The last trip of the Alfred Country Railway - "Banana Express"

[@Tom-Lahaye]

It was a great steam train ride, I did it in 1994. I'm happy that I can go to Wales now to see these little Garratts, the closure of the ACR was a loss for the region.

[@paulwebb2522]

That brought back some lovely memories - thank you for sharing this. So sad that the line closed.

[@brucedownunda7054]

Why did close?

[@TV355]

It no longer runs because a storm has destroyed the tracks on the coast. It would have been expensive to rebuild. And narrow-gauge railways are suffering from a chronic lack of money. Just like the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe on the George Knysna line

[@TrevorHeath]

The railway closed in 2004 when Spoornet pulled the lease to the ACR. In 2006 after two summer seasons under different management the railway closed for good. The Bridge wash away happened in 2008.

[@stephensmith799]

Narrow gauge steam doesn't get better than this...

[@paulwebb2522]

You would think SA would want to encourage tourism....

[@stephensmith799]

@@paulwebb2522 Narrow gauge steam is very successful in Wales though the distances are less than this fabulous line and there are not those damaged bridges to fix. EU grants helped the Welsh Highland Railway. Is there a lottery in South Africa?

[@ianfarquharson8565]

T