Millsite scrapping - HRASA statements and letters

[Chris Janisch]

Can't get into the locked HRASA forum despite requests!
Only news through grapevine is that signing will take place sometime in the next 2 weeks. There may well be an extension of a few months. The trouble is that everyone, including RS and SIA, are losing interest in Millsite. There are other more important things the clubs need to do. Mark I think is now keeping quiet in case a statement made prevokes criticism.
The whole situation is very sad and entirely in line with the proceedings over the last decade.

[John Ashworth]

Can't get into the locked HRASA forum despite requests!

HRASA officials often claim that the only reason the wider South African heritage rail community doesn't know what's going on is because they are not members of HRASA. But FOTR is a member of HRASA, and Chris is our representative on the HRASA Board, and yet he is often not informed of things. Hence we, as a HRASA member, are also not informed. Poor communication by HRASA officials to their own members is a key problem and has been for years.

[Dylan Knott]

What is the point of an HRASA forum if no one else can access it? Who else is currently on the forum?

Comments are spot on regarding lack of communication.

[Dylan Knott]

If RS and SIA do pull out then we have a major problem. Who or how else will these locos be moved?

Has the deadline been extended?

Have not heard a thing from anyone regarding this saga for almost 3 weeks!

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Dylan, what can one say. There is such an air of secrecy and official secrets act allows a 50 year waiting period before all can be revealed. Please keep me informed when I am in heaven, as you should still be around!

[Gabor Kovacs]

Over this past weekend, Mark Robinson finally published the following on SAR_L Digest List.

Mark Robinson wrote;

Good day listees

Despite asking that I be disconnected from the list this has not happened ....
so ....

Some news;
1. The situation regarding Millsite and Humewood Road assets is that all
HRASA-owned items have now been specifically marked as such and these items have
also been officially eliminated from the latest Transnet Asset Register received
on Friday. At Millsite guards have been put in place by TFHP and the scrappers
have been given the go-ahead to continue their work except within the
"compound", where the items that are not being accepted by HRASA will only be
cut after the HRASA assets have been removed.

2. Removal of HRASA assets is, not withstanding the above, still on hold pending
the signing of the official document now agreed by both parties. There was a
long delay caused by a last-minute concern within Transnet over possible tax
implications with respect to the donation of such a large asset inventory.
Thanks to a personal contact at SARS the writer now holds an official letter
from them clarifying the matter to everyone's satisfaction. Transnet had, in the
meantime added a clause to the draft donation document that effectively exempted
HRASA from any taxation that might be applicable.

3. All this means that HRASA expects to be signing the official document
shortly.

4. Please note that the HRASA web site that some apparently IT-challenged
persons claim is "secret", has been available to all at http://www.hrasa.co.za since
its inception - not really difficult to find! The site is in its infancy, so
don't expect too much of it yet, but it is there and open to all.

5. And to close - and regrettably only of use to SA residents - please note that
Pasella (TV2, Wednesday, 19h30) will this week include a feature on Sandstone.

Regards
Mark / HRASA

Mark, Thank you kindly for making the effort in keeping us all informed, however I just wish it would be on a bit more regularly basis!
With regards to point #3 of your statement; when will the signing to these documents take place, and when will HRASA and SIA give the "right of way" for the Millsite "Groot Trek"?
Please note that there are only a few weeks left before the start of the summer steam season starts, which certainly will hamper the "Groot Trek" of Millsite, and possibly may delayed the move to next years winter season if action does not start very soon!

[Dylan Knott]

Which locos are now going to be moved?
Which locos are now going to be cut?

I hope someone will be moving the saved locos out of the current scrap lines!

[Dylan Knott]

Someone needs to go check which locos are marked and which aren't marked. There was a sarlist posting which seemed to indicate that some were marked and others weren't.

[Steve Appleton]

This from Les Smith on SAR-L 27-July-2008

Hi Stewart & Listees,

Decided to go and have a look-see at Millsite to-day Sunday the 27th
of July 2008.

The scrappers have fled the scene of the crime, but not before they
had cut up everthing that was left at the coal stage area.(with the
exception of the GEA) This area is now a greater eyesore than before
the cutting started, what with thousands of bits & pieces just lying
around.

The scrappers had also moved into the compound area and have
scrapped what was left of the burn out/damaged coaches.

The following locomotives within the compound area have now been
marked "Keep - HARASA - 23/06/08":

2820,840,462,723,1211,1555,1979,375,1474,870,2260,2292,776,781,103,20
60,1820,1733,1791,2709,2199,2540,3451, E511, & E219. A total of 25
locomotives. I assume the other un-marked locomotives within the
compound have been ear marked for SIA?

Regards,
Les Smith.

[Dylan Knott]

Yes, what about the locos that are unmarked? No mention of 12A 2111 which is still staged in the scrap lines!

Some of these are incorrectly marked such as what is 1211?