After lying dormant for 20 years, the South Africa Railways - Spoornet,
decided to sell off all unused sections of narrow gauge railway line in Ixopo.
At the launch of the Two Rivers Tourism Association, Mr. Keith Brown of
the Kwa-Zulu Railway Museum urged members to preserve the section
of the railway line from Ixopo to Umzimkulu.
If not for the efforts of one man, this wonderful part of history would
of been lost to humankind. One man, it took, not only spending endless hours in
repairing and re-instating this narrow gauge line, but also persuading Spoornet not to
sell off the line and devoting almost all his spare time in offering rides in this
wonderful historic area.
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Starting Paton's Express Adventures with only one trolley, Julian Pereira took
visitors on this historical ride. |
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Julian Pereira, some call him a dreamer, others call him eccentric. Call him
anything you like! But in the end you too will admit that he has done a wonderful
job! He was not only instrumental in launching the Two Rivers Tourism Association
but is also working on tourism projects to create wealth among the poor disadvantaged
communities of Ixopo, serving farmers in the Ixopo district, he devotes his time to
the Kwa-Zulu Railway museum and the Patons's Express Adventures. The preservation
and work done on the line would not have been possible without the support and advice of
David Hall, the Environmental Protection Officer for Spoornet.
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Following is an extract from an article written by Jonathan Paton, the son of Allan Paton
who had the privilege of being taken on a "trolley" ride by Julian Pereira.
Remember at this time, there was no train, only a trolley!
QUOTE
"He does have a
trolley, in which he took us to
the highest point of the track outside Ixopo. There we boarded the
rickety trolley for a 3km journey through eucalyptus forests
down to Carisbrooke, once a little station on the route.
Pereira sat at the back and attempted to control the brakes. We were pretty scared as we
careered down the hill, particularly when the trolley
bumped over small branches lying across the track.
It's a miracle we weren't derailed. During the ride I read to
my fellow passengers a passage in Cry, the Beloved Country
in which my father describes this train journey, but from
the Umzimkulu end:
"The small toy train climbs up on its narrow gauge from
the Umzimkulu valley into the hills. It climbs up to Carisbrooke,
and when it stops there, you may get out for a moment and look down on the great valley
from which you have come. It is not likely the train will leave you, for there are
few people here, and everyone will know who you are. And even if it did leave you,
it would not much matter; for unless you are very old ... you could run after it
and catch it for yourself."
I was
touched to learn that Pereira has named his trolley "The Paton
mini-express". May he soon acquire his real train.
Now began another journey. We jumped onto the back
of a 4x4 owned by a young farmer, Ken Woodburn, and
rattled along the rapidly deteriorating road that used to
run to the farm Rayfield, owned by my mother's brother,
Garry. In Cry, the Beloved Country my father called this farm
High Place:
"There is a house there,
and flat ploughed fields;
they will tell you that it is one of the finest farms of this
countryside It is called High Place,
the farm and dwelling place of
James Jarvis, Esquire."
It was my uncle's house and
farm that were used in the
making of the 1951 London
Films version of the novel.
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by London Films. I was touched to see a crude plaque
on one of the classroom walls, which read:
"This building is the remembrance
of the making of the film
Cry, the Beloved Country .
Zoltan Korda. Alan Paton. 1950 AD."
School was over for the day but a few youngsters gathered
around as we photographed the plaque.
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