Steam train rides a success

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - The Heritage Trips - six steam train rides - which took place on Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 September, were a success.

Rain and wind over the weekend did not hamper the rides.

PHOTO GALLERY: Heritage trips bring excitement

A restored locomotive, called Jenny, pulled five vintage wooden coaches.

The rides were organised by the Ekström family in Mossel Bay, who have a history, organising steam train trips in the Garden Route.

Most of the wind and rain in Mossel Bay took place on Sunday night, after the trips had taken place. There were three trips on Saturday and three on Sunday.

Sean Ekström said: "The rides went unbelievably smoothly. We were so fortu-nate. We were very thankful."

He said representatives from Ceres Rail rode on the train and one of the train drivers was from England. "They said it was one of the most well organised train rides they had seen. It was a huge compliment," Ekström said.

Although it rained during the trips, it did not bother people, he said. "The storm hit later, after we had unloaded everything off the train on Sunday evening," Ekström said.

A total of about 1 500 people rode on the train over the six trips.

The majority of the passengers were people visiting Mossel Bay for the long weekend, not locals. Monday was a public holiday because Heritage Day, 24 September, fell on Sunday.