READERS’ REPORTS
Contributions for this section should be sent to the Editorial Office, with the following exceptions:
• Southern Africa – John Middleton, c/o Editorial Office. Email: johnmiddleton3401@gmail.com
• South America – Lionel Price, 9, Liverpool Road West, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 1PE. Email: jldprice@btinternet.com
• Spain & Portugal – Joan Carles Salmeron, c/o Editorial Office. Email: cet@terminus.cat
Contributions which are primarily photographic in nature should all be sent to the Editorial Office to give the best choice of material for covers etc. Similarly historical articles and features should be sent to the Editor. The Editor’s contact details are inside the front cover.
AFRICA
MOZAMBIQUE
CFM One of the new Indian built locomotives, D333, was dropped about 15 metres onto the quayside in India during ship loading. A video which appeared on You Tube appears to show one of the four wire hoisting ropes failing, the locomotive landing on its roof. The locomotive will certainly be a write off and will presumably be returned to the builders for component recovery.
SOUTH AFRICA
Steam Heritage Four locomotives are being moved from Bloemfontein shed to the Sandstone Heritage Trust near Ficksburg. The first to go was GMAM 4114 on 20th August 2021. This received quite a lot of media attention as it was stated to be the largest locomotive moved by road in South Africa. This is probably true as a complete Garratt is not known to have been moved by road previously, any such moves previously have required the locomotive to be split into three parts. The next was 24 class 3688 moved a few days later while due to follow are 11 class 929 and 19D class 2654. The latter was in working order having been restored by Sandstone but its boiler certificate has likely now expired. The only work it has ever done were short test trips from Bloemfontein shed, it has never worked a public train as far as is known. Sandstone also intends to move its locomotives currently at Reefsteamers Germiston to Wonder Steam at Hermanstad in Pretoria.
TFR Further new Bombardier Co-Co electric locomotives placed in service have been 23073 noted at Beaconsfield on 5th August, followed by 23075, 23076 and 23077 on 17th August.
Following the shipment of former Queensland diesels 2263 and 2265 back to Australia, others have followed including 2253, 2254, 2270 plus one
