What better way to travel on the tracks of 'The Estate' than in a 1913 BSA-bodied inspection trolley?

South African preserved steam was strong in 2000. Spoornet, the national operator, had a heritage arm that marketed tours under the ‘Union Limited’ banner (The Union Limited was THE No.1 luxur... (more)

Garratts Class GF No. 2401 4-6-2 + 2-6-4 and Class GO No. 2575 4-8-2 + 2-8-4 were often used in a regular pairing on Union Limited steam safaris. Returning to Cape Town from Bredasdorp and Caledon... (more)

The sole preserved 14CRB No. 1882 was a favourite locomotive of mine (I grew up with the 14CRBs in Cape Town). A real go-anywhere slogger, she was used on many rail charters and is seen here on a ... (more)

The famous modified Class 25NC gas-producer (Class 26) "Red Devil" heads a Union Limited tour train through Heuningneskloof (Honey Nest Cliff) Station on the Kimberley - De Aar line

None of these 12 kids had ever seen a real steam train before. The excitement and noise when No.3321 came into view was incredible... Background: A Ceres Rail Excursion from Ceres to... (more)

SAME PLACE, DIFFERENT CENTURY: Another shot at Malan. Compare this with Photo #300407 taken almost 20 year later. A then almost brand new 6E1 E1754 takes the Cape Town - Touws River stopping passe... (more)

My first visit to Zimbabwe! NRZ 16A No. 614 has had its fire cleaned and been watered at Mbalabala on the West Nicholson branch. I was to ride footplate on this engine for the next 35Km – perfec... (more)

Transnet Freight Rail's 861km Sishen - Saldanha operation runs the longest regular bulk-freight trains in the world. With 342 type CR iron-ore wagons and 8 Radio Controlled Distributed Power loco... (more)

Thirty two driving wheels bite firmly into the 1 in 36 (2.7%) grade as a lash-up of double headed GO No. 2575 and GMAM No. 4128 power the 18 coach Union Limited tour train out of Jubilee on the Mo... (more)

The lower section of the ultra-scenic Cape Town - Simonstown line runs adjacent to the sea. In December 2009 the line was damaged by a freak combination of high tide and big storms. At one stage i... (more)

The cab of Class 23 No 3300

Double headed Lawley locomotives bring a passenger train into Hoekfontein. These miniature sized locomotives were first used on the 100 mile long 2 foot gauge railway that ran inland from Beira (M... (more)

South African passenger services went into a decline in the 1990's but are now on the rebound! Several luxury trains, marketed under the name "Premiere Class", run betwen major cities. Here the Ca... (more)

The Kimberley – De Aar line was one of the last double track steam mainlines in the world. Steam was destined to finish in 1992, but Spoornet, mindful of the hundreds of enthusiasts that used to... (more)