FOTR steam train trips -2009

 

 

15 F 3117 runs again after more than 17 years.

 

 

Did you know that when buying a ticket to ride on one of our trips or by chartering a trip , you are helping Friends of the Rail to preserve our steam locomotive heritage and to restore steam locomotives to their previous glory?  Thanks to all our 2008 supporters,without your help steam locomotives, like 3117, will have ended in scrap metal.

 

Friends of the Rail are happy to announce that we have 35 scheduled train trips for 2009 and will have a regular train trip on the last weekend of every month. Please remember we cater for the whole family from children to grandparents, for schools and for corporate teambuilding events and year-end functions.

 

The programme will change from time to time, but by staying on our mailing list you can make sure that you will be informed of any change to the dates, prices, new venues added or a venue not available for a specific trip. You have been added to our mailing list, but if you are not interested in being kept up to date, just email us and we will remove your name from our mailing list.

 

We would like Friends of the Rail to be even more popular with families, corporate groups and tourists and have decided to add a few new things during 2009:

1. A PA system to keep in contact with our passengers, pointing

    out interesting facts to the passengers.

2. A real ticket system with a conductor walking through the

    coaches and clipping the tickets

3. A coach for children to be entertained

4. Total Tshwane Xplorer school packages with demonstrations

 

 

Friends of the Rail – Train trips 2009

February

14 – Cullinan – Valentines Trip

 

March

01 - Tshwane Xplorer

29 - Cullinan – Morris Minor Train Run

 

April

13 – Cullinan – Easter Bunny

26 -  Tshwane Xplorer

 

May

02 – Cullinan – Culliefest

10 – Bela Bela – Mothers Day (Diesel traction)

30 -  Cullinan - Mampoer Family Festival

 

 

Transnet Winter Season for steam locomotive starts:

June

16 – Tshwane Xplorer – Youth Day

21 -  Fathers Day Experience

28 -  Tshwane Xplorer

 

July
Cullinan trip is on the 5 th of July 2009. Departing from
FOTR Depot in Hermanstad-Pretoria at 08h30.

26 – Tshwane Xplorer

 

August

30 – Tshwane Xplorer

 

September

24 – Cullinan –Heritage Day

27 – Tshwane Xplorer

 

October

25 – Cullinan

 

November

01 -  Tshwane Xplorer

07 – Cullinan

08 – Cullinan

13 – Cullinan

14 – Cullinan

15 - Cullinan

20 – Cullinan

21 – Cullinan

22 – Cullinan - Santa

27 – Cullinan

28 – Cullinan

29 – Bela Bela - Santa (Diesel Traction)

 

 

 

December

04 – Cullinan

05 – Cullinan

06 – Cullinan - Santa

11 – Cullinan

12 – Cullinan

13 – Cullinan

16 – Tshwane Xplorer

 

 

 

Tshwane Xplorer, Cullinan or Bela Bela?

  

1.  Tshwane Xplorer

 

Dep:  13h30  FOTR Depot - Hermanstad

Arr:   16h00  FOTR Depot - Hermanstad

 

Steam train trip in and around Pretoria. Non-stop. 2.5 hours. A distance of 60 kilometres.  Bring your picnic basket on board. Braaifire provided the morning of departure. Some of

the dates may change to a day trip to a venue such as the Fountains Resort, which is still

inside the borders of Tshwane.

 

Prices:  Adults R140 Pensioners R110 Children 7-12 years R80 Children 2-6 years R50

             Tshwane Xplorer for schools – Teachers R75 p/p Children R50 per child

 

2.   Cullinan ( via Rayton) 

                                                        

Dep:  08h30  FOTR Depot - Hermanstad            

Arr:   09h40  Rayton

Arr:   10h15  Cullinan

 

Dep:  15h00  Cullinan

Dep:  15h35  Rayton

Arr:   16h40  FOTR Depot - Hermanstad

 

Prices:  Adults R150 Pensioners R120 Children 7-12 years R90 Children 2-6 years R55

   

RAYTON -  All venues have to be pre-booked before the trip. Only people booked for one of the venues disembark at Rayton. The other passengers stay on the train for Cullinan.

 

a. Getaway Farms-  This venue used to  be a train station, but is now a guest farm.  

     Lunch is served in an old train coach. Small train to ride on for the children

     Price: R135 per person. This price includes bus transport, entrance and buffet lunch.

     Optional game drive - R45.  For a combined package, including a  one way train trip,

     mine tour, one night stay and transport back, please contact Letitia  on 0837780095

 

 

b.   Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum – Live demonstrations for children and

       adults, such as candle making, baking bread, etc. Lots of space for a picnic. All the

       farm animals to be seen. Bus transport to Museum – R30 per person. Entrance

       Children R5 Adults R10. An activity based tour where the children actually

       participate can be arranged for groups. Lunch – R85 per person. Kids takeaway

       packages from R25.  Picnic Basket - R180

 

 

c.    Diamantι Resort

       Large swimming pools, putt putt and large picnic area. Bus transport R30 per person.

       Entrance R25 per person

 

CULLINAN.   Enjoy the day in Cullinan. No entrance fee.  We do provide a braaifire next to the train everytime, but you are welcome to have lunch at one of the restaurants.  . It is important that you relax and take it slow. Cullinan is like good wine – the more you relax the more you will enjoy it.  We can also arrange for you to play a game of golf , if you are not interested in visiting the museums, mine and craft shops. Massage packages are available from Zau spa. Mine tours – Surface tours R55 p/p Underground R440 p/p – Only children older than 10 years allowed on mine tour. Phone Sonja on 012 7341111 or visit www.cullinanmeander.co.za for a map and information on  all the museums and restaurants.

Koggelmander is a venue with swimming pool and braai facilities in Cullinan for those looking for a swim and a braai. R80 per person, includes welcome drink, pap en sous, braaifire, coffee and tea.

 

3.  Bela Bela –Marula Mountain Village

 

Dep:  08h00  FOTR Depot - Hermanstad            

Arr:   10h00  Bela Bela

Arr:   10h15  Marula

 

Dep:  15h30  Marula

Dep:  15h45  Bela Bela

Arr:   17h45  FOTR Depot – Hermanstad

 

Spend the day at Marula Mountain Village swimming and braaiing or having the buffet lunch.  You are also welcome to get off at Bela Bela and make own arrangements for Aventura Resort.

 

Prices:  Adults R180 Pensioners R150 Children 7-12 years R115 Children 2-6 years R85

Private coach: 55 seater R7000 66 seater R8000 75 seater R9000. Charter R35000

 

All passengers going to Marula Mountain Village Resort:

Entrance – R25 per person – Adults and children above 6 years

Buffet Lunch (Optional) – R50 per person - Adults and children above 6 years

 

 

Corporate groups, large groups, travel agents, event agents, etc. Our packages for larger groups.

From the normal to the outrageous -we can organise it for you!! Teambuilding, Corporate Functions, Year End Functions, Conferences, etc. All three our trips are available. You can charter a train or book a coach on a scheduled train. With a charter train you decide on the date and departure times.

    

Prices for the different train trip options - only for train ride:

 

      1.  Individual prices min10 % on all scheduled trips

      2.  Coach on scheduled trip or corporate scheduled trip:

           55 seater Tshwane XPL R5000  Cullinan R6000

           66 seater Tshwane XPL R6000  Cullinan R7000         

           75 seater Tshwane XPL R7000  Cullinan R8000

      3.  Chartering a Train : Tshwane XPL R25000  Cullinan

            R30000

 

Please email Arno at victorac@vodamail.co.za for more information on our corporate packages and a venue list.

 

 

Fundraisers for schools, churches or social clubs

Our train trips are one of the easiest ways to raise funds for your school, church or "not for profit"-institution. Less than 50 people we will pay you a commission of 10%. More than 50 people we will charge you for the coach or for a charter and you keep the rest, which can be up to R20000, if you can sell 350 tickets.

 

    

FAQ’s

1.  From where does the train depart? No Johannesburg?

     Friends of the Rail Depot in Hercules - Pretoria,

     just off Van der Hoff Road. Directions are available on our

     website. We are the only operator doing steam train trips

     to Cullinan. Reefsteamers do trips to Magaliesburg, but

     their departure point is Boksburg East.

2.  Where do we park our cars and is it safe?

     You will park your car at our depot. The gates are locked

     during the trip and there will be car guards on duty.

3.  May we bring a picnic basket?

     You are welcome to bring a picnic basket and your own

     drinks, but there is a kiosk-service on every trip as well.

4.  Do you have wheelchair facilities?

       At our depot we have a wheelchair-ramp. In Cullinan we

     download the person by hand.

5.  Are the passengers allowed to smoke cigarettes?

     No smoking allowed while on the train.

6.  Are we allowed to visit the locomotive?

     Yes, before the trip, at Cullinan Station and after the trip

     you may visit the locomotive, take pics and chat to the

     driver and fireman or firelady.

7.  What type of coaches do you use?

     Our normal train set has five wooden sitters and a bar

     coach, with two toilets each. We also have a function coach-

     ideal for parties, sleeper coaches and a regional managers

     coach available. During 2008 we have added a second coach

     set.

 

 

Bookings for the schedule trips can be done online on our website , Computicket, Checkers or Shoprite Moneymarket or by phoning our sales office.

 

Contact Arno or Billy Victor 012 548 4090 or email

them on victorac@wbs.co.za or sales@friendsoftherail.com

Friends of the Rail Website:  www.friendsoftherail.com

Banking Details: Acc name: Friends of the Rail Acc No. 410 773 786 Standard Bank Bank code: 01 01 45 Branch: Van der Walt Street.

Proof of payment: Fax-0865370494 or Email- sales@friendsoftherail.com