Hey!
My folks are on their way down from Pretoria to Cape Town on Rovos Rail at the moment. I told the old man to write down all the different units that hauled them on the way.
So, anyway, today ( Saturday, outside Kimberley ) they phoned me and said that they had mentioned to the train manager that I was way interested in rail in SA, and he said that he could stop the 'Pride of Africa' at Dal Jehosaphat station outside Paarl for me to climb on, and spend the last 60 kilometres with my parents on the train into CT.
What an offer. Unexpected. and besides the rail interest, I don't get to spend nearly as much time with my parents as I would like. ( I live CT, them JHB ).
Rovos Rocks !
Rovos Rail Psychotically rocks !!
-
Fidel Naidoo
- Posts: 59
- Joined: 18 Jul 2011, 12:44
Re: Rovos Rail Psychotically rocks !!
Ok,
so, my GF drove me to Dal jehosafat, and Paarl was without power ( no robots working ), and my parents ( very old, 75+ ) told me that there was a signal error in Paarl region, but they were 8 kliks out. A bit later I told my GF that I could hear 6E's. And we waited, and then my folks phoned and said they were 1.4 km outside the station, and standing still. ( so I was right ). Finally, they the train came in, INTO THE LOOP NEXT TO THE PLATFORM..... it would normally have gone through the 3rd middle rail to bypass the commuters. ( the controllers had been told to divert the the train.)
The train manager, Gareth, had climbed into the 6E cab, and looked for me. I waved to him, he jumped onto the platform, we shook hands, and my parents opened the first available door.
It got worse : We moved to the very end car, the observation car, and I was immediately sat down by a Germanic sounding lady said she is going to interview me for Austrian TV. She had the whole story up front from my folks, so I wished I'de powdered my face beforehand.
Anyway, that over, we enjoyed the rest of the ride at about 60k a hour into CT, and I got to chat long to the folks.
But, what a beautiful train. It is a national treasure. Every surface is dark wood. My parent's space was a king bed, width of the compartment, writing table with fridge underneath, full wardrobe, and private bathroom.
And, when we arrived in CT, the 6E's were uncoupled, and came past us on the middle rail to get out, and my mother said something about them :
Me: Those are 6E's. They are the most beautiful loco's in the world. They've worked hard all day from Beaufort-West.
Ma: They're electric. They're just square, and not interesting at all.
Me: Hey, mom, you remember when I finished school, and I was working crazy hours? that's what I was working on. 5E's, and 6E's. Those two gorgeous machines that came past are classical, and they're probably 40 years old.
Ma: They don't look good to me.
Me: I think it's because they subverted nature, and painted these works of art orange. That's a crime. No 1592 or 1597 should have hauled your train, 'cos they are still styling in gulf red and yellow stripes.
Ma: That was really ugly. I prefer the orange.
Me:.............................
Anyway, a wonderful opportunity was given and grabbed.
Gareth, the train manager, went out of his way. It cost Rovos Rail 1 Amstel to make a permanent fan.
Tomorrow, I will write a letter to Mr. Rohann Vos, telling him how cool the manager was, on this trip, and thanking him.
so, my GF drove me to Dal jehosafat, and Paarl was without power ( no robots working ), and my parents ( very old, 75+ ) told me that there was a signal error in Paarl region, but they were 8 kliks out. A bit later I told my GF that I could hear 6E's. And we waited, and then my folks phoned and said they were 1.4 km outside the station, and standing still. ( so I was right ). Finally, they the train came in, INTO THE LOOP NEXT TO THE PLATFORM..... it would normally have gone through the 3rd middle rail to bypass the commuters. ( the controllers had been told to divert the the train.)
The train manager, Gareth, had climbed into the 6E cab, and looked for me. I waved to him, he jumped onto the platform, we shook hands, and my parents opened the first available door.
It got worse : We moved to the very end car, the observation car, and I was immediately sat down by a Germanic sounding lady said she is going to interview me for Austrian TV. She had the whole story up front from my folks, so I wished I'de powdered my face beforehand.
Anyway, that over, we enjoyed the rest of the ride at about 60k a hour into CT, and I got to chat long to the folks.
But, what a beautiful train. It is a national treasure. Every surface is dark wood. My parent's space was a king bed, width of the compartment, writing table with fridge underneath, full wardrobe, and private bathroom.
And, when we arrived in CT, the 6E's were uncoupled, and came past us on the middle rail to get out, and my mother said something about them :
Me: Those are 6E's. They are the most beautiful loco's in the world. They've worked hard all day from Beaufort-West.
Ma: They're electric. They're just square, and not interesting at all.
Me: Hey, mom, you remember when I finished school, and I was working crazy hours? that's what I was working on. 5E's, and 6E's. Those two gorgeous machines that came past are classical, and they're probably 40 years old.
Ma: They don't look good to me.
Me: I think it's because they subverted nature, and painted these works of art orange. That's a crime. No 1592 or 1597 should have hauled your train, 'cos they are still styling in gulf red and yellow stripes.
Ma: That was really ugly. I prefer the orange.
Me:.............................
Anyway, a wonderful opportunity was given and grabbed.
Gareth, the train manager, went out of his way. It cost Rovos Rail 1 Amstel to make a permanent fan.
Tomorrow, I will write a letter to Mr. Rohann Vos, telling him how cool the manager was, on this trip, and thanking him.
-
Kevin Wilson-Smith
Re: Rovos Rail Psychotically rocks !!
Fidel - excellent story!
Hats off to Rovos for excellent customer service - and yes it is a wonderful train!!!!
Hats off to Rovos for excellent customer service - and yes it is a wonderful train!!!!
-
John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
- Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Contact:
Re: Rovos Rail Psychotically rocks !!
I've never travelled on it but, like most FOTR firemen, I have often fired for Rovos and on one occasion I was invited to walk through the train to see what it looks like inside. Magnificent.
