Roodepoort Station

[Derek Walker]

This is the road side of a portion of Roodepoort station. I do intend going back there to try photograph the loco so hope to have new pics one day (if ever the weather improves...)

roodepoortcity02.jpg (88.29 KiB) Viewed 3858 times

[Dylan Knott]

Very easy to remove that loco as well. Would be interested to see what condition its in. 10th class?

[Gabor Kovacs]

Dylan, from years gone by, apparently as I have been told that when this engine, No 750 was plinthed at Roodepoort Station, it was in excellent working order.

She was first plinthed on the northern side of the main station building, i.e., on the left hand side of station building as depicted by Derek Walkers’ picture.
But in the late 80’s the station received a major facelift, and the loco had to be relocated to outside and in-front of the main station building to make way for the then new overhead concrete footbridge!

Since 750’s relocations, which is unfortunately right in the middle of the informal market and Taxi rank, the loco has lost all here brass and copper fittings, and also provides accommodation for the local squatters.

So sad to see this loco 750, going to waste! This definitely clearly depicts the signs and short-comings of how much funding, man-power and other resources are required to get this loco preserved properly, let alone back to full working order is required.

[Dylan Knott]

I know of someone looking for a plinthed loco. This one will do nicely as it never needs to run again either. We should try and save what we can before there is nothing left.

[Derek Walker]

Dylan, did you see the pics I posted of her on the Plinthed locos gallery? I have to admit she didnt seem in too bad a condition, OK, most of her fittings are gone and the hawkers use her, but I was wondering, there is a very nice little 6A at Millsite just looking for a home (or a plinth), wouldnt trying to save one of the Millsite loco's make more sense?

[Dylan Knott]

Absolutely, but for some reason its a bit difficult getting anything out of Millsite. Its not rare as their are a few others around and one at Uitenhage preserved properly.

[Gabor Kovacs]

Dylan, the very same obstacles that impede further developments at Millsite WILL impede you on this one too. This loco as well as the Class 10 on Springs Station also belongs to THF, not the local municipality/(ies)

Until some clarity concerning Millsite is reach, and very quickly too, with hopeful future positive developments there, it will be a very futile effort to even consider moving this loco or any other that may be plinthed at or in front of railway stations, as many are still actually the property of Transnet (THF).

[Derek Walker]

Rationally, removal of the Roodepoort loco would then give Roodepoort station much more space for taxi mayhem and hawkers and passengers. Currently its really sitting in the way of the whole place and I am sure they would love to get rid of it.

[Dylan Knott]

Yes, but not for scrap. SANRASM may be keen :-)

[Derek Walker]

But what worries me is, SANRASM seems to have heaps of loco's already, some sitting in a siding rusting gently away, they have a area in Randfontein that no longer is accessible to the public and I dont see what they would do with her. They have a few locos earmarked at millsite too... I would hate to see her scrapped, but by the same token I hate seeing her like this. At least at Roodepoort station she is inconveniencing a whole wodge of taxi drivers.