No 17 during 1934 In June 1934 the System Manager, SAR, Bloemfontein, used the coach. It was in a bad state of repair and it was suggested that it be withdrawn from service. In July 1934 the Minister suggested that the Curator of the Kruger House Museum be approached to take the coach over from the Railway Administration. In Minute No 219/26 the Minister agreed that the coach be restored as nearly as possible to its original state and presented free of charge to the Kruger House Museum. The curator declined the offer. The coach was then offer to the Transvaal Museum who accepted it as a special exhibit for the Kruger House Museum. The CME, Pretoria, took up the question of restoring the vehicle to its original state. During January 1935 drawings and photographs were obtained from the makers in Holland. On instructions from the Minister it was established that No 17 was definitely the coach used by Pres. Kruger. On account of the heavy expenditure involved, the restoration work was abolished. During 1941 the question of exhibiting the coach was raised by the Kruger-genootskap. An appeal was made to staff through the medium of the Weekly Notice.6 During May 1942 the CME advised that various articles were found and the cost of restoration would amount to between 12,000 – 15,000 pounds. He suggested that the work be held in abeyance. During July 1942 the CME reported that far more of the original vehicle was available than was first anticipated and recommended that the restoration work be held over until after the War. During June 1948 the matter was brought up again. The coach was staged at the Railway Museum, Kaalfontein. The Minister was advised that the vehicle was to be restored as nearly as possible to its original state. On the 10th March 1951 Dr Bigalke advised Minister PO Sauer that the Transvaal Museum Board wished to inform him that space was available in the backyard of the Kruger house in Church Street, Pretoria. The coach could be staged there where thousands of visitors could view it. On the 14th April 1951 the Minister instructed that offer be accepted and the coach be transferred to the Kruger House.
6
See Weekly Notice 2721 dated 6-2-1941.
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