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11 June 2009
589 was moved from its temporary place of storage to other under-cover accommodation today, when, once again, the Scammell Crusader did the towing.
Work will now start on renovating the body's steel framework, starting with the lower deck area of the off-side. We hope the restoration of no. 589 can be completed and the vehicle running again under power by the beginning of May 2012, but, of course, this very much depends on funding being available. Click here for details of how to make a donation to the Johannesburg 589 Fund.
24 April 2009
Johannesburg 589 has arrived in the UK!
The MV Talia, with Johannesburg 589 on board, arrived on schedule at 06.00 on Friday, 24 April 2009 at Southampton. 589 was duly taken off the ship at around 11.00 using a preserved ex-army Scammell Crusader and prepared for its journey to Berkshire.
After clearance by Customs, and paying outstanding charges to the shipping line, 589 was released to exit the port. The following tow went well, although there was a slight mishap whilst on the A31 when the nearside trolleyboom broke free despite having been securely tied down: corrosion of the boom hooks appears to have been the cause, as the hook itself broke off. Fortunately, no damage was sustained.
We would like to put on record our thanks to all who have assisted us in getting this far - most particularly our towing contractors in South Africa - Cash Towing; our shipping agents in South Africa - Compass Logistics CC and the shipping line, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, whose personnel we have had contact with have been, without exception, extremely helpful and efficient.
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Number 589 is towed off the ship |
Number 589 continues its journey along British roads |
Arrival at temporary home near Reading |
14 April 2009
Johannesburg 589 is scheduled to arrive in Britain on Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines’ “roll on – roll off” vessel MV Talia on Friday, 24 April. It is then planned to tow it to temporary storage in Berkshire pending the finalising of restoration plans.
9 April 2009
We are honoured to report that the family of the late John Gillham, the well known and well respected transport historian, have agreed that instead of flowers at his funeral, donations should be given to the Johannesburg 589 fund. John, aged 91, was extremely enthusiastic about the scheme to obtain no.589 for preservation in the UK and was keenly following developments in the planning of the project, almost wanting to be part of the party going to Durban ! Sadly, John passed away peacefully the day that John Shearman and Francis Whitehead left for Durban.
7 April 2009
Two members of the Johannesburg 589 Group, John Shearman and Francis Whitehead, flew to Durban on 22 March 2009 to undertake an initial assessment of the vehicle’s condition before deciding whether to proceed with the project and prepare 589 for its journey to the UK.
Over the next few days much remedial and tidying up work took place on 589, final arrangements for the shipping – including appointing a shipping agent –were made, agreement for us to film in the dock area was confirmed and the tow from 589’s temporary storage at a Durban City Council depot to the port was arranged.
The tow to the docks took place on Sunday morning, 29 March and was duly photographed and videoed. After some last moment “red tape” problems on the quayside the following day, 589 was finally put on board Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines’ “roll on – roll off” vessel MV Talia at about 4.00pm, ready for a scheduled departure at 2.00am the following morning.
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| 589 stood in the South African sunshine | 589 on tow | 589 arrrives at the dockyard | 589 is towed onto the boat |
6 April 2009
Details of the dedicated bank account for the “Johannesburg 589 Fund” have now been received.
The account is with HSBC plc:
Sort Code: 40-31-06
Account Number: 32388588
Account Name: Johannesburg 589 Fund
Donations can be paid directly into this account (please include your Surname, initials, house number/name and postcode as payment reference), or cheques (made payable to “Johannesburg 589 Fund”) can be sent to:
The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
Belton Road
Sandtoft
Doncaster
North Lincolnshire
DN8 5SX.
Donors who are UK tax payers are urged to Gift Aid their contributions to enable a further 28% in tax reclaim to go towards 589’s restoration appeal. Click Here for fuller details of how to make a donation to the Johannesburg 589 Fund.
