Off the Shelf

By Charlie Lewis & David Payling, (hardback; Ffestiniog Railway Co; www.festrail.co.uk/shop; 01766 516022; 265pp; £37.50; ISBN 9780901848253).

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INTEREST in the South African narrow gauge railway system has never been higher, especially with several of the locomotives featured in this interesting book now forming part of the fleets at both the Welsh Highland and Brecon Mountain railways.

While stock and track material from several South African narrow gauge lines are enjoying a second life on a host of British heritage railways, this publication focuses on a network which was, until the early years of the present century, one of the world's longest and busiest 2ft gauge railways.

West out of Port Elizabeth, the railway meandered for 177 miles to the tiny hamlet of Avontuur – Afrikaans for ‘Adventure', hence the title of this book. For more than 100 years, it served the fruit-growing region known as the Langkloof. Closer to Port Elizabeth, an important branch to Patensie tapped the fertile vegetable lands and citrus groves of the Gamtoos valley.

During the 1920s, quarries were established near Patensie by the Eastern Province Cement Company and limestone was hauled by rail to Chelsea siding, where a 12-mile private line ran to the cement factory at New Brighton. This was essential business as it provided the railway's base traffic for more than 70 years.

Following a conventional chronological order, the book tells the railway's fascinating and compelling story, particularly the political shenanigans which plagued its turbulent latter years. These are recounted from the first-hand experience of one of the authors, Charlie Lewis, who was the regional engineer responsible for the line from 1981 to 1986.

Steam versus diesel

The operation of passenger excursions running as the ‘Apple Express' is covered, along with the introduction of new wagons to carry palletised produce to save manual handling and modern wagons to carry limestone traffic more efficiently.

Other investment included upgrading the main line to a heavier axle loading and the introduction of 20 Class 91 diesels in 1973. Steam aficionados may take comfort from the fact that the saying among the fitters was that with a steam locomotive it took five minutes to find the fault and all day to repair it, whereas with diesels it took all day to diagnose the problem and five minutes to fix it.

Presented in a large format and high-quality style, the text, which is enjoyable to read, is complemented by a wide selection of photographs with informative captions, many previously unpublished and the majority in colour which the authors believe will form the definitive record of the railway in its latter years. The images serve as a poignant reminder of a bygone age, and the impressive capabilities of a narrow gauge line using both steam and diesel traction in wonderful scenery, providing a vital transport artery for many years.

A table of the current status and whereabouts of the NG15 and Class 91 locomotives as of April 2020, along with a route map and gradient chart, can be found at the rear.

The book is dedicated to the memory of David Payling, a long-time supporter of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways and author of the best-selling Garratts and Kalaharis and of Fairlie Locomotives of North Wales, who sadly passed away early in 2020 after a long illness. David arranged for The Railway To Adventure to be published by the Ff&WHR in the same high-quality style as his own books.

This book was hard to put down – even for those of us who have never been fortunate to see narrow gauge in action in South Africa ourselves. It comes highly recommended! WORTH EVERY PENNY