The
Premier Steam Train Club
The club was started back in 1986 by a
group of local Pretoria-based steam enthusiasts, who were Railway
Society of Southern Africa members. The problems of traveling
to Johannesburg to attend the RSSA meetings and events, and
the steam activities still happening in the Pretoria area prompted
the formation of the club. Where does the name come from? Well,
it's about man and machine sharing common ground, hence the
logo with the strong steel but with the human hands clasped
in friendship on the buffers of the locomotive. The railway
operation at that time in Pretoria was based at Capital Park
loco shed, where the daily steam turn was the Blue Train shunt
at the main station.
There were numerous other special workings, beside which were
the mine loco movements from Rustenburg Platinum Mines and the
steam safari operations. All these activities and the eventual
withdrawal of steam from daily service (along with accompanying
steam repair staff) led to the local "Friends" getting
more involved, to the point where the daily shunt locomotive
at the station was being maintained with the assistance of some
of the Club members. A "steam team" was then formed
and the members would spend their weekends at Capital Park shed,
cleaning the locos. Monthly meetings were held at the Berea
Park club, and later moved to our present site at the Transvaal
Museum. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each Month
(February - November inclusive), where videos, slides or talks
are presented.
Sunday - 27 July
is a historical day for Friends of the Rail. For
the last 21 years our trains have departed from Capital Park,
but from Sunday it will be departing from our new depot in Hermanstad
in
Pretoria, about 5km west from our old depot. This is a dream
come true for us, as we do not have to share a depot anymore
and the new depot is also the start of the Magalies/Hartbeespoort,
which hopefully will be up and running in the next 2-3 years.
On Sunday
- 27 July we have a Tshwane Xplorer. The train will depart at
13h30 from our new depot in Hermanstad, but braaifires will
be ready from 11h00 and you are also welcome to have a picnic
before
departure. Bring your Sunday picnic basket and board our train,
surrounded by railway history, for a nostalgic
steam train trip around Pretoria, to see the city as you never
see it from the road. It's like travelling back in time as you
sit in our restored coaches and listen to the steady beat of
the steam engine at the head of the train. The trip takes you
to Pyramid South and around the City of Pretoria. An information
leaflet explains the
various sights along the route. Learn some history and interesting
facts about our capital city! What could be better than to relax
with a full tummy on a Sunday
afternoon and watch the world go slowly by. Cash bar & kiosk
available on train. Train trip prices: Adults R125, Pensioners
R90, Children 7 to 12 years R80, children 2 to 6 years R50.
Booking closes at 12:00 (noon) on the day before the trip. On
line booking at www.friendsoftherail.com or phone our sales
office -012 5484090.Call 012 548 4090 or 0822934616 for more
information.
Upcoming trips: Transnet does not allow steam locomotives on
their
core lines from 2008, including the Bela Bela line. Our Cullinan
and
Tshwane Xplorer trips are not influenced by this decision. All
scheduled Bela Bela trips on the programme will now change to
a
Cullinan trip. Charters to Bela Bela with diesel or electric
traction
will still be available. Cullinan station has had an upgrade
and from
September the Station Restaurant will be open again.
We are now
entering the planning phase of year end functions. Why not
have a look at our train packages this year for your group?
A package,
including a train trip and lunch, is possible for under R200
per
person. We have lots of different venues available from a Belly
Dancing Plate breaking Greek lunch to peaceful game lodges,
or you
can try your hand at doing a 4x4 on the back of the horse, mampoer
tasting, mine tours, etc. We cater for groups from 2 and upwards.
Please also remember that we have available train trip packages
to
Cullinan for Secretary Day on the 3rd of September.
Kind regards
en hoop om heelwat van julle te sien op die Tshwane
Xplorer. Moet nie die historiese dag misloop nie.
Greetings
Arno and
Billy
