When the railway came to Grahamstown.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Die oopstelling van die spoorlyn tussen Alicedale en Grahamstad op 3 September 1879 was 'n gebeurtenis van besondere belang vir Grahamstad. Die gedagte om Grahamstad per spoor met die hawe in Port Elizabeth te verbind, het drie-en-twintig jaar vroeër by die sakemanne van Grahamstad ontstaan. Toe die spoorlyn uiteindelik gebou is, was die inwoners van Grahamstad eintlik meer ten gunste van ʼn spoorverbinding met die hawe van Port Alfred. Dit is egter eers vyf jaar later gebou. Toe die eerste sooi gespit is vir die bou van die spoorwegstasie en ook toe die eerste passasierstrein in Grahamstad aangekom het, is groot feesvierings en feestelikhede gereël.

• Summary: The opening of the railway-line between Alicedale and Grahamstown on 3 September 1879 was a red-letter day for Grahamstown. The idea of linking Grahamstown by rail to the harbour of Port Elizabeth was initiated twenty-three years earlier by Grahamstown businessmen. By the time the railway came, Grahamstownians were more in favour of a railway-line to the harbour of Port Alfred. This, however, came only five years later. The turning of the first sod to build the railway station and the arrival of the first passenger-train at Grahamstown gave its inhabitants reason for big celebrations and festivities.