Nathan Berelowitz adds his two cents’ worth, updating Pierre’s historic look-back:

“How wonderful it would be if there was an expression of interest in assisting with the restoration of this magnificent locomotive – the highly esteamed 2850. This was the last one outshopped from Koedoespoort works and there are one of two still serviceable 15CA locomotives in clubs’ hands.

“Yes, some twenty small tubes are needed and a lot of the usual work, but she is in good shape and in fact there is even some of our own CA funding available from an account we opened for her years ago. To this account we have been depositing kind donations from foreign steam fans and the once-regular tour operators to this country like Dave Rodgers.

“Many thanks for the headstart. Now, if we can get the local lads to give the small change that we all seem to have in these recessionary times, into this account, I am sure we will make leaps and bounds in getting Pretoria to wake up to the harsh bark of a CA in full cry as she storms past the informal settlements blanketing the hills of Panpoort.

“Perhaps the ghosts of station foremen past will once more witness this spectacle as the forgotten ring of a Van Schoor instrument and the jingle of signal wires heralds 2850′s arrival.

“This last weekend, whilst firing the 19D on a Cullinan train, I had a good look at Panpoort, and observed the changes of progress. There is now a big game fence running on the southern side, past where the old railway houses once stood. Two steel rails planted in the ground remain to show the gate to someone’s yard. A few traces of concrete foundation remain to show where the old station building was. On the north side there are now huge power lines to spoil the kopje shot. Slowly but surely the informal settlements are getting nearer. The sand road is boomed off and it is not so easy to get close to the track after that. Heavy lorries carting sand make huge dust trails on dry summer days, obliterating the black smoke from the locomotive.

“However, the echoes of the exhaust still ring off the hills and they will forever capture that sound even through the march of time.

“Save the Steam, Save a CA. Give now, while you are still employed!!”

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