Ceres Rail Company

About Ceres Rail Company

Ceres is an exquisite valley in the heart of the Western Cape's farmlands. Sprawling fruit orchards rise to meet the towering mountains of the Boland, graced by the clear sunshine of South Africa and tickled by the refreshing breeze of the countryside. There are a number of ways to explore the loveliness of Ceres, but none quite as special as the locomotives of the Ceres Rail Company.

This company has a history that spans more than a century, and promises visitors a unique experience of the beautiful surrounds. These locomotive trips are conducted between the Ceres Golf Estate and Wolseley, where the lush green of the countryside is rivalled only by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity afforded by the authentic locomotives.

The vistas include breath-taking views of the valley from the elevated Michell's Pass, which is also known for its incredible rock formations. During the winter months (June to August), the pass is often blanketed by stark snow, which makes it even more magical to explore. This is an especially stunning experience for keen bird-watchers, as there is such an abundance of species to be seen along the scenic route.

There are three locomotives that make up the Ceres Rail Company team. These are

1. Jessica - a Class 19D locomotive that was manufactured in the United Kingdom in 1948. This train has a 4-8-2 mountain-type wheel arrangement and a Watson standard boiler.
2. Bailey - this German train dates back to 1930 and is extremely similar to the Class 19 locomotives. It has the same wheel arrangement and boiler as Jessica.
3. Red Devil - this Class 26 locomotive has a 4-8-4 northern-type wheel arrangement, and was rebuilt in 1979 from a Class 25NC.

The Ceres Railway track's construction began in 1910 and was finished in 1912, and only second-hand materials were used for it, making it quite intriguing.

Ceres is known for its delicious peaches, apples, cherries, pears, apricots and nectarines. This region also shows off the indigenous fynbos that is not only loved for being so different from any other kind of vegetation, but also for its unrivalled beauty. Ceres is 150 kilometres from the Mother City of Cape Town, which is a drive of around 90 minutes.