A locomotive called Jenny

[John Ashworth]

An article I wrote for the C.T. Metro "Blits' newspaper, which I'm sure they won't mind if you use it and acknowledge to them

Jenny 1: Locomotive 3655 arriving at Simonstown with the Simonstown excursion train before the naming ceremony
Jenny 2: Jeremy Hutton wih Ian Pretorius (orange jacket) at the ceremony
Jenny 3: The unveiled nameplate
Jenny 4: Breaking the champagne bottle
Jenny 5: Ian Pretorius answering questions with reporters

A LOCOMOTIVE CALLED JENNY – Peter Rogers

Steam locomotive No 3655 was renamed “Jenny” at a short ceremony at Simonstown station on Sunday 31st July. She was named in honour of railway preservationist Jenny Pretorius, who died earlier in the month.

No. 3655 is currently Cape Town’s only operating steam locomotive and is used by Atlantic Rail (a non-profit company for the promotion of railway-based tourism) on day-excursions in and around the Cape Town area.

Jenny Pretorius was actively involved in the preservation of steam locomotives and vintage railway equipment for over 30 years. She and her husband, Ian, ran the very successful Union Limited tour-train company (originally part of Transnet’s Heritage Preservation arm) for over 10 years. More than 20 000 passengers, many from overseas, travelled on these trains. While Ian organised the practical railway-orientated aspects of the tours, Jenny arranged the marketing, bookings, catering and side-trips that made these tours so popular.

Ian and Jenny, along with partners Greg and Frances Smith, founded Atlantic Rail four yeas ago.

Locomotive No. 3655 was built in Glasgow in 1948 and was employed by the South African Railways in the Western Cape for 35 years before becoming surplus to requirements. She was then obtained by the Western Cape Railway Museum Trust and restored to her former working glory by volunteer members of the Trust at Epping, where she was used on their Epping Choo Choo run. The locomotive was later certified for running on the main line at the head of the ‘Spier’ trains to Stellenbosch.

The Railway Museum Trust hires out the locomotive to Atlantic Rail. The Trust’s Chairman Jeremy Hutton said that, “It was a old practice to name a locomotive after its driver’s wife, and when we heard of Jenny’s passing, we thought it very appropriate to name No. 3655 after her.”

At the ceremony, a red nameplate with Jenny’s name in brass letters was unveiled and a bottle of champagne broken over the front of the engine.

After the naming, Jenny’s husband, Ian Pretorius, said, “The preservation of these [vintage trains] is so important as part of South Africa’s history. In the days before everyone had cars, this was the way you travelled. Also, the SAR (South African Railways) were technological leaders of their time and it is important to preserve this part of S.A.’s engineering history.

Pretorius added, “The only way to preserve trains is to keep them operating and channel the money that we make into restoring and maintaining them. That is why we run this train. When the people next to the railway see our train, we most always get a smile and a friendly wave and the kids get very excited. We would like all Capetonians to experience the fun of travelling behind steam.”

For details of trips and other events, contact Atlantic Rail on 021 556 1012 or visit their website at http://www.atlanticrail.co.za