Steam Tour November 2013

[John Ashworth]

See attachment

Dear Reefsteamers and Friends of Steam,

South African Rail Steam Tours is pleased to formally announce a traditional
long distance steam rail tour running from 16 November to 26 November 2013.

This tour is to be known as the ReeFreestate Explorer– exploring the Reef and the Freestate!

Passengers will stay on board the Reefsteamers sleeper coach train as their steel-wheeled hotel, as they meander around the country for 11 days. The train is to be fully serviced in terms of bedding and meals. Just enjoy hours of steam train rides, take millions of photos, enjoy the sights and otherwise … hey, just relax.

Enjoy the hospitality of Reefsteamers, Friends of the Rail and of Sandstone Estates
as they proudly show off their steam machines and associated heritage equipment.

The trains will run between Germiston and Koster (A bit beyond Magaliesburg),
Germiston to Pretoria and return through Springs, Pretoria to Cullinan and return
(Friends of the Rail) and then for a long trip to just beyond Ficksburg from Germiston.

Highlights of the tour will include :
· Depot and Steam Workshop Visits.
· A ride on the modern Gautrain to-and-from Rhodesfield to the airport.
(A logistic move that will also give you a jolting contrast in technology!)
· A visit by bus to the Pilanesberg National Park, which hosts examples of the four-footed Big Five. Includes a bush lunch.
· Overnight at Hermanstad (Friends of the Rail) and a traditional South African braai. (BBQ).
· A whole day visit to the Sandstone Estates – a environmentally-conscious commercial farm which also hosts the largest 2-foot narrow gauge railway collection in the world, as well as an impressive collection of other heritage machinery and vehicles.
· We will run both passenger trains and goods consists.
· A visit to the old mining town of Cullinan, including lunch.
· A visit to arty Clarens for lunch after the train has serviced and laid-over at Bethlehem.
· Traditional South African food to is be served on board the coaches.
(The catering and housekeeping staff will be professionals rather than volunteers.)
· We will offer a range of South African beers, including speciality
micro-brewery beers, as well as a selection of South African wines.
· Traditional photo-stops and run-bys at strategic locations.

Please refer to the attached brochure for details.

The bookings for this tour are being arranged by SAR Steam Tours and NOT by Reefsteamers.
Thus, please contact SAR Steam Tours directly at tours@sarsteamtours.com for enquiries.

A detailed description of the tour, as well as the payment details, can be found at
http://www.sarsteamtours.com/Steam%20To ... ion-e.html


SAR Steam Tours is a part of the Two Foot Preservation Trust, a European-based initiative that has long supported and promoted Reefsteamers and other Steam Preservation groups as a part of their activities.

SAR Steam Tours (Two Foot Preservation Trust) is volunteer-operated
on a non-profit basis, and all proceeds from the ReeFreestate Explorer
Tour Train will be returned to South African Steam Preservation.

Lee Gates
Stubbornly unrepentant ferro-equinologist !
Owns1:12 scale 10BR No.751 ‘Little Empress.'
Steam Power – It’s the Wheel Thing!

[John Ashworth]

NOVEMBER SOUTH AFRICAN STEAM TOUR

[John Ashworth]

STEAM ON 30 NOVEMBER TO HERMANSTAD

[John Ashworth]

REEFSTEAMERS DEPOT CLOSURE

Reefsteamers’ Germiston Depot will be closed from Saturday 16 November to Tuesday 26 November (Inclusive). There will be nobody on the site and neither visitors nor members will be able to gain access. This is due to the staff being fully occupied with the Reefreestate Explorer Tour Train during this time...