Valentine's Diamond Express To Rayton and Cullinan 

REGRET: FULLY BOOKED!
Next train to Cullinan is March 7th

Spoil your special Valentine with a step back in time! Take our vintage steam train to the quaint, historic diamond village of Cullinan. Spoil your partner with a lunch al-fresco at one of the several restaurants under the oak trees. There are a number of other touristy things to do or just relax in the village.

Optionally, you may arrange to visit one of the venues nearby like Willem Prinsloo Farm Museum (these must be booked through FOTR in advance, transport to/from the station will be arranged).

We leave from our own private Hermanstad station at 08:30 and will be back there at about 17:00.

Contact Billy or Arno on 012-548-4090 for more details and advice on how to make this day ROMANTIC, SPECIAL and FUN. 

"Morris Minor Train Run To CULLINAN, Sunday, 7th March 2010 

The Morris Minor Owners' Club joins FOTR's vintage steam train for their annual "Train Run".

The lovingly cared-for veteren Morris Minors will be on display alongside FOTR's vintage steam train at our depot prior to both departing on the run to Cullinan.

Join us on the train journey behind steam through to the historic Cullinan Village. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant under the oak trees in the old mining village where the world's largest diamond was found. Alternatively, bring your picnic basket along and braai with us (braai fires are provided free).

The return train departure is at 3:00 pm. You arrive back in our depot at about 5:00 pm, having enjoyed a great fun day out with the whole family and the old Morris Minors.

Please note that, due to limited table availability, you are advised to make advance bookings for many of the Culllinan restaurants and cafes. Click here or click the "more info" button for additional details.

Click here to visit the Morris Minor Owners' Club website.

"'Groot Gat' Festival Express To CULLINAN, Saturday, 20th March 2010 

Join us on the train journey to the Cullinan "Groot Gat" festival behind steam. This festival celebrates the biggest diamond mining hole (claimed to be three times the size of Kimberley's) ever dug in SA.

The Groot Gat Fees is hosted for the benefit of Cullinan Combined School.

Arts, antiques, cheese, wine and whiskey tasting. Food stalls, beer garden, mechanical bull, rock climbing, children’s entertainment. Walk for food, cycling and 4X4 challenge. Music, stage, gospel and rock shows!

Enjoy lunch at a restaurant under the oak trees in the old mining village where the world's largest diamond was found. Alternatively, bring your picnic basket along and braai with us (braai fires are provided free).

The return train departure is at 3:00 pm. You arrive back in our depot at about 5:00 pm, having enjoyed a great fun day out with Friends of the Rail.

Please note that, due to limited table availability, you are advised to make advance bookings for many of the Culllinan restaurants and cafes. Click here or click the "more info" button for additional details.

Image courtesy of Google Earth and Digital Globe.

"Easter Bunny's Diamond Express To CULLINAN, Monday, 5th April 2010 

Bring the kids and join the Easter Bunny on a vintage steam train journey to Cullinan or Rayton.

Enjoy lunch at a restaurant under the oak trees in the old mining village where the world's largest diamond was found. Otherwise, bring your picnic basket along and braai with us (braai fires are provided free).

Or, alternatively, spend the day at one of the fun venues that can be booked through FOTR, including the 'Willem Prinsloo' Agricultural Museum and Farm or the 'Garden View Resort' (advance booking through FOTR is required).

The return train departure is at 3:00 pm. You arrive back in our depot at about 5:00 pm, having enjoyed a great fun day out with Friends of the Rail.

Please note that, due to limited table availability, you are advised to make advance bookings for many of the Culllinan restaurants and cafes. Click here or click the "more info" button for additional details.

This year, 2010, is a big one with massive celebrations for Friends of the Rail, for South African Railways and for South Africa as a nation!

To start, this year Friends of the Rail will be celebrating 25 years of existance. That's right, folks we've been doing railway heritage things for 25 years! So, we will be planning some special things - more details later.

Even bigger, there is both a national and a railway centenary to celebrate! The union, the event that defined today's South African landscape took place on 31 May 1910. That makes the geographic nation that has evolved into today's democratic South Africa 100 years old.

In addition, the merger of the individual government railway and harbour companies in 1910, just after the formation of the Union of South Africa -- 100 years ago -- created the South African Railways and Harbours Administration whose successor, Transnet, now runs an approximately 20 000 km rail network employing some 25 000 people (source: Transnet website). 

And, 150 years of trains in South Africa. The first railway to run in South Africa, 3 kms in Durban, was opened on 18th June 1860 -- exactly 150 years ago -- railways in South Africa are a century and a half old this year! We have reason to ce;lebrate.

Join us on one of our fun and interesting public train trips. We are a living museum and it is one of our missions to bring the notstalgia back into your life! Click here to get our 2010 trip schedule.

If you would prefer us to keep you informed by email about our upcoming trains and specials, please click here to send us a schedule request.