Wilderness, Knysna, Outdshoorn |
Rob & Karen |
February 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Movie 1 of the Knysna Chootjoe (right-click and download)
External Link: Official site of the Knysna Chootjoe
The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe is the only steam-hauled scheduled passenger train operating in Southern Africa, and runs 6 days a week. The Choo-Tjoe runs a 3 hour journey over 67km from George, via Victoria Bay, Wilderness, Sedgefield and Goukamma to Knysna in the heart of the Garden Route lake district.
The railway line between George and Knysna was opened to traffic in 1928. The George-Knysna line was declared a preserved railway in 1992 and officially handed over to the Transnet Heritage Foundation in 1993. At that time there was only a daily return trip from George to Knysna with an average of 40 000 passengers per year. Today approximately 115 000 passengers travel the line annually of whom 70% are foreign tourists.
The trains are usually pulled by Class 24 steam locomotives, of 2-8-4 wheel arrangement with Vanderbilt-like "torpedo" tenders, although the task is occasionally handled by 19D steam engines. When dry conditions in the summer increase the risk of wildfires, diesel locomotives are used instead