Historic Coach on the West Rand

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Derek Walker
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Historic Coach on the West Rand

Post by Derek Walker »

One of the better kept secrets on the West Rand is this historic coach that was used as a South African Constabulary Reserved Coach. Originally built in 1893 by Brown Marshall and Co. England, it saw service in the Boer War and was used by Lt-Genl Baden Powell as well as Jan Smuts and D Leyds, Secretary of State. Later, it was used as a clubhouse at Modderfontein and is now permanently in possession of the Scouts. There are no interior fittings and the coach has been re-roofed and some of the side panels have been replaced as well as the light fittings. But overall its in an excellent condition.
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floridacoach 001.jpg
floridacoach 001.jpg (130.73 KiB) Viewed 4178 times
floridacoach 009.jpg
floridacoach 009.jpg (118.83 KiB) Viewed 4175 times
floridacoach 015.jpg
floridacoach 015.jpg (108.57 KiB) Viewed 4174 times

(Thanks Carlos... we have her documented)
Not quite on the rails.
Check out my train vids. http://www.youtube.com/user/nixops
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Dylan Knott
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Re: Historic Coach on the West Rand

Post by Dylan Knott »

Beautiful! If they ever decide they no longer want it, let me know.

Is this the oldest coach in SA?
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Derek Walker
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Re: Historic Coach on the West Rand

Post by Derek Walker »

Dylan Knott wrote:Beautiful! If they ever decide they no longer want it, let me know.

Is this the oldest coach in SA?
If it goes missing I know where to look :-) I dont know if its the oldest, Paul Krugers train used to be on Pretoria Station at one point and I am sure that dated from the same era. There are some oldies at SANRASM too, and I suspect some oldies at the Kimberly Hole Museum. but I suspect Carlos would be able to tell us.
Not quite on the rails.
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Franzois Oosthuizen
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Re: Historic Coach on the West Rand

Post by Franzois Oosthuizen »

What has happened to the bogies
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Derek Walker
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Re: Historic Coach on the West Rand

Post by Derek Walker »

The whole undercarriage and bogies were removed somewhere before 1959, she was put on a concrete base and has been on one since, its been a long time since she was on rails.
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John Ashworth
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Re: Historic Coach on the West Rand

Post by John Ashworth »

What is the coach that I seem to remember seeing a couple of years ago in the Paul Kruger Museum in Church Street, right in the centre of Tshwane? That one seems to be well preserved.
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carldasnevesvieira

Re: Historic Coach on the West Rand

Post by carldasnevesvieira »

To Derek,Dylan and to all


That Florida coach is indeed the oldest in the country.
Other older coaches in South Africa are:

Krugers coach no17 was built in 1897
Pta coach no19 was also built 1897

The coach at the mines --De Beers Directors coach would have been made at the same time as Rhodes coach-----1896

CSAR --SAR no5 built 1903 --currently THF
CSAR---SAR no33 built 1904---same as above
CSAR ---SAR no35 built 1908---same as above

CGR---SAR no14 built 1896----currently THF
CGR---SAR no15 built 1897----currently SANRASM

CGR---SAR no26 built 1898 -- Both these coaches at Sandstone
CGR---SAR no32 built 1904 --

Nice to know that all are over 100 years old!!

Just as a matter of interest the AA-23 263 at Matjiesfontein was NGR 438 /SAR 144 "Umkomaas" . This coach had the last NGR number given to any coach.

Best Regards
Carlos
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terry browne
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Historic Coach on the West Rand + Rhodes & Directors' coache

Post by terry browne »

carldasnevesvieira : That Florida coach is indeed the oldest in the country.
Hello Carlos and all

Do you know whether or not the coach originally had a clerestory roof?

It looks as though it would have been a balcony style coach, as a grounded body I can only assume. Do you have any further info?

All in the interests of posterity, of course:

My suspicion is that, whatever the outcome, wikepedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown,_Mar ... nd_Co._Ltd.) would like a comment or two, likewise their Metro Cammell notes ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Cammell ), plus of course the historical MetroCammell site ( http://metcam.co.uk.nstempintl.com/upto25.htm ) - they are particularly short of pic of that era; and lastly, the archives ( http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cs/Satelli ... %2FWrapper# ), though I have not explored further there (and will if you send me a pm).

Cecil Rhodes' coach : http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff-cook ... 31425@N22/
De Beers' directors : http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff-cook ... 31425@N22/
carldasnevesvieira

Re: Historic Coach on the West Rand

Post by carldasnevesvieira »

Hi Terry

I have seen a photo of the original coach and I can tell you that as far as the coach is concerned it is as it is. Roof is the same.
The only difference is that it has balconies at both ends.

Kind regards
Carlos
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