A view from the Railway Magazine

[John Ashworth]

By David Morgan MBE, Chairman of the Heritage Railway Association of UK, writing in The Railway Magazine, May 2009, p 61

Three Garretts in Steam

I was in South Africa in late February to attend a party given by Wilf Mole on the estate where he has rescued, restored and operates a huge collection of agricultural equipment, old military vehicle and railway locomotives.

As his guests were primarily railway afficianados, the focus was on the railway has has built, which runs round his estate for approximately 27km!

Of 40 locos owned by him, 13 were steamed for this occasion, including three Garretts. He employs a small team to carry out restoration work on most of the items in his collection, which is housed in huge sheds at the centre of his estate, but for this event called upon the help of a volunteer group based in Johannesburg, known as Reefsteamers, whose dedciation and commitment seems to know no bounds.

Reefsteamers operate steam excursions over the national network, having their own depot at Germiston and are thoroughly deserving of support. Indeed, I decided to join them there and then as a member. Again, it was the thought of a special occasion that persuaded so many of us to travel so far. What particularly pleased me was the fact that so many of the South African volunteers were young... and I mean below the age of 30. I have to admit that there were many at the other end of the scale over 70, but we were all united by the common interest.

It is the transfer of skills to the next generation that exercises my mind... [and then it goes off on a UK tangent]

[Dylan Knott]

Oops in a few months time I hit 30! Does that mean I am no longer one of the younger enthusiasts?

[John Ashworth]

When I first read this it surprised me that he had found so many young volunteers. FOTR's experience has been that, with a few notable exceptions, our hard core regular workers are in the fifties and above.

[Luca Lategan]

Oops in a few months time I hit 30! Does that mean I am no longer one of the younger enthusiasts?

Dertig is baie oud, Dylan!

Kyk hoe het die stoomtreine nog geloop in '79 en dis eeue terug.
http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... 068#p14189

[Aidan McCarthy]

Reefsteamers is very lucky that over about 50 % of our active technical and footplate crews are younger than 30. With the majority of our fireman falling into that category and hopefuly the will become drivers in the future. With the young Sandstone staff from Bleomfontein and the farm and Reefsteamers there were certainly a fair number of younger people invovlved at the Maluti magic event.

[Luca Lategan]

Hopefully by then I will be one of them!

[Dylan Knott]

[quote="Luca Lategan"]Dertig is baie oud, Dylan![/quote]

Toemaar Luca!

I do recall steam operating on the Knysna line and back then it was a regular service so not too bad.

[Luca Lategan]

I can't say the same

[John Ashworth]

over about 50 % of our active technical and footplate crews are younger than 30

Aidan, that's a fantastic record. Congratulations to Reefsteamers. As I said, very different from FOTR. What's your secret?