Association of Model Engineers

Posts Tagged ‘Association of Model Engineers’

ICH LIEBE MALTA

A little train set ignited a passion for model building in a young boy of three…. Now forty, Rainer Mader reveals that the same passion has kindled an intense fascination for Malta and its culture, its history and its people.

“It was Christmas and my parents gave me a wonderful model train set which consisted of a black locomotive with three green passenger cars and two other red cars. These model rail sets are very popular in Germany, especially with young children who are delighted and intrigued by the movement of the trains going round on the rails. However, these train sets are also a favourite with adults too who build large landscapes through which the trains can move. Eventually it can prove to be quite an expensive hobby.”

Sitting in the cosy lounge of Preluna hotel, Rainer explained how he ended up getting hooked on this hobby of model building.

“I never stopped building models from then on, but when I joined the army, my interest turned onto military modeling. I prefer tanks, trucks and jeeps which I purchase as semi-assembled models. My finished models are around 10 cms and usually I finish them within one day. The most laborious work is the painting, as these models require to have a weathered used look and they actually need a lot of drying time.”

Rainer admits that he has a rather impatient nature and that once he begins to work on a model, he would want to finish it as soon as possible.

“I love this hobby because it gives me a rest from my work. Yet being very busy, I don’t have much time available to spend on a model and therefore I choose to work on semi-assembled ones. Nonetheless there are moments when I opt to convert a standard model in order to build a particular one which is not yet on the market. For example, we still have some special American trucks in Germany which are presently changing all the equipment with brand new staff. Now usually that would take about two to four years for the industry to provide an exact model of the new vehicle. So my aim would be to find a similar model of that truck and modify it accordingly in order to possess a small version of the new vehicle beforehand”.

His first glimpse of Malta back in 1999 was love at first sight…..

“Malta is totally different from where I live in Aschaffenburg, near Frankfurt in Germany. I remember that what impressed me most was the proximity of the sea. I love the sea… it’s beautiful crystal blue colour, it’s salty smell, and it’s ever changing sounds. It gives me a very pleasant feeling to hear it, smell it and see it everywhere around me here in Malta.”

His sister introduced him to some of her Maltese friends from Santa Venera and from then on, a long friendship was born where Rainer got to know better the Maltese people and their culture. His interest in Malta continued to grow even further once he discovered the local Association of Model Engineers and became a member there.

“The Association organizes an annual model exhibition and in these last five years, I have always participated with my models. Thanks to the AME I met many model enthusiasts and soon we became good friends. One can say that these exhibitions serve as a showcase of our hobby while at the same time they provide an opportunity to introduce and blend different cultures together. For example through these model exhibitions, the Maltese can experience a railway, whilst foreigners can get to know about some local customs.”

In fact Rainer decided to surprise his Maltese friends by building diaromas which depict the local history and landscape.

“Last year, I was flipping through the pages of a tourist magazine about Malta when I saw some old photos which instilled in me the desire to give them life through my diaromas. My first diaroma represented a van which sold vegetables and fruit. This year I made another two: one showing a woman trying to pull behind her an unwilling donkey, and another one which illustrates a sheperd with his sheep in his farm. These models were very much appreciated during the exhibition and in fact I won a gold medal”.

Proudly Rainer showed me his dioramas while he tried to describe them in the Maltese language. Being a typical romantic Maltese, I could not help not appreciating this German’s effort to try to speak our language.

“I realized that once you start to learn some Maltese, you will increase the possibility of making friends faster. My Maltese friends simply love hearing me speak their language and many of them try to teach me some new words. In fact, a friend of mine who works as a printer, has even printed a dictionary for me with German and Maltese words and the German phonetic way to say them in Maltese. I also bought some books which include CDs of Maltese words in order to learn better the language. By now, I can only speak basic words and sentences but I am adamant to learn more. At times, I find a Maltese word which I do not understand and I ask my Maltese friends to explain to me what it means. Then, each time that I visit again, I love to surprise them with some new expressions that I learn.”

Cheerfully, Rainer admitted that he is also enthralled by the local food and drink. I was quite amazed when he listed the amount of cans of Cisk and Kinnie, and packets of galletti and Twistees that he takes back with him to Germany to enjoy with his friends. Thinking about it, I thought that maybe each time that he returns back to Germany, Rainer is trying to take a little part of Malta with him.

“It is true! I came to love Malta and its people very much. In fact from 2003, I visit this island each year, my visits getting more frequent each time, so that now I come to Malta three times a year. Moreover, I have a little calendar at my place of work and while I am waiting for the machines to finish, I just flip its pages and have a look. When I exhibited last year’s diorama in a German exhibition, people were very curious about it and they asked me from where I got the idea for that landscape. So I explained to them about Malta and I showed them some books about the island. Somehow these dioramas are very special to me and I won’t part with them for anything else.”

Naturally Rainer is very fond of the local villages which are most near to the sea like Dingli and Xlendi. He strongly resists the idea of a bridge from Malta to Gozo because he claims that it would surely ruin the scenery. He doesn’t like the modern Maltese architecture especially the never-ending apartments which are replacing, according to him, the lovely old houses such as those that up to some years ago, used to be on the Sliema seafront. Moreover he feels perplexed about the permits of huge establishments with not enough parking space inside.

“When you visit a country so regularly, you tend to become involved more closely to it and to its people. Actually I am also very interested in the local history especially from 1940 till now, particularly the Second World War period.”

At this point, I could not help asking…. Being a German who has Malta at heart so much, how does it feel to get to know about the participation of the Germans in this war in relation to our islands?

“Surely I am not proud of this history but no one can do anything about it; that was war and thankfully it’s history! I do feel touched when I visit the Malta at War Museum and I see those underground shelters. However though grim and painful, I need to face this history as it also gives me more background for this hobby in model making. Certainly the merging together of different cultures through such activities will help people to relate better to each other, and to establish mutual bonding and respect that will prevent history from ever repeating itself.”

Rainer gave me the impression that by now his life is divided between two countries. In fact, he came to celebrate his 40th birthday with a very long holiday among his Maltese friends. Curiously I asked him whether he would ever consider to come and live for good in Malta?

“Għalissa għadha ħolma…. For now it’s only a dream. But probably, when I’ll come to retire from work, this possibility will be very much on my mind. Presently I can only foretell my next visit to Malta in October wherein I intend to present some new dioramas. But that is all I can say… the rest is a secret!”

(Note: An edited version of this article was published on FIRST magazine Issue June 2012).

Share on Facebook

2012.06.15 / no responses / Category: Malta Independent on Sunday - First magazine
NIXTIEQ NAQBAD IT-TREN TAL-1931

L-ewwel darba li missieri qalli illi snin ilu f’Malta kellna tren, ħsibtu li kien qed jgħaddini biż-żmien u kellu jeħodni sar-restorant li kien hemm fl-Imtarfa biex emmintu. Niftakar sewwa kif kont bqajt b’ħalqi miftuħ hekk kif rajt l-istazzjon u r-ritratti antiki mdendla mal-ħitan tar-restorant! Ma stajtx nifhem kif f’pajjiż żgħir bħal tagħna, fejn kull fejn tmur tasal f’tebqa t’għajn, kellna bżonn mezz ta’ trasport simili. Naturalment imbagħad missieri kellu jfehemni wkoll li f’dik l-era l-karozzi li nafu llum kienu għadhom ma nħolqux. U allura x-xettiċiżmu tiegħi nbidel f’ammirazzjoni u xenqa li stajt immur lura fiż-żmien sabiex nara dit-tren għaddejja u għaliex le, biex nirkibha wkoll.

Is-snin għaddew u t-tren irkibtha, għalkemm f’pajjiżi oħra u mhux f’Malta. Madanakollu dil-ġimgħa waqt li kont imsiefra u moħħi kien qed jaħseb f’dan l-artiklu, irrealizzajt illi dik ix-xewqa ta’ tfuliti għadha ħajja fija ħafna aktar milli naħseb jien. Intbaħt b’dan hekk kif kont għaddejja fi tren ċkejkna turistika f’Sorrento u sibtni qed nifraħ bir-rikba fiha ħafna aktar mit-tifla tiegħi! Ftakart illi ma kienx hemm tren waħda ta’ dat-tip li ma rkibtx f’kull pajjiż li żort u ovvjament ma nqastx li nitla’ anki f’dik li titlaq mill-Imdina. Jista’ jkun li bla ma naf, kull darba nkun qed nipprova nesperjenza l-emozzjoni ta’ żmien li mar u qatt ma’ reġa’ lura aktar f’pajjiżi.

INTERVISTA: PAUL GALEA

Dal-ħsibijiet kollha tqanqlu wara li ltqajt ma’ Paul Galea, dilettant kbir tal-mudelli u għal dawn l-aħħar snin riċerkatur fervent dwar il-ferrovija ta’ Malta. Kien missier Paul, inġinier tal-elettronika, li ntroduċa l-passjoni tal-mudelli f’ibnu.

“Aktar milli dilettant tal-mudelli, missieri kien jieħu gost jixtrihom biex wara jimmodifikahom u per eżempju jżidilhom id-dwal. Ta’ tifel li kont bdejt ninteressa ruħi u niddakkar minnu. Sibt ruħi fiċ-ċirku ta’ ħbieb tiegħu li kienu dilettanti tal-mudelli u li kultant żmien kienu jitolbuh jirranġalhom xi ħaġa fis-settijiet tagħhom. Darba minnhom morna għand ħabib tiegħu l-Birgu u bqajt impressjonat bil-kobor tal-mudell tal-ferrovija li kellu.

Iżda meta kont tifel, aktar milli l-ferroviji, kienu jimpressjonawni l-mudelli tal-ajruplani tal-passiġġieri u s-suldati lebsin ilbies ċeremonjali. Mas-snin il-passatemp kiber tant li eventwalment fl-1983 jiena kont wieħed mill-fundaturi tal-AME (Association of Model Engineers).”

Bejn l-1980 u l-1983 il-membri ta’ din l-assoċjazzjoni wettqu studju profond dwar il-ferrovija ta’ Malta sabiex ikunu jistgħu jipparteċipaw f’wirja ta’ mudelli relatati ma’ das-suġġett. L-esebizzjoni saret fl-Ingilterra fl-1983 u kienet qed tiċċelebra il-100 sena anniversarju minn meta ġiet inawgurata l-ferrovija f’Malta fit-28 ta’ Frar 1883.

“Tellgħajna parti mill-mudell ta’ Nicholas Azzopardi, proprjament l-istazzjon ta’ Ħ’Attard peress li kien impossibbli li ntellgħu r-rotta kollha. Ħadna wkoll mudell ta’ tren maħdum mill-filogranu, xogħol ta’ Joe Camilleri Fava. Iż-żewġ xogħolijiet intlaqgħu tajjeb ħafna u ħassejna ruħna kburin immens dakinhar.

Hemmhekk iltqajna wkoll mal-awtur tal-ktieb ‘The Malta Railway’, il-Brigadier Rigby. Sibna illi l-imħabba li dan l-individwu kellu għall-ferrovija ta’ Malta kienet xi ħaġa straordinarja tant li ma qgħadx bi kwietu qabel xrobna grokk f’ġieħ l-anniversarju tagħha. Għajnejh bdew jixgħelu meta beda jitkellem dwarha u nistqarr li kien hu l-fjamma wara l-ħeġġa li għandi jien illum.

Ma kinetx l-ewwel darba li ltqajt ma’ barranin li kellhom interess kbir dwar dan il-perjodu f’pajjiżna. Tismagħhom jitkellmu dwar il-ferrovija daqs li kieku kienet xi ħaġa tagħhom u f’pajjiżhom. Sinċerament tħossok daqsxejn stupidu li inti bħala Malti lanqas biss kapaċi żżomm konverżazzjoni magħhom minħabba li ftit li xejn taf dwarha! Inkwetatni dil-biċċa xogħol u wegħedt lili nnifsi li nieħu das-suġġett bis-serjeta’ u hekk għamilt tant li llum sar parti minni.

Li jiddispjaċini hu li f’dak iż-żmien aħna l-membri ta’ l-AME ma bqajnix ninsistu biex l-oġġetti u l-inħawi konnessi mal-ferrovija f’Malta jiġu protetti. Sfortunatament wara dawn is-snin kollha dawn ir-rekordji qegħdin kull ma jmur jiddiżintegraw quddiem għajnejna.”

Fil-fatt kien ritratt li rajt f’ġurnal xi ġranet ilu li qanqalni biex nikteb dwar das-suġġett. Ħassejtni xxukkjata meta qrajt illi l-aħħar vagun li fadal fl-istazzjon ta’ B’Kara kien qiegħed jiġi vandalizzat kontinwament!

“Fis-snin 80 it-tabib F J D’Amato kien għadda dak il-vagun lill-gvern wara li għal xi snin kien fil-proprjetà tiegħu. Il-Ministru tal-Agrikoltura ta’ dak iż-żmien, Joe Debono Grech kien ħa l-inizzjattiva personali biex dan il-vagun jiġi restawrat u b’hekk kien ittieħed l-Għammieri u ġie rranġat. Tpoġġa fl-istazzjon ta’ B’Kara fil-31 ta’ Marzu 1987 u tgawda minn ammont ta’ nies u tfal. Iżda sfortunatament iż-żmien ma jaħfirha lil ħadd u llum il-kundizzjoni tiegħu hija ħażina ferm minħabba li hu espost għall-elementi. Fl-istess ħin ikolli ngħid illi l-agħar għadu tiegħu mhux iż-żmien imma l-vandaliżmu kontinwu li jsir fuqu tant li llum minn ġewwa jinsab imkisser u mifqugħ.

Mhux kompitu tiegħi li nipponta subgħajja u hekk jew hekk jiena bniedem li nħobb inħares il-quddiem u nfittex is-soluzzjonijiet. Il-Kunsill Lokali ta’ B’Kara diġà qed jagħmel talba għall-fondi biex dan il-vagun jiġi restawrat. Iżda ovvjament jidher biċ-ċar li l-affarijiet għandhom bżonn jinbidlu u li l-vagun, wara li jiġi restawrat, ma jistax jerġa’ jitpoġġa lura fejn qiegħed illum.”

Waqt li kont qed nagħmel ir-riċerka tiegħi għal dan l-artiklu, uħud staqsewni kemm tagħmel sens li tonfoq il-flus f’xi ħaġa li niesna stess jogħxew ikissru fiha?

“Jiena naqbel ħafna li għandna ninvestu biex inġibu x-xogħol, biex nedukaw u biex insaħħu l-futur tal-poplu Malti. Imma l-poplu Malti jrid jiftakar illi l-industrija prinċipali tagħna hija t-turiżmu u għaldaqstant nemmen li kwalunkwe ħaġa marbuta mal-kultura u mal-istorja tagħna, xi ħadd irid jieħu ħsiebha.

Jiena ma nippretendix li kollox jitwettaq mill-gvern, irrispettivament minn liema gvern ikun. Ngħid li għandha tiġi minna l-Maltin u li għallinqas jekk ma nagħmlu xejn biex intejjbu s-sitwazzjoni, almenu ma nagħmlux ħsara! B’xorti tajba qed naraw ħafna NGOs li qed jagħmlu ħafna xogħol siewi f’dan il-qasam.

Aħna hawn Malta għandna xi ħaġa storika f’kull kantuniera u kieku tagħti l-lok, twaqqaf kull żvilupp li jista’ jsir biex iżżomm kollox intatt – li hu mpossibbli. Imma ħaġa ngħid – immaġina li kieku din l-industrija qegħdha f’idejn l-Amerikani… lanqas għandi għalfejn inkompli!”

Bħalissa Paul Galea qiegħed jaħdem bis-sħiħ biex iqajjem kuxjenza dwar il-ferrovija f’Malta. F’Ġunju li għadda huwa waqqaf paġna fuq facebook bl-isem ‘The Malta Railway’.

“Bi pjaċir ngħid li wara biss ftit ġimgħat il-membri f’din il-paġna telgħu għal 680 u b’hekk qed nikkonferma li l-interess jeżisti.

Jekk wieħed jidħol f’dil-paġna jara kemm hemm kummenti interessanti anki minn numru ta’ barranin li żaru l-inħawi tal-fdalijiet tal-ferrovija Maltija. Uħud minnhom saħansitra tellgħu websajt tagħhom dwar das-suġġett u hawnhekk naraw biċ-ċar il-kilba tat-turisti f’dan il-qasam. Tkun ħasra jekk ma nagħtux widen għal din id-domanda.”

F’din il-paġna tal-facebook il-membri tellgħu għadd ta’ ritratti antiki u anki preżenti relatati mal-ferrovija f’Malta.

“Ċertu ritratti huma mprezzabbli daqs kemm huma antiki imma dawn ittellgħu fuq il-facebook għax aħna nemmnu illi dawn mhumiex tagħna imma huma wirt ta’ kulħadd u għalhekk obbligati li naqsmuhom mal-pubbliku. Fuq kollox meta tara r-rispons tal-oħrajn u l-kummenti dwarhom tieħu pjaċir li qed jiġu apprezzati.

Minn hawnhekk nixtieq nistieden lil kull min jixtieq jissieħeb magħna u forsi jtella’ xi rikordji tiegħu wkoll.”

Iżda l-ħolma ta’ Paul twassal aktar minn hekk…

“Issa li kkonfermajna l-interess tan-nies qegħdin naħsbu biex inwaqqfu assoċjazzjoni bil-ħsieb li aktar il-quddiem ikollna mużew tal-ferrovija. Għandna ħafna ideat fostom li jkun hemm mużew ċentrali u anki numru ta’ ċentri oħra żgħar imqassma f’diversi lokalitajiet. Fil-fatt diġà tkellimna ma’ xi Kunsilli Lokali li huma favur proġetti bħal dawn.

Għalkemm forsi ħafna ma jirrealizzawx, fadal bosta fdalijiet madwarna li b’daqsxejn kura huwa possibbli li nerġgħu nagħtuhom il-ħajja. Wieħed mill-membri tagħna fil-facebook irnexxielu jimmarka r-rotta kollha fuq il-Google Earth u allura qed ngħidu li forsi aktar il-quddiem jekk din tittella’ fuq GPS, wieħed ikun jista’ jsegwi r-rotta u jara minn fejn kienet tgħaddi din il-ferrovija storika.

Meta ftaħna l-paġna fuq facebook trid tara n-nies ġejjin bl-ideat u l-proposti! Waħda Maltija miżżewġa Skoċċiż u li toqgħod l-Iskozja daħlet apposta fuq facebook biex tikkuntattjana minħabba li għandha fil-pussess tagħha fanal antik tal-ferrovija u tixtieq tgħaddihulna għall-mużew tagħna. Bħalha qegħdin niltaqgħu ma’ nies oħra li għandhom tifkiriet kbar jew żgħar u li wkoll jixtiequ li dawn jitpoġġew ġewwa mużew apposta.

Issa aħna nixtiequ noħolqu kunċetti partikolari f’dan il-mużew. L-ewwel nett l-idea tagħna mhiex biss li jkollna mużew u li jkollna l-esebiti ħalli nġibu n-nies għax dak faċli nagħmluh. Aħna rridu li naraw illi dawn l-oġġetti li jkollna jkunu miżmuma bl-aħjar mod possibbli u li jkunu esposti b’mod professjonali. Fuq kollox għandna l-ħsieb illi dawn l-oġġetti ma jingħatawx lill-mużew imma li jiġu mislufa b’mod permanenti lill-mużew bil-ftehim illi jekk dawn ma jinżammewx f’kundizzjoni tajba, is-sid jista’ jitlob li jintraddulu lura. B’hekk is-sidien oriġinali ma jiddistakkawx ruħhom mill-affarijiet tagħhom u fl-istess ħin, min ikun qed jieħu ħsieb il-mużew iħoss dik ir-responsabbiltà li jipproteġihom.

Nixtiequ wkoll li ftit ftit nibdew norganizzaw attivitajiet biex jitnaddfu u fejn hemm bżonn jinġabru l-fdalijiet ta’ din il-ferrovija ta’ Malta. L-attivitajiet jistgħu jiġu organizzati flimkien mal-Kunsilli Lokali fejn it-tfal, iż-żagħżagħ u l-adulti jiġu mistiedna biex b’mod volontarju jagħtu daqqa t’id. B’hekk permezz ta’ sehemhom tkun qed tnissel fost dawn in-nies ċertu sens ta’ pussess. Tkun qed tħajjarhom ukoll jgħożżu u japprezzaw dan il-wirt storiku tagħna u b’hekk tassigura li ħadd minnhom ma jagħmillu qatt ħsara.”

Paul huwa wkoll direttur televiżiv u bħalissa qiegħed jaħdem biex ifassal dokumentarju dwar il-ferrovija f’Malta.

“Nemmen illi l-poplu tagħna kull tant żmien ikollu bżonn min ifakkru u jniggiżżlu ftit il-kuxjenza peress li għandu ħabta jinsa. Barra minn hekk, dokumentarji bħal dawn huma kapaċi jdaħħlu lit-telespettaturi f’dinja oħra; dinja meta l-ferrovija f’Malta kienet għadha sabiħa u ammirata.

Ormaj ilni naħdem ħafna fuqu u ġbart bosta materjal. Qiegħed ukoll niltaqa’ ma’ numru ta’ individwi li fortunatament għadhom jiftakru dawn iż-żminijiet u li anki rikbu fuq it-tren ta’ Malta. Huma intervisti mill-isbaħ li ċertament ser ikunu apprezzati.

Biex insemmilek xi ħaġa minnhom, dan l-aħħar kont qed nitkellem ma’ Thomas Restall li rikeb fuq din it-tren sebgħa darbiet. Fostom qalli illi kien jieħu gost ferm meta hekk kif it-tren tkun ser tidħol ġol-mina li hemm fil-Furjana jew f’dik tal-Imdina, tifel żgħir kien imur jixgħel il-fanali tal-vagun ħalli n-nies ma joqogħdux fid-dlam.

Xi ġmiel ta’ rikordji! Mhux ħasra jekk inħalluhom jintifu fix-xejn? Ippermettili nieħu l-opportunità biex nistieden lil dawk li għadhom jiftakru dawn iż-żminijiet sabiex jagħmlu kuntatt miegħi ħalli huma wkoll jaqsmu magħna l-esperjenza tagħhom.”

L-entużjażmu ta’ Paul jittieħed ferm u hekk kif beda jurini n-numru kbir ta’ ritratti li rnexxielu jiġbor, f’widnejja stajt nisma’ dik it-tisfira ħelwa antika tat-tren tagħna u nħoss it-tvenvin tad-duħħan tagħha.

“Li kieku toqgħod tixtarr kemm xogħol ser tieħu għal biċċa xogħol bħal din, il-maturità tiegħek taf taqtagħlek qalbek. Imma fija hemm dak it-tifel żgħir li jkompli jħeġġiġli l-ispirtu tiegħi biex nistinka u nwettaq dawn il-proġetti.

Jiena taf x’nixtieq? Li naqbad it-tren li telqet minn Malta fil-31 ta’ Marzu 1931 għax f’dak il-vjaġġ l-affarijiet tal-ferrovija kienu għadhom kollha eżistenti. Kieku kelli l-ħila naqbad dik it-tren, kieku insib kollox intatt u mur ara x’nagħmel! X’ħolma!”

—————————————————————————————————————————-

INTERVISTA: NICHOLAS AZZOPARDI

Naturalment ma stajtx nagħlaq dan l-artiklu mingħajr ma ninkludi intervista qasira ma’ Nicholas Azzopardi li llum huwa meqjus bħala awtorità f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mal-ferrovija f’Malta. Sirt naf illi f’37 Triq San Duminku f’Ħ’Attard huwa għandu mużew personali tiegħu u fih huwa jilqa’ lil kull min jixtieq isir jaf aktar dwar das-suġġett.

“Darba minnhom kont qed naqra dwar il-ferrovija f’Malta u peress li jiena dilettant tal-mudelli ġieni l-ħsieb li nibni mudell tar-rotta li din kienet tgħaddi minnha.

Daqs 40 sena ilu bdejt nieħu r-ritratti tal-inħawi, nieħu l- qisien fejn stajt u niġbor l-informazzjoni. Ħdimt anki l-pjanti biex inkun nista’ naħdem b’aktar reqqa u preċiżjoni. Ippjanajt kollox u bil-mod il-mod bdejt infassal il-mudell b’dak li kont insib: ġablo, kartonċin, kartun u ngħaqqad b’idejja. Bdejt mill-iżgħar stazzjon, dak ta’ Ħ’Attard u ħadt madwar tliet snin biex lestejt ir-rotta kollha.”

Issa li stajt nara l-mudell sħiħ stajt nifhem aħjar il-ġmiel u l-grandjozità tal-ferrovija tagħna.

“Huwa interessanti nsemmilek illi għall-kuntrarju ta’ dak li jaħsbu wħud, it-tren qatt ma kienet timbotta l-vaguni imma dejjem tiġbidhom warajha. Kien hemm mezzi kif il-magna kienet tinqala’ minn postha u titpoġġa mill-ġdid quddiem ħalli tkompli fi triqitha.

L-unika eċċezzjoni fejn magna kienet timbotta kien waqt il-festi l-kbar bħall-Imnarja, f’San Ġużepp ir-Rabat jew f’San Pawl. F’dawn il-ġranet in-nies kienet titla’ bi ħġarha fuq dal-mezz ta’ trasport tant li fejn is-soltu jintużaw madwar 6 vaguni, f’dawk id-drabi kienu jintrikbu 11 il-vagun. Għaldaqstant, minħabba t-tul tat-tren u anki għas-sigurtà tal-passiġġieri, kien ikun hemm magna tiġbed quddiem u oħra timbotta minn wara.”

Barra minn hekk Nicholas spjegali t-tifsira wara l-kwantità ta’ ritratti li jakkompanjaw dan il-mudell.

Uħud mir-ritratti huma antiki, oħrajn huma dawk li ħadt f’dak iż-żmien. Sfortunatament ċertu nħawi u tifkiriet li kont ħadt rikordju tagħhom, illum lanqas biss għadhom jeżistu.”

Nicholas esprima d-diżappunt tiegħu rigward il-vandaliżmu tal-aħħar vagun li fadlilna.

“Dnub li ma żammejna xejn iktar imma l-mentalità ta’ dak iż-żmien ma kienetx tapprezza l-valur t’oġġetti bħal dawn. Ironikament jiġri illi l-prestiġju ta’ ċertu affarijiet jitnissel wara diversi snin, meta forsi diġà jkun intilef kollox.

Meta spiċċat il-ferrovija ta’ Malta jiena kelli biss ftit xhur u għalhekk ma niftakarhiex. Però sibt illi dakinhar li waqfet kien hawn 33 vagun u 10 magni li ma nafx x’sar minnhom.

Fil-bidu ħafna minnhom intużaw bħala bus-stops: jien niftakar tnejn ħdejn l-isptar tal-kura mentali f’Ħ’Attard. Kien hemm ieħor ħdejn Kastilja li kienu jużawh bħala uffiċċju d-despatchers tant li aktar il-quddiem meta mxew għall-Putirjal, baqgħu jsibu l-kamra fejn joqogħdu bħala ‘il-vagun’.

Il-vandaliżmu fuq dan il-wirt storiku tagħna jweġġagħni u għalhekk flimkien ma’ sħabi nisħaq illi għandu jkun hemm post adattat biex jilqa’ l-aħħar tifkiriet li fadlilna.”

Fost il-ħafna tifkiriet Nicholas għandu ħafna għal qalbu żewġ time-tables tat-tren.

“Ara, din hija time-table antika oriġinali tal-1913. Kif qed tara, it-tren kienet tibda minn kmieni fil-għodu fl-4:30am u tispiċċa fit-8:00pm. U din kopja tal-aħħar time-table li ħarġet tal-1931. Dak kien l-aħħar vjaġġ tat-tren tagħna!”

Għalkemm mill-ħarsa t’għajnejh stajt nifhem ħafna, xtaqt lil Nicholas jesprimi xi jfisser dan il-mużew għalih?

“Min jafni jgħidlek li dal-mużew huwa t-tarbija tiegħi. Jien ngħidlek li huwa l-kontribut tiegħi biex tibqa’ ħajja l-memorja ta’ dan il-wirt storiku. Minn qalbi nistieden lil dawk kollha li jixtiequ jżuruh, fostom lit-tfal fl-iskejjel, biex jikkuntattjawni ħalli flimkien inġeddu l-memorji sbieħ ta’ dawk iż-żminijiet.”

(Nota: Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fit-Torċa tat-8 t’Awwissu 2010)

Share on Facebook

2010.08.08 / no responses / Category: Torca - Perspettivi