WELCOME TO
CERES RAIL COMPANY

All aboard!

If you are looking for something different to do with family, friends or even on your own, why not take a step back into a bygone era by taking a trip with Ceres Rail Company.

Ceres Rail Company provides a unique and one-of-a-kind experience on a refurbished vintage steam locomotive as it travels back into history. Although situated in a beautiful country, it really comes alive when sitting in this steam powered train as you overlook the ever-changing scenery.

Trains have a certain inextricable mystique – no wonder they’re often the setting for romantic rendezvous, murder mysteries and elaborate heists. Perhaps it’s the unstoppable forward momentum; the intimacy of the enclosed space or the sense of adventure and anticipation.

WHAT’S UP ON OUR INSTAGRAM

Ceres Rail Company Coaches on the way to Demeter (

Ceres Rail Company Coaches on the way to Demeter (Ceres) , for servicing and maintenance. Train Manager Jaques du Plooy on board .

Photo Credit ; Colin Brown

Life is like a journey on a train, with its statio

Life is like a journey on a train, with its stations, with changes .

On our way to Elgin , outside Kuilsrivier.

A lesser seen view of a steam locomotive. This is

A lesser seen view of a steam locomotive. This is a view inside the boiler of our GMAM Garratt 4135. Considering that she has been standing for 20 years, she looks pretty great!

If you saw this photo without a caption, what would you think it was?
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#ceresrailcompany #aphoenixarises #steamsouthafrica #lovecapetown
#rails #steamtrain #capetownliving #travelsouthafrica #exploresouthafrica
#traintravel #railroadphotography #heritagerailway #railtravel #seecapetown #travelcapetown #southafricanrailways #caperailcompany

An iconic steam locomotive will soon move from the

An iconic steam locomotive will soon move from the repair yard to tracks running through the scenic countryside.

GMAM Garratt 4135, a truly magnificent piece of engineering, was saved from the scrap heap in 2019 through the efforts of Mr. Trevor Heath.

Work has started on getting her ready for service. CRC is committed to preserving the rich railway heritage of South Africa and we support the individuals and organisations intent on saving machines like these from a sad fate.

This locomotive was built by North British Locomotive in 1958 and was one of the final GMAM Garratts delivered to the South African Railways. It operated over the mountain passes of South Africa from 1958 to 1980, after which it was loaned to Zimbabwe for a short while. 4135 was then sold to Randfontein Estates Gold Mines and branded REGM Number R14 and later R4.

When steam operations at REGM were phased out in the early 1990s, 4135 was saved by a generous overseas benefactor committed to the preservation of steam heritage. CRC supported the process of saving 4135 by concluding the financial aspects of the deal.

GMAM Garratt 4135 is intended to see service on the Caledon branch line, with specific focus on the steep Sir Lowry's Pass.
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#ceresrailcompany #aphoenixarises #steamsouthafrica #lovecapetown
#rails #steamtrain #capetownliving #travelsouthafrica #exploresouthafrica
#traintravel #railroadphotography #heritagerailway #railtravel #seecapetown #travelcapetown #southafricanrailways #caperailcompany

Taking a journey with us, back to a simpler time,

Taking a journey with us, back to a simpler time, opens a window to a world often lost in the chaos of everyday life.

Tag a friend who would sit with you silently and just marvel at the scenery passing by.
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#ceresrailcompany #aphoenixarises #steamsouthafrica #lovecapetown
#rails #steamtrain #capetownliving #travelsouthafrica #exploresouthafrica
#traintravel #railroadphotography #heritagerailway #railtravel #seecapetown #travelcapetown #southafricanrailways #caperailcompany

Even when hope seems lost, and the last ember has

Even when hope seems lost, and the last ember has turned to ash, still the iron beast stands proud... majestic... a memory contained within herself, yearning for a fire to stir in her core once again.

What memories of steam/rail/trains do you have? Tag your memory with #sasteammemories to be featured in our story.
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Photo credit: the ever lovely @l3abotha
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#ceresrailcompany #aphoenixarises #steamsouthafrica #lovecapetown
#rails #steamtrain #capetownliving #travelsouthafrica #exploresouthafrica
#traintravel #railroadphotography #heritagerailway #railtravel #seecapetown #travelcapetown #southafricanrailways #caperailcompany

The clarity with which the vintage can be distingu

The clarity with which the vintage can be distinguished from the unloved is captured in this striking contrast of one of our 19D locomotives and the bridge over which it traverses.

What does this picture represent to you?
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#ceresrailcompany #aphoenixarises #steamsouthafrica #lovecapetown
#rails #steamtrain #capetownliving #travelsouthafrica #exploresouthafrica
#traintravel #railroadphotography #heritagerailway #railtravel #seecapetown #travelcapetown #southafricanrailways #caperailcompany

Mowers Bank, close to Robertson, is always a chall

Mowers Bank, close to Robertson, is always a challenge, even for this powerful combination of ex-South African Railways locomotives 19B #1412 and 19D #3321.
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#ceresrailcompany #aphoenixarises #steamsouthafrica #lovecapetown
#rails #steamtrain #capetownliving #travelsouthafrica #exploresouthafrica
#traintravel #railroadphotography #heritagerailway #railtravel #seecapetown #travelcapetown #southafricanrailways #caperailcompany

An early morning start as the mighty beast strains

An early morning start as the mighty beast strains forth, the sweat evaporating from its brow in a volcanic cloud. The morning has awoken with a sound long forgotten, stirring nostalgia with every beat.

#ceresrailcompany #phoenixrising #sasteam #toms_week

Photo Credit : Peter Rogers

What has been, Will be again What once was, Will b

What has been, Will be again
What once was, Will be restored
The silenced beat will echo again,
The thunderous wheels will roar.

A legend is reborn.

*Tag a friend you would love to share a journey with*

#ceresrailcompany #sasteam #phoenixrising

"When a silhouette or shape is as beautiful as it

"When a silhouette or shape is as beautiful as it is functional and relevant, that's true luxury." - Reed Krakoff

Pictured: Our Class 19B #1412 "Bailey" poses for a silhouette whilst having her fire cleaned before the trek up Sir Lowrys Pass.

#sasteam #ceresrailcompany #railtourism

“Out of intense complexities, intense simpliciti

“Out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge.” - Winston Churchill

When you focus on the beauty being saved, the background fades to a blur.

Pictured: An oil-burning SAR Class 19D, #3321, racing smoothly along with driver Cassie Carstens in firm control.

(Photo credit: Peter Rogers)

BOOK A TICKET

DID YOU KNOW

1992

Official end of Operational Steam Working in South Africa

2015

CRC’s First Freight Train

2016

CRC’s First Steam drawn passenger train

2018

Restoration of South African Railways Class 26 “The Red Devil”

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Escape the rush of the modern day life, let off some steam and hop on to our train for a trip back into history on extraordinary steam locomotives.

ULTIMATE POWER

HISTORICAL TRAVELS

ONBOARD REFRESHMENTS

CREW

AFFORDABLE RATES

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CONTACT US

We look forward to hearing from you. Please get in touch.

General Enquiries & Bookings
bookings@ceresrail.co.za

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