2008/10/06
IT CAME as a surprise when the train pulled into Thomas River Station and I heard the instruction for us to disembark.
The two-and-a-half- hour journey from East London had flown by, with the majority of passengers, including myself, captivated by the spectacular Eastern Cape scenery that we had just passed through, and it was with some regret that I stepped off onto the windblown platform.
It’s a case of being able to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride while someone else worries about the driving.
Organised by Buffalo City Tourism as part of its September Tourism Month initiative, the day trip to Thomas River by train was hosted by well- known local train fanatic Tony Siebert.
Siebert’s company, To Pleasant Places, specialises in putting trips of this nature together.
“We are so gifted by the natural beauty we have in the Eastern Cape and one of the best ways to experience it is by train,” he said.
Unfortunately – and this is my only criticism of what was a well organised day – no one at Shosholoza Meyl seemed to realise that the tourists were aboard to appreciate the scenery outside the carriages as the windows were filthy, making them difficult to see out of. After boarding at East London, the train headed out through the city’s northern suburbs, skirted Mdantsane and continued on to Berlin.
Under normal circumstances there is only one stop before Queenstown, at Stutterheim, but special allowance was made for our group to disembark at Thomas River.
The trip becomes really interesting after Stutterheim, where the train climbs 382 metres over 4.2km and passes through four tunnels, the longest of which is 1200m.
Once at Thomas River a bus transported us from the new station to the old one a few kilometres away for lunch.
Owner Jeff Sansom bought the property in 2002 and has converted it into a living museum.
Following lunch we piled back into the bus for the trip home.
Too often we focus on the destination and end up missing out on the journey which is often the best part, and made even better when done by rail. - By ANDREW STONE
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