JULIEO – THE TRAIN OF FAME

The famous ‘Julieo’ alias Eleven Twenty Seven train was donated to Middelburg in 1972 where she rested for 26 years at Steve Twshete Local Municipality in Middelburg Mpumalanga.

The train was rescued by Mrs. Anna-Marth Ott, CEO of Middelburg Chamber of Commerce

Then the imaginative BIG move started for this 61 ton Locomotive.  Months of planning to get the timing 100% for this move to the Busmid Building at the Chamber of Commerce. The big day was on the 6 October 2010, the town was filled with Riggers, Safety Managers, Managers CEO’s of the sponsors, 71 ton Crane, and Lowbed Trucks, it seemed like Middelburg was moving.

The moving action took a full 12 hours to complete. Julieo had to be treated for some serious ‘einas’ that happened as a result of a lack of maintenance over the 26 years at the municipality.

Nothing ever runs smoothly. During the lifting process to place Julieo on her new laid tracks at the Busmid Building in front of Dros, the crane had to put her down because the ground was unstable and the huge crane’s feet started sinking into the ground

 

At 18h18 Julieo was placed on her new honored tracks for a well deserved rest and renovation that will be driven by the Middelburg Rotarians.

This day would never have been possible without the generous sponsorships from:


Steve Tshwete Local Municipality-Steam Locomotive- Escorting the low beds and controlling of traffic, Johan Janse van Rensburg/ Marius Brits-Project Manager/Planning, Builders Market-Building material, Siyakana Construction- Building, Quick Step-Concrete for foundation, Van Wettens-Transport, Johan Lee Bouers- Filling Sand, Ammeka Industries-Lifting equip. testing, Midplan Vervoer/Cemsquared/Hytec- Filling Sand, Columbus Stainless-Lifting Equipment/manpower, EPA- Survey of new area, Kanonkop Hardware-Barrier tape and Vests, F&K Engineering-Palisade modifications /loco, ME Industries-Transport of lifting Equip., Johnson Crane Hire-Crane, Schalk Smit-Labour, Sakkie Swart- Rigging Supervisor, Kanhym Estates-Gazebo, Little Elephant-Sound System, Dros- Parking Area and Umbrella's, Stimela Rail-Rails & Gravel, Executive Risk Control- Security Guards, Optimum Coal-Rigging equipment, Talisman-Compactors.