SHADOWS OF STEAM!!!
Many golden years of Steam went pass and today we only live in the shadows of Steam. The Steam locomotive once was to see everywhere and today only a handful remains in preservation. So many locomotives lost their lives in the struggle to modernization and we pray that the few that is left will be saved for ever. We all should stand together and fight for what is left because the shadows of these Giant Machines are getting all smaller.
LOCOMOTIVE NEWS FROM SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY!
During the last week all our smaller locomotives were "coaled" with wood as part of a wood fire experiment.
The Feldbahn and little O&K loaded with wood!
THE SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY STEAMS AGAIN!
On Tuesday last week we had the opportunity to steam our Class NG 15 number 17 for 250 school children. The Ng 15 was shunted out and was steamed again. As she raised steam she brought life to the Railway again.
While the tender filled up we added the required water treatment that is needed to soften the scale inside the boiler. Because of the Oxygen scavenger we now can keep the water inside the boiler for 3 months with no fear of corrosion of the boiler or tubes.
The NG 15 eager to show off!
Life!
The passenger consists of 10 coaches just outside the Wagon shed.
The NG 15 was hooked to the consist and proper vacuum brake tests were done to ensure that the train in safe before departure.
An exciting moment as the Ng 15 starts beating with a full rake of passenger coaches departing for Hoekfontein Station.
We were an hour early, enough time to shine her up for a special trip to the Lesotho border.
The Guards Van shining with a fresh coat of Varnish. The main frame was painted black again during the week and the second wood van also was painted and varnished inside the Wagon shed.
The NG 15 steaming impatiently in Hoekfontein South yard awaiting the buses to arrive.
Our fireman for the day, Wouter.
A perfect day!
Excited children running to get the best seat.
The children could not wait and within minutes our little passengers were seated, ready to go! Wouter prepared the fire and the whistle blew!
Slowly the NG 15 started steaming out of Hoekfontein Station and tackled 1/70 gradient towards Grootdraai.
The NG 15 taking the curve near the Airport.
All the children hang out like one man to watch the NG 15 steaming her heart out.
The day was gone and we stabled the NG 15. The next day it was time to fix the little repairs that were found during steaming.
The left side gauge column was leaking and the gauge glass was renewed with new rubbers.
The old hardened gauge glass rubber, no good anymore!
The large ejector cone cap nut was leaking and was removed and the leak was rectified.
The class NGG 16's bearings were greased with white bearing grease this week.
Henk manufactured a new spindle packing nut for the O&K clack box.
RIDING THE RAILS WITH REEFSTEAMERS
This weekend we had the privilege to travel with the Reefsteamers behind their immaculate Class 12 Ar number 1535. We arrived early on Saturday morning before they departed. Driver Chris Saayman prepared the locomotive and we departed on an unforgettable trip to Magaliesberg and back again.
Soon the train departed for Maruisburg where all the passengers boarded the train.
Maruisburg Station.
Susan posing her Sexy body in Magaliesberg Station!
The 12 AR ready to depart back to Germiston.
Driver Chris Saayman who was in control of our train.
Below: Running through Johannesburg Station on the last stretch towards Germiston. Many thanks to all the friendly dedicated Reefsteamers team who made our day! To listen to the Class 12 AR beating her hart out brought back many memories of the good old days and also made me sad to know that we now only lives in a small shadow of Steam that is kept alive by only a handful of dedicated people taking hands to keep these magnificent machines alive.
Steam Locomotives disappeared at an unbelievable rate over the last couple of years and many fights were lost to save these living machines from the torch, luckily some were saved and sometimes by individuals like Oscar Sabatini from Kimberley who now owns a couple of locomotives. He now have one 25NC, 2 x 19A, 2 x 12R and 2 Class 3BR's on his stock list.
One of the Class 12R's of Richard standing in Kimberley.
Another North British tank locomotive being preserved in Beaconsfield.
WAGON NEWS!
The last three XC tanker wagons were spray painted this week and the yellow parts were painted as well.
The XC cosmetic restoration in progress.
These XC wagons will be completed during this week and will be stenciled to finish the picture.
Petrus busy spraying the XC with Red Oxide.
THE XC WATER TANKER
The restoration of the XC water tanker was completed this week.
Wouter welded the marker and marker lamp supports onto the XC to fill the detail in and to make the wagon more attractive.
Danger signage was fitted on both sides of the wagon and the next and final step will be to stencil the wagon with the correct wording.
A name board Tamara was fitted onto the XC wagon so that it can be coupled onto number 88 when she arrives next week.
Silver stripes were painted around the XC barrel to add to her looks!
We could not decide but at the end we did fit a cow catcher on the rear end of the wagon, just like in the old days.
THE DINING CAR
The main frame was painted black as well as the roof. The dining car was varnished and we now only await the delivery of the PWD brown paint to complete the cosmetic restoration.
Wouter almost finished with the black paint work that was needed.
A shining dining car during shunting movements!
NG O WAGON NUMBER 3771
The first NG O wagon from Gamtoos arrived on the Farm during last week. The wagon was offloaded and shunted down to the Steam Shed for restoration. These Gamtoos NG O wagons are still in a very good condition and easy to bring back to operational condition.
Number 3771 at her new home!
The NG O was offloaded and shunted down to the shed where her mechanical side of restoration was completed. She is now ready to be hooked on a consist.
Wouter removed all the old axle box wool and packed it with new soaked wool.
The cavuum cylinder was removed and a new roller ring was fitted with a neck ring. A new vacuum release valve was fitted and the corroded piston was replaced with a good secondhand rod.
The Hunslet was coupled to perform the necessary vacuum brake tests and brake efficiency test.
The second NG O wagon also arrived on Friday and is currently on the Inspection pit for a full under frame inspection and will be in next weeks report!
RAIL NEWS
During the last week we fitted new sign boards that were needed on the Sandstone Steam Railway. Flint construction made huge progress with the upgrading of our Railway line and was working close to the horse shoe curve near the Vailima farm school last week Friday. Len completed the breaking of the concrete to enable us to fit the new beams over the ashpit in Hoekfontein Station.
The new signboards in place at Vailima Halt siding.
The broken up concrete on the ash pit in Hoekfontein Station.
The jackhammer was used to break the concrete holding the old beams
Wouter fitted back the point blades of the points to the coal shed that was badly bended. We asked Flint construction to straighten the blades with a jimcrow.
A neat piece of work by Flint, the first 270 meters curve on the line between Vailima and Vailima Halt siding.
Flint construction's plate layers finished all the curves on the line between Vailima and the Horse Shoe curve.
Flint on the way towards the Horse shoe curve.
A major slack in the line in eminent just in front of the plate layers.
Flint Construction has send down another crew to speedup the upgrading process of the Railway line.
The branches of the trees through the S curves were cut.
OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK!!!
• To complete the restoration of all 3 XC wagons
• To finish the mechanical restoration of the second NG O wagon from Gamtoos
• To collect the third NG O from Gamtoos.
• To coal all the locomotives.
• To spray the weeds on the Railway line.
• To commission the last boilers.
• Cosmetic upgrading of the second Van
• The cosmetic upgrading of the two Little Bess Coaches.
• Upgrading of the Railway line
• To make up 100 bags of coal.
• Cosmetic upgrading of NGG 2836.
STEAM GREETINGS
FROM THE STEAM TEAM!