Friends of the Rail

Our Own Private Station

Our public trains depart from our own private Hermanstad Station. Very safe and secure, we provide free on-site parking.

To get directions please click here...

Rent-a-train

You can rent a private coach or charter your own special train for a special occasion (party, wedding, celebration, etc) or for a corporate function (launch, workshop, etc).

For more information please click here...

Great for kids!

When last did you and your kids take a ride on a train, let alone on a steam train? We offer a unique, fun day's outing for the whole family that's educational too!

Travel back in time around Pretoria

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Welcome aboard Friends of the Rail

You've boarded one of our 60-year-old railway coaches at our private Hermanstad Station and settled into your seat, knowing that your car is safe and being looked after by our staff. One of our vintage steam locomotives has chuffed-up and coupled onto the train. The guard has waved his flag, the loco whistle has blown and we're off!

You sit back and completely relax as the city slips effortlessly by, accompanied by the smells and sounds of the steam loco up-front. The coach wheels beneath rap gently over the rail joints -- clack-clack, clack-clack. You cannot help but enjoy train travel in the relaxed way it used to be. You sip hot coffee or cool refreshments from the on-board kiosk and answer your children's many excited questions. You do not have to keep your eyes on the road. You point out the many familiar sights: the Union Buildings, Loftus stadium, UNISA, Gautrain, the 1910 Pretoria station building, etc, all from a different angle. Before you know it, we are back at Hermanstad station and you didn't even have to drive. That wasn't simply train-travel that you've just experienced, that was time-travel as well! Indeed, with us you really do travel back in time. And...   you do not have to dream it!

On this website you will find details of various FOTR steam train excursions to Cullinan and our "Tshwane Xplorer" shorter trips around our beautiful capital city. Our trips are very popular. They fill up fast. Book now for a great day out that you, your children and your friends will remember for a long time to come. Come along with us and in so doing, help us to preserve South Africa's unique railway heritage.

About FOTR

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We are proud to be Tshwane-Pretoria and the nation's premier steam heritage railway club. We have been looking after our capital city's heritage steam locos and running steam train excursions for  25 years and hope to continue well past another 25. Your support is vital and appreciated. As a non-profit recreational club run by volunteers, we rely almost entirely on the surplus revenue generated by our train trips to play our part in keeping the South Africa's proud and unique railway heritage alive and to continue to provide a "living musuem" for all our people to experience and enjoy now and into the future. We are preserving South Africa's railway heritage not just for our generation, but also for our children's generation and for their future children too!

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17th June 2012 - Cullinan

Category: Public train trips
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Treat your father to a special day out on our vintage train to Cullinan on Fathers' Day, Sunday 17th June 2012.

Click here for more informationClick here to book now

This Fathers' Day plan a special treat for Dad and the the kids on a nostalgic day trip on our vintage steam train to Cullinan. A steam train trip will be the ultimate childhood reward for all the hard-working dads out there! Relive the romance of old-time railway travel and experience a fabulous day out in the historic diamond village of Cullinan. Take lunch at one of the several quaint cafe-restaurants in the avenues or "bring your own" and make use of the braai fires that we provide free.

Read more: 17th June 2012 - Cullinan

24th June 2012 - Tshwane Xplorer

Category: Public train trips
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Tshwane Xplorer, trip around Pretoria, Sunday 24th June 2012 (please note the rescheduled date - previously 17th June)

Click here to book now

Bring the family to our Hermanstad Station's Open Day, enjoy the activities and and then take a relaxed afternoon vintage steam train ride around the nation's capital city.

Come early (Depot opens at 10:00) because there will be lots to see and do at the depot long before the train departs at 13:30.

Book now, this train will be popular and will sell out quickly!

Braai fires will be available at the FOTR Hermanstad station.

Read more: 24th June 2012 - Tshwane Xplorer

2nd September 2012 - Cullinan

Category: Public train trips
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It's spring time and to celebrate we go back to Cullinan on Sunday 2nd September 2012.

Click here for more informationClick here to book now

Winter is over and what better way to celebrate the warmer d ays that to take our vintage steam train trip to Cullinan. Relive the romance of old-time railway travel and experience a fabulous day out in the historic diamond village of Cullinan. Take lunch at one of the several quaint cafe-restaurants in the avenues or "bring your own" and make use of the braai fires that we provide free.

Read more: 2nd September 2012 - Cullinan

Charter your own train

Did you know that you or your company can charter your own private steam train? Rent-a-train from FOTR for your staff incentive, product launch, birthday, wedding or just because you can!

Click here to learn more.

School visits welcome

As part of our educational brief, we welcome visits by groups of school children of all ages. We will show them how trains were and can even arrange train rides.

Click here for more information on what we can do for schools.

Hermanstad station shop

Before departure, browse our railway station shop. We have railway books, magazines (new and old) and other railway artifacts on sale. Tea, coffee, cold drinks and "lekkers" also on sale.

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