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)

NG15 No. 119 (Built Henschel 1938) performs a photo run-past on the Geoff's Trains 2009 Apple Express railtour

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)