Trans Karoo 1990

[@ngalahansel6066]

I am a Cameroonian journalism student at Wits University in Johannesburg and just love immersing myself in all things South African.

[@dorothyueckermann3217]

My family and I rode the Transkaroo every single year from Pretoria to Cape Town and back. Nostalgic watching this post.

[@leonvanderlinde5580]

Les, with sadness, you captured scenes we will never ever see in South Africa again.

[@lespivnic]

Yes Leon, it is vey sad - the railways are in a total mess today!

[@sydneymartin6941]

@@lespivnic Sadly Everything they touch comes to ruin

[@charlesmeyer61]

So true! Bygone era.

[@FixieNix]

Hi Les, Thank you for the sublime footage. I'm "the" Fiona for whom 3422 was named. So happy and proud to see her.

[@lespivnic]

You are most welcome, Fiona!

[@willieterblanche9417]

Thanks for the lovely vidio my late father Jan Terblanche was a steam engin driver before he had to switch to electric but my best memory was the last official steam engine that he drove down the south coast from Durban to port shepstone 1971before that then SAR@H stop steam going down that line beautiful video thanks his steamengin was also polished

[@lespivnic]

Thanks Willie!

[@brucewilliams8714]

I noticed the steam generator next to the tender, ready for the cold Karoo night behind diesel and electric locos. Thanks Les for reviving great memories of chasing, and riding, the Trans Karoo. 30 years ago, my word.

[@lespivnic]

yes Bruce, videos and photos is all that we have left of a great previous railway administration in SA!

[@sydneymartin6941]

@@lespivnic Damn beautiful video Makes my heart pump faster seeing that old lady running at speed That steam heating vehicle behind the steam engine What was the purpose as a steam loco could be coupled directly to the train via steam heating pipes Thanks for sharing

[@lespivnic]

@@sydneymartin6941 Hello Sydney, the steam heating unit behind the tender was for the use by electric locos from Klerksdorp. The Trans Karoo was by special arrangement steam-hauled on a Friday from JHB to Klerksdorp.

[@sydneymartin6941]

@@lespivnic Thanks for the reply So it was just travelling spare We did use them on the diesels and electric One day I was coupling one up and not watching what I was doing Took the jumper cable and put it in the wrong socket Man did I get a shock It would not let me go and the only way I got loose was to walk away which broke the connection My arms were lame for a while Never again

[@Blairgowrie_Forest_Railway]

Even that EMU train set which is in the beginning of this video is antique now. And my wife tells me that I may not mention how clean the station was. Thankyou for sharing Les.

[@theovanstaden5766]

hi @Blairgowrie forest railway Andrew Johnson, love Your you tube channel, new subscriber, hello here from Pietermaritzburg KZN!

[@lespivnic]

Glad that you are enjoying my videos Andrew!

[@jasonwoodward9883]

Any videos of these beautiful beasts bring tears to my eyes... thank you, Les... wish I could sit down with you and discuss my own "steamy" involvement of over a period of over 80 years...

[@lespivnic]

Yes Jason, as an 85 year-old myself, we would have a lot to talk about!

[@struck2soon]

Bloody fantastic! I was lucky enough to visit SA in 91, obviously I made the pilgrimage to De Aar so witnessed this train a few times. Hard to believe it has all gone now.

[@mikenaylor5365]

Les, thank you so much for sharing this with us.

[@lespivnic]

You are most welcome, Mike.

[@RAILFANinSOUTHAFRICA]

Thanks for sharing these videos Les, so glad the channel has come alive again after being dormant for 5 years !!!! Please keep on uploading!!!

[@theovanstaden5766]

Hello Piet, goed om Jou hier te sien by Les Pivnic se kanaal!

[@theovanstaden5766]

Thank You Les Pivnic for sharing these videos! i love Your work, You also do Soul of a Railway site? Thats also amazing all those Photos! I come from a real railway family, my Grand Dad, my Father and a few of my Uncles worked for SAR! i also worked for the SAR in 1986, i grew up living next to Boughton Station in a railway cottage and then later in Napierville railway houses here in Pietermaritzburg, Your videos bring back all the old Railway Nostalgia of the once mighty SAS/SAR, thank You!

[@lespivnic]

Glad that you are enjoying my videos Theo and yes, I am involved with Soul of a Railway.

[@theovanstaden5766]

@@lespivnic ok thank You!

[@godfreyberry1599]

Magnificent film material. Just reinforces the fact that these sublime beasts of the SAR were extremely capable of hauling a substantial load at impressive speed. With abundant coal reserves in SA & consequent cheap operating costs, why hundreds were made redundant is a complete disgrace.

[@graham9060]

Golden days.

[@michaelat7411]

Thank you Les 👍 The Iron Maiden in all her Glory.👑 Wish we could turn back the clock....⏰ Awesome Video...Your Efforts are appreciated.🤗😘🏆🥇 Take care. God bless you & yours 🙏🙏

[@lespivnic]

Thanks for your kind words, Michaela!

[@lespivnic]

Hi Michaela, Thanks for your kind remarks - I also wish that we could turn the clock back.

[@Sp10580]

Good olden days...

[@lespivnic]

Indeed, the good old days!

[@sydneymartin6941]

DAMN that old lady is sure lifting her skirts as she jogs along in front of that passenger train What a sight So beautiful My driver was Oom Andries Linnow I fired to him regular Wish those days were still here

[@DillonTrinhProductions]

Didn't the last Trans Karoo by steam ended in 1997?

[@frankishknight1878]

Fabulous train! Gorgeous, powerful and exotic! Do they still run pulled by diesel engines?

[@MthokozisiMasango-o6i]

These steam giants were said to be less powerful than either diesel hydraulic,diesel electric and electric locomotives but what I see here is the first lone class 25nc's effortless handling of 20 coaches,a train heating van and it's coal loaded tender. Would both diesels and electric engines have been capable to outperform the steam on the same load without pairing?(2024.12.12-NgoLwesine-08:20-socalled South Africa)

[@lespivnic]

I only have experience with the older classes of electric locomotives and the classes 3E and 4E would handle such trains without any problems.

[@healingfamilies8495]

Good afternoon Mr. Pivnic. I saw some images created by Mr. Pivnic and Mr. Charles Baker on SA illustrated last night. The before and after pictures of Cape Town harbour was of interest to me. I am planning to write a children's book and two of the scenes in the book is at the harbour. Can I e-mail Mr. Pivnic regarding permission and about images created by Sir?

[@lespivnic]

See Soul of a Railway website for contact details.

[@ralphralefeta1179]

It reminds me of the good old day,South Africa was great in the late 80's believe me a liter of petrol was 45 cents,now its a lawness land where I am forced to carry a fire arm and I really hate guns but I need to protect my property and my parent