South Africa's Ceres rail's vintage steam train journey through scenic landscapes to Elgin railway m

Africanews (in English)

South Africa's Ceres rail's vintage steam train journey through scenic landscapes to Elgin railway m  Every weekend, Ceres Rail Company operates its steam train on a scenic 160 km round-trip to the enchanting Elgin Railway Market, which takes about three hours.  READ MORE : http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/05/south-africas-ceres-rails-vintage-steam-train-journey-through-scenic-landscapes-to-elgin-r  Subscribe on our Dailymotion channel and receive all the latest news from the continent.    Africanews is available in English and French.  Website : www.africanews.com  Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/  Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

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00:00On a crisp Saturday morning, travellers board vintage railway coaches in Cape Town,

00:05embarking on a 161-ground trip aboard a steam-powered train.

00:10The Ceres steam train to Elgin is one of the five steam heritage journeys offered in South Africa.

00:17For some, it is a fresh adventure, while for others, it evokes fond memories.

00:24The last time that I was actually on a train was about 38 years ago,

00:31when I was called up for military service,

00:35and it was a trip from Wingfield, close to Cape Town, to Grahamstown,

00:40which is about a 900-kilometre trip, but obviously the feeling and the emotions were all mixed up.

00:47So this time it's really a leisurely feeling and an adventurous feeling.

00:54As the train chugs along at a relaxed pace of 45 kilometres per hour,

00:59passengers have ample opportunity to converse, celebrate special occasions or simply enjoy the scenery.

01:08The most exciting part about the train arriving is when the kids come to watch.

01:12The kids have never been up close next to a steam train, and they make one hell of a show of it.

01:17They blow their hooter, they blow lots of steam, and the kids come running out,

01:21and they actually get a bit of a fright when they realise how loud this engine is.

01:25This old dear was built in about 1946, I think.

01:29Steam trains started operating in South Africa in the 1860s,

01:34contributing to the country's industrial development.

01:38In 2015, this steam train was fully restored,

01:41allowing tourists to enjoy rides on weekends from Cape Town to Elgin.

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