Cooking on the Footplate - Friends of the Rail
Locomotive number 3052 was presented to David Shepherd in 1991 by Spoornet and has since been entrusted to the Sandstone Heritage Trust. Initially being used and then stored the locomotive was put back to steam by Reefsteamers after being awarded the restoration contract by Sandstone Estates.
Avril has already done a number of test trips, including a double header with 15F 3046 to Magaliesburg and two winter photo shoots held by Reefsteamers. The locomotive has now been allocated to Friends of the Rail in Pretoria to assist the club with traction shortages.
Filmed on the morning of August 28, 2016 outside the Reefsteamers depot in Germiston. Where the crew was preparing the locomotive and their stomachs for the transfer trip to Hermanstad in Pretoria.
Welcomed onboard by Nathan Berelowitz, Kobus Blignaut and Les Labuschagne a rather interesting and humorous cooking show ensued with Masterchef Nathan taking the lead.
Nathan was also kind enough to reveal the true purpose of all those shiny gauges and levers found in a typical South African steam locomotive...
The crew is cooking a traditional South African Boerewors on the shovel. Boerewors meaning Farmers Sausage is a 90% pure meat sausage containing no processed meats with a limited fat content.
Boerewors is an important part of South African cuisine and is mostly cooked on a fire commonly known as a Braai.
South African Steam: Pretoria area - Rovos Rail, THF Museum and 3664 rollover
This video is features a few trains on the same day in the Pretoria area. First we see Friends of the Rail's Class 24 No. 3664 heading out on the Hercules - Magaliesburg branch on a charter train. Whilst out at Meerhof, word came through that Rovos Rail were triple-heading their Pretoria train, so I rushed down to Irene to see that. Later in the afternoon, one of the last THF Museum-run Magaliesburg trains departed with 15F 3040. Following that, we headed to Magaliesburg to follow the Friends of the Rail train back to Pretoria. Sadly, 3664 had not made it to Magaliesburg, having derailed and rolled over at Hekpoort. The remaining scenes feature the recover crew's efforts to set 3664 upright again.
Friends of the Rail Cullinan Trips Oct Dec 2018
Some shots of FOTR class 24 3664 and recently restored 15F 3117 on Cullinan trains towards the end of 2018
Friends of the Rail Mother's Day 1999
24 3664 and 15F 3094 double-head to Cullinan from Pretoria on a Mother's Day special
Friends of the Rail - Photo Gala 2013 - Part One
Friends of the Rail annual photogala June 2013.
The Blue Train - Luxury Railway Experience in South Africa
My wife and I together with our friends decided to take a trip on the Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town in South Africa. This video simply captures our experience. Watch and see for yourself.
Friends of Atlantic Rail - Part One - 2011 (Low Resolution)
After joining Friends of Atlantic Rail in 2011, I started work on a small filming project about the clubs general day to day operations. Up to that point I had done some rail photography on a smaller scale, but my membership at FoAR exposed me to more regular opportunities.
However, what started off as a simple project quickly turned into a massive undertaking that saw me chasing the train more often than actually working on it. As time passed the shortcomings in my equipment started becoming painfully apparent and I grew more critical of the footage. This lead to some new equipment and hopes of redoing many of the scenes.
Unfortunately, time had run out and the closure of the Simons's Town line left Atlantic Rail with no other option than to start running to Stellenbosch. Initially, we believed the closure would only be temporary, but as time passed and multiple attempts to reopen the line failed so did the film.
There were other considerations too. Times had changed with the arrival of CRC and the club now served both organisations taking on a more business-like approach with the trip preparation being mostly done by paid staff. This was the end of the build-up and braai that was a common occurrence at Moment Station in days leading up to an excursion.
Friends of the Rail - Photo Gala 2013 - Part Two
Friend of the Rail annual photogala. June 2013.
Michell's Pass - Return of Steam - Part One
In 2015 the Ceres Rail Company received their first newly restored locomotive, 19D No.3321 and started operations shortly there after.
Initially the company offered day trips from Ceres golf estate down the short branch line and Michell's Pass to Waverley wine estate.
Departing from De Meter station with the train pausing briefly at Waverley wine estate for the passengers to have lunch. The train would then continue to Wolseley where the locomotive would be turned on the tri-angle ready for the return trip back to Ceres.
Arriving back at De Meter the crew would once again uncouple the locomotive so that it could proceed to Prince Alfred Hamlet to be turned for the second trip of the day. This was sometimes repeated after the last trip of the day so that the locomotive would be ready for the next excursion.
Many of the locations seen in the clip are inaccessible by road and at the time I would use my night shift week to go filming there. I found packing lunch and spending the entire day up there to be the most efficient way to use my time.
Ceres Rail Company can be contacted at or via their Facebook account.
Sourh African Railways 15CA on locals
Here is a old cine film produced by Ian Brickett in the early 80s about a famous class 15CA no 2850 which often worked the Cullinan local services out of Pretoria. Not sure why he named it Farewell 2850 as this locomotive is still around and is in the good caring hands of Friends of the Rail in Pretoria
SAR 24 3655 Connecting Rod Footage - Atlantic Rail - Part Two
Some improved connecting rod footage. Captured on ex SAR class 24 No 3655.
Friends of the Rail Steam Engine Club -- Ice Cool Digital 082-449-1865
This is a marketing production which was designed to promote the Friends of the Rail club.
This was a very time consuming production and was shot over a period of approximately 6 months. The train only goes out about once a month depending on demand and we had to wait for the right event to happen so as to be able to get the right footage to match the script and story line. A voice over artist is used to guide the viewer through the story.
A friend from South Africa is dispatching trains in Marklinistanbul.
A friend all the way from South Africa is dispatching the Maerklin Trains in Marklinistanbul.
Friends of the Rail - Photo Gala 2015 - Part One
Friends of the Rail Photo gala is a two day steam train excursion purposely organised for photographers and train enthusiasts alike. The event usually starts with an early morning photo shoot in Capital Park depot, where the crew does multiple run-pasts from varies points in the yard. Of course including the typical South African coal-stage and the locomotive ash pits.
The event is held in winter with the bitterly cold mornings aiding the steam effect... a recipe that certainly works! The club also provides tea and coffee so need to bring that pesky flask.
The event then moves over to FotR facility at Hermanstad a short drive away. This is where the participates leave their cars and the excursion consist stands ready for the run out to Reyton and Cullinan.
The train usually consists of a sleeper coach, suburban coach and a number of freight wagons for authenticity. The club also includes their CJS milk wagon, a vehicle that is incredible rare today ,but was once a common sight in mixed freight trains.
On arrival at Reyton the train departs the mainline and onto the wooden train staff controlled Cullinan branch line. Theline is seldom used by Transnet and is never used over the weekend unless its by FotR. Some participates who have chosen to chase the train to Reyton also get on at this point and the run-pasts start immediately.
The afternoon is spent doing shoots at a multitude of locations along the branch line with the crew happy to oblige to some special request by the photographers.
The train eventually makes it way to Cullinan by nightfall where spotlights are setup for some night photography. The locomotive gets strategically parked on the ash pit near the water tank and once again the crew are happy to pose.
The train spends the night in the station at Cullinan and guest can stay on the train or make their own arrangements at one of the many beautiful B&B's in the town. Accommodation is of course at your own expense.
Sunday starts bright and early with the hardcore enthusiasts getting up even earlier to capture the preparation for another run out on the line.
The gala ends at about noon with the train returning to Cullinan to pick up the rest of the rail vehicles not used during the morning shoot. After a shunt and some servicing the train then returns to Hermanstad by late afternoon.
NOTE: The itinerary does change slightly from year to year.
This video clip is very repetitive ,but I've purposely left it so.
Friends of the Rail train to Cullinan
Friends of the Rail Oct - Dec 2018
Some of shots of FOTR class 24 3664 and recently restored 15F 3117 on their Cullinan trains towards the end of 2018
19D Runpast at Cullinan
Friends of the Rail Class 19D-2650 Cheugnette heads towards the front of the train staged at Cullinan for the 150th Anniversary of Steam railways in South Africa.
This is part of a video I shot on the trip.
150 years of Steam Railways trip with FotR 04
The final video of my trip with Friends of the Rail to Cullinan to celebrate 150 years of Steam Railways in South Africa. This footage is just a romp through Pretoria, passing some of the Gautrain works and finally the last stretch to Hermanstad. Cheugnette performed admirably and congrats to FotR for a great trip.
South African Railways Class 19D
Class 19D 2650 on the excursion with Friends of the Rail in Pretoria to Cullinan on 15-12-2013