Kaaimans River Bridge

[Robin Matthysen]

This bridge is on the track from Capetown to Knysna. Today, ROVOS Rail run a tour train along this track as well as others. This is a Champagne service train and is only for the wealthy tourist.
This picture was taken at low tide. That is the Indian Ocean in the background.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=123788&a=9829776&p=41685767
This picture shows a class24, 2-8-4 loco built by North British Locomotives in 1949. Tractive effort at 75% is 27,600 lbs. Boiler pressure was 200 lbs. It is a specialy built light axle load loco requiring only 45 lb rail.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=123788&a=9829776&p=41685766

[watash]

That must be a thrilling trip! The photo looks like a well done HO diorama. HA!

[Alan]

I have a few books on the South African Railways, and the George to Knysna line is a beautiful one. I believe in latter days it was worked exclusively by the hansome class 24's.

I just wish I could have visited there during the 'real steam' days.

[Robin Matthysen]

Alan, I was fortunate to be able to ride along this track known as the Garden Route. Those days it was just a train ride and only wish I had taken more pictures. I didn't have a very good camera those days either. It was a way to visit places where it was safe to swim. We had to be careful choosing because of the large number of sharks along this coast.
Watash, the pictures would have looked more like the real thing if we amateur camera fans could get decent colour film. It was very hard to find in those days. Look at the changes that have been made over the years. You and I are getting long in the tooth and can remember what it was like to be a kid 55-60 years ago