Contact details:
Telephone (012) 548 4090
sales@friendsoftherail.co.za
www.friendsoftherail.co.za

 
 
 
 
 
 
Maps Business Directory History of Dinokeng & Cullinan Search About Us Contacts
 
 
Contact details:
Telephone (012) 548 4090
e-mail: sales@friendsoftherail.com
http://www.friendsoftherail.com
 
Welcome to "Friends of the Rail"

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


Contact details:
Telephone (012) 548 4090
e-mail: sales@friendsoftherail.com
(Click here to enter our web site)