Page 54 - Bulletin 8 2004

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The toast of the “Chairman”, proposed by the reverend gentleman, and acknowledged
by the Hon. the Commissioner, was drunk, and the proceedings shortly afterwards
closed.

The editor of the Cape Times criticised the event for the “slovenliness with which it was

organised”. But then he hadn’t been invited to the lunch – perhaps because of his
unflattering editorial earlier that year.

Just over a year later the line reached Simon’s Town and preparations for the grand

opening were set in motion. A press report described some of the technical details of the
construction and the Cape Government Railways announced new train schedules. (Fig.

2.15).

The Cape Times: Wednesday, 26 November, 1890.

The Simon‘s Town Railway
_______________

Monday next – no unforeseen circumstances occurring – is destined to be a great day in
the history of Simon’s Town. The good folk of the pretty naval station where the Cape
squadron rides at anchor are determined to mark in a fitting manner the fact that the
town has at length got what its people have asked for so long – a railway. It will be
remembered that so far back as the beginning of November last year the first sod of the
new line was cut by the then Commissioner of Public Works, the Hon. Colonel
Schermbrucker, M.L.A. At the ceremonial the gallant Colonel confidently remarked that
the line would be finished in about six months’ time. It can scarcely be said that the
forecast has been borne out by the facts, since the line will not be opened until Monday.
The new line commences at Kalk Bay station, and runs to Simon’s Town, a distance of
six miles. Its construction has occupied about a year. It was originally estimated that the
line would cost the Colony £36,000, but its price is very much larger. It has been stated
that the late Government expected the Imperial authorities to contribute towards the
line, but the arrangement fell through. Some consolation, however, may be found in the
fact that persons regarded as authorities in railway construction declare that the line
would be cheap at £80,000. The only station yet erected on the line is the terminal
station at Simon’s Town, but possibly two sidings may hereafter be made, and used by
passengers. The Engineer-in-Chief of the Railway Department, Mr. H. J. Pauling, has
been the nominal head in the carrying out of the work, but Mr. Noad, the district
engineer, and Messrs. Wise and Bishop, engineers, have been the officers under whose
more immediate supervision the line has been made. The clerks of works were Messrs.
Barclay and Picton. The rails were of course imported, but we believe that Knysna
sleepers have been used. Part of the line has been constructed departmentally, and part