All Aboard

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There’s something about trains, isn’t there? Especially steam locomotives. My earliest memories of trains go back to my years at boarding school. And they weren’t all entirely happy ones. We had half a dozen tunnels to go through during the journey to and from school each term, and it meant you arrived at your destination covered in soot and smelling like a coal yard. Although there are probably other unpleasant odours that schoolboys may better be remember by.

Tunnels aside, though, the trips also held many fond memories. Meeting up with friends, not seen for the duration of the term or the holidays, was always fun. Finding that you were on the same train as the convent girls – a rare administrative oversight on the part of the school – was a bonus. Spending the money your parents gave you for bedding on food and other less mentionable acquisitions, facilitated much fun and games. The trips took us the best part of two days – the last rumble before going back to school or the first adventure of the coming holidays. We made the most of them.

In South Africa, the Blue Train and Rovos Rail again offer trips that rival the most luxurious in the world. The Rovos Pretoria to Cape Town excursion will set you back a little over R32 000 per suite for three nights of indulgence. A Blue Train Pretoria to Cape Town jaunt is in the order of R22 000 per person sharing, for two nights. Not cheap, but we're talking luxury.

Sadly, a number of short-trip outings have fallen by the wayside and their demise has been followed by the deterioration of the lines. But private enterprise is slowly stepping into the breech. Strong rumours suggest the revival of the much loved journey between Knysna and George in the not too distant future. Although the stretch between Wilderness and George, over the Keinans pass, may take many years to resuscitate due to geological constraints. And I recently enjoyed a delightful experience aboard a steam train (see pic above) between Mossel bay and Hartenbos in the Garden Route. It’s a beautiful scenic route, made more memorable by the crowd I travelled with.

Interestingly, I didn’t smell of soot when I disembarked.