Marianne Merten
A piece of South African history was sold last weekend when 20 000 items from the refurbished Blue Train went on auction in Cape Town.
The memorabilia that went under the hammer in Cape Town last Saturday included everything from an industrial- sized, peppermint-green toaster to ice cream scoops, pots, butler’s ties, toiletry bags, crystal glasses and commissioned furniture and wines.
Angela Duncan from the auctioning firm Alf Duncan said the items had been kept in storage in Pretoria and Cape Town since the train was refitted at a cost of R70-million two years ago.
Interested buyers at the auction came from as far afield as Germany and Monaco.
For a 92-year-old widow who had spent her honeymoon on the train the auction represented an opportunity to recapture the past. She telephoned the auctioneers to ask them to bid on her behalf for anything up to R200.
In 1923 the Blue Train made its first journey to link the city built on gold to the mail ships departing for England from the Mother City. It was upgraded in 1927 and again in 1937. Luxury coaches were imported from England just before the start of World War II.
“People just want a something, especially silverware with the old coat of arms or the B [Blue Train] logo,” said Duncan. “I think everyone knows the Blue Train is a five-star on wheels; everything is of the highest quality.”
Avid silver collector Alan MacDonald had a more strategic approach, marking items on the lot list and ready to spend about R5E000. “It’s all heavy, thick silver and old designs. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”
Perhaps one of the biggest bids was made by Market Toyota. Managing executive Terence Pead was sent to the auction by his colleagues to buy a bar. “It’s for the office, for the boardroom at work, something nice.”
Not everyone had a sentimental reason to bid. Two stainless steel ladles were bought for R25 by Henriette Botes, who runs a catering service. Johan Hattingh bought, among other things, two scratched heavy-duty cutlery trays for R70 for use at his Gordon’s Bay bed and breakfast.
The Blue Train remains on track – from Cape Town to Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls, Hoedspruit near the Kruger National Park and Port Elizabeth at the tip of the Garden Route – at least until March when senior Spoornet officials say it could be auctioned off to a “tourist-related” group.