Millsite scrapping - SIA appeal

[John Ashworth]

Received from Steam in Action:

From: Steam-in-Action.com <Steam_in_Action.com@mail.vresp.com>
Date: May 22, 2008 2:57 PM
Subject: Cutting of Steam Locomotives at Millsite Depot, Krugersdorp, South Africa

Dear SIA member,

You may or may not be aware that steam locomotives are being cut by the scrap metal company, Reclam, at Millsite Depot near Johannesburg. While a certain amount of locomotives were earmarked for scrapping nearly two years ago and have been cut at other locations, the locomotives at Millsite include a large number of locos earmarked for preservation.

In our dealings with Transnet, SIA was assured that no locomotives marked 'R' for Retain, would be destroyed. Sadly this has not been the case and four locomotives marked for preservation, Class 23 3286/3311 and GMAM 4061/4086, have been cut up.

A 25 class, 3414, has also been cut but this was always earmarked for scrapping. At the present time GEA 4022, another preservation loco, is in danger although not touched.

To further add to this travesty is the fact that an SIA representative was told by a senior person at Reclam today that he was going to cut everything including all the locos in the fenced compound which contains only locos marked for preservation. SIA was specifically told by Transnet that no decision had been made on their disposal. In fact, SIA had made an offer to Transnet to secure them on a 24/7 basis at our expense to which we have had no response.

... SIA urges you to please e-mail the following senior Transnet personnel to register your displeasure - please do so as soon as you receive this mail. SIA is trying via other means to make contact with the relevant parties at Transnet to try and stop the carnage but your support as SIA members is critical to our efforts.

Please e-mail your strongest dissatisfaction to:

Vuyo Kahla, Group Executive, Transnet - Cecilia.Machaba@transnet.net
Susie Mabie, Transnet Foundation for Heritage and Preservation - Susie.Mabie@transnet.net

Kind Regards,

Dave Richardson
Executive Director
Steam in Action

[Dylan Knott]

How did we end up in this situation? Its disgusting!

I will draft a reply to the two emails listed, but will it help?

[John Ashworth]

For what it's worth, this is what I've just sent them, writing in my personal capacity, not on behalf of FOTR. A number of people have suggested to us recently that the tourism angle is likely to appeal more widely than the heritage one, so I've concentrated on that.

Mr Vuyo Kahla, Group Executive, Transnet - Cecilia.Machaba@transnet.net
Ms Susie Mabie, Transnet Foundation for Heritage and Preservation - Susie.Mabie@transnet.net

Dear Mr Kahla, Ms Mabie,

I am writing to express my concern at the current cutting up for scrap of steam locomotives at Millsite.

I understand Transnet's need to rid itself of unwanted assets and to raise revenue from them, but I am concerned that they have not first been offered to the tourist rail industry.

As you are no doubt aware, there are a number of tourist operators within South Africa who use historic steam railway assets for both domestic and international tourism, making a significant contribution to the national economy, as well as preserving historic artefacts.

I believe a number of the locomotives would be of interest to the tourist rail industry. At the same time there are still salvageable spare parts at Millsite, both on the scrapped locomotives themselves and lying around on the ground, which would be of immense value for keeping the tourist rail industry thriving in the future.

I would urge you to temporarily suspend the scrapping of locomotives at Millsite immediately until full negotiations can be held with tourist rail operators and their national representatives (Steam in Action and the Heritage Rail Association of South Africa) to resolve this issue.

[Dylan Knott]

Excellent letter - will do so from my side as well.

[Geoff Pethick]

I have sent the following to them. Thankfully I now have nothing to do with them.

Dear Mr Kahla and Mrs Mabie

I wish to express my total disgust with Transnet's scrapping of heritage locomotives, coaches and other items at the Millsite Loco Depot. This at a time when other more enlightened railway administrations such as India, China, Peru and many other countries are increasing the rail tourism industry recognising its importance in other ways.


Firstly there is the job creation aspect, as jobs are created directly by the heritage activities but indirectly through goods and services in the tourism industry and others. Once an item is cut up for scrap it has no future potential for revenue or job creation.

Secondly these items are held in trust by us for future generations and played a part in the history of South Africa and touched the lives of all parts of society. Many places throughout the country relied on the railway and were in fact established to serve it.

What Transnet is doing is depriving people who may never have had the chance to travel on a train from enjoying the benefits that the new dispensation brings. This is especially sad considering these excursion trains were desegregated a long time before the end of apartheid.

I would like details of when and where the tender was advertised and awarded or was this another cosy collusion with the scrap industry? You will find in your files numerous requests from myself and others to purchase, at amounts in excess of scrap value, numerous items from Millsite and elsewhere. Transnet was never able to make a decision resulting in these items being vandalised and restoration costs soaring.

Unfortunately we have seen that over the years Transnet has worked extremely hard to eradicate all aspects of its previous history, and that very frequently this has been in defiance of statutes such as the Heritage Resources Act. For instance, buildings covered by the sixty year rule have been demolished with total disregard for anything else. In fact I was once told by a senior Transnet property that it was cheaper to pay the fine and anyway nobody cared!

Transnet should realise that it is not an island that it has a responsibility to greater South Africa rather than just its own narrow minded focus.

It is time for Transnet to cease its scorched earth policy and take heed of people who really care about the future of this great country.

Regards
Geoff Pethick

[Chris Janisch]

Great letters.
Geoff, you have hit the nail on the head. Transnet have become so absorbed in their bottom line and targets that they have left huge portions of their enterprise to rot.
Change the mindset and things will all fall into place. Being stingy does not make you rich.

[Dylan Knott]

Dear Mr. Kahla and Ms Mabie

I have been informed that steam locomotives are being cut up for scrap at Millsite (Krugersdorp Loco). Once considered to be the pride of South Africa's Heritage Fleet they have been cold heartenly hacked to pieces.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing trends in South Africa at present. Following on from the success of the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, many other operators are trying to purchase or lease steam locomotives and rolling stock in order to operate their own trains. At present it is quite difficult to locate suitable locomotives and the scrapping of the locomotives at Millsite is making this task almost impossible. With the 2010 Soccer World Cup coming up, it would of great interest to have established a few tourist railways by then.

It has been reported that all the locomotives are in danger. Class 23's 3286 and 3311 have both been cut for scrap and seemingly with little or no warning. According to our knowledge no tenders were issued detailing which locomotives were earmarked for scrap either.

Steam locomotives are also known for creating jobs. One locomotive requires a driver, fireman, pilot, a fitter, apprentice and cleaner just to keep it in service. This leads to sustainable employment. The same could not be said if a locomotive is dispatched for scrap in a matter of hours.

More importantly, we need to have a core collection of locomotives to be retained to explain to future generations of South Africans of what a crucial role the railways played in creating our country. At 28 years of age I never experienced any steam trains in regular service, yet I am prepared to ensure that some will exist for many years to come. One only has to visit the National Railway Museum of York to experience why old steam locomotives are such excellent attractions.

I therefor appeal for you to please suspend the scrapping of the steam locomotives at Millsite or anywhere else in South Africa. If a plan needs to be formulated to save these locomotives, please inform us.

Regards

Dylan Knott

[Chris Janisch]

Another great letter. Send it on.