Excitement travelled through the city for history-enthusiasts after it was reportedly discovered that a ‘hidden gem’ had surfaced on Fish Hoek beach. However, in killjoy news, it now turns out that the ‘old railway line’ discovered on the beach isn’t exactly what it appeared to be.
Photographer Nigel Riley was on the scene to what was thought (by many, including the City of Cape Town initially) to be an old railway line lying dormant for decades, possibly dating back to the early 1900s.
The City of Cape Town recently took to clear up the mist surrounding the mystery line and expressed that:
“[It] is now considered be remains of the first beach revetment built-in Fish Hoek in 1930.”
The remnants of what was first thought to be a temporary spur line, built in 1929, but now considered to be remains of the first beach revetment built in Fish Hoek in 1930, were briefly exposed on the beach yesterday.
Read more: https://t.co/VXcy3WDAa9#CTNews pic.twitter.com/faIaYkjJwF
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) February 1, 2022
Further, The Fish Hoek Valley Historical Society confirmed that the news was fake calling it a “myth” as per IOL.
It is instead the remnants of the “old retaining wall made of old sleepers and strapped with rail.”
Not all historical-railway hope is lost for Fish Hoek however, as The Historical Society of Cape Town expressed that there was once a railway line to Fish Hoek from Wynberg during the 1890s.
Also read:
“Eve’s footprints” discovered near Langebaan? Researchers weigh in
Picture: Nigel Riley
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