Rapid response gains Sibiu its own steam loco
Efforts to preserve the Sibiu-Agnita Railway have been boosted by the acquisition of one of the original steam locos that worked on the line (reports Alasdair Stewart of SAR UK).
Romanian NGOs and members of the line’s British supporters group SARUK moved quickly to rescue 764.158, an 0-8-0T built by the former Malaxa works in Bucharest in 1949, for preservation and restoration to working order on the 760mm line in Transylvania.
When the original section of the line between Sighișoara and Agnita was closed in the 1960s 764.158 was left on display in front of Sighisoara main-line station.
The locomotive is reasonably complete, but has deteriorated over the years in the open air with some parts having been removed from it.
Over the weekend of 7th-8th August the SAR preservation society (Asociația Prietenii Mocaniței) in Sibiu learned that the locomotive would be put up for auction in Bucharest two days later, together with other narrow-gauge items, following the insolvency of Societatea Feroviara de Turism, one of the successor state-owned companies established on the division of the former state railway corporation, CFR.
While pandemic travel restrictions have prevented volunteer working parties travelling to Romania from the UK, Asociația Prietenii Mocaniței continues to be assisted by a close network of British supporters, many of whom are well-known in the UK heritage railway sector.
The group was able to call upon the help of one of these supporters, Neil McGregor, an expatriate commercial lawyer in Bucharest dealing with legal aspects of the SAR restoration project.
Following calls and messages between Sibiu, Bucharest and the UK, support from the various parties was co-ordinated and Asociația Prietenii Mocaniței received offers of financial support. This allowed a successful bid for the loco to be made at the auction in Bucharest on 10th August.
The purchase price was contributed in equal parts by SARUK and Bill Parker of the Flour Mill workshop, who is also a member of the UK group. Transport costs from Sighișoara to the current operating section of the SAR between Cornățel and Hosman have been funded by the New Europe Railway Heritage Trust.
The loco was successfully moved to Cornățel on 24th August and was on display there during the steam weekend organised by Asociația Prietenii Mocaniței on 11th-12th September.
764.158 is now in secure covered accommodation for the first time in many years which will allow a start to be made on restoring it to working order.
Specialists from the UK will inspect the loco this autumn with a view to preparing a plan for its restoration to the highest standards and display as a working piece of Romania’s heritage.
Both British and Romanian supporters of the SAR hope that this project will serve as a model for the sustainable future preservation of other historic Romanian locos which are currently left unprotected in the open air, including further motive power which also formerly worked on the SAR.
Asociația Prietenii Mocaniței president Mihai Blotor was delighted with the rescue of the loco “for the future of the SAR and for the people of Sibiu and the Hârtibaciu valley.
“It is coming back to a good home which will look after it properly and respect its historic status, as well as showing to a new generation how steam locomotives work,” he said.
Referring to Royal support recently gained by the SAR (NGW154) he added; “In particular, we look forward to showing the locomotive to our supporters and to the public – and especially HRH the Prince of Wales on his next visit.”