Luxury Train Hotel on Kruger's Selati Bridge

[steamtrainfan]

The idea is extremely exciting but it is todays human element that puts a spoiler on it..

In the old days when the train did stop on the bridge folk had a lot of common sense and did not do the idiotic things they do today.

I would love nothing better than to wake up in the morning and look out directly over the Sabie River.

[Flutterby]

I agree with STF...I would also love to spend a night there, but as you say too many idiots nowadays!

[Bushcraft]

I not specifically against this, but I’m against any venture that means more people in an already overcrowded south. If every new venture, including hotels, means the gate quota is decreased by an equivalent head count, then I have less of an issue.

The park can only sustain so many people before it turns into a circus and it’s already nearly there in my opinion without the additional people new ventures will bring.

[Richprins]

Of course it would be lovely to sit on the bridge...but I have various problems and have a rather dim view of SP's motives at the best of times!

As usual, the venture has not been opened to public comment, especially with the fanfare that normally accompanies such great ideas? Why?

The previous owner's untimely demise is mentioned in detail...Why is that relevant?

The aforementioned worries about the views/experiences of riverfront guests being spoiled at all hours, by lights and noise, are relevant...those donor guesthouses are incredibly expensive, mostly because of their location...

Mostly, though, enough is enough, IMO. Every development brings more traffic, more contractors, more support accommodation, more daily deliveries, more security risks etc. And taxpayer/conservation money is spent, no matter how much SP says these are private ventures. The dreaded tenders are also always a concern regarding parastatals.

SANParks is NOT short of money, and continues to post healthy profits.

[H. erectus]

Agh ja, another one of those romantic/nostalgic ideas!!!
Not very well thought through, typical of Sanparks using
these forums as soundboards!!!
One can in a sense for argument compare it to a nightdrive or
bushwalk or what ever else they dish up that would impress the
first time visitor beyond believe!!!

We all see that train for it's worth from a nostalgic point of view
because that is what we believe Kruger is all about,..- undisturbed
nostalgia,,..parked there on the bridge, steam billowing from the
engine and STF doing cartwheels all along the banks in ecstasy!!

Pure bliss for him and I sincerely wish him that.

Fact is our point of view should be questioned!! Sitting inside a train
looking through the steel structure of the bridge and being isolated on
a higher plain, as opposed to sitting somewhere along the banks taking
up the beauty that the riverbed has to offer.

The engine and coaches parked and left where they are leaves a lot of
room for thought. The status quo not doing steam nostalgia any justice.

However, here comes the crunch,...steam nostalgia as such can be used
as a prime example in any argument that has relevance to commercialization
and the progress of man, bundu bashing!

Steam the great conqueror of the open planes and destiny of afrika.!!!

Coal, water, a footplate engineer and some direction in life = movement
of questionable expense in a direction not anyone really knows why??,
but maybe just for ambience sake!!!???

Park the bloody engine on the bridge, with cheap steam billowing from it's
chimney and arrange for guided walks from the platform there too.

Many steam enthusiasts and there are many can be classed as honorable
rangers,..in the sense of maintenance!!

For goodness sake if anything, let's try cutting commercialization from the
equation that which will seemingly be the parks only means of survival!

Kruger park as such really does not need us for survival, rather more we need
Kruger for survival.

Give it some thought!!

[Richprins]

stf and H. make good points, IMO! That is what forums are about!

[steamtrainfan]

Another response from my railway list.

I have comments here, though folk must interpret this based on someone writing from the UK, last in KNP in May 2013, and of course only my opinion.

Are the coaches at Skukuza the right ones for "camping coaches". One certainly is a Lounge/Bar coach #589 Class c21-c28, and the others are I believe Dining Cars. All at least 20-30's Clerestory Stock. To convert for overnight residential use would be sacrilege! These would have been ideal stock for Atlantic Rail or Ceres Railway, or Reef Steamers perhaps, assuming they had the restoration funds.

Therefore I would have thought more modern sleeping compartment stock would be preferable.

As to the condition of the coaches: in 2013 they were in use and under cover (see Barman Kaiser etc, amongst these pics : https://www.flickr.com/search/?m=pool&w ... =SAR%20589 ) as was the trolley mentioned in the chain.

Other photos I have found : Skukuza Train


Skukuza Train
Wide angle capture of a train's interior @ Skukuza Camp in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
View on www.flickr.com
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Tracks


Tracks
Old train-bridge close to Skukuza in Kruger Nas. Park South Africa.
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As to the recent comment on "Health & Safety", I must concur! Apart from the obvious animal entry from the far side from Skukusa's restaurant.

However, I am sad mention that I have seen a 2015 photo showing the coaches in a vandalised state post 2013: Single Lounge car 589 C-21 / C-28 ' JUNK STATUS '


Single Lounge car 589 C-21 / C-28 ' JUNK STATUS '...
Released for use in 1929, SAR Locomotive class 24 no 3638. Not in use anymore Windows broken. " Another one bites the dust " A golden era gone. Sk...
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Can anyone confirm that now there is only one coach, and the state of it?

[Richprins]

Will find out, stf!

[Lisbeth]

On www.flickr.com, you only get onto the home page, not where the pic is

[nan]

same for me... all the flickr links