Susan’s centennial celebrations to take place in Heidelberg
First steam train to reach town in more than a decade
Susan’s 100 year celebrations will continue in Heidelberg tomorrow as she is set to arrive at Heidelberg Heritage Museum at 10:00.
But just how many 100-year-olds are out there these days?
In 2012, the United Nations estimated that there were 316,600 living centenarians worldwide.
This is a very rare thing. If you consider 316,600/8 billion people.
“Well, we are able to say that Susan is a very elegant and a proud lady. Although she is not human, she has been serving the South African public with grace and beauty for the past 100 years,” the Reefsteamers said in a statement, an NPO dedicated to the preservation and care of steam locomotives since 1995.
The Susan in question is a class 12AR Steam locomotive that is now in the care of Reefsteamers.
Susan arrived in South Africa in 1919 as part of the first batch of 20 locomotives bought by the SAR from the North British Locomotive Company (NBL) in Scotland.
Also read: Steam locomotives scheduled to return to Heidelberg
Susan and her sister were supposed to be able to handle bigger and heavier loads than the locomotives of the day.
“Our grand old lady has the triple distinction of being the last surviving Class 12AR, Reefsteamers’ oldest operating locomotive and the second oldest operating mainline locomotive in South Africa,” the organisation said.
Susan was restored to steam in 2009 and has become Jozi’s favourite steam train. Since then she has brought an enormous amount of pleasure to old and young.
If you spot her in town tomorrow, do send us your photos!
For more information or to book a ticked visit www.reefsteamers.com
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