Mossel Bay Tourism to celebrate train line centenary

Garden Route – History was made on 24 September 1907 with the opening of the railway line to the interior and the departure of the first train from Mossel Bay to George. This paved the way for the extension of the line to Oudtshoorn and Port Elizabeth and opened a rail connection to the rest of the country.

To celebrate the centenary of that important event, Mossel Bay Tourism, the Municipality of Mossel Bay, the management of the Dias Museum Complex and the Transnet Heritage Foundation are planning a festive program on Heritage Day, 24 September 2007. All residents of Mossel Bay and surrounding towns are invited to attend.

The programme will be presented on the grounds of the Dias Museum and at the newly-built Choo Tjoe station at the lower (Santos Beach) entrance to the Museum. The Dias Museum’s Heritage Day programme will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will include art and choir competitions and a variety of exhibitions, stalls and an exhibition of vintage motor vehicles.

The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe will, of course, form an important part of the celebrations: it will be hauled by a vintage steam locomotive and its passenger coaches are presently being renovated at Voorbaai workshops especially for the occasion. After a 10:00 o’clock departure from George it will draw into Great Brak River Station at 11.00 a.m., where it will be welcomed in old-fashioned carnival style before departing again with invited guests and a group of foreign visitors aboard at 11:13 to arrive in Mossel Bay at 12.00.

A second train – consisting of a historic balcony coach hauled by the Transnet Heritage Foundation’s oldest working steam locomotive – will arrive at Mossel Bay at 12.20 with a group of VIPs on board. The train will be met by the Mayor of Mossel Bay, Alderwoman Marie Ferreira – who is renowned for travelling in unusual modes of transport (she rode a motorcycle to the opening of the Buffalo Rally in April and on this occasion will arrive by horse-drawn coach.

After the completion of the customary welcoming ceremonies there will be time to sample traditional South African cuisine at various food stalls and to view the Dias Museum’s displays – including the famous Post Office Tree as well as a vintage motor vehicles exhibition.

The centenary train will depart for George at 14.00 and, in the custom of old railway around the world, the Mayor of Mossel Bay will present the driver with a traditional tablet as well as a goodwill message to be conveyed to the Mayor of George.

The organisers of the event are planning a special festive addition of the Mossel Bay Advertiser and would like to make contact with readers who can provide them with tales about the old railway or stories of days gone by. They would also like to make contact with ex-railwaymen [Transnetters or Spoories] as well as local residents who may have had a long association with the railway.

Entrance to the Dias Museum will be free on Heritage Day and all residents are cordially invited to attend the festivities. Limited seats are available for travel on the Choo Tjoe and prospective travellers are urged to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Choo Tjoe reservations – 044 801 8202; Centenary enquiries – André Strauss 083 236 6909; kothuis@absamail.co.za

FREE  for 30 days

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