Outeniqua Choo Tjoe newsletter number 6 from Alan Winde.
Dear Choo-Tjoers
Minister Winde has just come back from a trip around the United Kingdom where he met with several heritage rail enthusiasts and experts.
Details of his first meeting, with Sir William McAlpine, are attached. So too, is Transnet's call for expressions of interest, and details on where to get more information.
Happy steaming.
Sincerely,
Tammy
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Tammy Evans
Media Liaison Officer to Minister Alan Winde Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism
Western Cape Provincial Goverment
Choo-Tjoe News
Edition 6 – 12 November 2009
MEETING WITH SIR WILLIAM MCALPINE A SUCCESS
Last week, following the advice of our Choo-Tjoe newsletter readers, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism Alan Winde, met with the legendary Sir William McAlpine at his estate in Henley, England.
Before setting off, the Minister had heard rumours about ‘Sir Bill’s private train set’, but nothing could have prepared him for the full scale, mile-long locomotive, repleat with its own museum, that’s nestled on Sir William’s estate in the countryside not far from London.
Sir William is the doyen of heritage rail in the United Kingdom. Beside for his obvious love for locomotives, a love which the Minister and his team are swiftly beginning to share, Sir William had much wisdom to impart.
Sir William gave the Minister advice on how the British heritage rail system is owned and operated. His knowledge of how similar lessons were learnt in England and how we could learn from their experience was invaluable. He confirmed our view that the Choo-Tjoe must be saved when he said that instead of throwing our heritage away, “what is there, one should keepâ€.
He also confirmed the need for us, in possible partnership with Transnet, to engage with the international heritage rail fraternity.
He emphasized the importance of international marketing of rail tourism in the development of rail heritage. Minister Winde agreed, stating: “If we are going to be serious about heritage rail in South Africa, we need to market ourselves actively through international mediaâ€. This would include UK heritage rail enthusiasts, and heritage rail publications. Sir William undertook to support the rehabilitation of the Choo-Tjoe and follow its development into a world class tourism icon closely.
Minister Winde left the meeting with the sense that fixing the Choo-Tjoe will become the beginning of a long journey with heritage rail in South Africa. The Minister remarked afterwards that from Sir McAlpine he had gained insight into the important part that steam railways play in the lives of all citizens across the world, and vowed to ensure that from now on, this combination of transport and tourism received greater attention.
