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Millsite Scrapping is placed ON HOLD

Posted: 27 May 2008, 14:13
by Gabor Kovacs
From the SAR_l Digest List, the following report was found;
----- Original Message -----
From: jacquesrudolph@...
To: sar-L@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 12:09 PM
Subject: [sar-L] Millside Concentration Camp


I just got back from Millside.It was raining a lot and when you stand
there you just get a big LUMP in your throught.I got hold a member of a
member of RECLAM and as from an hour ago Transnet has given a NO GO to
any futher cutting of any Loco's at Millside until futher notice.He
received a call while I was standing there.HARASA according to him had
not known about the carnage at Millside.

So far all that was destroyed 5 Loco's (and 4 others almost done must
be left as is total in scrap) must been cleaned up and be removed from
Millside.I asked this member of RECLAM what is the chances to buy one of
the Loco's and this is how it works according to him :a Tender is put
out by THF- Brain Muroson.Then they highest bidder .This company then
has the authority to demolish all that's in the tender.Do you want to
buy a Locomotive?Then this is what you are supposed to do :

Say for instance a 15 F weights 180 Tons - according to the AMSTREDAM
agreement (whatever that is ) you then get R400.00 per ton.So a Loco
will then cost you R720 000.00.Irrespective of the condition of it.Now
the Loco's in the "Hoenderhok"-camped off" at Millside is going to be on
tender for the highest bidder.NO Loco will be cut up!So this gives us a
fair idea what they are selling for.The only ones that will disappear
are those burned out Coaches.

Now I want to say is the following.How many of our list member have
visited Millside recently?It is definitely a shame what has happened to
our herratige.But be fair,who has got the money to revamp any of those
Loco's?I took some pictures and will try to post it.It will cost a
fortune to re-do a 15 F.I agree those burned out coaches is a sore
eye.And I doughdt it if it can ever been repaired again.Like the coaches
of Rovos Rail.Let's try to safe those Loco's that can be prepared have
been living in JHB for 47 years.Of those 47 years about 25 years I have
visited Millside.If you can see the condition of those Loco's then you
tell me is it worth spending money on it to bring it back to life.I am
not talking of those under the Shed etc.Most of them are so badly
vandalized that of some only the wheels and cab is left
Gabor

Re: Millsite Scrapping is placed ON HOLD

Posted: 27 May 2008, 15:01
by Kevin Wilson-Smith
The sum above is wrong - a 180 ton loco at R400.00 does not cost R 720,000.00 but in fact R72,000.00 !

Re: Millsite Scrapping is placed ON HOLD

Posted: 27 May 2008, 16:00
by Gabor Kovacs
Kevin, let's focus on presumably and probably what is temporary good news that cutting at Millsite is on hold for a while!
I'm not too worried about someone’s calculation abilities, at this stage, rather how we as FotR will secure sufficient funding to move 1791, with the possibility of moving at least 2 other major assets of the National Collection, with a few smaller items, if at all possible, to Hurcules or Capital Park, and seriously keeping in mind that FotR has to develope the Hercules site!

At least for now, we might have a very small window of time to rescue what is needed!

Re: Millsite Scrapping is placed ON HOLD

Posted: 27 May 2008, 17:06
by Kevin Wilson-Smith
But that's the point Gabor - it IS affordable to degree, as opposed to being out of reach if the money can be raised for certain projects. Maybe we cannot afford it, but others may be able to! My first reaction was give up if it costs 3/4's of a million! Important not to let a minor slip spoil the news!

Important of there are facts to get them right. The topic is emotive enouigh without dabbling in hearsay/inaccuracies.

IS the correct value the one quoted (anyone)?