On Friday, March 11, Ceres Rail Company (CRC) travelled to Voorbaai to collect their latest addition to the fleet.
The locomotive in question 19B Number 1412 has been under full-time restoration for the last six months by Mr. Bobbie Rudman and his team at Transnet's Voorbaai depot in Mosselbay. The work included, but is not limited to a full re-tube, renewal of the smokebox and new pistons. The boiler lagging along with the running boards were replaced as well as major structural work to the tender.
The work was immense and was perfectly-executed! The locomotive looks fantastic and the crew reported she steamed like a dream.
The trip itself took four days from start to finish. With the train staging mid-section in Swellendam on both Friday and Sunday night. Saturday night was spent in Voorbaai where 1412 was lit up and 3321 had some general maintenance done.
The trip was essentially a transfer but the company offered 80 fare paying passengers the opportunity to go along for what was surely a trip of a lifetime.
Congratulations to CRC for a job well-done.
Ceres Rail Company can be contacted at www.ceresrail.co.za or via their Facebook account.
I would like to thank Shane Swartz for coming along and sharing the experience for the duration of the transfer. It was awesome shooting with and learning from such an experienced photographer. We certainly had some memorable moments while making lunch on the back of a bakkie, rallying on dirt roads and braaing in unsavoury locations ...
Also a special mention to Chris Brooks for assisting with filming between Vink Rivier and Worcester and of course my many friends at Friends of Atlantic Rail.
15 апр 2016
