WATCH: Locomotive clean-up unites community
Watch the video as businesses and schools joined in to help clean up a well-known landmark in White River.
WHITE RIVER – More than 50 people joined hands to clean up an old landmark last Friday, demonstrating a strong sense of community.
Members of an organisation called We Are White River have taken it upon themselves to clear the sea of rubble and the thicket of weeds which have engulfed the old steam locomotive, SAR Class GCA no 2196.
A score of community members heard of the project and offered their help as part of their 67 minutes for International Nelson Mandela Day.
“The organisation is about working together towards making White River the best it can be, through promoting excellence and community,” said Larissa Bester of We Are White River. “People always tend to sit back and wait for things to happen, but we decided that with the community’s help we can really make a difference around the area of the train.”
The locomotive was used to transport goods and passengers between Nelspruit and Graskop from the late 1920s to the late 1970s. When service ceased in 1978, the train, as well as the once prestigious station, were forgotten and abandoned. As the years dragged on, the train became overrun with rust and weeds, nearly fading to obscurity.
“Our aim besides starting to clear up the mess, was to use the experience as an example and symbol of working together,” Bester said. “We realise this is a small step and there is much more that could be done. We also hope that the area and the facilities and services there can get a clean up for the people who work and move through there.”
Ezi Mini Skip Hire and Interwaste sponsored skips for the day, and Ocean Basket and Twinz White River provided meals for the hungry volunteers.
About 40 children of Metropolitan College, as well as the DA’s Cllr Trudie Grove Morgan, Rowan Torr, The Veranda, Umbaba Electrical, Nic Maartens, a pensioner, and many more White River residents came to help.
Artists Barbara Moore documented the day’s events in beautiful sketches.
“We have had a big response from the community on ideas of how to go forward. We’d love for all the many people who contributed their ideas to get in touch with each other and establish a committee to take the train’s future forward. This is what community projects are all about – involving passionate, inspiring people to action.”
As for the future of this deserted landmark, Bester hopes that this first clean-up operation will inspire members of the community to restore it to its full potential.
“Our engine could be an epic landmark for White River. We haven’t taken on any accountability for looking after, restoring or moving the train, but hope that the interest in these ideas that our effort has sparked will develop into some plans and actions. We will support these and connect interested people.”
