Sandstone Heritage Trust Resigns from HRASA

[Gabor Kovacs]

The following press release from Sandstone Heritage Trust appeared on Railways Africas' website.

Sandstone Heritage Trust Resigns from HRASA
Monday, 28 July 2008
The Sandstone Steam Railroad on Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State was established in the late 1990’s. It became apparent that we would be unable to reach an agreement with the National Rail Authorities concerning our direct and active participation in the Eastern Free State railway line between Bloemfontein and Bethlehem.

Many millions of Rands was spent on legal fees, perusing draft concession documents etc. In all we dealt with over 70 individuals, executives and office bearers of the National Rail Authority – in those days Spoornet. Due to high levels of attrition and inconsistencies in the position taken by the different individuals we were never able to come even close to reaching an agreement to operate tourist and passenger trains, not to mention freight on this world renowned 301 kms railway line.

Because we had already established a technical facility by taking over the old Spoornet Steam Workshops in Bloemfontein , we decided to concentrate on Narrow Gauge, and that is what we have been doing for the last 10-years. The result has been the accumulation of a collection of Narrow Gauge locomotives and the creation of a private railway line which provides some hours of enjoyment for passengers who may wish to enjoy a scenic train ride behind a rare Narrow Gauge locomotive in the beautiful Eastern Free State.

During last year it became apparent that organizations such as Reefsteamers and others were struggling against a tide of bureaucratic apathy and indeed hostility, very similar to what we experienced. It was decided that we would re-enter the dialogue with a view to trying to point out to the authorities that South Africa could still save what was left of its once world renowned Steam Railway Heritage programme.

We went about this in a number of ways:
We worked with Reefsteamers, Friends of the Rail and other preservation groups to establish Steam in Action which is a fully transparent and democratic structure that brings likeminded steam preservationists together to share their views and to hopefully point out to the authorities what might be best for the country.

We pledged our support, both as Sandstone Estates and as Steam in Action, to the Heritage Rail Association of South Africa. This organization is recognised by the authorities as their official body representing the interests of Steam Preservation organizations, such as clubs etc., who are involved in various aspects of the country’s rail preservation programme.
We would be failing in our duty if we pretended that the reception we received from HRASA was anything but hostile. Encouraged by the possibility that proposals submitted by the private sector through HRASA to the National Rail Authority would lay the foundations for a public private partnership we spent considerable time and effort in putting concrete proposals together. For example, our original proposal for Millsite was to secure the site using private funding, guard it 24-hours a day, clean the site, evaluate the state of the locomotives, and then make recommendations as to what should be done with them. We were obviously distraught to discover that this proposal had been ‘binned’ by HRASA and had never reached the National Rail Authorities who had in the interim commenced cutting up the locomotives for scrap, notwithstanding commitments to the contrary.

We continued to spend considerable time, effort and money on trying to lobby the appropriate people who make these decisions but the stance taken by Transnet Freight was that we must deal with HRASA. This we accepted. The situation adopted by HRASA was one of zero response. It became obvious that they were not receptive to outside suggestions of executive assistance, money or strategic and logistical input. Many competent individuals approached them in order to suggest that there was a crisis and if we did not upgrade HRASA’s negotiating ability and place further resources at their disposal they would not succeed in achieving the objectives of either the HRASA members or the broader international steam preservation community. HRASA resisted all such offers of assistance.

The Sandstone Heritage Trust has therefore reluctantly decided to resign from HRASA and to withdraw from this dialogue. It remains wholeheartedly committed to Steam in Action and it is hoped that because Steam in Action is an effective, well managed, well funded and credible organization that the authorities may still take note of its potential. Our relationship with organizations like Reefsteamers remains unchanged and we continue to place some of our largest and most valuable locomotives in their care. To the extent that clubs like Reefsteamers need the assistance of the Sandstone Heritage Trust we will do our best to support them. However, due to the developments described above we will revert to being a private railway on a private estate and we will discontinue attempting to receive responses from either HRASA or the National Rail Authority, or in fact from any relevant government entity who should under normal circumstances respond to us. Various initiatives to work with the South African Football Union to offer visitors to South Africa for the World Soccer Cup in 2010 have also come to nothing.

We need to be mature about this and accept the fact that the authorities have other plans and other ideas. We have to accept that is their prerogative and that they have the authority to drive home their own policies. We are saddened by the fact that HRASA chose not to accept our support but once again they obviously have an agenda which has not been communicated to us.

Due to the fact that we will in due course run out of restoration projects for our Bloemfontein workshop the future of that facility will also be reviewed. One suggestion is to convert it into a military vehicle refurbishment facility in association with the Armour Museum in Bloemfontein with whom we have an outstanding working relationship.

I think this decision is very unfortunate, and I strongly urge Sandstone to reconsider!

[Dylan Knott]

It is unfortunate, but how will they benefit if they remain members? I understand all the frustration.

[Gabor Kovacs]

Dylan,

Agreed, I understand their (Sandstones') frustrations with HRASA, but one has to look at the "bigger picture", and the only way forward is for HRASA and it's membership, which will probably warrant the need to discuss very serious issues sooner than later, with suitable answers, plans or objectives be given on, how can HRASA be transformed into a more effective and efficient body for the greater good of Railway Heritage and heritage operations?
Does HRASAs' management have the "best interests" of all heritage operators at heart?
Does HRASA need a shake-up in its management, or does HRASA HQ need to be relocated to a major city like JHB, DBN or PTA, where their activities can be easily monitored by heritage operators where there will be very little room for excuses of not being able to communicate properly with both TFR and or Heritage Operators?

[Dylan Knott]

I think you have answered most of your questions already!

Good one!