old Houwhoek pass

[droffarc]

This lovely, old (and very well designed) pass, which is also known as the Railway Pass, is unfortunately only suitable for 4WD vehicles with good ground clearance. There were a total of four passes built down the mountainside since the 1700's. This was the third road towards the Overberg and was constructed in 1904 to compliment the railway line. The line chosen was very cleverly done allowing for a major climb to take place at very comfortable gradients. The old pass is in a pictureque setting as it follows the course of the Jakkals River, which is a tributary of the Bot River. The Jakkalsrivier shares the narrow ravine with the road and the railway line. Sections of the pass falls within or close to, the Houw Hoek Nature Reserve.

 

[Chrisl]

How often does a train still use that route?

 

[droffarc]

How often does a train still use that route?

Cannot say I have ever seen a train on this track but judging from the rust on the rails I would say um? We still have trains?

 

[Crankshaft]

In the video the dirt road doesn't look to bad... What's the condition like further down towards Botrivier?

 

[teebag]

Depends on the time of year, rocky and rutted with standing water in winter; loose and sandy in summer.

Just so you don't get a surprise, it kinda exits into a township, and the bottom end has got more litter and rubble towards the end over the years (the stretch between the pigs and the graveyard)

 

[droffarc]

 

[Deon]

The trains carrying grains still runs there. I can hear them whistle when they go over the level crossing in Sir Lowrys Pass village. There was a train going past only yesterday.

 

[droffarc]

The trains carrying grains still runs there. I can hear them whistle when they go over the level crossing in Sir Lowrys Pass village. There was a train going past only yesterday.

Interesting, thanks Deon.
So these are grain trains, when does the Gravy train go past? I wanna hijack it!

 

[Deon]

Another train this morning. Gravy trains are nor ment for bikers. All the money in the world can't buy the fun we have.

 

[droffarc]

Another train this morning. Gravy trains are nor ment for bikers. All the money in the world can't buy the fun we have.

You know the saying: "Dis die lekerrrr sous!"