Friends of the Rail Forum

Call to Arms

Steam in Action has for some years now been trying to get the attention of SANRASM with respect to the deteriorating environment in which a large number of valuable and irreplaceable locomotives have been placed at severe risk. There are three sites - the 'north site', effectively the original SANRASM site, the 'south site' formed when the Krugersdorp to Magaliesburg line was rerouted and the 'Chamdor site'. The latter site has been under constant attack from scrap thieves for some time now to the point where 27 locomotives have now been effectively destroyed and can no longer be moved. The axle boxes have been targeted and cut out which means the locomotives are permanently crippled. All valuable fittings etc, have been stolen. This is no surprise given that there is no fencing around the site, no on-site security personnel or any form of deterrent. Not even a notice saying who these locos belong to. This would not have prevented all the theft, but is symptomatic of the lack of thought and care given to the situation. No doubt the scrap thieves will remove the rest of the steel in short order.

"Steam in Action" http://www.steam-in-action.com has had little success in getting the attention of the SANRASM executive. If anyone knows a SANRASM member or if anybody feels that they can encourage SANRASM to talk to Steam in Action we would appreciate your assistance. A number of proposals have been put on the table to save individual locomotives and to take them to a place of safety as a matter of urgency. All these requests have been turned down.

SANRASM is paranoid about anyone assisting in moving any of the locomotives on their sites to a safer location. In fact it has become apparent that they would actually prefer them to be destroyed where they are rather than to run the risk of talking to other members of the Railway Preservation community. Funds are available to move 10 of the most valuable items to safe locations like Reefsteamers, the Sandstone Heritage Trust and other sites immediately. We need your help to see SANRASM to see common sense. The locomotives that are now under attack are the real gems of South Africa including:

Kitty, the Eskom loco built by Kitson in 1879, for many years South Africa's oldest working locomotive, and proclaimed a National Monument.

La Moye, built by Andrew Barclay in 1907, originally for the Jersey Railway, is now the only surviving locomotive from that railway, on loan from Eskom.

19D 2644, the locomotive used by David Wardale for testing some ideas before the modification of the Red Devil. This loco plays a pivotal role in explaining the development of South African steam locos.

6A 454, donated by SATS and 473 show the development of this class, 454 having the replacement Belpaire boiler while 473 has the round firebox boiler. 454 was in operation for many years and even ran to Magaliesburg on occasion.

14R 1909, one of the best 14Rs around which has done little mileage since overhaul. SANRASM has a dozen or so other examples in woebegone condition from various mines which can provide spares if necessary.

GDA 2259, a small Garratt built by Linke Hoffman and one of the original three donated locos from SATS.

There are others too numerous to mention but one 2ft gauge loco stands out:

NGG11 52, the oldest Beyer Garratt locomotive in Africa and a rare early example of the type. Incredibly this is dumped on the ground outside the SANRASM north site at the mercy of the cutters' torches.

Besides all the other gems still surviving are a collection of passenger coaches dating back to 1897, steam rollers, narrow gauge and diesel locos, tools, freight wagons and a myriad of other stuff accumulated over the years.

Among those already beyond saving are the last Class 14 in original condition and the only remaining example of the SAR J Class tank, the 4-6-4T wheel arrangement being very rare in South Africa, two A Class tank locos, two 7 Classes and twenty or so others.

If you are a SANRASM member the 'leadership' of the group has failed you completely and utterly so please get in touch with Steam in Action via mikematsandstone.co.za (replace 'at' with '@') as this situation cannot be allowed to continue.

Many of you know of my past relationship with SANRASM and I feel it more than most that items I helped to secure years ago are now left at the mercy of thieves and vandals and are going for scrap.

Please act now so we can prevent the loss of a large part of South Africa's rail heritage.

Regards
Geoff Pethick