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APA / www.starafrica.com
Namibia is the latest major beneficiary of Germany’s global effort to preserve cultural heritage by restoring a historic steam engine train, said Ullrich Kinne, the deputy head of the German embassy in Windhoek, the www.starafrica.com website reported.
Since 1981, Germany has been supporting the preservation of cultural heritage across the globe as part of the Federal Foreign Office’s Cultural Preservation Programme. Namibia is one of the major recipients. Since 1985, approximately 10 million Namibia dollars (about $843 000) have been made available for projects which preserve the rich cultural heritage of this country, he said in a statement.
The German diplomat was speaking during the handing-over ceremony for a newly restored narrow-gauge steam engine train took place at Arandis, in Erongo region.
The historic steam engine, its coal wagon as well as three other historic wagons, one for passengers, one for goods, and one for cattle was restored by students of the Namibia Institute for Mining and Technology (NIMT), with financial support by the German Embassy at a sum of up to N$250 000 (about $21 000).
Kinne noted that the train symbolises the beginning of the railway age in Namibia and is therefore of great cultural significance.
In September of 1897, the work on Namibia’s first major railway line between Swakopmund and Windhoek began.
Before that, there was only a small mining rail line at Cape Cross in operation, built in 1985.
With stations in Wellwitsch, Karibib and Okahandja among others, the railway line eventually reached Windhoek in June 1902. It was constructed as a 600mm narrow gauge railway line and operated until 1960.
The steam engine that was handed over was already in use before the First World War and is the last one of its kind in Namibia. Its restoration thus makes an important contribution to preserving Namibia?s cultural heritage he added.
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