotel’s packed breakfast. This morning two NGG16
Garratts, numbers 113 and 153 were centre stage. A
mixed train of well maintained wagons and coaches
made up a train that was double headed, single
headed and banked in a number of locations across
the estate railway. Following lunch, admirably provided
by Gerhard Wille and his wife Renette, NG4 # 16 was
put through its paces. This Kerr Steward 4-6-2T made a
colourful spectacle at sunset. A braai (barbecue)
completed a thoroughly enjoyable day.
As is now traditional for our South African tours, the
participants met up at the Spurs Restaurant in the
Johannesburg Airport. From there we drove to Ficksburg
where we would, spend the next three nights.
Day 2. 12 May
Before sunrise the 22 participants descended on
Sandstone Estates. The Estates boast 22 working steam
locomotives, and so expectations were high that
everyone would get something special. The Waenhuis
refreshment area was a welcome sight in the pre-dawn
gloom with coffee, tea and rusks supplementing the
hotel’s packed breakfast. This morning two NGG16
Garratts, numbers 113 and 153 were centre stage. A
mixed train of well maintained wagons and coaches
made up a train that was double headed, single
headed and banked in a number of locations across
the estate railway. Following lunch, admirably provided
by Gerhard Wille and his wife Renette, NG4 # 16 was
put through its paces. This Kerr Steward 4-6-2T made a
colourful spectacle at sunset. A braai (barbecue)
completed a thoroughly enjoyable day.
| There are three outstanding locations for South African two foot gauge railways. This tour included them, and more. |
Day 3. 13 May
Once more, we arrived 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. Another excellent lunch, this time a
Mongolian Braai, was followed by a session with NG15
#17. This was particularly welcomed as the Apple Express
at Port Elizabeth would be unable to steam their NG15 for
us, necessitating a diesel substitution.
Day 4. 14 May
This morning was our last opportunity to watch a sunrise at
Sandstone. In steam were two ex Sena Sugar Estates
locomotives. Peckett #14 and Feldbahn #2 took it in turns
to pose for the cameras, an unusual but photogenic twin
act against the backdrop of the estate countryside and the
farm complex.
Dennis Moor, Dave Richardson and the rest of the team
made our visit to Sandstone a great photographic
experience.
This afternoon we drove to the Amble Inn at Ixopo. Our
arrival well after sunset was heralded by the owner
expressing surprise at the ‘double decker coach’ provided
by Springbok Atlas. He immediately mobilised a gang with
a chainsaw to cut down a tree, making possible our exit
the next morning via a more easily navigable route.
Once more, we arrived 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. Another excellent lunch, this time a
Mongolian Braai, was followed by a session with NG15
#17. This was particularly welcomed as the Apple Express
at Port Elizabeth would be unable to steam their NG15 for
us, necessitating a diesel substitution.
Day 4. 14 May
This morning was our last opportunity to watch a sunrise at
Sandstone. In steam were two ex Sena Sugar Estates
locomotives. Peckett #14 and Feldbahn #2 took it in turns
to pose for the cameras, an unusual but photogenic twin
act against the backdrop of the estate countryside and the
farm complex.
Dennis Moor, Dave Richardson and the rest of the team
made our visit to Sandstone a great photographic
experience.
This afternoon we drove to the Amble Inn at Ixopo. Our
arrival well after sunset was heralded by the owner
expressing surprise at the ‘double decker coach’ provided
by Springbok Atlas. He immediately mobilised a gang with
a chainsaw to cut down a tree, making possible our exit
the next morning via a more easily navigable route.
Day 5. 15 May
This was Cape Gauge day. Short tendered, domeless 19D
#2669 welcomed us to Creighton. After coffee, and a little
shunting we headed out to Riversdale. This line runs much
of its length through a superbly scenic river valley, a
delightful experience followed by a long wait for a diesel
freight to pass before we could return tender first to
Creighton for lunch and a brief meeting with the Mayor of
the Ingwe Council.
After lunch we headed out in the opposite direction for
Donnybrook. The scenery is quite different, dominated by
hills and Zulu settlements. Clouds were building up, and the
locomotive had developed steaming problems. We made it
well over half of the way before returning to Creighton.
This was Cape Gauge day. Short tendered, domeless 19D
#2669 welcomed us to Creighton. After coffee, and a little
shunting we headed out to Riversdale. This line runs much
of its length through a superbly scenic river valley, a
delightful experience followed by a long wait for a diesel
freight to pass before we could return tender first to
Creighton for lunch and a brief meeting with the Mayor of
the Ingwe Council.
After lunch we headed out in the opposite direction for
Donnybrook. The scenery is quite different, dominated by
hills and Zulu settlements. Clouds were building up, and the
locomotive had developed steaming problems. We made it
well over half of the way before returning to Creighton.
Day 6. 16 May
Sunrise once more found us at a railway station. This time,
the station was Woodburn at Ixopo. NGG11 number 55 was
in steam. We met Julian Pereira and his team who were
busy loading the Garratt bunker with timber, this being the
fuel of choice when you can obtain it free from the forest.
A successful brake test was undertaken before we headed
down the line to Ncalu Station and back. The forest grows
right up to the track between Ixopo and Carisbrooke Siding,
giving a dramatic effect. Thereafter the countryside is
much more open, offering up views so well described in
the book ‘Cry the Beloved Country’.
Lunch was a prepared by Julian Pereira’s son,
conveniently a professional chef, before we headed down
the line to Stainton Siding with #55 to take photographs as
the sun went down.
Day 7. 17 May
Two sugar cane locomotives had steamed to Ncalu
Station yesterday afternoon, and so we drove there this
morning to photograph them in the sugar cane fields. The
opportunity to take photographs of two sugar cane
locomotives in the cane fields pleased all of the
photographers in the group.
Julian Pereira and his team did us proud. They have done
amazing things with a limited budget and now talk
excitedly about getting back to Madonela, the original
terminus of the line, as soon as possible.
This afternoon we drove to the south coast of Kwazulu
Natal, where we spent the night at the Blue Marlin resort
hotel at Scottburough. Most of the rooms overlooked the
Durban to Port Shepstone railway with the beach and sea
beyond. A great place for railfans to relax for a few hours.
Sunrise once more found us at a railway station. This time,
the station was Woodburn at Ixopo. NGG11 number 55 was
in steam. We met Julian Pereira and his team who were
busy loading the Garratt bunker with timber, this being the
fuel of choice when you can obtain it free from the forest.
A successful brake test was undertaken before we headed
down the line to Ncalu Station and back. The forest grows
right up to the track between Ixopo and Carisbrooke Siding,
giving a dramatic effect. Thereafter the countryside is
much more open, offering up views so well described in
the book ‘Cry the Beloved Country’.
Lunch was a prepared by Julian Pereira’s son,
conveniently a professional chef, before we headed down
the line to Stainton Siding with #55 to take photographs as
the sun went down.
Day 7. 17 May
Two sugar cane locomotives had steamed to Ncalu
Station yesterday afternoon, and so we drove there this
morning to photograph them in the sugar cane fields. The
opportunity to take photographs of two sugar cane
locomotives in the cane fields pleased all of the
photographers in the group.
Julian Pereira and his team did us proud. They have done
amazing things with a limited budget and now talk
excitedly about getting back to Madonela, the original
terminus of the line, as soon as possible.
This afternoon we drove to the south coast of Kwazulu
Natal, where we spent the night at the Blue Marlin resort
hotel at Scottburough. Most of the rooms overlooked the
Durban to Port Shepstone railway with the beach and sea
beyond. A great place for railfans to relax for a few hours.
Day 8. 18 May
Our flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth was at lunchtime,
and so we took the opportunity to visit the SAPPI industrial
complex at Umkomaas en route to the airport. Sappi had
refused a written request to enter the plant to see their
fleet of three Class 19D locomotives, but the line to the
exchange sidings runs alongside a public road, making
sightings possible when trains run. The weighbridge
operator gave the good news that a train was due out at
10h00, in one hour’s time. 19th Class locomotive #1
appeared at 10h20, heading out of the plant at a speed
that bettered our coach. The driver stopped near the
exchange siding, probably interested to know who was
chasing him in a coach, but also showing explaining that
he would wait for us to get into position before he returned
with a load of timber. Photographs were taken of ‘real’
steam, a bonus on an otherwise quiet day.
On arriving in Port Elizabeth a visit was made to the
diesel depot, and the Humewood Road station area.
Progress was clearly being made on returning NG15 #119
to steam, with completion expected in July. The old
steam depot was a sad sight with a number of locomotives
rusting away amongst a large number of wagons.
Our flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth was at lunchtime,
and so we took the opportunity to visit the SAPPI industrial
complex at Umkomaas en route to the airport. Sappi had
refused a written request to enter the plant to see their
fleet of three Class 19D locomotives, but the line to the
exchange sidings runs alongside a public road, making
sightings possible when trains run. The weighbridge
operator gave the good news that a train was due out at
10h00, in one hour’s time. 19th Class locomotive #1
appeared at 10h20, heading out of the plant at a speed
that bettered our coach. The driver stopped near the
exchange siding, probably interested to know who was
chasing him in a coach, but also showing explaining that
he would wait for us to get into position before he returned
with a load of timber. Photographs were taken of ‘real’
steam, a bonus on an otherwise quiet day.
On arriving in Port Elizabeth a visit was made to the
diesel depot, and the Humewood Road station area.
Progress was clearly being made on returning NG15 #119
to steam, with completion expected in July. The old
steam depot was a sad sight with a number of locomotives
rusting away amongst a large number of wagons.
Day 9. 19 May
Our train to Patensie left from the Humewood Road diesel
depot, the preferred option because the old station has
been vandalised. A half hour delay to the departure gave
everyone a chance to photograph the depot in sunlight
before Class 91 number 91 007 took our 5 coach train up
the line to Patensie. There are good photographic
locations on this route, but we restricted the number used
because of the diesel traction.
There are no suitable hotels at Patensie, and so we
enjoyed the hospitality of the local community who run a
number of Bed & Breakfast establishments. Some stayed
with the headmaster, some the doctor. I spent the night
with an orange farmer who sells to Sainsburys.
Day 10. 20 May
We left Patensie this morning, running back to the
junction with the main line and from there continuing to
Assegaaibos. A freight train crossed us at Humansdorp,
with evidence of more timber traffic being loaded. There
had been four goods trains in the past week.
A packed lunch was distributed at Humansdorp, followed
by a buffet lunch on arrival at Assegaaibosch, after which
we drove to George. Our final dinner was in a restaurant,
fine food and company although the double lunch
dampened appetites somewhat.
Our train to Patensie left from the Humewood Road diesel
depot, the preferred option because the old station has
been vandalised. A half hour delay to the departure gave
everyone a chance to photograph the depot in sunlight
before Class 91 number 91 007 took our 5 coach train up
the line to Patensie. There are good photographic
locations on this route, but we restricted the number used
because of the diesel traction.
There are no suitable hotels at Patensie, and so we
enjoyed the hospitality of the local community who run a
number of Bed & Breakfast establishments. Some stayed
with the headmaster, some the doctor. I spent the night
with an orange farmer who sells to Sainsburys.
Day 10. 20 May
We left Patensie this morning, running back to the
junction with the main line and from there continuing to
Assegaaibos. A freight train crossed us at Humansdorp,
with evidence of more timber traffic being loaded. There
had been four goods trains in the past week.
A packed lunch was distributed at Humansdorp, followed
by a buffet lunch on arrival at Assegaaibosch, after which
we drove to George. Our final dinner was in a restaurant,
fine food and company although the double lunch
dampened appetites somewhat.
Day 11. 21 May
About half of the group stayed on today to ride the Outeniqua Choo Tchoe. The rest visited the Transport Museum
with transfers to George Airport for flights home.
About half of the group stayed on today to ride the Outeniqua Choo Tchoe. The rest visited the Transport Museum
with transfers to George Airport for flights home.
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