Friends of the Rail Forum

SANRASM

Railways Africa On April 18, 2012 In South Africa

A modest (in size) but dedicated and hardworking group has revived the South African National Railway and Steam Museum (Sanrasm) in no small measure, following its unfortunate stormy patch during the recent past. The April newsletter is brimful with news, impressive listings of locos and coaches that have undergone or are in the course of extensive repairs, items slated for moving to other caretaker sites (including details of how these daunting tasks are to be managed), factual financial realities (of concern but more hopeful than one might expect), and other interesting and encouraging business. Key man Mike Dyke highlights the shortage of resources – “particularly human resources” – as a big problem. “It is very difficult to find a back-up when the person responsible for performing a particular function is unable, for good reason, to produce results as quickly as we would like.”

The newsletter is copiously illustrated with photos of Geoff Pethick’s magic in coach restoration. Meanwhile, items beyond hope are being dealt with practically. Geoff writes for instance: “A lot of work has gone into reclaiming timber from the suburban 9545, the body of which was upside down near the bottom railway fence. It’s been reduced to a ‘flat pack’ thus clearing a highly visible eyesore at the same time. It didn’t come apart easily, there were a lot of steel supports built into the body.”

More from Geoff, giving a graphic idea of the situation facing the team: “…..attention turned to private saloon 15001. This coach, the first of its type, was purchased at a South African Transport Services (Sats – ie pre-Spoornet) auction in Milner Park in 1986….. A lack of maintenance over the years has resulted in this coach being the worst of the Sanrasm survivors.

“There is extensive rot in the roof, much of it dry rot, and all the rotten, cracked, broken and flimsy planks have been removed. This has left gaping holes all over the roof. In many places it’s possible to look down through the roof to the floor of the coach as the inner ceiling and masonite covering has rotted away. Much of the interior panelling, particularly in the corridor, has also suffered extensive water damage and will be removed.

“First thoughts were not to attempt any repairs and scrap it on site. However, we decided to repair the outer roof boards, apply new malthoid and strip out the old inner ceiling, hardboard and water damaged panelling. We can then use it as a store, as storage space is very limited on site. That way it survives to be rebuilt should someone decide to take it on in the future.”

Sanrasm membership:
Annual subscription is R115.
Bank account details:
ABSA Bank (all branches) – branch code 632 005, Account no: 40 4873 7756.
South African National Railway and Steam Museum – please note that the banks require the full name on manual deposits

Mike Dyke chairs the Sanrasm Executive Committee
083 625 1879 mikedyke@iafrica.com

Geoff Pethick wrote:Hi all

The SANRASM Exco has been giving a lot of thought as to what to do with locomotives at sites outside the one at Randfontein. Obviously the GO Garratt formed part of this and having inspected it we've prepared the document below.
We'll circulate it as widely as possible but if anyone has any suggestions as to who might make a success of such a project please let us know.

Regards
Geoff Pethick

Class GO – 2586

The twenty five strong GO Class of Beyer Garratts were built by Henschel of Germany in 1954 and were a slightly lighter version of the more numerous GMA Garratts. This was achieved largely by the use of a smaller boiler and cylinders.

The locomotives, numbered 2572 to 2596 were displaced from service by diesel locomotives and in 1977 were staged at the bridge yard in De Aar, supposedly as part of a strategic reserve of locos. In the mid 1980s it became clear that they would never work again and with preservation in mind Peter Odell and John Gilberthorpe, both steam loco drives at Kimberley, inspected them and pronounced that 2586 was in the best condition, it having seen little use since its last overhaul. This loco was obtained by SANRASM and saved from a scrap dealer engaged in cutting up locos in the area.

It has languished in the local vicinity until today, gradually being stripped of boiler fittings and other valuable non ferrous and ferrous parts until it has been reduced to little more than a hulk.

However, a recent visit by a SANRASM representative revealed that the mechanical parts of both power bogies are virtually intact and show little signs of wear and could certainly be of future use.

However, SANRASM is concentrating on the core collection and lacks the resources to restore such a locomotive and also wishes to clear its assets from various places around the country where such items are standing.

Initially it was thought that it would be scrapped shortly but the SANRASM Exco has decided to ask for proposals from interested parties which might like to save it. There is a six month deadline for these proposals to be formulated and submitted and should cover acquisition, movement and restoration plans, there being no point in moving it from one site to another only for it to just stand and deteriorate further.

It is standing on track which is not connected to the main Transnet network. There is some doubt about whether the roller bearings on the driving axles are still serviceable, it being likely that the lubricating grease will have turned solid and deteriorated in the thirty plus years it’s been sitting at De Aar so Transnet may be unwilling for it to be hauled on the main line. There are no facilities in the vicinity and there is no security or fencing to be seen, the area is between the local township and the town so is a busy area where safety cannot be guaranteed.

It’s worth remembering that this locomotive is not unique, Transnet Foundation restored no. 2576 to working order some years ago, and it still forms part of their collection.

For more recently taken photographs and further information contact Geoff Pethick 082 852 8246 [or by Private Message on the FOTR Forum]

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/s ... sage/42320