In 2013 a member of the heritage community asked if there were any viable lines that could be used to run a heritage railway. Railway enthusiast Richard Eades posted a wonderful reply which has been reproduced below.
Rovos Rail and some other companies run longer overnight tours aimed at overseas visitors and railway enthusiasts. Unfortunately the co-operation they receive from Transnet leaves a lot to be desired. In May this year an international tour by Geoff’s Trains Ltd, a specialist heritage steam train tour operator, was forced to change their schedule at short notice. They had confirmed the route and paid but were told on arrival that the section of line (between Creighton and Pietermaritzburg) was not available. The reason given was that the track was in unsafe condition due to lack of maintenance! Geoff Cooke, who described it as “devastating for South African tourism” said that if the situation is not sorted out he “will not come back to South Africa”.
There are a number of other private steam preservation groups. Most run day trips and can arrange corporate events, photo shoots etc. Reef Steamers and Friends of the Rail are based in Gauteng. Both own locomotives and carriages, and run day trips to destinations like Magaliesberg and Cullinan, where passengers can explore the town and visit coffee shops etc. In Cape Town, Atlantic Rail runs trips to Simonstown. Two railways operate in Natal, Umgeni Steam Railway (in the Inchanga area) and Paton’s Country Narrow Gauge Railway from Ixopo to...
