The Apple Express (2001) FRA 02
For over a century, the city of Port Elizabeth on South Africa's East coast has been a major harbour and holiday destination.
But what many people don't know is that it is also the terminus of an intriguing narrow gauge railway, and home to a long-lived tradition of steam.
The historic 2-foot narrow gauge Avontuur Line runs from Port Elizabeth to Avontuur, some 300 kilometres inland, making this the longest surviving narrow gauge railway in the world. The name "Apple Express" refers to the steam passenger trains that have been running on these rails since the 1960's, as well as from the harvest of fruit for export that comes from the lush valleys surrounding the line.
The agricultural traffic that made the Avontuur Railway so crucially important to the rural economy of the area a century ago, has dwindled to almost nothing today, and special initiatives are needed just to keep the line open. In what is slowly becoming a tourist draw card, promoted as The Port Elizabeth Apple Express, the railway now offers a romantic journey behind steam through an area rich in atmosphere, history and natural beauty.
This DVD is a must for any lover of narrow gauge railways - of their special charm, their distinctive engineering, and their habit of nosing their way into the remotest of places. "The Apple Express" will give you an in-depth look at the past, present and future of a remarkable railway and the delightful little steam locomotives that are the heroes of its story.
DURATION 58 min.