Overseas visitor visiting Cape Town

[aaronblanchard]

Hi All,
I'm a New Zealander living in the South of Cape Town; and my father has come to visit for 7 or so weeks (well 6 weeks remaining now), and he does have this incurable affliction of wanting to see pretty much anything rail related as possible, which actually isn’t just limited to Heritage rail but that is the main preference.

To show his madness, back in the 70’s he was one of the main instigators of setting up and is still heavily involved (In fact, I’m not sure he has time for anything else!) with their local Railway museum - http://www.pleasantpointrail.org.nz/

Anyway, I’m trying to track down things for him to look at. Obviously there is the Red Devil and associated other engines tucked away in Monument station, linked with Atlantic rail – but what is the best time to go and see something happening there?

Also I understand the Cape Western Railway Society is active at Epping, I’ve tracked down their latest newsletter (through this forum) and will try the Chairman's phone number (Jeremy) to see when the best time to go out there for a look might be.

However, is there anything else around – I can find references to a stock of engines at Dal Josafat, but if I ship him off in a car out there is there actually anything still to see?

Anyway, any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[John Ashworth]

Aaron, welcome to the forum and I'm sure there are plenty of members who can give you advice. Welcome also to your dad.

If he fancies taking Premier Classe from Cape Town to Jo'burg (which is a superb luxury railway experience in itself) he can visit Reefsteamers, Friends of the Rail and SANRASM. See their websites for their details and train timetables, but I know FOTR will welcome a visitor at Capital Park and Hermanstad any weekend, whether there is anything in steam or not.

[Steve Appleton]

Hi Aaron, A warm welcome to you and your dad.

I am not certain whether the tractor-hauled trip up the Hex Pass on the old mainline railway is still operating -- unfortunately it's founder died suddenly a few months ago. Take look at http://www.worcester.org.za/hexpaseco/ and give them a call.

Also not too far away from Cape Town in the heart of the Garden Route at George is the "Outeniqua Railway Museum" (run by Transnet Foundation and worth a visit) and the private "Power Vans" operation which runs motorised "trollies" up the spectacular Outeniqua Pass towards Oudtshoorn. Unfortunately the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe steam train is no longer running. This trip could be combined with a visit to Oudtshoorn itself, the nearby ostrich farms, the Cango caves, the stunning Swartberg Pass and the Knysna lagoon.

See: http://www.george.co.za/outeniqua-power ... view_id_44 or http://www.visitgeorge.co.za/content/view/141/1/ and http://local-info.co.za/outeniqua-power ... 9s-railbus .

Indeed we would welcome you on any visit to FOTR. Next train we are operating is 26 February 2012, Pretoria (Hermanstad) to Cullinan.

[aaronblanchard]

Hi John and Steve,
Thanks for your welcome and your replies. It sounds like if I can get him up to Johannesburg he'd have many things to keep him amused! Although we'll have to postpone that Journey until next time he's over as he's got a reasonably busy schedule without fitting in any longer trips away.

Locally however, we'd planned a few days away (not booked yet) with the entire family so we might be able to squeeze in one or two things that Steve has suggested (within driving distance). I'd never heard of Hexpass express before, and that would be perfect to keep our 3 year old entertained any time of the year!

I've just organised with the Cape Western Railway Society to go out tomorrow morning to look at their setup, and we'll also pop into Monument station to have a look at the Red Devil etc. Also, the Friends of Atlantic Rail seem very friendly, and we'll see what we can organise with them.

Does anybody have any idea on the store of engines that were at Dal Josafat? Or indeed any other store of engines in the Cape Town vicinity?

Thanks for your time,
Aaron

[Aidan McCarthy]

Hi Aaron,

As far as I know all the locomotives were moved from Dal Josafat to Monument station, Cape Western site in Epping and to Worcestor depot.

Cheers

Aidan