Martin Luther steam engine to be restored to former glory

THE famous landmark outside Swakopmund, the Martin Luther steam engine, will soon be restored to its near original glory.

The 108-year-old national monument was saved from rusting away completely when students of the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) at Arandis took it on as a special project last year. It took about 150 students almost one year to restore the dilapidated steam engine, built in 1896, as close as possible to its original design.The students worked according to plans obtained from Germany of the original engine, as many parts had already succumbed to the effects of rust over the years.Last week the engine was moved to the Rössing Uranium Mine near Arandis for the final part of its restoration.The engine will be sand-blasted at a contractor’s yard at the mine, before making its final journey back to Swakopmund.According to Eckhard Mueller of NIMT, the boilermaking and welding students are very proud of their achievement.He told a tourism meeting that the students took a lot of interest in the project and were very keen on preserving the engine.The Martin Luther is one of only three steam engines of its kind left in the world.It is the only one that has been kept outside to weather the conditions.The other two are kept in museums in Germany.The placement of the repaired engine has sparked a debate in the tourism industry.Those attaching sentimental value to the engine feel it should be placed in the Swakopmund Museum or another protected area, while people in the tourism industry feel it should be returned to its original position where it would get the most exposure to tourists.According to Eckart Demasius, CEO of the Swakopmund Municipality the National Monuments Council said the engine should go back to its original site outside the town and nowhere else.A decision was taken by the Swakopmund Council decision in October 2000 to move the engine from its well-known place at the entrance to the town to the Otavi Bahn Museum.This was met with opposition from some residents.An idea to construct a proper see-through protective enclosure or shelter around the engine was then considered.At its monthly meeting last week Council gave permission to the Town Engineer’s Department to call for tenders for the construction of a shelter for the monument.According to plans drawn up by the Engineer’s Department the cost for the construction of the shelter is estimated at N$162 000.Council indicated that only N$70 000 was currently available and additional funds would have to be obtained from other sources for the project.The monument will only be moved to the site once the shelter has been constructed.It took about 150 students almost one year to restore the dilapidated steam engine, built in 1896, as close as possible to its original design.The students worked according to plans obtained from Germany of the original engine, as many parts had already succumbed to the effects of rust over the years.Last week the engine was moved to the Rössing Uranium Mine near Arandis for the final part of its restoration.The engine will be sand-blasted at a contractor’s yard at the mine, before making its final journey back to Swakopmund.According to Eckhard Mueller of NIMT, the boilermaking and welding students are very proud of their achievement.He told a tourism meeting that the students took a lot of interest in the project and were very keen on preserving the engine.The Martin Luther is one of only three steam engines of its kind left in the world.It is the only one that has been kept outside to weather the conditions.The other two are kept in museums in Germany.The placement of the repaired engine has sparked a debate in the tourism industry.Those attaching sentimental value to the engine feel it should be placed in the Swakopmund Museum or another protected area, while people in the tourism industry feel it should be returned to its original position where it would get the most exposure to tourists.According to Eckart Demasius, CEO of the Swakopmund Municipality the National Monuments Council said the engine should go back to its original site outside the town and nowhere else.A decision was taken by the Swakopmund Council decision in October 2000 to move the engine from its well-known place at the entrance to the town to the Otavi Bahn Museum.This was met with opposition from some residents.An idea to construct a proper see-through protective enclosure or shelter around the engine was then considered.At its monthly meeting last week Council gave permission to the Town Engineer’s Department to call for tenders for the construction of a shelter for the monument.According to plans drawn up by the Engineer’s Department the cost for the construction of the shelter is estimated at N$162 000.Council indicated that only N$70 000 was currently available and additional funds would have to be obtained from other sources for the project.The monument will only be moved to the site once the shelter has been constructed.