Trans Karoo Express over Hex River Pass 1989

[@antonius9]

Baie dankie vir hierdie beeld materiaal. Dit was werklik pragtig om te sien. Nooit die kans gehad om op die Trans Karoo te ry nie. Spyt kom altyd te laat.

[@davidvlok1755]

Very good footage. Unfortunately a bygone era. Will treasure the memories of numerous trips

[@delwynnewindell1550]

A gem. I have watched this journey numerous times, and it brings back many happy memories. Thank you for sharing this! We now live in Canada!

[@lesliehlatshwayo7236]

Unfortunately the train no longer goes through that pass, instead goes through a tunnel. Wel, economics did away with that beauty of the mountain pass by train. Enjoy your stay in Canada

[@barrysaayman]

Baie dankie. Hierdie nostalgiese video en veral die musiek het my gefasineer. Monique Andrée Serf (Barbara) se L'Aigle Noir (1961) is eenvoudig pragtig lied en 'n paslike keuse. Hunkering terug na kindertyd. Thank you very much. This nostalgic video and in particular the music absolutely fascinated me. Monique Andrée Serf's (Barbara) L'Aigle Noir (1961) is simply a beautiful song and a fitting choice. Yearning back to childhood.

[@kloopieful]

I took a ride over the pass about a month ago, in a tractor-hauled coach. A local guy runs these trips a couple of times a week. So it was amazing to remember what it looked like back in the day, when real trains went over the pass. Awesome to see your video. By the way, I greatly recommend this trip up the pass, especially if you're a railfan (but even if you're not).

[@willemkotze2611]

Great video of the Trans-Karoo in its old SAR livery, it brings back the memories of growing up. In 1980 my family traveled in this legendary train from Pretoria to Cape Town, a year before I was born. So unfortunately I just missed out.

[@davidvlok1755]

Brings back fond memories of train travel 👍

[@michaellawson6533]

I miss the good times way back then.

[@EphraimSibiya-rh5hc]

It's so nice to travel comfortable by train.You even sleep,eat ,drink while enjoying your journey.There are showers,toilets,dining.Very good for couples

[@warnerbeachful]

Wonderful memories. Thankyou. Did the trip in summer, big mistake, no air-conditioning in those days. I was glad to survive. Nevertheless it was a wonderful experience.

[@Henry-s4x]

Good memories riding Trans Karroo. Children today are missing out on so much! 1988 and 1989 did this trip twice rented 1st class coupe, best part was the meals and early morning coffee. It also cost you and a leg. SAR rocked in those years.

[@user-lf5cp9bk6e]

Die goeie ou dae toe ons nog n spoorweg gehad het,alles val uit mekaar uit!!!!!!!!!

[@hawkeye-vv4kb]

1989 - The good old days ... and they are now only a distant memory.

[@enockkhanye]

It was a nice traveling with this train

[@leongreenfield9196]

The last time I traveled on a Rhodesia Railways/South African Railways journey was in 1975 from Bulawayo to Cape Town and it was an absolute heavenly pleasure ! It's all like a dream these days. Those long distance rail journeys were the best trips I have ever had. Always an adventure and not a single second of boredom. If I could go back in time and re-live those journeys it would be a dream come true !

[@ataylor3497]

Brilliant. You touched a few heartstrings there. Thank you

[@enockkhanye]

I miss this train a lot

[@cecilsmythe6373]

Surely used to enjoy this trip in 80s &90s as I benefited by free rail travel.

[@warrenmeldau]

@LifeofRail No Problem. Thanx very much for the upload. i never got the chance to ride over it was too young to remember.

[@enockkhanye]

It's remind me that time we travel as a family to paulpietesburg

[@willemkotze2611]

The Hex river pass the train is descending on is not in operation anymore. It has been replaced by a new rail pass consisting of four tunnels, one of which is the longest rail tunnel in South Africa.

[@markparr9099]

Miss those train trips

[@Adventurescot]

@oomblikkies Yes those were sure the good old days and the magical trains SA once had. I worked the Trans Karoo snel and Oranje Snel many times between Bloem and De Aar with 25NCs. A great time of my life!!

[@charlesmeyer61]

Where are the good ol days by rail in South Africa.

[@Isochest]

Thanks, I'll look them up. I wonder where double track started coming into Cape Town. Nearly 20 years ago I took a train from Cape Town Adderley Street Station to Paarl and that was at least double track all the way, more like 4 tracks between Cape Town and Bellville. Trains were 4 car EMUs similar to the UK class 506 but for 3kv dc. My guess it would be Wellington just north of Paarl?

[@markwiddicombe5594]

There can be no greater pleasure than being woken in the morning by that clatter-clatter-clatter "koffie, koffie, koffie!" And then the oke gives you what is probably the best coffee on the planet Earth. I wish I knew where they got it or how they made it.

[@Adventurescot]

Mark, your right there. That coffee was the best ever coffee on the planet. You could smell it right down the train. Somewhere I have it written down how they made it and have asked many folk here in UK to make me some but so far all have declined. Anyway, I just found the recipe so here it is: RAILWAY COFFEE: 3 cups sugar 2 cups strong nut coffee (finished drawn) 3 cups boiling water 1/2 t salt METHOD: Stirring sugar in saucepan until caralised. Add nut coffee. Stir over low heat for 10 - 15 min (to increase coffee strength) Add first 2 cups of boiling water bits (can boil fining).Stir continuously for 2 min. Add the rest of boiling water, little bits, 1/4 cup at a time, stirring continuously. Add, stir well, Allow to cool well. Filter by fine sieve. When totally cold, pour into bottles and bears into fridge.TO MAKE: 1 teaspoon of coffee syrup per cup, half a cup of boiling water and half a cup of boiled milk. Enjoy

[@markwiddicombe5594]

@@Adventurescot Thanks! I'll give it a try....

[@jacaranda2bloom]

Crikey, I am in tears! Who could spot CT first?

[@ERICREDGE]

Locomotives looks better known as "garrets" ....they carry extra water reservoirs (see front carriage of locomotive) to challenge the long mountainous routes. I am not sure if it referred as Class 6E locomotives?. However I travelled this route as a youngster on the Trans Karoo and Oranje Express with uncompromised memories.

[@Adventurescot]

@warrenmeldau , Afraid thats all I have of that clip. Im sure I have a clip somewhere of class 25NC 3481 going over the pass about 1983 with a special passenger. Will hunt it out. I once worked a 19D down the pass when I was fireman and took video but for the life of me just cannot find that clip. Enjoy

[@SS08947]

This train seems much longer than the Cape Town to Jhb trains from the 70s? We remember being able to see both ends of them in some of the curves.

[@lesliehlatshwayo7236]

During summer holidays they could couple up to a maximum of 21 cars

[@BarneySuperBear]

This a classic so much thanks for uploading!!

[@bonehead110]

Last worked that line as a drivers assistant in 1973.

[@ridhwaanarries1771]

shaun porter i wish you can show pics and share stories

[@cheslinmarthinus4540]

they can reconnect it again that looks like a great line for train drivers

[@langsuan123]

Can anyone please tell me the name of the express that went from Durban to Capetown? I traveled on this aged 7 in 1975. Don't recall changing trains at any point of the journey, but it was a long time ago.

[@Adventurescot]

Hi buddy, your thinking of the "Orange Express" or in Afrikaans the "Trans Oranje Express". I worked it many times with steam from Kimberley to De Aar. I think it changed directions at Kroonstad and then again at Kimberley. It was a two night journey as far as I remember. Have a watch at my clips and you will see a few clips of that train

[@langsuan123]

@@Adventurescot Thank you! Two nights seems about right from memory and have vague memories of waiting for a change of locos (direction change perhaps?) and also stopping in station at Kimberley. Thanks again. Very poignant memories because was Leg 1 of Australia Chicken Run. Took ship in Cape Town. Off to check your other videos!

[@qoako9695]

​@@AdventurescotI was probably 5/6 years when I travelled between Cape Town and Bethlehem or Harris Moth at other times in the 80s ...Trans Oranje it was! Awesome memories...I can still remember the wonderful scents associated with my journeys, from the coal, train interior, the aluminium parts of the windows and the coffee ❤❤❤

[@warrenmeldau]

great video. do u perhaps have the entire trip over the pass on video still?

[@jeffreyflores7674]

Great memories from those days and now big difference still can't believe how the old government manage to it a profitable operation.

[@Viervoet]

Baie Dankie

[@1hermannk]

Could it be two 6E Class locos in front? Looks like it.

[@willemkotze2611]

Yes it is. It's two class 6E/6E1's at the front.

[@jacaranda2bloom]

Thank you sooo much for this! We used to travel up and down from Bulawayo to Cape Town a few times a year in the 50s and 60s. I loved those long trains - you could see the storm coming over half the train, before your carriage got wet *sigh* Do you have any journeys from those days?

[@leongreenfield9196]

I also traveled from Bulawayo To Cape Town in the 1960's and 70's. It was really great -a holiday in itself. Those journeys were by far the most enjoyable I have ever traveled ! An absolute pleasure! It seems like a dream now

[@Isochest]

Looks like two 3kv dc electrics at the head of this. What class & power?

[@lesliehlatshwayo7236]

2,492kw, Class 6E South African Railways (Transnet)

[@Isochest]

@@lesliehlatshwayo7236 Thanks for the info Leslie. I have many happy memories of my holiday in South Africa from the UK back in 1994.

[@Deontjie]

Some of the rails on this old line has now been stolen.

[@Adventurescot]

Yes they sure were 3kv dc electrics. I think they were 2 x 5E bo bo electrics. As I was a steam man I never really took much notice of the electrics and their power etc so afraid I cannot help you out with power etc. Im sure it will be on the net.

[@cheslinmarthinus4540]

i would like to become one

[@warsi3377]

Realistic

[@vernonsaayman9741]

Tulbagh is actually sandhlls,, and whyalways ,,express,,? Its simply trans karoo tr no 202 , theres nothing express about it, same running times as other sar pass trains, only diff stops are less and shorter

[@Adventurescot]

Vernon, we worked the Trans Karoo between Kimberley and De Aar and I can assure you it was an Express compared to the other trains. Orange Express and Trans Karoo Express as they said on their front headboards. They were the fastest trains in Africa way back in their day and that is where "Express" comes from. You go try being a fireman on a 16DA or a 15F at full speed 120kph you will think its going like a jet-liner

[@cheslinmarthinus4540]

really