Les Pivnic has sent us an article he wrote on David Shepherd for the SASSAR magazine in December 1969. We know you will enjoy his recollections of David from over 40 years ago. Click here or on the above picture to read PDF

Very few organisations have had the opportunity to interact with David Shepherd over so many years and in the process to cover his two great passions, namely Wildlife Conservation and Railway Preservation.
 
David, in recognition of his efforts, was gifted a large South African Main Line steam locomotive in 1991.  Not long after he received it he asked the Sandstone Heritage Trust to assist him to ensure it was protected and maintained.  It has been a feature of Railway Tourism for many years and has  provided pleasure to many thousands of people. The history of our association with David and his South African   locomotive is covered in a superbly produced YouTube video.  Click here to view.
 
David was so interested in this work and his  loco Avril that he  made a number of trips to South Africa where he  always joined in the fun, participated in the loco’s operations and touched everybody with his smile.  Even in his last days he remained interested in its well-being and loved to receive photos and reports on its latest achievements.
 
On the conservation side, being in Africa, we were very close to issues which the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation was trying to deal with.  We were able to coordinate corporate events and sponsorships which benefitted the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.
 
What impressed us so much in his later years was his unselfish commitment to the cause.  It mattered not how long he had to stay up at night but as long as there were people to talk to he would give of his best.  Essentially David was a man who never retired. 
 
On behalf of the Sandstone Heritage Trust and all South Africans who met him may we express our condolences to the family and say quite simply that he is irreplaceable and we are very sad to witness his passing.

David on the footplate of 3052, “Avril”

David with 3052 “Avril” and the original painting of the locomotive

The September 2017 edition of Getaway magazine has an interesting article by Tyson Jopson on a road trip to the Eastern Free State including a visit to the Stars event in 2017. Click here to read more

We could not resist another shot by Dennis Moore from Loraine Gold Mine near Welkom. This is locomotive 2734 hauling twenty hoppers at the mine from a location called “The Hole” where the usual load was 10 hoppers.

To quote Dennis “Never have I seen a loco abused so much. Every rivet was straining; it made it, crawling past at about 2 mph. Some tremendous wheel slips; no wonder all their tyres were shot. When asked why he dragged twenty out instead of doing two hauls of ten wagons each, the Driver just laughed and said "it was more fun that way!" 

2734 was eventually purchased by Sandstone but scrapped some years ago as  “unrepairable” after all usable components were stripped from the loco. We can probably see why it was in such poor condition from the picture! Sadly mine locomotives suffered daily abuse which is probably why so few are ever restored to working order.

2734 has an interesting history though, in that the original 2734 was built in 1946 as works number 7247 by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn but was lost at sea in the Thames Estuary during delivery. Number 2734 was a replacement for this engine but was built two years later in 1948 as works number 7360 and so was out of sequence with its sisters. It spent some of its life at Bloemfontein and then Klerksdorp from where it was withdrawn from service in 1989 and sold to Loraine.

Nevertheless sister Loraine loco, 1938 Krupp built, 2654, also saved by Sandstone survives today fully restored at Bloemfontein.