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Headquarters of Rovos Rail
The gracious colonial-style railway station, Capital Park, just north of Pretoria, serves as an elegant departure and arrival stage for Rovos Rail journey. The once derelict locomotive yard is now a permanent base for the world’s most luxurious train. In 1939 Capital Park was chosen as the site for a new locomotive shed and marshalling yard. Completed in 1943, the yard in its heyday was extremely busy housing some 140 steam locomotives. Technology and time moved on and with the arrival of electric and diesel engines the steam locomotive sheds at Capital Park experienced a steady decline. In January 1998 Rovos Rail was successful in obtaining a long-term lease over Capital Park. The property has recently grown to 56 acres, has 15 lines totalling a distance of 7km, of which a hundred meter section is under roof, and has a coal stage with 40 loading chutes. All the rolling stock, consisting of 75 carriages and 6 locomotives, the administrative offices, stores and workshops are now based at Capital Park. The loco sheds are being rehabilitated and the loco department will take occupation in November 2006. The aim was not only to rebuild the site to a world beating standard, but also to transform it into a working railway museum.