Loco, Wagons and Track Auction

[Steve Appleton]

Urgent online auction for railway track (50km from Schoombee to Hofmeyer), 15 scrap wagons and 35 x 3kV locomotives. Auction closes 20 March 2009. Bids at http://www.go-dove.com
Ad attached.

bwbdm1673370.pdf

Railway track auction, lots of pics http://www.go-dove.com/auctions/Auction ... onID=12848
Railway wagons auction http://www.go-dove.com/auctions/Auction ... onID=12849
5E1 locos auction details http://www.go-dove.com/auctions/Auction ... onID=12850 Lot catalog at http://www.go-dove.com/browse2.asp?UserName=E0306

[Steve Appleton]

Quite why this has become "short notice" and "urgent" beats me. I first read about this auction last week and the notice has only just appeared in Business Day today. That railway line has been languishing for years now and a few more would not hurt! Why is this urgent? I thought there was a moratorium on lifting branch lines like this. Is this now the start of a systematic process to lift all the closed branch lines? If so, a sad day indeed.
I note that the two overhauled 5E1 locos have a reserve price of R2 million each. Are they really worth that much?

[reily bugnal]

Has this track (50 kms) been sold already and if so, perhaps someone knows if track is in the process of being "picked-up"? Tks. JJ