Page 61 - Bulletin 8 2004

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Mr. Runciman submitted the toast of “The Visitors”, to which brief replies were
given by various guests, and the Rev. Mr. Eedes proposed the health of the General
Manager, the engineers of the line, and the other officers of the Railway Department,
which was cordially drunk, and acknowledged by Mr. A, Difford, secretary of the Cape
Government Railways, and Mr. Noad, the district engineer engaged on the line.
Mr. Ohlsson, in proposing “Prosperity to Simon’s Town”, said that Simon’s
Town seemed specially fortunate in that, however much other divisions might rise and
fall, it seemed to go on quietly and successfully. With respect to the idea that the naval
station should be moved to Cape Town, he though it most ridiculous, and that in any
event the railway had settled the matter for itself.
Mr. Runciman replied, and said that some strictures had been passed upon
Simon’s Town, but the Municipality did its best, and if there were more public spirit it
would perhaps achieve better results than those hitherto attained. (Hear, hear.)
Other toasts followed. They were: “Mr. Horne, C.C. and R.M.”, “The Clergy”,
“The Press”, “The Ladies”, and “The Chairman”, all being cordially received.
During the day the local school children travelled on the new line to Kalk Bay
[and back again to Simon’s Town], where sports and refreshments were provided in Mr.
Hablutzel’s field. The pretty little town was illuminated during the evening by means of
large numbers of Chinese lanterns and fairy glow lamps, the effect being exceedingly
pleasing. The ships in harbour were also illuminated during the evening, salutes were
fired, and the ships and dockyard were seen under the great advantage of being lit up by
the electric light. The Railway Celebration Committee, it may be added, was composed
of Messrs. Horne, R.M., F.H.S. Hugo (Mayor), W. Runciman, Boon, Anthony, Storrier,
Turner, Wood, Black, Bentley, Bynon, Nicholls, Budge, Rev. Mr. Eedes, Rev. Father
Meagher, Rev. D. Pienaar, and Mr. W.S. Gillard (Town Clerk and Hon. Secretary).
Under the energetic supervision of these gentlemen the arrangements were admirable
and to them are due the cordial thanks of all concerned for their cheerful and willing
labours to make thoroughly successful a day which will long be remembered in Simon’s
Town.

Initially there were no stations between Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town, except for a halt
at Fish Hoek. This was a trestle platform which allowed the sand to blow through

underneath so as not to block the line. The drifting sand was a constant problem along
the coast necessitating permanent sand-removal gangs to clear the track at Fish Hoek

and at Glencairn and beyond. Much of the sand was used for reclamation of land at Salt
River in the area where the railway workshops were spreading. It was also used on

steam engines to replenish the sand boxes of the growing fleet of locomotives. Sand is

used on all locomotives to this day for aiding the grip on the rails on tough gradients