On 17 October we had the opportunity to go on a Steam Train depo tour at Reef Steamers. We also got the opportunity to go on a short ride on one of the trains. It was an awesome experience. Noo, Steven and Koko each got the opportunity to go into the engine compartment of the steam train once we had all disembarked.

Once we were finished with the short ride, the weather suddenly took a turn for the worst while we were taken through the workshop where they are in the process of rebuilding and servicing 5 steam engines. They gave us a full run down on how the engines work and what they were doing to each engine.

Koko was in 7th Heaven, he is train crazy and this just made his year. Noo learned so much about trains and thoroughly enjoyed himself and even made a new friend who he spent most of the day with. The boys were both full of soot and were filthy by the time we left to go home and were in bed asleep by 7 that night.

Here we are all waiting at the “station house” for the train ride.

The boys “riding” a signal

The train we went on. You can see by this pic how the weather turned.

Removing the hot coals from the train

Noo in one of the engine compartments of a train being rebuilt

Some of the trains being rebuilt and serviced

The biggest spanner I have ever seen, and this is one of the small ones

We have decided that we’ll be taking of of their day trips to the Magaliesburg soon.