Yet another classic dining saloon that rotted while under the “care” of Sanrasm in Randfontein. Shashi (229), has had major water damage to her interior from a leaking roof and a broken window and it seemed as if would become yet another memory of our once glorious railway heritage. Her kitchen was housed in a separate coach that was also rotting away at Sanrasm, although she was on a different line altogether. In spite of the decay, Shashi was still beautiful, and when I last saw her in July 2012 she had been covered with a tarpaulin, stripped down, and was being restored. I believe she was amongst the vehicles that were moved to Reefsteamers and that she can be re-united with her kitchen (Coach 282) and return to service as a preserved vehicle.
Shashi’s kitchen and compartment coach (no: 282) somehow ended up on a different line to the seating part of the dining saloon set, and, she was in a much better condition. This coach not only contained a kitchen but also compartments for kitchen staff. And on the exterior she had a windowed corridor side as well as a service side. When I last saw her in 2012 she had been restored on the exterior, but a lot of work needed doing in her interior. She was however one of the more complete coaches that Sanrasm had.
© DRW 2009-2018. Moved to blog 18/01/2015.