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RAT Ride To Hilton

RAT Ride To Hilton

Date: 2013-02-07
After a morning at East Coast Motorcycles listening to a great talk by James Egan, the superbike racer who has just competed successfully in the Triumph Triple challenge in the UK, it was time to leave to catch a train, well at least a train museum.

Twelve RATs set off from the shop and headed into some murky weather up to Hilton. We stopped to put on rain suits at the toll gate, which meant the sun was about to come out, and it did until we were just about home again.

The quaint little Hilton Railway Museum is in a state of neglect, but the Hilton Steam Heritage Association is trying to raise funds to address the urban decay and turn it into a business and tourism node, allowing job creation and development in the area. We were shown around by the chairman, Grant Fryer, who told us some interesting facts, among them that the station was used in the filming of "Cry the Beloved Country" - and if you look at the Hilton sign, you can still see traces of Carisbrooke painted behind the name.

He also mentioned that a highlight for him had been having Minky van der Westhuizen there for a photo shoot.

Karel joined us on his Speedmaster for his first RAT run and the Triumphs turned some heads passing through the small town. We made the most of our short stay at the museum and had a bit of fun on the trains and in the offices. Unfortunately arriving a little too late to see the model trains and exhibits only open on Saturday mornings.

Then we lined up and set off for the Old Main Brewery where we met up with Duncan for a well deserved pint and some lunch.

Thanks to everyone who came along for our first Saturday lunchtime ride. We hope to see you out on the roads again soon. For more details on our KZN RAT rides - visit https://www.eastcoastmotorcycles.co.za