Blue Train Joy Ride
HOEDSPRUIT (The Lowvelder)- It's only on those rare occasions that the famous Blue Train snakes its way through Mpumalanga and the Lowveld en route to Dar es Salaam, via Pretoria. In this case it was a private charter by First National Bank for a Game Safari.
On one of these occasions two locals from Hoedspruit realised their dream of travelling on this prestigious train, in a non-conformist manner.
Our two intrepid travellers, farmer, Fritz Pohl (40) and indigenous plant specialist Preston Kaplan (50) were enjoying a couple of drinks at their local inn in Hoedspruit two Friday evenings ago when they heard a train stopping behind the pub.
"Someone said it was the Blue Train and I thought it was a joke, but went outside to have a look anyway, and by golly, it was! I couldn`t believe it as I have never even seen the Blue Train in Hoedspruit," says Fritz, who has always aspired to a trip on it.
It was there and then that he decided to catch a ride since an opportunity like this did not come around twice in a lifetime. Fellow patron and newly found friend Preston thought this a jolly good idea and joined Fritz on his illicit rendezvous.
"We headed straight for the pub to grab a few happies, but immediately stood out like sore thumbs with our short pants and flip-flops. The other guests were clad in snazzy feathers getting ready for supper."
It would be an understatement to say that the odd duo raised immediate suspicion and it didn`t take too long for train staff to realise they had a situation on their hands.
"We were asked all sorts of questions and tried to keep up with tall stories and a few fibs to prolong our journey, but before long the proverbial hit the fan."
They were caught out and Spoornet Security was contacted immediately.
By the time they arrived at Kaapmuiden, police vehicles were already waiting for them and they were "cordially" escorted off the train. "At the police station we were charged with illegally boarding a train and had to pay an admission of guilt fine of R1 500 each. Luckily for us we knew someone in the area who could fetch us at the police station, but that was only three hours later!"
When asked what they were thinking and whether they would ever do such a thing again, they roared with laughter. "It was great fun and nobody has ever done it before, which makes it even more memorable. I don`t know if I will ever do it again, but it`s hard to say with the naughty forties underway."
Apart from good memories, the duo also received a little surprise, two tickets issued by the Blue Train Company, reading "unauthorised travel, Hoedspruit to Kaapmuiden": a polite little souvenir.
Eish, as they say... only in the Lowveld!
On one of these occasions two locals from Hoedspruit realised their dream of travelling on this prestigious train, in a non-conformist manner.
Our two intrepid travellers, farmer, Fritz Pohl (40) and indigenous plant specialist Preston Kaplan (50) were enjoying a couple of drinks at their local inn in Hoedspruit two Friday evenings ago when they heard a train stopping behind the pub.
"Someone said it was the Blue Train and I thought it was a joke, but went outside to have a look anyway, and by golly, it was! I couldn`t believe it as I have never even seen the Blue Train in Hoedspruit," says Fritz, who has always aspired to a trip on it.
It was there and then that he decided to catch a ride since an opportunity like this did not come around twice in a lifetime. Fellow patron and newly found friend Preston thought this a jolly good idea and joined Fritz on his illicit rendezvous.
"We headed straight for the pub to grab a few happies, but immediately stood out like sore thumbs with our short pants and flip-flops. The other guests were clad in snazzy feathers getting ready for supper."
It would be an understatement to say that the odd duo raised immediate suspicion and it didn`t take too long for train staff to realise they had a situation on their hands.
"We were asked all sorts of questions and tried to keep up with tall stories and a few fibs to prolong our journey, but before long the proverbial hit the fan."
They were caught out and Spoornet Security was contacted immediately.
By the time they arrived at Kaapmuiden, police vehicles were already waiting for them and they were "cordially" escorted off the train. "At the police station we were charged with illegally boarding a train and had to pay an admission of guilt fine of R1 500 each. Luckily for us we knew someone in the area who could fetch us at the police station, but that was only three hours later!"
When asked what they were thinking and whether they would ever do such a thing again, they roared with laughter. "It was great fun and nobody has ever done it before, which makes it even more memorable. I don`t know if I will ever do it again, but it`s hard to say with the naughty forties underway."
Apart from good memories, the duo also received a little surprise, two tickets issued by the Blue Train Company, reading "unauthorised travel, Hoedspruit to Kaapmuiden": a polite little souvenir.
Eish, as they say... only in the Lowveld!
Labels: hoedspruit
posted by Kruger2Canyons.com at
Saturday, September 15, 2007
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