Bill Smith reporting on sar-L:

“My train trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town with the Shosholoza Meyl (SM):

“Johannesburg station is reasonably clean and neat. There are a number of eating places, Wimpy, Chicken Lickin, Something Fishy etc. There are also car hire and autobanks available. The best of all are the toilets; there are the usual public toilets plus a much cleaner ‘pay toilet’: entry – R1.

“The train departed from Johannesburg station 45 minutes late. My ‘Sitter Four’ (old first class) coach was clean and comfortable. I mastered the art of looking out the new half windows – turn head sideways, stick head through window, straighten head and sweep/scan through 180 degree, turn head sideways and withdraw head.

“There were two ticket examiners, one in SM uniform and the other in plain clothes. Earlier this year I reported about attendants not sweeping the compartment mats – good news! They have solved the problem; they have removed the mats. I also noticed that they only placed one water bottle at one end of the coach; maybe they too are imposing water restrictions. It was very hot in the coach and I was wondering if one could ever persuade SM to place ice blocks in the water bottles?

“As I had breakfast on the station I decided to skip lunch and have tea and a toasted sandwich in my compartment, R10 + R5. The tea arrives in a DIY kit, a polystyrene cup containing hot water and milk mixed plus a tea bag, sugar and a plastic stirrer.

“I noticed Loco number 345 on plinth at Klerksdorp.

[ According to John Middleton, this engine is not actually 345 but 332. These of course were CGR numbers; this particular 4-8-0 of class 7 became SAR 980. – editor

“The bedding is not what it used to be, gone are the blue blankets and crispy white sheets; they have been replaced by one grey and one cream tatty blanket with off-white sheets and pillow cases (R40). I noticed the train crew wear name tags. It is just a pity they are very small and hard to read.

“Train travel is however still nice. It is just a pity that the staff have such a ‘don’t care’ attitude. They are a lazy, untidy, unfriendly bunch; most of those in the dining car are very overweight.

“We arrived at Cape Town 30 minutes late. Cape Town station has been undergoing renovations; they have fitted ridiculous super glossy slippery cream tiles in the main concourse”

Related posts:

1. SHOSHOLOZA MEYL PERFORMANCE
2. BILL SMITH RETURNS
3. CORNFIELD MEET
4. “WE’LL BLOW YOU AWAY” – PRASA