|
Blackie, the locomotive, Cape Town station’s oldest resident, is to move to safekeeping while refurbishment of the Cape Town station continues. Blackie has stood on the Main Concourse since 1959 and fifty years later, Mr Piet Lotz who assisted with Blackie’s first move, will be there to see its relocation to temporary storage.
After an extensive planning process, Intersite Property Management Services, a subsidiary of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), commenced with construction at the Cape Town station in September 2008. As part of the revitalisation, Blackie is being moved in order to create an uncluttered concourse. However, the station’s history is just as critical an element to this project. So, a Transport Museum is part of the plan and Blackie and the signal post that stands close to him will find a new home in what is currently the long distance bus terminal where the Transport Museum will be located (within the Creative precinct of the station). The Transport Museum will play a role in enhancing the cultural richness of the city.
Moving Blackie out of the Concourse is no easy feat and this will be done in two phases. Firstly, Blackie will be moved from the concourse to Old Marine Drive. However, the challenge is that the floors on that side of the concourse are hollow underneath as this was previously part of the sea bed reclaimed for the station in the 1940’s.
Because of Blackie’s size, it will be moved after peak hour traffic to a warehouse, his temporary home. The signal post that was salvaged from the railway line to Sea Point and standing close to Blackie in front of the Shosholoza Meyl area will also join Blackie in the move. At the end of March 2010, when the Transport Museum is complete, Blackie will be moved to his permanent home in the Creative precinct of the revitalised Cape Town station.
|
