South African vintage Rovos train in runaway desaster.

Run_to_da_hills

A restored vintage train carrying tourists on a luxury rail safari derailed in South Africa when it ran away while its electric locomotive was being changed for a steam locomotive at Centurion station near Pretoria. Two employese were killed including a pregnant woman. .

Rail officials told passengers and crew to jump from the runaway carriages after the brakes failed. :eek:

Considered to be one of the most luxurious classic railways in the world with a dress code required before boarding .

http://www.rovos.com/rovos-gallery.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8635303.stm

Not the first desaster to hit Rovos, in 2008 12 vintage coaches were destroyed by fire at a depot in Pretoria,

http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za/Picture_Gallery_Rovos.php

paulm17781

Wow! Maybe, old trains shouldn't be run these days.

Jim Martin

Sounds like they had allowed the brakes to leak off & hadn't scotched the wheels or applied any/sufficient handbrakes while changing locos. This is all basic railway safety stuff! Unless there was some defect with the brakes?

Run_to_da_hills

Surely there would been a brake van with one of those wheel operated emergency brakes.

Couldn't have had worse timing with the world cup in two months, I would have imagined they would have been booked out coming up / after this period. They only have one set of caaiages out of the three they had before the fire in 2008.

DWCommuter

From the beeb. With Video.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8637093.stm

Judgement Day

Accidents happen but rail is still by far the safest way to travel. Having witnessed at first hand a single 60ft carriage run away, it is a frightening experience as a critical, unstoppable, momentum is reached within yards whereas with instant intervention using something as simple a piece of wood or ballast can stop a disaster.