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Historic ESKOM steam locomotives under threat.

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The historic 1879 built KITSON was taken out of the yard in 2016, repainted and plinthed in the Rosherville complex and appears secure but the others make quite a woeful sight.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times-daily/news/2021-03-03-eskoms-plans-to-restore-heritage-steam-engines-get-derailed/ The five locomotives still in the yard are all unique BARCLAY, 1907 built 2-4-0T originally Jersey Railway (Channel Islands) No.

5 and the only survivor of that railway – it came to SA in 1928 HUNSLET, 1902 built 2-6-0ST, the last survivor of a design originally built as Table Bay Harbour Board locomotives AVONSIDE, 1928 built 4-8-2T and the last survivor of the “Super Avonside” design meant as a competitor to the North British 4-8-2T design HENSCHEL, 1950 built 2-6-2T an unusual one-off ordered by ESKOM for coal traffic “BERLINER”, 1926 built 0-6-0T, originally Blinkpan Colliery The positive side of this story is that it elicited a positive response that clearly opens the door to partners coming in and assisting ESKOM to save these very historic locomotives from a decay into oblivion.

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