There’s a steam engine revival in South Africa. Although steam belongs to a bygone era when trains powered the Industrial Revolution, there’s now a significant steam rail tourism sector thriving in the country.
The Ceres Steam Train to Elgin is one of five steam heritage train rides available in South Africa. A novel experience for some, it’s nostalgic for others.
Trundling along at a sedate 45 kilometers per hour, there is lots of time to chat, celebrate an event, or watch the world go by. A highlight is climbing Sir Lowry’s Pass, after which the train is in the Overberg district.
At the peak of steam in 1959, there were 3,300 steam locomotives in use in South Africa.
Peter Rogers has run steam train tours in South Africa since the 1980s. He says there are two main reasons steam trains were used significantly longer in South Africa than in other countries.
“Most traction was steam and that was due to the fact that we had abundant coal in the country, as well as the sanctions period when we couldn’t get diesel fuel, and for that reason, steam kept on until about 1980s when railways eventually decided to get rid of steam. The last steam operated on the Kimberley-De Aar line in about 1992,” he explains.
When steam stopped being used in 1992, there were 700 steam locomotives on the tracks. Today, there are about 20 steam locomotives in use, and one of them powers the Ceres Train to Elgin.
Keeping steam train travel alive in the 21st century has several challenges, not least having to manufacture spare parts from scratch. Yet there is an enduring love for steam travel, says Ceres Train Director, Rick Botha.
“There are more steam locomotives running in the country now than there were ten years ago. So it’s definitely grown and there’s been a revival in steam. And you can see people are interested in it. Wherever steam is running, steam is running full. People love it. People wave, people hoot. There’s just a joy around steam that you don’t find anywhere else.”
This article and video were provided by The Associated Press.
[Passengers climbing aboard the Ceres Steam Train to Elgin]
[Steam train driver Johan Fourie blowing the whistle prior to departure]
[Tracking shot, Ceres Steam Train leaving Cape Town]
[Ceres Steam Train leaving Cape Town]
[Passengers aboard the Ceres Steam Train to Elgin]
[Passenger Hans Luijk and his wife on the train]
Hans Luijk (interview): “Yeah, the last time that I was actually on a train was about 38 years ago when I was called up for military service. And it was a trip from Wingfield, close to Cape Town, to Grahamstown which is about a 900 kilometre trip. But obviously the feelings and the emotions were all mixed up. So this time it’s really a leisurely feeling and an adventurous feeling.”
[Passengers buying drinks at the train bar]
[Passengers celebrating with champagne and orange juice]
[Passengers looking out the window in the bar car]
[View from the train window]
[Train traveling through Sir Lowry’s Pass]
[Steam train during the period when the mode of transport was in mainstream use]
[Steam train tour operator Peter Rogers climbing aboard the Ceres Steam Train]
Peter Rogers (interview): “Most traction was steam and that was due to the fact that we had abundant coal in the country, as well as during the sanctions period when we couldn’t get diesel fuel, and for that reason steam kept on until about 1980s when railways eventually decided to get rid of steam. The last steam operated on the Kimberley-De Aar line in about 1992.”
[Various drone shots of the Ceres Steam Train]
[Ceres Steam Train driver Johan Fourie pulling the horn]
[Fourie looking out from the side of the train]
[Steam train driver and assistant checking the oil burner]
[Gauges in steam locomotive]
Johan Fourie (interview): “But steam stays in my blood. It remains my first love. I always tell my wife, this is my first wife. There’s nothing like a steam engine. It’s alive. I don’t know if you heard that we struggled going up the mountain. Slowly but surely we made it. That is alive! It’s not a diesel that is dead. This thing is alive – it talks to you.”
[Ceres Steam Train nearing Elgin]
[Train on a bridge]
[Passengers alighting at the Elgin Railway Market]
[Elgin Railway Market exterior]
[Elgin Railway Market owner Roger Orpen talking to the steam train technician]
Roger Orpen (interview): “The most exciting part about the train arriving is when the kids come to watch. The kids have never been up close next to a steam train, and they make one hell of a show of it – they blow their hooter, they blow lots of steam, and the kids come running out. And they actually get a bit of a fright when they realise how loud this diesel engine is – no, it’s not a diesel engine, it’s a steam engine! This old dear was built in about 1946 I think.”
[Passengers posing for photos next to the Ceres Steam Train]
[Elgin Railway Market]
[Visitors at the Elgin Railway Market]
[Ceres Steam Train worker carrying out maintenance on the steam train]
[Ceres Steam Train director Rick Botha at work]
Rick Botha (interview): “There are more steam locomotives running in the country now than there were ten years ago. So it’s definitely grown and there’s been a revival in steam. And you can see people are interested in it. Wherever steam is running, steam is running full. People love it. People wave, people hoot. There’s just a joy around steam that you don’t find anywhere else.”
[Drone shot of the Ceres Steam Train]
This script was provided by The Associated Press.