Friends of the Rail Forum

Les Smith wrote:I drove out to Millsite today to provide refreshments for the team
from Reefsteamers who were busy collecting spare parts that were
still available.

After the crew had left I had a chat to a local TFR representative
(who did not wish to be named) and received more bad news.

We were all originally lead to believe that the scrapping of locos
had been stopped after the 2 GMAM's (4061 & 4086) the one class 25NC
number 3414, the 2 class 23's numbers 3311 and 3286 were scrapped,

Far from it, the TFR gentelman told me Reclam were still cutting
locomotives and said I can go and look for myself. He also stated
the the majority of the locomotives were going to be cut up, with a
few exceptions of some the locos in the compound.

I started my tour of the locomotives that were/are situated at the
coal stage area.

Surprisingly the GEA was still intact and had not been attacked by
Reclam.

The class 23 number 3286 which was supposed to have been completely
cut up for scrap was in fact still there, although now minus it's
boiler.

Other locos noted here have all been attacked by Reclam and are in
various stages of being cut up. these are;
15F 2922
15F 2906
15F no number
15CB 2849
15CB no number
15F 2987
I then took a walk to the upper area near the 15m shops.

Here I found the following:
15F 3075 marked "Reefsteamers".
3BR 1448 marked "R" for retain/reserve
14CRB/M? 1771 marked "R" for retain/reserve
15F 2913 marked "S" for scrap
15F 2908 marked "R' for retain/reserve
15CB 2833 marked "s" for scrap.
15F 3098 marked "S" for scrap
12A 2111 marked "R" for retain/reserved
15CB 2077 marked "S" for scrap.
15CB 2803 marked "S" for scrap.
15CB 2039 marked "S" for scrap.
15CB 2040 marked "S" for scrap.
15CB 2853 marked "S" for scrap
15CB 2825 marked "S" for scrap.
15CB 2048 marked "S" for scrap.
I've probabally got some of the CA's and CB'smixed up here - my
aplogies.

I then moved on the the locos which were kept under cover at the top
area. These were:
15F no number
15F 2902
15CB 2041
15F no number and minus it's cab
15F 2934.
None of these locos were marked either with an "S" or "R"

I then went to the covered are (which was put up some 17 years ago
at a cost of R1 million (lot of money in those days!) to house the
prestige locomotives which were to be saved. This is the extension
of the 15M shop area. In this area I found a class 36 Diesel with
nose number 36-076 and side numbers 36-074. The diesel was attached
to one DZ wagon with a small bulldozer in it, as well as two private
saloons. I assume that this was some sort of break down train.

Not one of the prestige engines were ever put under cover in this
shed. One wonders why not, as the whole area is deserted barring the
confused class 36 diesel.

Lastly, all the locomotives in the compound still look like they
always have. No Reclam cutting of locos has been done in this area
as yet, with only the wooden coaches taking a hammering.

What is frightning is the comment from the TFR staff member that
Reclam will be back at it on Monday morning, and the proof seen with
my own eyes that the scapping has not stopped.

I do know that Dave Richardson and Mark Robison read these postings,
so I'm sure that they will realise what is in fact happening at
Millsite and take whatever action which they think is appropiate.

Kind regards

Mark Robinson wrote:Dear Les and all

Indeed Dave Richardson and I, along with others involved read the list.

We are trying to keep an eye on what is going on and SAHRA has issued a letter
early last week to Transnet demanding that no (more) heritage items be cut
pending agreement on what should be retained. To this end HRASA (the writer and
Ian Pretorius) are meeting SAHRA this morning.

In the meantime a major effort to move the heritage assets that have now come
into the ownership of HRASA is underway thanks to member organisation
Bloemfontein Steam Museum (Sandstone HT) working through SIA. Watch this space.

HRASA / Mark Robinson

MILLSITE & HUMEWOOD LOCO SCRAPPING
Saturday, 31 May 2008

On 18 May, the Heritage Railway Association of Southern Africa (HRASA) received a letter from the Transnet Group Executive Office saying:

“We note with appreciation the Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] between HRASA and Transnet Foundation on the preservation and disposal of the Transnet historic steam rail assets. Transnet has due regard for the historic significance of these assets and our partnership is of value to the custodianship of South Africa's steam rail history.
“These assets, some of which are in a complete state of disrepair, present a serious risk, health and environmental issue, while presenting an image problem to Transnet.”

Stressing an urgent need for disposal, with Millsite and Humewood identified as priority sites, the letter requested HRASA to obtain a list from the Transnet Foundation and to indicate by 30 May those items in which it had interest and to remove them (at no cost to Transnet) by 27 June. Provided the purpose of removal was for preservation purposes only, and on the understanding that such assets were not to be disposed of, sold or scrapped at a later stage, ownership would pass to HRASA at no cost.

“Assets identified as of historic significance but not selected by HRASA will be included in a list of assets to be disposed of by Transnet through its formal tender disposal process. Transnet will specify, as part of its adjudication criteria, that these assets are
for heritage preservation purposes only.”

The letter concluded: “We reiterate our appreciation for your contribution to the preservation of South Africa's steam rail heritage. Transnet assures HRASA and the broader steam heritage fraternity of its continued commitment to the preservation of this part of our collective history.”

The implications of the letter’s contents and the time constraints are self-evident. As it happens, the Transnet contact named in the letter turned out to be on leave, so the list mentioned was not tracked down by HRASA until 26 May – four days before the first deadline. Further developments are awaited with concern.

[ Many years ago, the railway administration placed examples of historic locomotives and rolling stock at Millsite, near Krugersdorp. Those at Humewood, sidelined more recently, are from the narrow-gauge. - editor

Nathan wrote:I guess the technical chaps involved in the group Steam in Action, know
that to move locomotives needs a lot of work, time and effort. Whatever missing
bearings there are, will have to be replaced to make them travelworthy, there
are such bearings available and more than likeley a set of such items and grease
pads etc will be made available to be fitted to a loco, tow it away, remove the
items, fit them to the next loco, tow it away and so on and so on and so on.
More than likely two locomotives can be hauled dead, with a load of wagons to
supply the required amount of brakes. This can be done by one of the steam
locomotives used by the member clubs of SIA and the nearest SIA member club is
Reefsteamers, based in Germiston, which is conveniently located nearest to
Millsite.
A meeting on an informal but formal note, was held last night by two founder
member groups of SIA, Reefsteamers and FOTR, and such matters were discussed in
detail, so things are happening faster in the enthusiast world than one thinks.
One of the locos most suitable for moving first would be the roller bearing
class 25 condenser which should have its usually unstealable bearings intact,
but this will be confirmed once inspection has taken place. Then all the donors
can come to the fore and assist to get this first one away.
But, yes, the three SIA founder groups, Friends of the Rail, Reefsteamers and
Sandstone, are working on Millsite, make no mistake.
Cheers,
Infotrainman