The SANRASM locomotive site at Mclean Street, Chamdor.
I originally visited this site in 2007, and was amazed to even see it existed.
But at that stage alarm bells were ringing. Who in their right mind would
actually site these locomotives in an unfenced and unlit area right next to a
squatter camp? It was only a matter of time before they got stripped and in
2010 somebody started in earnest. I visited the site in September 2010 and
while I was there they were busy stealing bits off the locomotives. The
difference between what I saw before (casual theft) and what I saw now is that
whoever is busy doing it now has heavy equipment and cutting gear and has been
at it for a long time. I am trying to present before and after pics wherever
possible, but I am afraid I was not able to take as many as I would have liked.
I leave you to make you own conclusions as to who is to blame. Images open in a
new window and some may be mirrored to present a better comparison between
before and after.
15 September 2010. Reclam have started cutting the loco's up to prevent the
carnage and to obtain funds to secure the other heritage material at Sanrasm
sites.
18 September 2010. Cutting continues. By my reckoning 10 Loco's have now been
cut up. They are now busy in the third row.
24 September 2010. Its almost over, the S Classes are gone, the tank locos are
gone, by early next week there will be nothing left. Oh, did I mention it is
Heritage Day?
27 September 2010. Still a few to go, but most loco's have been started on. One
is marked "do not cut" probably because its infested with bees.
02 October. Nothing left except for a cab and the remants of the 7th class and a few piles of scrap with semi recognisable bits in it. Ironically, while looking through the pics I discovered that a new loco had been added in since my original pics and the cutting pics.
Good Earth Co-ordinates to Chamdor (KMZ file)
, or use
26° 8'27.47"S 27°48'21.35"E
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This image was taken on 02 October 2010
