Day 1. Saturday. 02 May 2009
The tour will start at Johannesburg Airport today. Meet at the Spurs Restaurant in the Domestic Terminal in time for a 12h00 (noon) departure.
Drive to Ficksburg, where we will spend the night. All road transport during this tour will be in coaches operated by Springbok Atlas.
Meals included: Buffet dinner.
Day 2. Sunday. 03 May
Before sunrise we will drive to the Sandstone Estate. The 2 foot gauge railway on the estate offers outstanding photographic opportunities with a
diverse collection of steam locomotives. We will concentrate on those locomotives that were at one time in the South African Railways fleet.
This morning two Garratts will be centre stage. NGG13 # 49 and NGG16 # 113 will run trains both single and double headed. The train will be a
mixed, with a variety of wagons and coaches.
The coach will make a second trip from the hotel to Sandstone at 09h00, subject to adequate participants requesting.
This afternoon our locomotive will be NG15 #17.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Braai dinner at Sandstone.
Day 3. Monday. 04 May
Once more, we will arrive at Sandstone in time for sunrise and a morning of outstanding narrow gauge steam photography, this time with two
NG6 ‘Lawley’ locomotives running in photographic re-enactments that have, until now, not been possible.
The coach will make a second trip from the hotel to Sandstone at 09h00, subject to adequate participants requesting.
This afternoon we will use the NG4 # 16. The train will, of course, be shorter.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet dinner.
Day 4. Tuesday. 05 May
This morning we will have our last opportunity to watch a sunrise at Sandstone. The locomotives and trains will be chosen by the staff at the
estate, and I am sure that they will do us proud when they bring out their favourite photographic stars.
Later today we will drive to Ixopo in KwaZulu Natal.
Meals included: Packed breakfast, Buffet dinner at hotel.
Day 5. Wednesday. 06 May
Today is Cape Gauge day. This morning we will take short tendered, domeless 19D #2669 from Creighton to Riversdale.
This afternoon we will run to Donnybrook through great Natal scenery.
Meals included: Packed breakfast with coffee on arrival at Creighton, Lunch at Creighton Station, Buffet dinner at hotel.
Day 6. Thursday. 07 May
Spend this morning travelling on and photographing the Paton Country Railway NGG11 Garratt. This afternoon we will concentrating on
photographic locations not included this morning with the backdrop of the scenes described in Alan Paton's book 'Cry the Beloved Country'. The
NGG11 Garratt should be in charge, with the possibility of an NGG16 in steam as well.
Meals included: Packed breakfast, Light lunch at station, Pizza dinner at station.
Day 7. Friday. 08 May
This morning is sugar cane time. Re-enactments of loaded sugar cane trains with sugar cane steam, running through sugar cane plantations.
This afternoon, drive to our hotel at Scottburough on the Natal South Coast.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8. Saturday. 09 May
After breakfast we will transfer to Durban Airport for a flight to Port Elizabeth. On arrival, our hotel transfer will include a city tour of Port Elizabeth.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 9. Sunday. 10 May
This morning we will visit the Humewood Road diesel and steam depot before joining our train.
We will travel as far as Patensie at the end of a branch line that carries seasonal citrus fruit, a journey of about 111 kilometres. We plan to use an
NG15 and NGG16 today.
There are no hotels at Patensie, and so we will enjoy the hospitality of the local community who run a number of Bed & Breakfast establishments.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10. Monday. 11 May
We will leave Patensie this morning with the NG15, running back to the junction with the main line and from there continuing to Assegaaibosch.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11. Tuesday. 12 May
Today we will travel from Assegaaibosch to Louterwater. Beyond here flood damage has closed the line to Avontuur. However, if the line is
reopened, we will make every effort to go as far as possible.
This evening, drive to George where we will spend the night.
Day 12. Wednesday. 13 May
Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. However, we can extend your hotel accommodation and book a journey on the Outeniqua Tchoo
Tjoe to Mossel Bay and back today.
The tour will start at Johannesburg Airport today. Meet at the Spurs Restaurant in the Domestic Terminal in time for a 12h00 (noon) departure.
Drive to Ficksburg, where we will spend the night. All road transport during this tour will be in coaches operated by Springbok Atlas.
Meals included: Buffet dinner.
Day 2. Sunday. 03 May
Before sunrise we will drive to the Sandstone Estate. The 2 foot gauge railway on the estate offers outstanding photographic opportunities with a
diverse collection of steam locomotives. We will concentrate on those locomotives that were at one time in the South African Railways fleet.
This morning two Garratts will be centre stage. NGG13 # 49 and NGG16 # 113 will run trains both single and double headed. The train will be a
mixed, with a variety of wagons and coaches.
The coach will make a second trip from the hotel to Sandstone at 09h00, subject to adequate participants requesting.
This afternoon our locomotive will be NG15 #17.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Braai dinner at Sandstone.
Day 3. Monday. 04 May
Once more, we will arrive at Sandstone in time for sunrise and a morning of outstanding narrow gauge steam photography, this time with two
NG6 ‘Lawley’ locomotives running in photographic re-enactments that have, until now, not been possible.
The coach will make a second trip from the hotel to Sandstone at 09h00, subject to adequate participants requesting.
This afternoon we will use the NG4 # 16. The train will, of course, be shorter.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet dinner.
Day 4. Tuesday. 05 May
This morning we will have our last opportunity to watch a sunrise at Sandstone. The locomotives and trains will be chosen by the staff at the
estate, and I am sure that they will do us proud when they bring out their favourite photographic stars.
Later today we will drive to Ixopo in KwaZulu Natal.
Meals included: Packed breakfast, Buffet dinner at hotel.
Day 5. Wednesday. 06 May
Today is Cape Gauge day. This morning we will take short tendered, domeless 19D #2669 from Creighton to Riversdale.
This afternoon we will run to Donnybrook through great Natal scenery.
Meals included: Packed breakfast with coffee on arrival at Creighton, Lunch at Creighton Station, Buffet dinner at hotel.
Day 6. Thursday. 07 May
Spend this morning travelling on and photographing the Paton Country Railway NGG11 Garratt. This afternoon we will concentrating on
photographic locations not included this morning with the backdrop of the scenes described in Alan Paton's book 'Cry the Beloved Country'. The
NGG11 Garratt should be in charge, with the possibility of an NGG16 in steam as well.
Meals included: Packed breakfast, Light lunch at station, Pizza dinner at station.
Day 7. Friday. 08 May
This morning is sugar cane time. Re-enactments of loaded sugar cane trains with sugar cane steam, running through sugar cane plantations.
This afternoon, drive to our hotel at Scottburough on the Natal South Coast.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8. Saturday. 09 May
After breakfast we will transfer to Durban Airport for a flight to Port Elizabeth. On arrival, our hotel transfer will include a city tour of Port Elizabeth.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 9. Sunday. 10 May
This morning we will visit the Humewood Road diesel and steam depot before joining our train.
We will travel as far as Patensie at the end of a branch line that carries seasonal citrus fruit, a journey of about 111 kilometres. We plan to use an
NG15 and NGG16 today.
There are no hotels at Patensie, and so we will enjoy the hospitality of the local community who run a number of Bed & Breakfast establishments.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 10. Monday. 11 May
We will leave Patensie this morning with the NG15, running back to the junction with the main line and from there continuing to Assegaaibosch.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11. Tuesday. 12 May
Today we will travel from Assegaaibosch to Louterwater. Beyond here flood damage has closed the line to Avontuur. However, if the line is
reopened, we will make every effort to go as far as possible.
This evening, drive to George where we will spend the night.
Day 12. Wednesday. 13 May
Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. However, we can extend your hotel accommodation and book a journey on the Outeniqua Tchoo
Tjoe to Mossel Bay and back today.
| Phone + 44 (0)1562 632000 69 Pitt Street, Kidderminster Worcestershire, DY10 2UN, England |
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| Star Attractions This tour expects to use the following classes of locomotive that were at one time part of the South African Railways narrow gauge fleet. |
| NG 4 |
| Sandstone |
| NG 6 |
| NGG 13 |
| NGG 16 |
| Paton Country Railway |
| NGG 11 |
| Ex Sugar Plantation Locos |
| Apple Express |
| NG 15 |
| This tour will run primarily for railway enthusiasts and photographers Participants should be able to board and leave trains where there are no platforms, and walk some distance without assistance. Hotels will offer reasonable en-suite facilities and will be to three star standards wherever possible. Please contact us if you are unsure if this tour will be suitable for you. |
| Page updated on: 20 June 2008 |
| To see a report on the tour, click here See a Sandstone report here See tour photographs on Geoff Cooke's Fotopic site here |
| Click here for Geoff Cooke's Fotopic website |
An expression of Interest
Prices have not yet been finalised, and some details may change. However, there is considerable interest in this tour and it is
recommended that you let us know if you are interested in participating. You will then be contacted as soon as prices are
confirmed with an offer to book.
Group Bookings
Please phone Geoff Cooke (01562 632000) if you would like to consider offering the tour to your preserved railway, railway
club etc. Discounts may be possible, and we can offer a presentation on previous tours.
The Tour Price will include the following services:
The Tour Price does NOT include:
Immigration rules:
All participants need a passport which is still valid at least 6 months after the travel date and needs to have at least 3 free
pages, preferably facing each other. Please check the immigration rules for your nationality to avoid surprises.
Climate and Clothes:
It is Autumn in the southern hemisphere: at night it can be cool, during the day temperatures rise to around 20 degrees. It may
rain, but you should enjoy a blue sky with scattered clouds. A warm pullover, long trousers and long sleeve shirt will protect
you against cool nights and insects. A hat and sun-block will protect you against the African sun.
Tour Manager: Geoff Cooke.
Bookings: Click here for a booking form.
Minimum number to confirm the Zimbabwe tour: 20.
Maximum number on the tour: 40.
Click here for the SA Narrow Gauge tour Questions and Answers page. You are strongly advised to read this information
Prices have not yet been finalised, and some details may change. However, there is considerable interest in this tour and it is
recommended that you let us know if you are interested in participating. You will then be contacted as soon as prices are
confirmed with an offer to book.
Group Bookings
Please phone Geoff Cooke (01562 632000) if you would like to consider offering the tour to your preserved railway, railway
club etc. Discounts may be possible, and we can offer a presentation on previous tours.
The Tour Price will include the following services:
- All steam charters as described in the programme, with as many run-pasts as is possible given operational,
geographical and timing constraints. - Accommodation on all nights according to the program, in double rooms with private facilities or single rooms with a
supplement. Wherever possible, hotels will be to three star standard. All hotels listed in the programme are subject to
change. - Meals as advertised in the programme, some may be packed.
- Transfers, train and bus journeys, visits according to the program including most entry-fees.
- The services of an experienced tour manager and local guides.
The Tour Price does NOT include:
- Flights.
- Personal expenditure (telephone calls, laundry, drinks, gifts, etc),
- Tips and gratuities.
- Visa and airport departure fees. Please check the immigration rules for your nationality.
Immigration rules:
All participants need a passport which is still valid at least 6 months after the travel date and needs to have at least 3 free
pages, preferably facing each other. Please check the immigration rules for your nationality to avoid surprises.
Climate and Clothes:
It is Autumn in the southern hemisphere: at night it can be cool, during the day temperatures rise to around 20 degrees. It may
rain, but you should enjoy a blue sky with scattered clouds. A warm pullover, long trousers and long sleeve shirt will protect
you against cool nights and insects. A hat and sun-block will protect you against the African sun.
Tour Manager: Geoff Cooke.
Bookings: Click here for a booking form.
Minimum number to confirm the Zimbabwe tour: 20.
Maximum number on the tour: 40.
Click here for the SA Narrow Gauge tour Questions and Answers page. You are strongly advised to read this information
| 02 to 12 May 2009 |
| South African Narrow Gauge Tour |
| There are three outstanding locations for South African two foot gauge railways. This tour beings them, and more, together. |
