10:40: More or less on time, the Shosholoza departs Bellville Station towards Johannesburg
HOWEVER: A problem arrises and the train halts ...
Note that the 1st unit was dead when I arrived - its pantograph was down. Not sure if this had anything to do with the problem.
10:50AM: The two units were E1221 and E1206
Shosholoza Meyl name explanation:
Anyone familiar with the history of migrant workers in South Africa will instinctively know that Shosholoza is the name of the popular traditional African song favoured particularly by hard working men whose work it was to lay railway lines. Meaning to push forward, endeavour or strive, it evokes a sense of pride. Today the song has become a favoured rallying cry of our sportsmen and women and their supporters.
Altogether it reflects a sense of joy and unity.
Imeyili is an colloquial term used to describe a long distance train. The term stems from the "Mail Trains" which, some 100 years ago, sped the mail from England landed in Cape Town to South African inland towns. By replacing Rail with Meyl (Mail) a warm sense of history is restored.
(With credit to http://www.shosholozameyl.co.za/)
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