Steam in Action Newsletter Edition 1

[John Ashworth]

Thank you for supporting Steam in Action, a group dedicated to reversing the inexorable decline of South Africa's steam railway capability over the last 15-years.

Much has been lost but enough has been saved to help us recreate experiences that a declining number of people took for granted in years gone by. We have not had the opportunity to answer each and every one of your e-mails but we are hoping to appoint a full-time Director of SIA from early next year onwards which means that we will be in constant contact with everyone who has something to contribute or who has ideas and recommendations that we can implement. We hope that by reading this action report you will be able to develop a feel for how much has been achieved in a very short time.

Inevitably any new initiative like this is bound to bruise a few egos and cause a certain amount of ruffling of feathers amongst "the establishment". Our message to them is simple – we are interested in getting things done, not debating who is right and who is wrong. The fact is that many of the government policies, provincial initiatives, municipal involvements etc. were flawed and while they may have been well meaning inevitably caused more harm than good. We should never forget the sort of power that is dangled in front of owners of locomotives by scrap dealers who peddle the inviting prospect of instant cash. Steam in Action is totally disinterested in any discussion with any party who plans to melt down our South African Rail Heritage. We will through everyone's support try to out bid the scrap dealers where we can and we have no doubt that as SIA matures that it will develop a formidable capability to intervene as required.

It is our constituency of members which now stands at over 500 which is going to make the difference. If you have a copy of our manifesto and if you know of someone who might be interested in supporting this initiative, even if it is only from a moral standpoint, then please ask them to join. Thanks once again for your support.

Shaun Ackerman / Mike Myers


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