Trains…
The golden age of steam trains in South Africa was in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Long train journeys for families going on holiday were popular in our country until the early 1970s.
Did you know?
The first steam train in South Africa ran between the Point and Durban on June 23, 1860.
Construction of early mainline railways in South Africa began in the 1850s and continued into the 1880s.
The Class 25 “puffers” operated in the Karoo desert from the 1950s to the 1980s.
In drier regions, locomotives had to carry extra water in either large tenders or sometimes an additional water wagon.
What every well-dressed train driver SHOULD be wearing.
This is Mark Ruddy, Sandstone Estates’ principal steam driver.
Both he and his twin brother Gary worked at Transnet and both do duty as steamdrivers at Sandstone.
South Africa was one of the last countries to stop using steam in regular freight service, with a handful of locomotives running as late as 2015.
There have been attempts to resurrect the train service between major centres, like Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. However, due to theft, corruption and the lack of maintained infrastructure, none of these state-owned schemes have been successful.
There is one private rail company that is operational but only uses steam on limited stretches of state-owned track.
Planes…
FYI:
The first biplane flight in South Africa took place on December 28th, 1909, when French aviator Albert Kimmerling flew a Voisin biplane at the Nahoon Racecourse in East London.
And automobiles…
Driven in this instance, by one of the visiting pilots Raymond Cuypers.
The Willys Jeep was built to replace the Model-T Ford and some motorcycles in the US Military.
It was a key factor in the Allies’ victory in World War II. The Jeep’s success led to the creation of the 4×4 SUV and the off-road vehicle industry.
In July 1940, the U.S. military issued a request for bids from automakers for a “light reconnaissance vehicle”
The Jeep was used for reconstruction in Europe after World War II.
I thought that I had stumbled onto the set of the remake of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, but turns out I was mistaken.
Time to let off some steam.
The children’s version? Painted in the primary colours of a Noddy car.
Every time I heard someone say “Die Oom” I assumed that they were talking about me.
Nope, it seems that they were referring to the name of this engine.
Another smiley face covered in soot and hidden in a cloud of steam.
Angelo Vokshi from the Road Steam team.
Guests to Sandstone can book a ride in this.
It will transport you back to the days when steam was king and also the chosen transportation when going on holiday.
I remember going from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town many times.
As well as going all the way to Bulawayo via Johannesburg from PE. (now Queberga)
I was an apprentice electrician on the South African Railways and Harbours between 1971 and 1975 and we were given one holiday pass a year where we could travel to any destination for free. If we wished to travel during the year we were supplied with tickets at a reduced rate.
On point. People who try to change this will quickly discover that it is heavier than it looks.
Solid concrete so that they cannot be flipped by accident.
Real horsepower…
After binge-watching the TV series ‘Yellowstone’ I really wish I was able to ride.
I have tried, but I am a nervous rider having lost a friend in a riding accident back in 1994.
Taking a leak?
Looking like an extra in Peaky Blinders.
This is Shawn Spaan, one of the regular steam drivers who also enjoys restoring classic cars.
This is the chat that I had with the owner Wilfred Mole and Dave Richardson.
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