Please click on the images to see a larger image and a brief description.

 

Introduction:

Rovos Rail is a specialty Train Operating Company (TOC) located at the former South African Railways diesel and steam traction shed.

Rovos has a very good website that can be reached at:  www.rovos.com

The Rovos web site also has a page that lists the Rovos steam locomotive inventory, complete with a short history of each locomotive. The web page can be reached at:  www.rovos.co.za/train/

My visit to the Rovos site was not planned, and therefore I did not really have my act together with respect to coming and goings of the steam traction. Two 19D's had departed earlier as a light engine move toward the west. The 19D hauled passenger train was due in later the same day.

Having missed the 19D light engine move, as I was up in the Spoornet electric loco shed, I asked permission of Rovos Rail if I could walk the property and photo the arriving passenger train.

With Marlene Sturgeon acting as my safety guide, I was able to gather a few images of the rolling stock and the arriving passenger train.

Note, the images are presented in order of subject and not by time or day taken.

Rovos Rail Shield This is an image of the Rovos Rail shield.

Capital Park Steam & Diesel Loco Shed Rail Entrance These images show what the entrance to the former diesel and steam shed looks now. The road going off to the left, shown in the first image, heads toward the coaling stage and the Friends Of The Rail (FOTR) facility.

Rovos Rail Yard When I was last at this shed in 1997, the place was just waiting for the end. Now, the entire shed property has been cleaned up and the former offices converted into a railway station. What an incredible improvement. The three images shown here are looking eastward from the Rovos Rail entrance toward the shed.

Station Platform and Clock Tower The majority of civil structures of the Rovos Rail are rebuilt or converted ex-SAR buildings. However, the station platform and the clock tower are new structures. The following six images show the former SAR water tanks, watering pipes, revamped buildings, the new clock tower, and the two large silver coloured, and now empty, diesel fuel storage tanks.

North-West Side of Shed Water Tank and Trackage The Capital Park Diesel and Steam water tank still stands, and is in service. This portion of the shed was used during the 1980's as the steam loco cut-up location. Good to see it all cleaned up and looking rather smart.

Rovos Train Arriving 19D's 2701 and 2702 hauling in the Rovos Rail passenger train.

19D-2702, BIANCA The following images show Bianca having pulled the passenger train in from the station to inside the shed for train cleaning and replenishment.

19D-2701, BRENDA & 2702, BIANCA These images show Brenda and Bianca in the shed with the fires banked.

19D-3360, SHAUN 19D, Shaun, was not fired but was located two roads over (west) from Brenda.

Class 6-439, TIFFANY Tiffany is an operating loco, however during my visit some hydrostatic work was being performed. Notice the steam dome cover is off.

25NC-3484, MARJORIE Marjorie is an oil burning 25NC. Marjorie is stored on the old mobile crane track. This is a difficult location to photograph as the sunlight is partially blocked by the shed roof.

Yard Critter Rovos Rail has a home made shunter. The critter is shown here performing the duties of moving the train replenishment wagons to the staging locations.

Page Revision History: 2004-Oct-23, Rev.00: Initial release. 2004-Oct-30, Rev.01:Images cd_0016_P4240 946/955/959/966/970/986 added.