Geoff’s Trains 2008 Narrow Gauge Tour

[John Ashworth]

Sunday, 18 May 2008
Geoff’s Trains 2008 Narrow Gauge Tour

At a time when traditional photographic rail tours of South Africa are becoming rare, UK rail our operator, Geoff Cooke, brought a group of 24 enthusiasts to South Africa this week. Billed as a narrow gauge tour, there were visits to Sandstone from the 12th to 14th May and then on to Paton Country Railway in Kwa Zulu Natal. A side tour to the “broad” gauge Eshamoya Express at Creighton had been added to make up for the loss of a final day of the last section on the Port Elizabeth Apple Express. This last leg of the tour will be diesel hauled as the planned locomotive, Class NG15 No: 119, is not ready. The tour will also only go to Assegaaibos as the line to Avontuur is damaged and Transnet are unwilling to repair it.

Many tour organizers imagine that one day at Sandstone will suffice but with 22 operational locomotives to choose from, a week might not be enough. This group were narrow gauge enthusiasts and Sandstone laid on no less than seven locomotives over two and a half days.. To cater for all tastes these ranged from ex SAR NGG16 Garratts to ex Sena Sugar industrial locos. Geoff Cooke particularly wanted to see a more varied selection. With visitors from Japan and Europe, Sandstone had set up a photographic feast.

The locomotives featured over the tour were Class NGG16 No’s 113 & 153, Class NG15 No: 17 ( particularly requested in the absence of No: 119 in Port Elizabeth), Class NG4 No: 16, Falcon “Lawley” No: BR7, Peckett, Sena No: 14 and Feldbahn, Sena No: 2.

Master photographer, Dennis Moore, came through especially to direct the photography for the three days.

Each morning began at sunrise on the Hoekfontein triangle for the “signature” Sandstone shot. On the first day the group was greeted by double headed NGG16’s for an intensive photo shoot on the entire system including the Vailima loop with its fearsome gradients.

A surprise to a few of the visitors who knew him was Welsh Highland Railway driver, John Bell, on holiday in South Africa, firing No: 153 alongside driver Gert Jubileus. More used to oil firing on the WHR NGG16’s, John was pleased to gain some experience in coal firing as the WHR are gradually changing from oil to coal for cost reasons.

With the grain season underway guests were able to photograph a TFR 34 class passing Vailima with a loaded grain consist alongside the two NGG16’s.

Following a potjie lunch NG4 No:16 tackled the Vailima section including the loop until sunset. The NG4 demonstrated amazing adhesion and power on the loop itself and easily handled its four coach load.

The group were entertained at a Braai supper and judging by shop sales, they had really enjoyed themselves.

Tuesday dawned slightly cloudy but soon cleared for an early morning run with the “Lawley” on the Grootdraai and Pandora sections. Dennis Moore’s creative eye pinpointed a number of new photo angles at Grootdraai which will be used again and by lunchtime it was a very satisfied group that took a stir fry lunch.

The afternoon session featured the NG15 between Hoekfontein and Vailima, again ending at sunset.

This was the end of two very long days but the group were back on station at sunrise on Wednesday the 14th for a final session with Sandstone’s two ex Sena Sugar locos which piggy backed each other on the run to Grootdraai. Final shots were taken in the industrial atmosphere of the grain silos and the loco depot before Sandstone bade farewell to the guests.

As ever all the tour participants were overwhelmed by Sandstone and what it has achieved in narrow gauge preservation in a short 10 years. Apart from the variety of locomotives the visitors were fascinated by the different rolling stock but it was the workshop facilities which impressed many, “nothing like it in the world” was the general comment.

As negotiations progress with Transnet over various steam related issues it is hoped that South Africa will be able to attract more rail tours in the future and that Sandstone can continue to present its centre of excellence to the rail tourism world.

Railways Africa

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Well done Sandstone. This will keep the tourists coming out here. If only the powers to be at Head Office railways, would spend a weekend here, we may be able to sway them on future scrapping of heritage items.