Fresh air, the crunch of a croissant being ripped apart, wafts of freshly brewed coffee and … a thundering whistle from a train? Only at the iconic Elgin Railway Market. You guessed it: it’s in Elgin.It’s housed in an old apple warehouse that’s been converted into a bustling steampunk, art deco market – crammed with local food and craft vendors, and there’s live music.
The tapered concrete columns and curved box gutters bear testimony to the skill of those bygone craftsmen. It has been extensively renovated into a showpiece well worth a visit.The Ceres Rail company, with its stable of 80-year-old steam trains, operates a Cape Town to Elgin weekend return trip. Think 160 kilometres of blissful scenery. The trains depart on Saturday and Sunday mornings from Cape Town’s Harbour Bridge Platform, close to the Cape Town International Convention Centre.