2

Wie onthou die dae van roet en rook?

Treindrywers, stokers, rangeerders – en die roepman is almal mense wat deel uitgemaak het van die

spoorweg gemeenskap.

Waar is die dae waar die stasiemeester die septer geswaai het en met sy skofblik in die hand en sy pet op die kop sommer stasie toe geloop het.

Die roepman het ‘n belangrike werk gehad, dit was sy werk om snags

die kondukteurs en ander mense wakker te maak sodat hulle

betyds kan wees vir die begin van die skof.

Geniet vanjaar se menu waar ons nostalgies raak oor die Spoorweë van jare terug en al sy mense.

Antonette

Voorwoord 2

Plaasvars Ontbyt / Farm Fresh Breakfast 4

Dit het soms swaar gegaan 6

Inbetween/Tussen in 7

Lunch/Middagete 8-10

Salads & Toasteds ... 13

Conductor's Beef Stew 14

Something Sweet/Ietsie Soet 15

Hot Refreshments/Warm Drinkgoed 17

A lengthy railway journey in 1889 18

Cold Refreshments/Koue Drinkgoed 19

Alcoholic Refreshments/Alkoholiese Drinkgoed 21

Lokomotief: 19D - Drywer: M.J. Barnard 23

VoorwoordVoorwoord

InhoudInhoud

Roepman Ontbyt R30Egg, bacon, grilled tomato, toast and homemade jam.

Breakfast Jaffle R48Jaffle filled with bacon, egg and cheese served with chips.

Health Breakfast V R65Yoghurt, homemade granola, seasonal fruit and a glass of juice.

Creamy Comfort V R37Oats served with butter, milk, honey and sugar.

In-Between Breakfast R722 Eggs, double bacon and thin boerewors, grilled tomato, toast made from homemade bread and homemade jam.

Chef's Breakfast R652 Eggs, 2 skilpadjies, "krummelpap"and gravy (tomato & onion orroast beef).

Ontbyt Quiche R35Quiche served with preserved peach slices.

4

Allow for longer preparation time

V Vegetarian Dish

The Flying Scotsman was the first non-stop express train traveling from London King's Cross to Edinburgh. The train was famous for its luxury services provided to its passengers that included a hairdressing salon, restaurant and bar, also a movie coach for sometime.

The Flying Scotsman 1928

Boepens Breakfast R1352 Eggs, "krummelpap" with boerewors, chop, and gravy (tomato & onion orroast beef).

Salmon on Toast R50 Ciabatta toast, salmon, scrambled eggs and cottage cheese.

OntbytPlaasvars

Pictures for illustrative purposes only.

Basic Omelette R40Omelette with cheese.

Choose your own fillingsDouble Bacon

Mushrooms

Mince

Fried Onion

Tomato

Feta Cheese

Green Pepper

Biltong

Stapelbroodjie R552 Slices of toasted ciabattabread, cheese, lettuce, tomato,double bacon and egg.

Breakfast smoothie V R42

Smoothie made fromyoghurt, banana, milk,honey, rolled oats andcinnamon.

French Toast R60French toast made fromciabatta bread, bacon,cheese and syrup.

Piesangbrood R65French Toast VFrench toast made from banana bread, strawberries, crème franché and nuts.

Ciabatta Surprise R45Toast ciabatta topped with bacon,poached egg, avocado & cherrytomatoes.

Omelette R65 Omelette with cheese and toast made from, homemade bread and homemade jam.

R17R14R22R6R7R12R7

5

R18

BreakfastFarm Fresh

"Dit het soms maar swaar gegaan"

6

"Dit het soms maar swaar gegaan"

By byna al die huise waar oud-Spoorwegmense woon, is die grasperk gesny en die beddings se rande netjies afgesteek. Die dak is geverf en agter in die erf staan dikwels ’n houthuisie vir die hond. Dit is asof die ou Suid- Afrikaanse Spoorweë se dissipline steeds geld.

Hier by oom Christie is dit beslis nog die geval. Die reuk van iets soos Sunbeam-politoer verwelkom jou op die stoep. Op die toonkas in sy sitkamer is ook ’n staanhorlosie wat presies op tyd loop. Hy gaan sit op die stoel langs die kas. Op die mat langs hom staan ’n paar Hollandse houtklompe, wat soos ornamente ten toon gestel word.

“Ek was 17 jaar en 9 maande oud toe ek op die Spoor weë begin het,” vertel oom Christie. “Ek was toe net klaar met st. 8. Ek moes gaan werk; ek het nie ’n keuse gehad nie. Ons was arm. Ek moes help geld verdien.

“Jy het nie sommer as ’n drywer begin nie – anders as dees-dae, wat jy sommer ná ’n jaar of wat al ’n drywer kan wees. Ek het as ’n skoonmaker begin. Jy het die lokomotiewe skoongemaak, met die hand. Ná drie jaar het ek ’n stoker geword. Die stoker het onder die drywer gewerk. Jy moes vuurmaak.

“O, hel, daai drywers was streng. Party van hulle was sommer varke. Jy sal hom groet, en sê: ‘Môre, Oom.’ Dan sê hy vir jou: ‘Man, luister, ek slaap nie by jou antie nie. Ek is nie jou blêrrie oom nie. Vir jou is ek Drywer of Meneer, oukei?’”

Eers in 1970, ná agt jaar as ’n stoker, het oom Christie ook die drywer van ’n stoomlokomotief geword. “Ek kan vir jou

al die stasies van hier af tot op De Aar opnoem. Ek ken hulle elkeen.”

Nes tannie Aletta noem hy die stasies en haltes se name een vir een op, byna asof dit ’n mantra is waarmee hy ’n verlore wêreld wil

terugroep. “Eers kry jy vir Draai, dan Jan de Boers...”

Hy het gehoor van die blinde kind wie se bene hier op Touwsrivier afgetrap is, maar hy weet nie wat van hom geword het nie. “Gaan vra vir Niekie Theron op Laingsburg. Niekie ken al die treinstories.”

Oom Christie weet wel van ’n roepman wat nog leef. “Koos Swarts. Ons het hom sommer Koos Pep Stores genoem.” Hy tel sy selfoon op, soek deur die nommers, en lui ’n nommer.

“Hallo, Koos!” groet hy ná ’n ruk. “Waar’s jy, jong?” Hulle gesels ’n bietjie, dan sit oom Christie die foon neer. “Nee, jong,” sê hy. “Koos is nou in Kimberley. Dis maar ’n gespook om aan die lewe te bly.”

Oom Christie was tot in 1992 ’n masjinis hier op Touwsrivier, totdat hulle op ’n dag in kennis gestel is die Spoorwegdepot gaan sluit. Dit het beteken die spoorlyn van hier tot op Beaufort-Wes sou nie meer hiervandaan beheer word nie. Dit sou voortaan van Worcester af gedoen word.

Baie masjiniste en kondukteurs en ander werkers is gedwing om afleggingspakkette te aanvaar. Rasionali­sering.

Die vroeë jare negentig was die begin van die agter-uitgang op Touwsrivier en baie ander Spoorweg dorpe waar dieselfde gebeur het. Dorpe soos De Aar, Nou poort, Springfontein Breyten, Waterval-Boven...

“Ek het ’n ruk as kroegman hier bo by die ontspan nings klub gewerk.” Oom Christie staar na sy hande. “Ek het ook huise geverf en dakke reggemaak en so. Ek is net bly my kind was klaar deur universiteit toe ek pakket gevat het.” Hy beduie na ’n foto wat op die mat voor die toonkas staan. Dis van sy dogter, Chrisna, en dis geneem die dag toe sy haar B.Com. op Stellenbosch gekry het. In baie Spoorweghuise sien ’n mens so ’n gradeplegtigheidfoto.

Oom Christie kyk trots na die foto. “Dit het soms maar swaar gegaan met my drywersalaris, maar ek is bly ek kon dit vir haar doen.”

Chrisna werk nou al ’n paar jaar as ’n finansiële bestuurder vir ’n maatskappy in Nederland. Dit is ook waar daardie paar klompe vandaan kom.

Treindrywer, Christie Coetzee

van Touwsrivier.

https://www.netwerk24.com/Weg/Reis/hulle­het­van­ons­vergeet-20161013

Moerkoffie enNatbeskuit V R42

MuffinPlain. V R32Cheese & homemade strawberry. (V) R52Sliced biltong & cottage cheese. R63

SconePlain. V R30Homemade strawberry jam, R53 with cheese or cream. V

Basic Roosterkoek V R46With cheese and a choice of thefollowing: syrup, honey orhomemade jam.

Roosterkoek With savoury mince and cheese. R58With chicken-mayo. R56With bacon, egg, tomato & cheese. R50

Piesangbrood R25Twee snye

7

Samoosas R33Homemade mince samoosas.served with sweet chilli sauce.

Trein Bederf R40Cheese grillers, mozzarella sticks, spring rolls, chilli cheese ball served with sweet chilli sauce.

Stasie Souttert R65Souttert served with side salad.

Rovos Rail offers extravagant elegance rail travel through Africa. Regular destinations include Cape Town, Durban and Victoria Falls. Multi-day annual train journeys take in South Africa, Namibia and go as far as Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Rovos Rail features elegant lounges, a dining car and an observation car. The suites are spacious and elegantly appointed, each with its own bathroom.

Rovos Rail

Tussen-InInbetween

Pictures for illustrative purposes only.

Allow for longer preparation time

Ou Staatmaker R54Mince jaffle with chips.

Vetkoek (ouma se resep)Vetkoek with curry mince/savoury mince. R47Vetkoek with chicken mayonnaise. R47

Melkkos V R47With cinnamon sugar, butter and syrup.

Russian en Chips R46Pens-'n-Pootjies R65"Krummelpap" and boere wors served with gravy (roast beef or tomato & onion).

Gettozini R75Filled with mozarella cheese and your choice between savoury mince or chicken mayonnaise served with chips or side salad.

Bobotie en Geelrys R85Traditional bobotie and "geelrys" served with chutney and shambles.

8

In Prins Albert se hoofstraat kry ek oom Piet Cordier in ’n rolstoel agter die Lekkerbekkafee se toonbank. Hy en sy vrou, Leonora, bestuur die kafee nou al jare lank. Hy was 15 jaar oud toe hy daardie nag onder die trein op Touwsrivier beland het. “Ek het na die eetwa toe gehardloop. Ek wou toilet toe gaan. Maar daardie dag was die eetwa afgehaak. Ek het tot op die spoor geval...”

Uit die stoorkamer kom ‘n man met ’n wilde baard gestap. Hy stel hom voor as Rassie Erasmus, toe hy hoor ek en oom Piet praat oor die Spoorweë, sê hy: “Ek was ook op die Spoorweë. Ek was ’n roepman.” Dit voel opeens presies hoe dit moet wees: Hier moet ook ’n roepman wees om oom Piet en tannie Leonora by te staan. Oom Rassie was ’n roepman op Touwsrivier. “Ek het nog my roepmanpet,” sê hy. “Wil jy dit sien?”

Ons ry na oom Rassie se huis toe. Dit neem hom ’n hele ruk om die ou Spoorwegpet in ’n kas op te spoor. Hy sit dit op sy kop, kyk na my, en glimlag trots.

Ek was 'n Roepman

V Vegetarian Dish

MiddageteLunch

Pictures for illustrative purposes only.

Chicken Cheese Burger R75Succulent chicken breast fillet on a bun,

topped with cheese, mayonnaise and

peppadews. Served with chips.

Homemade Lasagne R80Homemade mince lasagne with salad.

Loco Grill R1752 Eggs, chop, boerewors, 150g minute

steak. Served with a choice of "krummelpap",

chips or homemade toast.

350gr T-Bone R120Served with chips or side salad.

Budget Burger R3690g Beef patty with a cheese slice and

sauce. Served with chips.

Pie, Gravy and Chips R68Ask your waitron about our selection.

9

MiddageteLunch

Mengelmoes Kardoes R85(Dagwood)150gr. Homemade beef patty, with lettuce,tomato, pineapple, gerkin, onion, bacon,egg and cheese topped with BBQ sauceon toast. Served with chips.

Quiche en slaai R80Homemade quiche with chips or salad.

Prego Steak Roll R80Portugese roll, 150gr steak, lettuce, tomato,onion and prego sauce. Served with chips or side salad.

Meal of the day SQAsk your waiter.

Kiep-Kiep R65Seeded bread, lettuce, chicken breast, peppadews and cottage cheese.

Shunters Hotdog R70Hero roll with frankfurter smothered in cheddar and mozzarella cheese.Served with chips or side salad.

FriesRegular R26Large R42

10

Shanghai MaglevShanghai Maglev tops the list with its maximum operational speed of 430km/h and average speed of 251kmph. The Maglev started commercial operations in April 2004. It runs on the 30.5km Shanghai Maglev Line, which is the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line, extending from Longyang Road Station of Metro Line 2 and ending at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Shanghai Maglev is owned and operated by Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co. (SMTDC). The train was constructed by a joint venture of Siemens and ThyssenKrupp.

MiddageteLunch

Pictures for illustrative purposes only.

Hoenderslaai R85Lettuce with cocktail tomatoes,cucumber, pineapple, litchis, toppedwith chicken breast fillet served withbalsamic vinegar, olive oil and toastedciabatta on the side.

Griekse Slaai V R55Salad with tomato, cucumber,green pepper, olives, feta cheesewith a hint of lemon juice. Servedwith toasted ciabatta bread on the side.

Alles in een Slaai R80Salad with lettuce, cocktail tomatoes, strawberries (in season), cucumber, feta cheese, bacon, peanut brittle served with ciabatta toast, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

ToastedsAll served with a choice of chips or salad

Toasted cheese and tomato. R43Toasted ham, cheese and tomato. R52Toasted bacon, egg and cheese. R54Toasted chicken mayonnaise. R60

13Hoenderslaai

SlaaieSalads

Ingredients• 1 kg Stewing beef • Olive oil• 2 Large onions, chopped • 2 Sprigs thyme on the stalk, plus • 1 Large carrot, chopped 2 sprigs thyme, leaves removed• 4 Sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves • 2 Bottles light beer picked and chopped • 400 ml Vegetable stock• 2 Sticks celery, chopped • 8 Small pickling onions, peeled,• 620 g flour but keep whole• Salt • 8 Small carrots, cleaned, but• 1.5 g Pepper keep green stems on• 2 tsp Ground coriander • 2 Tsp baby fennel, cleaned and halved• 4 Cloves • Young green beans, chopped

Cooking InstructionsHeat the oil in a heavy-base pot. Add the chopped vegetables and saute until it starts to brown slightly.

Cut the beef into chunks. Season the flour with the spices and dust the beef cubes with the flour.

Remove the sauteed vegetables from the pot and keep to one side.

Add more oil to the pot if needed and brown the beef cubes in small lots. Once the beef has browned, add the sauteed vegetables, the beer, the herbs and the stock and place the lid on the pot.

Bring heat down to a very low simmer or place the casserole in the oven for about 1½ to 2 hours. Check once through the cooking time if the stew needs more liquid and adjust if it is needed.

After about 1½ hours of cooking add the young vegetables and place the lid back on. Cook for another 20 to 25 minutes or until vegetables are cooked, but not mushy.

Season the stew according to your taste. If the sauce is too runny, make a little paste (roux) with flour and oil and stir into the stew.

14

Beef StewConductor’s

Melktert R40

Wawiel R60Freshly made waffle. Served with

syrup, cream or ice cream.

Signal Fruit Salad R55A selection of fresh seasonal fruit served

with cream, ice cream or yoghurt.

Roomys met R45tuisgemaakte Bar One sous

Malva Poeding R55Malva Poeding served with cream or

ice cream or ultramel custard.

Soete Verleiding R40Koeksister, Fudge and Brownie.

Koek van die dag SQAsk your waitron about our daily selection.

1515

Ietsie SoetsSomething Sweet

Pictures for illustrative purposes only.

T-BEEN VIR JOU?Die eienaars van Absolute Wagyu is vas oortuig dat dié karkas, wat deur mnr. Sidney Robertson (regs) van Farm Fellows in Bloemfontein verwerk is, die grooste Wagyu-os in Suid-Afrika kan wees. Robertson hou in sy regterhand ‘n gewone T-been vas en die veearts dr. Thomas Steyn (links), een van die eienaars van Absolute Wagyu, dieselfde snit, wat 1,7kg weeg, van dié os. Die driejarige dier, ’n kruising tussen ‘n Chlaninakoei en die Wagyubul Bentson, het ’n karkas van 644,4 kg opgelewer toe dit in Bloemfontein geslag is. Volgens Steyn het die os 1 050 kg geweeg. Die uitslagpersentasie was 61,37, wat volgens Steyn met die gemiddelde van meer as 60% in hul stoetery ooreenkom. ‘n Agterkwart van die os het 171,65 kg geweeg. Die os is op die veld afgerond tot op 400 kg en daarna ’n jaar lank intensief gevoer om die marmering te verkry wat ‘n verbruiker van R500 tot R1000 per kg vir sy keursnitte uit die sak sal jaag. Absolute Wagyu behoort aan Steyn, drie ander veeartse - sy broer Fanie (van Ramsem), drs. Colin Albertyn en Willie van Heerden - en ’n sakeman, mnr. Lukas van Zyl van Silostrat. - JOHAN NORVAL

Boeretroos R20

Refill R16

Spoorwegkoffie R30Coffee with condensed milk.

Decaf R28Decaffeinated coffee with milk.

Moerkoffie R30Coffee brewed the old fashioned way

Americano R25Espresso with added water and milkserved separately.

Cappuccino R29Espresso with frothy milk

Cappuccino with cream R31Espresso with frothy milk, toppedwith cream.

Decaf Cappuccino R31 Decaf espresso with frothy milk.

Decaf Cappuccino R33 with cream.

Espresso R22

Café Latte R32An upside down Cappuccino.

Tea R20Five Roses original tea, Rooibos tea,

Earl Grey Tea, Green Tea.

Chilla Hot DrinksChai Late. R32White Chocolate. R32

Red Cappuccino R30Rooibos espresso with frothy milk.

Hot Chocolate R30

Milo R30

Mocha Chocca R37Espresso mixed with hot chocolate.

17

WARM DRINKGOED

The Blue TrainThe two Blue Trains travel at a maximum speed of 110 km/h, allowing ample opportunity to absorb the ever-changing countryside. They can accommodate 84 and 76 passengers (with observation car), who are served by a staff of 27 highly trained and hand-picked butlers. They are 380 metres long and consist of 18 carriages, 14 of which are for the use of the guests. The trains each carry 31 000 litres of water. Two diesel-powered generator sets, one always on stand-by, are used to supply the Blue Trains' demanding power requirements. Each generator capable of generating up to 550 KVA, with a 650 volt power supply to the train.

Hot Drinks

18

The journey I write of was one from Cape Town to Bloem-fontein, which occupied ten days, as against 36 hours at the present day.

On the 6th December 1889, a party of railway men left Cape Town, to work the railway extension from Colesberg to Bloemfontein, opened for traffic on the 17th of the same month.

Railway travelling in those days was not as luxurious as today. Instead of saloons with bedding, dining cars, and attentive conductors and stewards, so prominent a feature of South African travelling today, the coaches were of the 'compartment' type, with let-down berths. Passengers had to provide their own bedding; there were no foot warmers, and the oil lamps were ­ as Max O'Rell described Mr Rhodes's hat - "impossible."

The scramble for meals at refresh ment stations, and lack of physical exercise, usually brought on an attack of indigestion.

For lavatory purposes travellers had to depend on the water supply and accommodation at depot stations. As can be imagined, water was scarce at many Karoo stations.

Norval's Pont was reached in due course; but our further progress was barred, owing to heavy rains having washed away the temporary bridge, erected as a makeshift pending the completion of the present permanent structure.

Unfortunately, at that time, continuous heavy rains were reported from Basutoland, and prospects of the flood abating, to enable necessary repairs to be done, were indeed small. The only methods left of crossing the river, were thus reduced to two - by surf boats which had been obtained from Port Elizabeth, or by the pontoon owned by Mr. Norval.

Once across the river there would be no difficulty in getting to Bloemfontein, as a number of engines and carriages had been kept on the Free State side. For the benefit of the un­initiated, it may be explained that the pontoon at Norval's Pont was a huge wooden raft, sufficiently large to transport a buck wagon with its attendant team of mules or oxen. At each side was a sturdy chain, connected with pillars, which were cemented into rocks on either bank. Wind lasses were used for hauling the pontoon from one side of the river to the other. For a day or two the pont could not be worked, owing to the strong currents, and the officials passed the time in many ways - cricket and rambles round the country.

We slept in the carriages and existed on sardines and rice pudding, with an occasional spring hare. The latter were easily secured at night. They are exceedingly inquisitive, and a lighted lamp placed in the veldt, soon attracts several hares.

A man with a gun does the rest.

When the river had subsided sufficiently to render pont working safe, one of the first consignments taken on the pont was a buck wagon, with its

team of mules, three white men and about twenty natives. In midstream a particularly

vicious wall of water placed too heavy a

strain on one of the pillars, which 'gave,' and the other pillar - too weak to stand the impact - collapsed entirely.

The pont was over-turned, and wagon, men and mules, were precipitated into the flood. Excited natives quickly gave alarm to the camp, and the banks of the river were crowded in a few minutes by hundreds of people.

The river below the bridge was nearly half a mile wide, and in the water was a confused mass of kicking mules and struggling men. Swimming was out of the question, the only hope being that the men would manage to cling to any of the semi-submerged trees, the tops of which were visible where the river narrowed.

A shout went up from the assembled crowd, when it was seen that one man had succeeded in retaining his hold, notwith-standing the strong current, which every minute threatened to dislodge him. A rope was quickly obtained and after a few abortive casts, the half-drowned man secured it around his body and was thus dragged ashore. Rescue parties were immediately organised to search the banks for any of the other men who might have managed to get ashore, but to no purpose.

Needless to say, this disaster cast a gloom over the camp, and our party was diminished by one man, a white porter being the one drowned.

The surf boats were then utilised to take us across. The boat I crossed in contained, besides the boatman, the wife of one of the Station master, her baby, servant and parrot. I was prevented from being scared by soothing the fears of the ladies, whilst admiring the boatman's ability in going up stream in the quiet waters of the bank, watching the set of the currents, and taking advantage of one which carried us swiftly to the opposite bank, almost opposite our original starting place.

Of our journey to Bloemfontein, little further need be said except to relate an episode characteristic of train arrangements which obtained under construction regime.

Our train, going north, met a ballast train coming south, some distance from a crossing place, and the question arose, which was to have the "right of way". The drivers of the trains settled the matter by having a fight, which was won by our driver. The defeated man had thus to set back some miles for a crossing loop, followed by the victorious driver on our train.

Taken from the 1907 edition the South African RailwayMagazine.

Old Postcard - Orange River at Norvals Pont (Wikicommons)

inA lengthy railway Journey

Cape Town Station in 1889

1889

Ouma Netta seGemmerbier R22

Borreltjies ini kies R21Assorted cold drinks.

Mina Moo R18Fresh Milk.

DorslesserStill water. R20Sparkling water. R22

Appletiser/Grapetiser R26

Smoothies R38Dairy or Non-Dairy – Madefrom real fruit.

Iced Tea R26

Roses cordial R31Passion fruit/lime/cola tonicwith lemonade.

Iced Coffee R27A shot of cold espresso mixed with crushed ice and milk.

Float R33Soft drink of your choicetopped with ice cream.

Fruit Shake R37Seasonal fresh fruits blended with ice cream and fruit juice.

Daisy de Melker (Milkshake) R35Bubblegum, lime, strawberry,vanilla, horlicks, coffee, chocolate,milo, peanut butter and milkybar.

Couples Milkshake R551 Litre milkshake to shareBubblegum, lime, strawberry,vanilla, horlicks, coffee, chocolate,milo, peanut butter and milkybar.

Juice R20Assorted flavours.

Mocktail500ml. R301 Litre. R45

Mocktail withAppeltizer500ml. R351 Litre. R55

19

The Diamond ExpressIf you’re looking to visit the quirky and quaint town of Cullinan, the 19th-century diamond town located 50km east of Pretoria, why not arrive old-school style? Hop aboard the Diamond Express, a steam train that departs from Hermanstad Station in Pretoria and arrives in Cullinan three hours later. The trip to Cullinan follows a route passing familiar sights such as the Union Buildings, Loftus Verfveld rugby stadium and the Pretoria station building, which dates back to 1910. You’ll have plenty of time to photograph these sights as you chug along on the Diamond Express. The natural scenery en route to Cullinan also makes for great photographs. https://www.gauteng.net/blog/experience-a-day-out-on-the-diamond-express

Koue DrinkgoedCold Refreshments

Pictures for illustrative purposes only.

Amstel R27Black Label R28Castle/ Castle Light R29Millers R29Heineken R31Savanna Dry/ Savanna Light R34

Ciders R35Ask your waitron about our selection.

Jannie Petrus R45(Don Pedro) Choose between Whiskey,

Kahlua or Amarula.

WyneRobertson Dry/Semi Sweet White per glass. R40Robertson Rose per glass. R35Robertson Dry Red per glass. R40Alto Rose' per glass. R55Van Loveren per glass. R45Baronne per glass. R45Robertson Dry/Semi Sweet White per bottle. R135Robertson Rose per bottle. R120Robertson Dry Red per bottle. R135Alto Rose' per bottle. R205Van Loveren per bottle. R160Baronne per bottle. R160

CocktailsCocktail 500ml R55 1 liter R80

Cocktail with Appeltizer 500ml R60 1 liter R85

21

Alcoholic DrinksAlkoholiese Drinkgoed

THE GAUTRAINThe complete network consists of 80 km of track with 10 stations between 5 and 8 kilometres apart. The 24 trains in the rail network has a top speed of 160 km/h. It takes only 15 minutes to travel between OR Tambo International Airport Station and Sandton Station.

Pictures for illustrative purposes only.

23

Hier van Touwsrivier loop die spoorlyn al langs die N1 af in die rigting van Matjiesfontein en Laingsburg. Ek vat die N1. Een ná die ander doem die stasies en haltes lang die pad op: Draai, Jan de Boers, Konstabel... Oral is dit dieselfde verdrietige storie van geboue sonder ’n dak, vensterrame en kosyne.

Net voor jy by die brug oor die Buffelsrivier naby Laingsburg se middeldorp kom, kry jy die Lategan’s Truck Stop regs. Ek draai daar in. Dit is waar jy Niekie Theron, Laingsburg se gewese stasiemeester, deesdae aantref.

Oom Niekie het die kafee hier by die Truck Stop. Die treine loop nog in oom Niekie se bloed, dís duidelik. Oral teen die kafee se mure is foto’s van stoomlokomotiewe. Hier hang ook ’n horlosie teen die muur, en hy loop presies op tyd.

’n Klomp gewese Spoorwegmense werk nou as lorrie-bestuurders, sê oom Niekie. Baie van hulle kom hier by hom aan, dan staan hulle voor hierdie foto’s en gesels en onthou.

Tot voorverlede jaar het oom Niekie ook op ’n Donderdag in die vroeë oggendure die program “Op die voetplaat” op RSG help aanbied, sommer oor die telefoon hier uit die kafee uit. Gewese Spoorwegmense het ingebel en hulle treinstories vertel – stories van swaarkry en lekkerkry.

Oom Niekie weet van die blinde seun wat voor die trein op Touwsrivier beland het. “Hy het ’n kafee op Prins Albert.”

In Suid-Afrika is seker nie iemand wat meer passievol is oor treine as oom Niekie nie. Hy kom sit ’n CD-spelertjie voor my neer en bring ’n CD-houer te voorskyn waarop staan: “Niekie Theron se treinopnames”. Hy haal ’n CD uit en glip dit in die speler. ’n Paar oomblikke later weerklink die klankvan ’n stoomlokomotief uit die luid-sprekertjie.

“Hierdie is ’n klassieke opname.” Oom Niekie beduie na die CD se omslag waarop hy die volledige besonderhede van die opname aangeteken het: Lokomotief: 19D. Drywer: M.J. Barnard. Trein nommer 13010 – opgeneem op Willowmore-stasie op 11 Oktober 1979.

“Jy moet onder die wind sit as jy ’n stoomtrein wil opneem,” verduidelik hy. “Die drywer moet ook nie weet jy neem hom op nie, anders wil hy begin spog en dan blaas hy die fluit te veel.”

Daar was 26 verskillende klasse lokomotiewe. Die Spoorweë se laaste stoomtrein het in 1991 geloop, van Kimberley af tot op De Aar. Stoomtreine word deesdae net op kort roetes gebruik, vir pretuitstappies.

Oom Niekie vertel my hoe Transnet baie van die ou stoom-lokomotiewe laat opsny het vir skroot. Rasionalisering.

“Ek is in ’93 weg by die Spoorweë.” Hy draai die CD-speler sagter. “Hulle het my pos afgeskaf. Op ’n dag het daar ’n brief by my aangekom wat sê ek is van hierdie en hierdie datum af nie meer die stasiemeester van Laingsburg nie. Laingsburg sal voortaan nie meer ’n stasiemeester hê nie.”

Die vorige jaar, 1992, is oom Niekie nog as Stasiemeester van die Jaar in die Wes-Kaap aangewys. “Dit was traumaties om my werk só te verloor. Jy is 49 jaar oud. Waar begin jy weer?” Hy skakel die CD-speler af. “Dit het baie ouens gekraak. Dít kan ek jou sê.”

Eers is oom Niekie nie lus daarvoor nie, maar uiteindelik stem hy tog in om saam met my na Laingsburg se stasie toe te gaan waar hy stasiemeester was.

Ek volg hom na die stasie aan die anderkant van die dorp. Hy parkeer voor die gebou en klim huiwerig uit. “Ai.” Hy kyk na die stof op die stoep en skud sy kop. “Ai, ai, ai...” In die wagkamer, waar die vloere eens op ’n tyd met Sunbeam blinkgevryf is, staan drie of vier stoele. Die vertrek langsaan is leeg. Oom Niekie stap daar in.

“Hierdie was my kantoor.” Hy beduie na waar sy lessenaar gestaan het. “Dáár het ’n klerk gesit.” Hy beduie deur die leë vertrek. “En daar was die pakkettoonbank.”

Drywer: M.J. BarnardLokomotief: 19D

https://www.netwerk24.com/Weg/Reis/hulle­het­van­ons­vergeet­20161013

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