Monthly Meeting:-
Date & Time:- Wednesday, 19 August 2009. 7.00 p.m. for 7.30.
Venue: Umgeni Steam Railway Depot, Edendale Road, Mason’s Mill, PIETERMARITZBURG
Feature:- Efforts are still being made to secure a guest speaker for the meeting; and Gordon Lumsden has agreed to share visuals of the recent Top Gear episode, where the ‘new’ British A1 “Tornado†loco was pitted against a car and motorbike of 1948 vintage. NB:- Members are invited to bring along some meat for a social braai – fire will be ready for cooking from 6.
Next Month’s Programme:-
Wednesday, 16 September 2009:- Arthur Gammage of the eThekwini Urban Design of Public Spaces Department will be addressing us on the proposals for a possible Historic Rail Route in Durban.
Branch Excursion:- We are considering running a brief Durban/Johannesburg/Durban excursion over the period 23/25 September. It would entail a Premier Classe trip to Joburg, spending the day at the Military Museum and/or Zoo, and then returning overnight on the Trans-Natal. Estimated costs of R1 500 for adults and R900 for children under 10. If interested, please contact me urgently. Please note that there will probably NOT be a Cape Town trip organised in November this year.
Something Different:- For those who wish to view or photograph a most unusual railway activity, find yourself a suitable vantage point along Higginson Highway from about 12:00 on Saturday, 8 August when the 17 coach Phelophepa Primary Health Care train will be arriving from Paulpietersburg and traveling up to Crossmoor, where it will remain for seven weeks.
Umgeni Steam Railway:- (website address:
http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za)
Sunday, 9 August 2009 : Electric train : Pietermaritzburg – Nottingham Road (10:00)
Sunday, 30 August 2009 : Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Tuesday, 8 September 2009 : Committee Meeting at New Germany (17:30)
Monday, 14 September 2009 : General Meeting at Inchanga (19:00)
Sunday, 27 September 2009 : Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Tuesday, 6 October 2009 : Committee Meeting at New Germany (17:30)
Sunday, 25 October 2009 : Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) – steam
Tuesday, 3 November 2009 : Committee Meeting at New Germany (17:30)
Monday, 9 November 2009 : General Meeting at Inchanga (19:00)
Sunday, 29 November 2009 : Running Day : Kloof – Inchanga (08:30 & 12:30) - steam
Work-parties take place at Inchanga and Mason’s Mill most weekends – usually on Saturdays. Coaching – 031-701 6810 (Clem Robins) projects currently underway include the refurbishment of brake-end no. 7376 and repairs to caoches nos. 209 and 500; Locos – 082-820 9337 (Simon Anderson) projects currently underway entail finalisation of boiler repair to Class 3BR no. 1486 and a start to be made on restoration of Dubs A no.134 (NGR 88); ‘Maritzburg activities – 083-435 9210 (Roy Raats) projects underway include repairs to coaches nos. 233 and 4781. For all enquiries about the running of U.S.R. trains, as well as bookings, please call Rob Macgregor on 031-303 3003 or 082-353 6003.
Railway History Society:- Library sessions: 11:00 – 17:00 on Saturdays, 22 August and 12 September 2009 at Inchanga station. As always, all are welcome at the library – liquid refreshments on sale and there will be a braai at about 1 pm.
Modellers:- The Hobbies Fare, which will include plenty of model railways (and the RSSA/USR!) will be taking place at the Westville Civic Centre on the weekend of 15/16 August. For more details contact Ian Sutherland on 073-914 3395.
Steam in Action:- For more info or to join SIA, please visit their website
http://www.steam-in-action.com
Renewals:- Processing of renewals is now up to date, so if your payment has been received, you should soon have a membership card – Overseas members will get theirs with the next SA Rail magazine. In order to confirm whether our records show you as paid-up or not, please check the paid/unpaid indication below – note that this will only be valid for the posted version of this document. Members who remain unpaid by the end of August will be removed from the mailing list.
D.S.M.E.:- Durban Society of Model Engineers operates their miniature live steam trains for the public on the second Sunday of each month at Kellaway Park, Hinton Grove, VIRGINIA. For details, contact John Coombe on 031-572 6984.
Ashley Peter
SECRETARY
