A ropeway conveyor or material ropeway is essentially a subtype of gondola lift, from which containers for goods rather than passenger cars are suspended.
In 1933 the Eastern Province Cement Company obtained a farm in the Kleinrivier area and started the construction of a 14 km cable way to Loerie. Production started in 1934. High quality lime stone was mined here until the late 1990’s.
Serviced by the narrow gauge railway line between Port Elizabeth and the Langkloof some of the major traffic was the limestone from the quarries near Loerie to the factory at New Brighton in Port Elizabeth. From Loerie the stone was hauled in open wagons to Chelsea, where it was handed over for haulage on the private siding (branch line) to New Brighton. This service continued until the closure of the quarries in 2003.
Sadly, the cable way that became a landmark was removed after the mine was closed.
This cache brings you close to a farm stall where one of the gondolas in use on the cableway is displayed.
Safe parking is available in the vicinity of the farm stall and a short walk will bring you to where the cache is hidden.
While the cache is only a micro container, the views down the Gamtoos valley are majestic. On a clear day you will be able to see as far as St. Francis Bay in the distance.
BYOP