An old steam beauty.

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(Edited)

This old train regularly runs through our town.
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And this morning we waited for an hour for the train to arrive. The Ceres Rail Company still runs some of these old giants in Cape Town, South Africa.

Now let me tell you that the wait was not very pleasant as we are very hot today at 33C and shade was scarce. I waited at a spot where I thought it would be ideal to get a bit of a long run exposure of the steam engine.
So come and see the results here.

Pinmapple code: [//]:# (!pinmapple -32.552419 lat 23.695310 long d3scr)

There was some black smoke on the limited horizon that announced the train's arrival.
I tried to get some close up shots in the first 3 photos.
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All aboard!
If you are looking for something different to do with family, friends or even on your own, why not take a step back into a bygone era by taking a trip with Ceres Rail Company.

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Right and here I started with the zoom.
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Ceres Rail Company provides a unique and one-of-a-kind experience on a refurbished vintage steam locomotive as it travels back into history. Although situated in a beautiful country, it really comes alive when sitting in this steam powered train as you overlook the ever-changing scenery.

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Here the train started to approach the mountains in the background.
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A glimmer of the sea also started to appear above the house rooftops.
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And finally here was a better look at the sea and the mountain in the background.
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This train departs from Cape town to the Elgin market where it stops for the passengers to have some lunch at the famous market and then later in the afternoon it returns to Cape Town.

Over the long trip one can really relax and view some fantastic scenery, winelands, ocean, mountains. high cliffs, farms and of course beautiful nature scenes.
This train trip is really good for traveling connoisseurs and equally good for families.

Note: All sections in italics found here Source

Now if you want to know more about the train trip, or the Elgin market, kindly visit the following sites.

Train trip.
https://www.ceresrail.co.za/

Elgin market.
https://www.elginrailwaymarket.co.za

Should you ever visit South Africa, you will not only receive a warm welcome but also make sure that you put this on your bucket list.

And That's All Friends!

Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved

Camera: Canon Powershot SX60HS Bridge camera

Thank you kindly for supporting a post on behalf of @papilloncharity



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64 comments
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Wow!, I trip on this train would be exciting, was the train fast ?

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Exciting indeed and no, the train runs at a leisurely speed.

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The train is really weird. It is a very old train. The train looks very beautiful but sadly the way the black smoke is emitted is harmful to the environment.

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Yes thank you and that train is certainly history running on the tracks.
It emits maybe 1% of harmful smoke compared to the big coal power stations.
I love those old trains as we used to ride on them a long time ago when I was a child.
And no, I am not as old as the train :)

!BEER

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Privately run trains on steam so good to support the efforts keeping these Grand Dames on the tracks, stepping back enjoying the sound and smells of this bygone era.

Bucket list in 2022 is to get to do the Umgeni Steam Railway from Kloof Station to Inchanga Station.

My favourite way of travel, always and forever the old steam trains!

@tipu curate

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My dream is to one day ride on a Rovos train across the tip of Europe Lady Joan.
Indeed stepping back and can you believe that when I was in the army in 72, it took us 3 days to arrive from Oudtshoorn to Johannesburg. Then it was again 3 days to get back.

Nothing can beat the clickety clack on the railway line, blue smoke from the old smoke stack that put me to sleep at night.

I am not familiar with the Umgeni to Inchanga trip, but it sounds good, so I will ask Mrs. Google to show me.

Yes, I share that love with you, especially on a long trip.

Thank you sincerely for the tipu.

!LUV
!PIZZA
!BEER

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Army trips would have been on the postal/milk train with all stops, yes those were golden years. I would love to know where all the trains went plus the silver ware used in dining carts etc.

We will never witness rail like that again in South Africa!

!LUV
!LOLZ

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Exactly right Lady Joan and the things that we got up to on those trains are legend.
So are the smart dining cars with their delicious food. Melted down long ago methinks.

That's why this old steam train hold so my memories for me.

!LUV
!LOLZ

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Train was our only main form of transport so many memories it is sad to think it was destroyed to the level it has been.

Supporting the old steam trains where private companies are running them to assist in keeping them in business, tough times!

!WINEX

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Oh yes, and we all have many experiences of train travel, but no more now and the media are lamenting the destruction of our none existing train services.

A very expensive hobby and thankfully we have the die hard volunteers that love the old trains so much that they are not prepared to see them going to scrap.

!WINEX

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When hubby was running there were a few steam train/marathon runner events countrywide Man vs Machine we had one up Richards Bay/Empangeni where we were on the train while he ran, used to be good fun.

Hobby of keeping steam trains takes a community prepared to work for the love of it!

!BEER
!PIZZA

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Oh yes, I don remember the marathons and great to hear that your hubby ran some of them Lady Joan.
Yes, I bet that you guys had a lot of fun.

Exactly right as the old engineers and drivers are all in love with their work.

!PIZZA
!BEER

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Steamers only attract a certain type of people who have a deep love of yesteryear, in time it too will become a forgotten factor.

!PIZZA
!LOLZ

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I have to sadly agree with you Lady Joan and I dread the day that they all disappear.

!PIZZA
!LOLZ

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As we go off to happy hunting the few left will also depart, love of steam will be lost into story books.

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When it comes to old human inventions the locomotive is one of my favorites. Their beauty simply stands the test of time.

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Totally agreed and I am thankful there are still some of the old engineers around to keep them in excellent condition. Powerful old Elephants from a bygone era.

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It looks it is worth waiting for such giant's photo. We have nostalgic tramways, but not such trains, I think. By the way, I am freezing here need some warm weather :)

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Oh yes, patience always pays off. We also had trams and I used to travel on them when I was a child.
I can only post my photos to keep you warm :)

!BEER

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That looks like a great way to travel :) ... Have you been on it?

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Yes I have been on many in my lifetime, but not yet on this particular one.
It is the best way to travel over long distances and I did several 3 day trips where one sleeps at night on the train while it travels. The food in the dining car was delicious.

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I don't think I would want to sleep, I would want to see every bit of the country! Unfortunately it's probably too dark to see anything at night!

!PIZZA !ALIVE

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(Edited)

Pitch black at night my friend, but after day 2 on the train one is so tired that night 3 is the best sleep. It feels like rocking baby in it's cot.

!PIZZA & !BEER

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I can imagine :) Except I would be thinking about what I'm missing outside probably 😂

!PIZZA !ALIVE

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Hahaha, we are the same as even now when I am working here in the study, I keep an eye through the window at what's happening outside.

!BEER !PIZZA

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That must be quite a show out there, especially with the terrible twins 🙌

!PIZZA !ALIVE

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Action at certain times my friend, especially when the clans gather for feeding 🤣

!BEER !PIZZA

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These old steam train have so much heritage, we have a lot of them in UK as well. Sadly they are quite expensive to maintain even with an army of volunteers.

The background of the mountains behind the train creats such a lovely view

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Thank you and yes, I was told that the parts for the trains cost a small fortune. But to me they are beauty in motion on the rails.

That was also my thought, as the mountain background lends a rural setting to the picture.

My next challenge is now to go and get the train running in the mountains and I think it will make a great photo to catch one emerging from a tunnel.

My eldest daughter and her family also now live in the UK and she sends me many photos of their travels over there. They emigrated a few months ago.

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An old steam train went through our station today, but I didn't get a photo, even though I saw it. We get them now and again. People turn out to see them. A lot of kids may never have seen, or smelled, a real steam train. Always fun to see.

!PIZZA

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Pity that you didn't get a shot of the train Sir Steve.
Yes they are real crowd gatherers and the children over here also get very excited when they see it coming.
The train ran a double shift this weekend. Saturday (this post) and Sunday (my post today).
Sadly today the train had an accident today.

Here's a shot that I took today.
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!BEER

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The Flying Scotsman passes here sometimes and that really gets the crowds out.

Shame about that accident.

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Ah yes, I saw photos of the Flying Scotsman and it is a beautiful train.

Accidents happen and we were just glad that nobody got hurt.

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We can get the train to York from here where there's an amazing railway museum with lots of great old engines. There are various old lines around the country that keep the steam tradition alive.

We used to be able to walk across the tracks near here to access the countryside, but there is now a bridge. I don't know how many accidents there were there, but you could see and hear the trains a long way off. The roads tend to be more dangerous generally.

Stay safe.

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Over here our railways have been destroyed, stripped naked and they only use the dangerous roads with heaps of accidents.

I will tell my daughter to go to the York railway museum to take some photos for me.

You also stay safe my friend.

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Yes, with such a steam locomotive I was on a trip through the mountains of Maramures in Romania, very nice post.
Cheers.

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Well then you have the experience and I am glad that you know what I am talking about.
Sadly the steam trains only run on short trips now and no more on the long trips.

Thank you.

!BEER

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Good memories. We were there during our South African honeymoon trip some years back. Thanks for reminding me 😀

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Thank you and I am glad that you guys had your honeymoon over here. Hope that you enjoyed the stay.
A sure pleasure for me to stir your memories.

!BEER

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We loved every moment of it. It`s definitely on the list of Travel again targets for when our kids are older.

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Great and maybe we will meet when you guys come here again.
Glad that you enjoyed your visit.

!BEER

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