"Help Me Please! I am a National Heritage Treasure and I am hurt."

"Until my unfortunate accident on Sunday 20 June 2010, I was a beautiful, recently-restored ex-SA Railways Class 15F locomotive. Now, following my untimely derailment, I am badly damaged and in need extensive repairs to put me back on track. My owners, Friends of the Rail, are a non-profit organisation, so every contribution made (either in cash or in kind) to help repair me will make a big difference"

We at FOTR earnestly appeal for your help to repair No 3117. The damage may only appear to be on the surface but it is still extensive. To be safe, this magnificent machine will have to be stripped, thoroughly examined and re-certified before she can run again. A long and time consuming process. We will be needing money, parts, transport, paint and much labour. The exact repair inventory is still being compiled, but in addition to cash, donations of materials like paint, etc, will be welcomed.

They say "many hands make light work". So if you are able to contribute some of your spare time and labour we would welcome that too. Come and get your hands "dirty", find out how a steam loco works and have the ultimate satisfaction of seeing and feeling your hard work once again become a living, hard-working machine. 

Already the response to our appeal has been absolutely amazing. There is huge love for this machine out there and we really thank all of you who have pledged support.

We are setting up various ways to accept donations. In South Africa, a simple internet electronic transfer to our bank account is all that is needed. For the many international donors, life gets a bit more complicated and expensive.

We promise that your name and donation will be kept confidential and will not be publically divulged unless you specifically want us to announce it. Your donation will be acknowledged with thanks. We also promise that all donations will be accounted for and properly audited as we go along. We will be creating a 3117 newsletter which we will send to those who supply their email addresses (PayPal supplies that automatically) to keep you abreast of progress as it happens.

Please note: Your donation to FOTR is totally voluntary and is irrevocable. FOTR reserves the right to apply any surplus funds, if this should happen, to  other restoration projects, including FOTR's class 15CA locomotive and FOTR's coaching stock. FOTR regrets that surplus funds cannot be "pro rata'd" or returned to donors.

Ways to Donate:

Local SA electronic bank transfer:

Local South African bank account holders may do an electronic transfer to FOTR or deposit cash at any branch of Standard Bank as follows:

Recipient:  Friends of the Rail
Account: 410 773 786
Bank: Standard Bank, Van der Walt Street, Pretoria
Branch Code: 01 01 45 00

Please include your name and "3117" as references. Please fax or email the deposit reciept to fax +27-86-537-0494 email sales@friendsoftherail.com Please be sure to include your name, contact details and your email address.

Credit Card:

You can also donate by credit card. Please download, print out and use the card authorization form. Complete it in full and fax it to our office at +27-86-537-0494. Phone or email to confirm its receipt. Do NOT send your card details by email. Card donations are being very kindly processed by Wilro Tours and Transfers, a SATSA bonded company whose owner, Eugene Armer, is a long-standing member of FOTR and accomplished railway photographer. You can download the form by clicking the blue link here: C,lick for Credit Card donation form 

International transfers via SWIFT:

Recipient: Friends of the Rail
Account: 410 773 786
Bank: Standard Bank, Van der Walt Street, Pretoria
SWIFT Code: SBZAZAJ

Please include your name and "3117" as references. Please fax or email the deposit reciept to fax +27-86-537-0494 email sales@friendsoftherail.com. Please be sure to include your name, contact details and email address.

PayPal:

For those of you who are familiar with it, we have already set up a PayPal donation link right here below on this web page.

To avoid any possible scams, please make sure that the PayPal payment page which appears is "secure" (padlocked), that the recipent account is definately sales@friendsoftherail.com and that the donation amount is correct. If you do not have a PayPal account, it is very easy to instantly sign up for one on the PayPal page that will appear.

To donate using PayPAL:

1. Choose a suitable amount to donate using the "drop-down" box.

2. Then click the PayPal donate link button.