Page 87 - Bulletin 17 2013

84

th
20 Century Tourist Railways and Aerial Ropeways

The history of proposals for local tourist mountain railways during the early 1900s has been

closely analysed by Lessem (2003) and this section draws on some of his work.

Enthusiasm for mountain railways was dampened by the Anglo-Boer War and the post-war
Depression. But, in 1900, a number of American and English entrepreneurs arrived in Cape

Town to promote a railway line from the city up to a sanatorium (tuberculosis) on the

mountain-top and then down to Hout Bay – to make Cape Town the “Brighton of South
Africa.” Council opposition caused the idea to be abandoned. In 1902 Mr G. Nathan of

Johannesburg proposed a railway up to a hotel on the summit. Although he received

permission from the Ministry of Agriculture (who owned part of the mountain) the Council
rejected the scheme for fear of contamination of the catchments of the new dams.

By 1907, as South Africa moved towards Union, Cape Town became intent on securing its

position as a national capital with amenities appropriate to this elevated status. An
Attractiveness Campaign was organized by the Ratepayers Association and a Gala Season of

events was run during December – January, 1907 – 1908. Various projects were suggested,

including a Marine Drive and Promenade Pier on the foreshore, and a Mountain Railway.
But, while the ratepayers and the Council supported these projects, the Mountain Club, as in

previous decades, opposed any construction up the mountain in the belief that only those who
were prepared to exert themselves deserved the reward of experiencing the world from the

summit. There was also continuing opposition from certain city councillors and officials
around the water pollution issue, and many letters both for and against the railway were

submitted to the papers.

On 15 November 1907 a City Council Joint Committee approved Councillor Black’s

proposal that advertisements be placed “in leading Engineering Journals of America,

Germany, England and South Africa, offering a free concession for a period of 25 years or
such extended time as may be mutually agreeable to an approved concessionaire to

immediately construct an acceptable device, contrivance, tram or railway to the top of Table
Mountain.” Only one letter of interest was received shortly before the closing date of 30 June

1908 and the date was extended to 31 December, by which time no firm tenders had been