THE ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF WAGONS, COACHES, LOCOMOTIVES AND TENDERS WHICH MERIT HERITAGE STATUS ACCORDING TO SAHRA CRITERIA AND MUST BE PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS The process included the involvement of a number of steam locomotive enthusiasts from various organisations as well as international experts Introduction The introduction of railways in South Africa in 1860 and their rapid extension into the hinterland spurred both industrial development and the opening up of access to large areas of the Country. The mobility that this encouraged changed the way of life of all South Africans as it did in many other countries in the nineteenth century. It is obvious that the development of railways, initially served the interests of European settlers and their business interests whilst causing many impacts for the existing population. However, as elsewhere in the world, despite the skewed political development of South Africa, the railways drove the development of the Country, and today provide benefits for all South Africans as the backbone of the national transport infrastructure and a strategic part of modern 21st Century South Africa. It is important that the history of railway development be presented in an appropriate manner. One way to bring the history alive is through museums, tourist operations and artefacts – from items as small as tickets to those as large as locomotives. The challenge is how to choose an inclusive collection that represents the wide ranging role of the railways (both good and bad) in a way that will be relevant for future generations. A good example of a National Railway Museum that does this extremely well is the National Railway Museum at York in the UK. http://www.nrm.org.uk/ As at York, such a collection should include representation of; Rolling Stock Locomotives, carriages, wagons, service vehicles Infrastructure Stations, structures (bridges etc), track and signalling, passenger and freight facilities, workshops People Those who built and worked on the railway and their families, passengers Services e.g.: Uniforms, Tickets, catering, signage Role What the railways did, key traffic flows Archives and archival research also form a significant part of York’s activities. In South Africa the existing Outeniqua Railway Museum in George has collections of some aspects of the railways but the selection of rolling stock is not very representative (in particular because it is not possible for the larger heavy main line rolling stock to reach George due to the axle-load restrictions and sharply curved nature of the secondary railway lines to the town). Whilst there is a need for a fully inclusive collection that adequately represents the role of the railways for all South Africans, there is a need to focus initially on rolling stock, especially locomotives. The reasons for this are that there are a large number of locomotives in various categories and conditions around the Country that Transnet wish to dispose of or which are in imminent danger from scrap thieves. These Transnet assets also take storage space and provision of security is costly. Amongst these are some of high historical importance and the intent of this list is to identify those which meet SAHRA criteria as heritage items. One theme that comes through strongly from an overseas perspective is that a model whereby Heritage items are vested in a Trust of some form works well. In the UK we have had a Railway Heritage Committee which is a statutory body responsible for identifying significant railway records and artefacts, and ensuring their preservation for the nation. Unfortunately, this has fallen victim to budget cuts brought on by the financial crisis but it has in fact worked extremely well for many years. Note that the terms of reference for the RHC were somewhat broader than SAHRA's as it included structures and archives. http://www.brbr.co.uk/railwayheritage In South Africa the Lease-Lend concept has worked well and there are a number of locomotives which were on a list submitted by HRASA in 2007 for Lease-Lend status. Transnet did not respond to this request but it is recommended that they reconsider as these locomotives could then find safe homes. Clearly, Transnet will have to decide what to do with the items identified, we have three suggestions which could be the start of a dialogue; 1. A low cost open-air museum at Millsite which has adequate security. This has the added benefit that it could be integrated with apprentice training at the adjacent Transnet Repair Shops 2. Development of the Johannesburg (Park Station) site in Newtown. This structure which is the historic original Johannesburg ZASM station (and should itself receive Heritage Status) was re-erected about 20 years ago but has stood as an empty shell ever since. The regeneration of this part of downtown Johannesburg provides an opportunity to develop it as a Museum which could incorporate both the equipment from Millsite plus exhibitions showing a more inclusive approach to the role of the railways in mobility as discussed in the Museums forum in October 2010. 3. Rail Tourism Action Group’s vision to utilize steam locomotives listed below to preserve and promote these for tourism and thereby contribute to job creation. However, this vision is still in the making and requires public/private engagement and involvement. Transnet Locomotive Assets We would emphasise that the attached lists do not list all Transnet owned locomotive assets. Omitted are items in George Museum, Lease-Lend items and items plinthed on Transnet property. It is assumed these are safe for the time being but at some point a decision needs to be made on how they can be taken off Transnet’s books and placed in a Trust. Several items in George Museum represent classes not in the A List attached but which meet SAHRA criteria for listing. However, some others on plinths could probably (if they are not being maintained) be offered for sale. Transnet owned locomotives in South Africa can be broadly placed into a number of categories; 1. Locomotives on “Lease-Lend” to accredited clubs, several have been restored and are in operating condition 2. Locomotives preserved in George Railway Museum and on plinths, station platforms etc 3. Locomotives operated in recent years by Transnet Heritage on tours and on the Outeniqua “Tjoe-Choo”, most standing at Transnet Depots such as (Voorbaai, Bloemfontein and Cape Town) in relatively good condition 4. Locomotives stored in derelict condition 5. Modern Traction (diesel and electric locomotives) It is assumed for the purposes of this document that locomotives in categories 1 and 2 are “safe” and are therefore excluded from consideration for the time being (Note: Locomotives that are in the care of Clubs but which we think have not formally been given Lease-Lend Status are included in the lists below). The locomotives in categories 3, 4 and 5 have been split into two broad lists – A and C; List A. Locomotives which meet SAHRA criteria for designation as a “Heritage Object” List C. Locomotives which do not meet SAHRA criteria or merit retention (however, many of these locos have very useful spare parts which should be removed to enable the restoration of List A and B locos) ABBREVIATIONS USED NOTE: The Abbreviations used are as found in RAILWAYS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA – Locomotive Guide by John Middleton, published in the USA, 2002. Railway Companies NGR - Natal Government Railway ZASM - Zuid Afrikaanse Spoorweg Mij CGR - Cape Government Railway CSAR - Central South African Railways OVGS - Orange Free State Railway IMR - Imperial Military Railway Locomotive Builders ALCO American Locomotive Co, USA & Canada KS Kerr, Stuart & Co Ltd, California Works, Stoke-on-Trent, England BLW Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, PA, USA LH Linke Hoffmann A.G., Germany BM Berliner Maschinenbau A.G.,Berlin, Germany (Form. L. Schwartzkopff) Maf Maffei A.G., Munich, Germany (later part of Kr-M) Bor A. Borsig Gmbh, Berlin-Tegel, Germany MLW Montreal Locomotive Works, Montreal, Canada BP Beyer, Peacock & Co Ltd, Manchester, England MV Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co Ltd, Manchester, England Bre Breda, Italy MW Manning, Wardle & Co Ltd, Leeds, England D Dubs & Co, Glasgow, Scotland (Later part of NBL) NB North British Locomotive Co Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland EE English Electric Co Ltd, Preston, England N Neilson & Co, Glasgow, Scotland (later NR) FB Societe Franco-Belge, La Croyere, Belgium NR Neilson, Reid & Co Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland Essl Maschinen Fabrik Esslingen A.G. Esslingen, Germany (Form. E. Kessler) O&K Orenstein & Koppel A.G., Berlin, Germany GE General Electric Co, Erie, PA, USA. P Peckett & Sons Ltd, Bristol, England GM General Motors Electro-Motive-Division, La Grange, Illinois, USA RS Robert Stephenson & Co Ltd, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England GM(SA) GM loco built under licence by GM South Africa, Port Elizabeth, Cape. RSH Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd, Newcastle-on-Tyne and Darlington, England. Hano Hannoverische Maschinenbau A.G., Hannover-Linden, Germany Salt River South African Railways, Salt River Workshops Hartmann Richard Hartmann AG, Chemnitz, Germany (later Sachsische Maschinenfabrik) Schw L. Schwartkopff, Berlin, Germany (later BM) Hen Henschel & Sohn Gmbh, Kassel, Germany Sko Skoda Werke, Plzen, Czechoslovakia HE Hunslet Engine Co Ltd, Leeds, England SLM Schweizerische Lokomotiv und Maschinenfabrik, Winterthur, Switzerland. Hohen Hohenzollern AG, Germany SS Sharp, Stewart & Co Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland HSP Haine St Pierre, Belgium UCW Union Carriage and Wagon Co (Pty) Ltd,, Nigel, Transvaal HT Hunslet Taylor Consolidated (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, Transvaal VF Vulcan Foundry Ltd, Newton-le-Willows, England K Kitson & Co, Leeds, England Werk Ned. Fab. van Werktuigen & Spoorwegmaterieel (Werkspoor), Utrecht, Holland Kru Friedrich Krupp Maschinenfabriken, Essen, Germany Category A Locomotives (Locomotives recommended for SAHRA Heritage Status) The role of the “A List” locomotives in the development of South Africa The first railways in South Africa in Durban and Cape Town both opened in 1860.