Rovos Rail is a private railway company operating out of Capital Park Station in

Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends ...

, South Africa. Rovos Rail runs its train-hotel to a regular schedule on various routes throughout Southern Africa, from South Africa to Namibia and Tanzania. The trains consist of restored Rhodesia Railways (NRZ) coaches with two lounges, two restaurant cars, and private sleeping compartments, each with private ensuite facilities. The train has three types of accommodation on board, the smallest being a Pullman, at 76 square feet; the largest being the Royal Suite, which is half a train car, and 172 square feet. All types of cabins have ensuite shower, sink, and toilet. The Royal Suite also has a Victorian-style bathtub. The company was started in 1989 by Rohan Vos and is still family owned. Rovos Rail employs a staff of 210, from the on-board staff to those working to restore carriages in the company's Capital Park depot.

Routes

Rovos Rail on TAZARA track across Mpanga River

Rovos Rail operates the following routes: *

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

or vice versa * Pretoria to

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

or vice versa * Pretoria to

Victoria Falls Victoria Falls ( Lozi: ''Mosi-oa-Tunya'', "The Smoke That Thunders"; Tonga: ''Shungu Namutitima'', "Boiling Water") is a waterfall on the Zambezi River in southern Africa, which provides habitat for several unique species of plants and animal ...

or vice versa * Cape Town to

Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam (; from ar, دَار السَّلَام, Dâr es-Selâm, lit=Abode of Peace) or commonly known as Dar, is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania. It is also the capital of Dar es Salaam Region. With a population of over s ...

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

and vice versa * Pretoria to

Walvis Bay, Namibia Walvis Bay ( en, lit. Whale Bay; af, Walvisbaai; ger, Walfischbucht or Walfischbai) is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies. It is the second largest city in Namibia and the largest coastal city in the country. The c ...

or vice versa * Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to

Lobito Lobito is a Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Angola. It is located in Benguela Province, on the Atlantic Coast north of the Catumbela Estuary. The Lobito municipality had a population of 393,079 in 2014. History The city was founded in ...

Angola , national_anthem = " Angola Avante"() , image_map = , map_caption = , capital = Luanda , religion = , religion_year = 2020 , religion_ref = , coordina ...

or vice versa as well as golf safaris and private train charters. Every two years Rovos Rail runs a Cape to Cairo route (using private chartered aircraft and lake cruiser for parts of the journey). This was offered for the first time in 2008.

Steam locomotives

Rovos Rail owns 7

steam locomotives A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, oil or, rarely, wood) to heat water in the locomot ...

purchased between 1987 and 2007. The oldest steam locomotive was built by Dübs & Company in Glasgow in 1893. It is a Class 6 locomotive which Rovos Rail named 439 ''Tiffany'' (after the youngest daughter of Rohan Vos). The remaining locomotives are Class 19Ds and Class 25NCs built by Borsig Lokomotiv Werke,

Henschel & Son Henschel & Son (german: Henschel und Sohn) was a German company, located in Kassel, best known during the 20th century as a maker of transportation equipment, including locomotives, trucks, buses and trolleybuses, and armoured fighting vehic ...

and

North British Locomotive Company The North British Locomotive Company (NBL, NB Loco or North British) was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp, Stewart and Company (Atlas Works), Neilson, Reid and Company (Hyde Park Wor ...

. 2701 ''Brenda'', 2702 ''Bianca'' and 3360 ''Shaun'', named after the other three children, are Class 19D locomotives built during the 1930s. All three were saved from scrap metal dealers and, after extensive restoration, were put back into service in 1989. Locomotive 3484 ''Marjorie'' – named after Rohan’s mother – is a Class 25NC locomotive built in 1954 by North British in Glasgow. Due to the difficulties in running steam over long distances the decision was made to convert this locomotive from a coal to a more efficient oil-fired engine. A further two Class 25NC locomotives have been restored and added to the fleet: 3442 ''Anthea'', built in 1953 by

of Germany, is named after Rohan’s wife; 3533 ''King Zog'' is named after Rohan’s late Dalmatian.

Derailment

A Rovos Rail train derailed on 21 April 2010 near Pretoria. Three people were killed and several passengers were injured. The owner of Rovos Rail said that the train’s nineteen carriages were uncoupled from the locomotive during a changeover at Centurion Station when they freewheeled out of control, crashing back at Pretoria station. Approximately half of the 55 passengers were on board along with some of the thirty staff.

Gallery

Rovos Rail Dining Car.jpg, Dining Car Rovos Rail Deluxe Suite.jpg, Deluxe Suite Rovos Rail observation car type A-28 twin diner. (8668378643).jpg, Observation car Class 5E1 E1030 IDR.JPG, Number plate

References

External links