- check Shosholoza Meyl website
- site is down
- call Shosholoza call centre
- hold 20 minutes
- book 5 x 1 way tickets in sleeper car and get reference number
- discover only way to pay is at a station
- go to Vereeniging and Sasolberg stations to find they no longer handle tickets for Shosholoza Meyl
- call Shosholoza call centre
- hold 20 minutes
- extend booking reference payment deadline
- go to Witbank station
- find security guards in old lost and found office using 2 plate stove as heater
- wake up booking office attendant who is sleeping in sleeper car of broken down shosholoza train standing in station
- wait in dilapidated station while Steven, the booking officer, opens up
- be surprised by computer, modem, printer and telephone in working order
- pay cash for 5 x tickets
- discover by chatting to Steven that you will be able to pre-book motorbikes onto train after all
- chat to gangsters who arrived in tricked out car wearing shiny tracksuits and caps on backwards while Steven calls guy in charge of baggage at Joburg Station
- sit in locked car outside station counting out R4000 in cash to pay for bikes
- wonder if said cash will ever be reconciled with tickets issued centrally
- arrive at Joburg station at least 2 hours early on day of departure to load bikes
- leave on time 2.20pm!
- dining car not operational
- drink bar dry
- sleep
- get off train in Queenstown and ride motorbikes back to Joburg
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