In the 1970's one of the greatest train journeys in South Africa was along the Garden Route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (P.E.), over a rail distance of 1085 km (674 miles) in 41 hours. All of this was behind steam, except for the 175 km (109 mile) section between Cape Town and Worcester. On a sunny Saturday afternoon in October 1978, a class GMAM garratt (with water feeder tank in tow) is hauling the Cape Town - P.E. train, snaking its way up the south side of the Montague Pass which carries the railway over the Outeniqua Mountains, between George and Oudtshoorn. The town of George is visible in the distance and beyond that, the Indian Ocean stretches to infinity.
Rare South African photographs (older and newer) on RailPictures.Net, where the potential to recreate them either no longer exists for any number of reasons, or the chances of another opportunity are very slim or non existent!
