SANRASM Chamdor: A Call to Arms

[Chris Janisch]

Believe that Reclam have begun securing Chamdor ready for cutting. The rails are to be retained for SANRASM.

[Steve Appleton]

What is SANRASM going to do with the rails? They will have nothing to run on them. If those rails still sported their original steel sleepers, a donation to FOTR Hermanstad would have been welcome.

[Derek Walker]

Just got back from sanrasm north and south site now, and I was quite surprised. I saw it last year sometime and havent been back since. Surprisingly enough its pretty much the way I saw it last year. The only thing that I did notice was that Phantom Pass had been moved away from the platform where she had been and somebody had written something rude on the side :-) But, apart from the degredation caused by the heavy rain we had earlier in the year and the ripping out of the slam door subs roofs by wire thieves not much is different. We did document the locos that were there and were assisted by Geoff Pethick who had a copy of John Middletons book. There are odd anomolies, but nothing really major. The grass has been cut and the work that Franzois put into it in the form of cutting away undergrowth helped keep the place reasonably clean. But, its still an awful place to see, especially when you realise that some of the loco's used to run.
The rails that Reclam will keep could be used by RS to move some of the scrap from the inside of South Side, unfortunately there are areas where rails are missing. I took over 450 pics and will start working on them and posting them at my photo pic site.
Reefsteamers has a massive job ahead of them, especially at North side, but I think there are quite a few slam doors that FotR would love to have, so I suggest you start making ahem ahem noise. I dont know whether some of the coaches will be moved, most are in very poor condition.

[Dylan Knott]

We are possibly interested in the Dining Cars 159,161,229. Can offer them potential new lives if owners would like to sell.
African Railway Systems and Consultants.

[John Ashworth]

From SIA, 10 September 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have been authorised to make the following statement:

Re: Chamdor.

Reclam have today placed security on site in order to secure it. They will start clearing the site on Monday.

Members of the Preservation community are requested to bring to our attention by Sunday PM any components that may have survived which may be of use to them in Preservation projects. These items will be removed from the site by Reclam but will not be cut.

Persons interested in these components would still have to pay Reclam for the scrap price.

Please would you come back to us urgently if there are any specific items you want.

Regards,

Wilfred Mole / Mike Myers

[Derek Walker]

Right, I have 60 pics up divided into 2 galleries.
http://allatsea.fotopic.net/c1894542.html which is South Site
http://allatsea.fotopic.net/c1894541.html which is North Site and which includes the 6 locos seemingly abandoned outside of the depot on South Site side.
http://allatsea.fotopic.net/c1706361.html my original sanrasm pages. Which has some of the same pics in, but with grass.

I have not captioned much, because I am not a loco ID fundi. If anybody can assist... please drop me a PM.
Oh, North Site is not connected to the rails, so anything that has to be moved will either have to be craned off site.

[Derek Walker]

One thing I do want to stress, this initiative is not by Reefsteamers. It is driven by SIA and RS have been asked to assist because they have the potential storage space, manpower and expertise if ever it comes to a point where the heritage equipment has to be moved. The final decision (good or bad) probably has to be made by sanrasm's board based on recommendations made as a result of the past few days assessments.
Ugh... tis a horrible situation.

[Derek Walker]

Reclam is currently cutting at Chamdor. When I was there on wednesday 2 locos were already gone.
Armed guards are patrolling and its not a pretty sight.