Rovos Rail derailment - 23rd November 2007

[John Ashworth]

Rovos Rail reportedly suffered a derailment of one or two vehicles whilst their train was being hauled into their depot by a pair of TFR diesels at around 2300 on 23rd November 2007. The derailment took place inside their depot, but at 0600 this morning unaffected vehicles were still blocking the access road to the FOTR site and the exit line for FOTR trains. Rovos Rail informed FOTR that a shunt car has been called to move these vehicles. In the meantime FOTR passengers have been told to park their cars in the Rovos Rail car park and also outside the main gate, as they can't get into the FOTR car park. Adrian, Joseph and Lucas will provide security for these parked cars during the day. FOTR crew on the spot hope that the shunt car will clear the exit line in time for FOTR's departure at 0830 - we have a full train of 400 passengers, many of them children, and Santa Claus is on the train.

[John Ashworth]

FOTR staff at Capital Park report that the exit line was cleared and the FOTR train departed more or less on time. Some FOTR passengers parked in the Rovos Rail car park at the front, others were able to follow a rather convoluted route through the back of the Rovos Rail depot into FOTR's site.

Apparently a Rovos Rail dining car derailed when the train split a set of points. The vehicles did not overturn and is being reralied.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

The points split under the rtrain as it was returning by diesel from a dinner run. No serious injuries as I was told, just shaken and bruised. The gates were destroyed, a lamp pole flattened and it looks like a semaphore signal frame has been pushed over! The breakdown crews were rerailing until late in the afternoon, but were gone by the time our train returned and Rovos was ready for the next dinner run.

Point to be made, when pushing back into the site, TSO must get off train and walk alongside untill train has stopped.

[Steve Appleton]

Pics taken at the scene on arrival at about 0630.

[John Ashworth]

Interesting pictures - thanks!

[Nathan Berelowitz]

a nice exclusive scoop Steve. Well done and above all for the cool way in handling the FOTR train for the day!