Comments on: Considering The Choo Tjoe

By: Michael James

Michael James — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:06:56 +0000

Dear Martin
I am surprised that you have not received more comments from other steam loonies like myself.I grew up close to the the old Great Western Railway Mainline to the west of England and every spare moment of my youthfull life was spent track side admiring the beauty and power of the great Castle and King Class locomotives of the day - a train spotter in the purest sense!
Contrary to your comment about the limited work being done to preserve the steam heritage of South Africa I am pleased to refer you to Reef Steamers website http://www.reefsteamers.co.za/
And also to Friends of the Rail
http://www.friendsoftherail.com/
You will find many other links on the Reef Steamers website including a group of enthusiasts in the Southern Cape.
In spite of all of this devotion I cannot help but agree that the apathy and mismanagement at Transnet will eventually lead to the demise of steam in South Africa as inevitably as Dr Beeching’s actions did in the U.K.
I can however take heart from the fact that, nearly 50 years on, the U.K. has a flourishing Steam preservation movement with dozens of preserved railways operating on a regular basis, many of them on lines similar to the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe
Best Regards
Michael

By: Sylvia Wright

Sylvia Wright — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:53:09 +0000

My experience with steam trains is very personal. When I a little girl, my father worked for South African Railways on the steam engines. He used to always want to tell his experiences while working on the train engines, however, we were not too interested. Anyhow, he loved his work and I think because of him and all his co-workers, steam engines live in our romantic past. I hope the Tjoe choo can be saved, my guests at my guest house, loved their steam engine ride on our beautiful coast line.

By: Pippa Haarhoff

Pippa Haarhoff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:52:59 +0000

We at the Fossil Park are interested in this debate as we also have a railway station in the Park which is totally underutilised.
Martin’s comments re going by train from George to Oudtshoorn etc could just as well be applied to this area.
I do think we need to promote train travel - in the most green way possible.
(Pippa Haarhoff)

By: Wayne Nel

Wayne Nel — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:37:06 +0000

Steam trains throughout the world attracts millions of visitors anually. The Choo-tjoe has been one of the main attractions and icons of this region for years. I honestly think we should address this issue with people with some clout - other than transnet who obviously have no interest in promoting tourism. Helen Zille is very pro the Choo-tjoe - maybe have a petition drawn up, signed and present it to her. She has just put her stamp of approval on the Destiny Africa development outside of George for 28 billion rand … she definately has an interest in the area …..