Thursday, August 4, 2011

2009-06-26: Shosholoza Meyl from Johannesburg arriving Bellville


10:25AM: Just through Stikland station, the Meyl is nearing Bellville Station.


The Shosholoza is headed by E1592 and E1816.









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.

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