South African steam train tours under threat

[John Ashworth]

South African steam train tours under threat
6 February 2009, 19:07 GMT + 2

Ten years ago, steam train fans beat a path to South Africa’s door to ride behind beautifully-kept locomotives in some of the most spectacular country in the world. They came, they saw and they spent dollars and pounds and yen and euros by the bankload. Then they told their friends who hopped on planes to South Africa, and spent their pounds, dollars, euros …

It was a golden goose and now it has been throttled as David Rodgers, one of the last of overseas railtour operators to South Africa, calls it a day.

Despite the hardships and the difficulty of doing business with Transnet, some operators have gritted their teeth and come back, year after year. Rodgers called-off off his forthcoming and fully-booked railtour, after being unable to get any kind of answer from Transnet regarding a crucial aspect of the trip. His letter is an indictment on our rail national rail operator.

That leaves just one foreign tour operator whose tour of the narrow-gauge lines of the Republic is due to run in May. The picture, from a previous narrow gauge trip, sums up some of the romance of the South African rails that foreign visitors found so appealing.

Republished at Paul's request - link

[Nathan Berelowitz]

It is indeed a sad state, but in this country we have a saying "Local is lekker" (local is great). With this being the case, the local clubs look to servicing the tourist industry by providing the general public with the affordable opportunity to travel behind a steam locomotive on a rake of restored, rolling stock, from the early Soputh African Railway period.
Affordable family days out to destinations such as Cullinan, around the Pretoria complex and diesel to Bela Bela (Warmbaths), are provided by FOTR in the Pretoria area. These trips generate funding for future projects and developments. The overseas operators do not really make much use of FOTR here, as we do not really have the type of catenery free scenery that is mostly required for these foreign safari operations, except for the Cullinan line. The odd chance of getting business for FOTR from foreign groups, meant that the majority income would be local. Yes, there is money to be made club wise and a small percentage to the rest of the population from the foreign groups, but end of the day, the majority of these groups spending on activities that are non railway related, is minimil. However, the drawcard to the country is the rail travel behind steam power. However, there is the newer generation that do not know the steam days and find modern traction equally satisfying.

No operator has yet really produced a modern traction type tour, which will have an aside of a club steam day trip for the experience. Perhaps that is something to think of aswell?
In ending off, the groups in Kwa Zulu Natal, Germiston, Port Elizabeth have established themselves as steam train operators for the tourist in the country. Their operations are regular and not one off loco and man power strainers, and they help to put that province on the local tourists map.

So, yes, we do miss the foreign steam tour operators, and the days of seing the remote parts of this country by rail, however, the local lads must survive amd provide, whils we can. The railways are still kind enough to allow the albeit restricted routing for the steam.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Sorry, I seem to have got the page full. Essentially lets say, that we do miss the foreign steamers, but there is still the market for the local folks and besides the steam, have a look at how popular tourist rail travel is, with operators like JB tours and others. Steam is the dream. "Local Is Lekker."

[John Ashworth]

As Nathan says, domestic tourism is where it's at for FOTR, especially the local leisure market.

[Steve Appleton]

Paul Ash's blog is located here: http://blogs.thetimes.co.za/wanderer/20 ... er-threat/

[Steve Appleton]

Railways Africa article on the cancellation of the Dave Rodgers steam safari at http://railwaysafrica.com/index.php?opt ... &Itemid=40

“FINAL“ STEAM TOUR CANCELLED
Friday, 23 January 2009
David Rodgers, organiser of a succession of acclaimed enthusiast rail tours over South African rail lines over many years, has had to cancel his latest enterprise – even though it was sold out within a few days of being announced. He explains as follows:

“My previous correspondence in late-October 2008 advised that whilst demand for the tour was overwhelming and fully booked in record time, there were at that time some problems associated with the use of the Reefsteamers tour train. Following inspections and reports by my colleagues Peter Rogers and Dick Manton it does seem that most of our concerns regarding the train have, or will be, overcome.

“However, over the past couple of months it has become apparent that there are far more deep-rooted problems. I would like to set these out in an honest and transparent way:-

“Perhaps the overriding problem which has an impact on many of the following points is the impossibility of communicating with anyone in Spoornet who has the authority to make decisions or agree to anything.

“The central 53km Marseilles–Clocolan section of the 300km Bloemfontein-Bethlehem line is now technically ‘closed’ and the line is no longer operated as a through route. Whilst the track remains in-situ we are unable to find anyone in authority to agree to its use or confirm the cost and extent of any remedial work prior to its use. We are thus unable to fulfil the originally advertised programme as it is clearly almost impossible to visit Bloemfontein and then access the scenic northern section of the Bethlehem line.

“There appears to be a hardening of attitudes towards the use of steam traction on Spoornet metals. Steam is now banned from what are regarded as ‘core’ routes but in effect this means that steam is now restricted to very lightly trafficked lines. For example, Pretoria-based Friends of the Rail are no longer allowed to run to Witbank or north from Pretoria, both routes that they have previously successfully operated on. Our tour now requires an electric pilot on the main-line south from Germiston. This is classed as a core route even though there are only a handful of trains and the line remains double track.

“We have been advised that we may now be unable to run east from Germiston on the secondary route to Devon, a lightly trafficked route that we have used regularly. We have received no explanation as to this.

“Reefsteamers advise that at best they would only have four locos available for the tour. Sadly the popular and sole active Class 15CA 4-8-2 requires extensive boiler work and will not be available. This means that there are only two locos suitable for taking south to the Free State and we feel that this is rather risky with no reserve in the event of last-minute problems. Neither the GMAM Garratt nor the Class 12AR are suitable for the long journey south.

“There is currently a problem in visiting Rooiwal Power Station on the final afternoon due to a washaway.

“Concerns have been expressed regarding operating a complex programme of steam trains on the Krugersdorp-Magaliesburg line on weekdays due to potential delays from freight traffic (which has priority), a route that still retains train crew operated points.

“We have been advised that there were problems on the recent Reefsteamers’ charter taking David Shepherd to Ficksburg. We are required to stay overnight at Ficksburg for five nights whilst in the Free State as this is the only station retaining working water facilities for loco use. However it seems that since being de-staffed the station area has become vandalised and unkempt, considerably worse than on our last visit, with rubbish strewn everywhere and with drunks and vagrants leading to security concerns.

“There are a multitude of other concerns that impact on the tour including the temporary stepping down of a key Reefsteamers operations manager.

“We have considered rerouting the tour and perhaps again visiting Natal but even here there is only one working loco and one possible route - the attractive Richmond branch (covered on our last tour) – is now closed following the theft of track. So, there is no Plan ‘B.’

“We have tried very hard indeed to resolve the difficulties but we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the era of 3ft 6in (1065mm) gauge steam has effectively come to an end. This is all the more upsetting in that South Africa, even just 8-10 years ago, had plenty of suitable locomotives and working infrastructure to support the continued operation of steam for years to come.

“We have recently been faced with the ultimatum of paying a £150.00 per person deposit towards the airfares. However, with such uncertainty and risk, we felt that there was no other option but to cancel this tour. We have made every effort and no-one could have done more but ultimately we feel that whatever we could eventually do would bear little relation to the advertised programme. Even once in South Africa we would lack the confidence that the advertised programme could be successfully delivered.

“I have been organising overseas tours for 19 years yet, during this time, I have only ever cancelled a handful of tours and certainly none that were fully booked. So you can imagine that this decision has not been taken lightly.

“I feel that Steam Loco Safari Tours has gained its reputation through its honesty and by taking great care to only advertise what had been agreed. We could have gone ahead with the tour and hope that once in South Africa the difficulties and uncertainties would be resolved. However, this is not our style. Experience has shown that South Africa has become a more difficult destination as each year passes. Our the past few years it has become increasingly apparent that, despite the enthusiasm of some of the clubs, the fragmented nature of railways has meant that there is no longer the resources, infrastructure or will to support the running of steam trains on the national network. For several years only Steam Loco Safari Tours have operated extensive photographic tours in South Africa and we had hoped that we could pull-off one final tour, but it is not to be and we are very sorry for taking the decision to cancel.

“The whole market for overseas steam photographic tours is changing and the worsening recession and financial turbulence is making life very hard. Just this week perhaps the largest rail tour operator – US-based Trains Unlimited Tours (TUT) – have gone into liquidation.

“Steam Loco Safari Tours are determined to continue in a modest way to offer tours for the foreseeable future as long there are suitable destinations and a market. As we have a huge interest we fully anticipate that a tour to Austria only will quickly become fully booked particularly as we have secured no less than 13 locos and the price is only 12% more than our similar tour two years ago! The tour brochure for this tour is now complete.

“Our plan is to go to Italy for a stand alone one-week tour as soon as circumstances allow. In addition, our planning continues for some big steam in the USA.

“Once again I am very sorry that events have forced cancellation of this tour.”

- David Rodgers

[ First question in tonight’s homework for the South African Minister of Tourism: Calculate - to the nearest million Rand - the value of foreign currency lost to this country through cancellation of this tour. Second question: Estimate the foreign currency that would have been earned in future excursions, now being diverted to other countries. – editor: Railways Africa.