Natal debacle for overseas steam tour

[John Ashworth]

See attached article. The date and newspaper name are not supplied, but it's very recent - May 2013.

[Simon Anderson]

Not all of Natal steam heritage was involved in this @#$% up! Just so its clear to all whom may think this is what Natal has to offer,other groups in Natal (USR) were not involved with this tour from the start and were not asked to be part of this tour at the beginning! As this mess unfolded the USR committee decided to offer some help to Geoff Cooke,with a day on the Usr operation at short notice(2 days) only one day could be offered because members had to take off work to provide this little life line that was well recieved by all who attended! A poor display by a poorly run "operation" with clearly no person capable of putting on the show that was paid for?! Some would say what way forward for that "operation"

[Steve Appleton]

The paper was the Witness. A reporter was apparently there at the time. On appeal, HRASA stepped in and working together with its with top-level contacts within TFR management, helped save the day as best was possible at that very late stage. This is not to imply that TFR was necessarily at fault. Regrettably because I am on the board of HRASA, I cannot add any more comment on the facts of the matter.

[John Ashworth]

I think this is the same newspaper article but it seems to have a second page with more pictures - attached

[John Ashworth]

Geoof Cooke has posted a comment on the sar-L:

You are quite correct that there were extreme problems in Natal. The tour was quoted for by TFR, payment was made well in advance and when the YQ was requested, it was refused on the grounds that the line was closed. However, I am not in a position yet to portion blame, and further investigation will be needed to do so. On the last day of the 5 day tour we did get approval for Creighton to Riverside, through the good offices of HRASA and the chief executive of Transnet. Umgeni came to the rescue on the Wednesday with an excellent day, high marks to them for getting things together so efficiently mid week. The other days were filled with Patons Country and photography within the limit of protection of Creighton with the two locomotives. Whatever the reason for this incompetence, it will be hard to convince me to return to South Africa (except for Sandstone, which went well).

In contrast, Zimbabwe was excellent. Total co-operation from NRZ, adequate timekeeping, good locos and trains exactly as requested, first class crew and runpasts.

Our last day in Bulawayo, tomorrow we go to Selebe Phikwe and then to Johannesburg where the tours end...

The article from The Witness can be found online:

Steam train tourism: Is it on the right track?