Re: Another Narrow Gauge Question

Rails are all in place, but the line is abandoned. The Eastern Cape secondary mainline from Capetown to Port Elizabeth was abandoned earlier this year, so the fate of the steam locomotive collection at Mossel Bay is very much in doubt. This was the territory that the "Union Limited" steam hauled tourist trains operated over until budget cutbacks ended that several years ago. When the George to Knysna steam tourist line washed out around the same time, that was one more nail in the coffin of steam in South Africa.

At this point, Transnet, who used to own about 100 preserved steam engines, do not have any operational steam engines left and in fact have scrapped quite a few of them. The only working maine line steam locos now belong to steam clubs and RoVos Rail in Jo'burg, Pretioria and Port Elizabeth.

Michael Allen