RN 205 - Steam Driven - Wednesday 19 July 2006 21:00- 21:30

Wednesday 19 July 2006 21:00-21:30 (Radio 4 FM)
It's almost 40 years since steam disappeared from widespread use on the railways, but the development of steam locomotives has never stopped. Technical advances in fuel, efficiency, design and new materials have been adopted and this 'modern steam' is now pulling many passengers and much freight in several corners of the world.
Claire Barratt meets some of the dedicated engineers working with modernised locomotives and hears about a new design on the drawing board for a 21st Century loco.

RN 207 - SA Rail "Runpast" article - Vol. 44 No. 4 2006 - Rovos Rail and Sandstone

RN 208 - SA Rail Article - Reefsteamers 25NC runs again.

RN 209 - SA Rail Article - David Shepherd reunited with his 15F

RN 210 - Feldbahn returns to Africa

Sandstone Heritage Trust have a (temporary) new charge:

A remarkable story has played out over the last few weeks that sees a locomotive which was exported from Africa in 1999-2000 returning to South Africa for restoration. The locomotive has a very interesting history was built by Henschel in 1915, works no. 13779, and served with the DFB in the First World War. Known as the Feldbahn type, an 0-8-0TT, hundreds of these locomotives were built by a variety of German builders such as Orenstein & Koppel, Hartmann, Schwartzkopff, and others for use on the miles of railways serving the trenches, and at other military installations. After the First World War many of these locomotives were exported around the world and a considerable number found themselves at the Sena Sugar Estates in Mozambique, at the Marromeu and Luabo mills. These closed during the Mocambiquan civil war and most of their locomotives, with the exception of those purchased later by Sandstone, were purchased by a UK based dealer and taken to a quarry in England.

No. 2 at Sena - June 1975. Photograph courtesy of Geoff Cooke.

The collection was gradually sold, finding new homes on preserved railways in England, Wales and Germany, and a couple have been restored to working order. Eventually only three Feldbahns were left and were advertised for sale by a locomotive broker. At the eleventh hour a Swiss enthusiast decided to step in and purchase one, and just in time, for he bought the last remaining example, Sena No. 2. The locomotive is more complete than might be expected and after making enquiries around Europe as to the cost and time scale of getting it restored to working order has chosen Sandstone Heritage Trust as having the skills and expertise as well as cost structure to complete the restoration to a high standard. So Sena No. 2 was loaded into a container and made the long return journey to Africa and has been offloaded in the eastern Free State and is ready to be assessed to see what work is required and which spares are needed.

Surely a unique story of a locomotive from Europe being exported twice to Africa and a measure of the way this country has progressed in terms of locomotive restoration. It means that, at least for the time being, Sandstone has narrow gauge locomotives manufactured in South Africa, England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, France and the USA. This is the locomotive as delivered to Sandstone's Bloemfontein workshop in May 2005:

Sena Number 2 on arrival at Sandstone.

RN 210 - Feldbahn returns to Africa

RN 199 - First World War German Imperial Eagle flies again in preservation

RN 193 -Lest we forget, this is what the Feldbahn looked like when it arrived from the UK

RN 192 - Feldbahn locos working in Eastern Europe

RN 176 - Bloemfontein. Brigade (Feldbahn) Locomotive

RN 163 - Our Brigade (Feldbahn) restoration proceeds apace.

RN 148 - The Brigade Loco (Feldbahn) makes more steady progress

RN 132 - The Feldbahn being restored by Sandstone Bloemfontein workshops is proceeding steadily

RN 84 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive boiler

RN 72 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive

RN 211 - Weekly Steamshed Report & activities - 16th -23rd July 2006 - By Gert Jubileus

SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE REPORT CLASS NG 15 Number 17:
The Kalahari is due for Boiler Inspection soon, and she really is not making it easy for us. We hydraulic tested her this week, two elements were leaking badly and we had to remove them to do the necessary repairs. The regulator was leaking through and we had to remove the dome and removed the regulator to enable us to face this valve. For the mean time the internal steam pipe was blanked of and the dome was fitted back. The regulator valve seats are pitted and will take time to face properly.
Derrick decided what was to be done and then he got head and heels into the smoke box!	Derrick behind the blast pipe of the Kalahari.
The elements were repaired and were hydraulically tested before they were placed back into the super heater tubes.
A photo taken from under the super heater in the smoke box of the Kalahari.	The element repairs.
The element repairs.	Derrick loosening the dome bolts to remove the heavy dome.
The dome was removed and the regulator valve too.	Jacob cleaning the snifter valves and baffle plates.
The dome was placed back and she will be hydraulic tested again in next week. The regulator valve will be seated to. All the gauge columns and the blow down corks were fitted back and are being tested with the hydraulic test. If they are not leaking when we hydraulic test them, then they will not leak when she is in steam. CLASS NGG 16 NUMBER 153: This week we cleaned the snifter and bypass valves. We started to fit them back but are not finished yet.
Below: A clean bypass valve compared to the condition they were in.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT: This week we had a busy week dedicated to simulate a First World War train on the second of September this year when the perfectly restored Feldbahrn locomotive will return to service.
G WAGON NUMBER 3210: This cattle wagon was spray painted this week and Ben went on with the fitting of a new wooden floor for this wagon. Below: Ben spraying G 3210
The left and right bottom doors needs some steel repairs and will be finished very soon.
This week Ben spray painted one Flat wagon and two DZ wagons to make part of the First World War train consist. While Ben was busy with the spray painting of these three wagons, Jacob sanded of our old Guards Van. We decided not to spray the Guards Van in white, but instead we mixed a kaki colour and sprayed the Van with it. A white circle will be painted on both sides of this Van with a Red cross in the middle. Ben finished the repairs on two big wooden crates and both were spayed in a light grey livery. We also filled bags with hay and will use it on the wagons to add to the atmosphere as it were in those years. Below: Photos of the DZ wagons and flat wagon that were spray-painted with light grey paint.
Jacob sanded the Guards Van and Ben spray-painted it with a Kahki colour.
Friday afternoon we shunted the wagons that we are going to use on the consist together to see the end result.
Ben also started to spray a B wagon that was due for a paint upgrade with Copper berry paint. Below: Ben spraying the B wagon with another coat of fresh paint
THE WAGON LOADS: Below: The two repaired wooden crates and the twenty sandbags filled with hay. PEERLESS TRUCK: Henry started with the restoration and cosmetically upgrading of the old Peerless truck. A new frame was made to fit the planks to the back of the truck and Henry started sanding the body of this old truck. Once Henry is finished with the sanding work, he will spray paint the Peerless with a Kaki colour. Below: Photos of the restoration of the Peerless truck: A new wooden back will be fitted after the Peerless is spray-painted. THE OX WAGON: The Ox wagon that we are going to load onto one of the Flat wagons was pushed outside the Vintage shed where Jacob could start with the cosmetically upgrading of it. THE BSA RAILCAR: Henk went on with the restoration of the BSA railcar. The doors take up a lot of time to get all the bends in the door sides perfect. The one doorframe is finish and a new steel plate will be welded to it. Another two doors to go. THE RATANGA LOCOMOTIVE: Henk is working four days a week on the BSA railcar and the fifth day is dedicated to the restoration of the Ratanga locomotive “ Little Miss. Brakpan” Below is a photo of Henk with the restoration of the Ratanga Locomotive coal wagon. The tender manhole was removed and the tender will be de-scaled. Henk made a frame on one of the trolleys and loaded the tender onto. The trolley is open on the underside and makes it easier to excess all the parts on the tender. SIGNS AND DECALS: Eight signboards were stencilled this week with special safety notices on. They will be hanging from the roof beams to just above eye level in a straight line down the shed. The two Semaphore signals received a second coat of paint this week and we have to turn them to paint the underside. FROM THE PAST... A perfect summer day, just another usual day for the Station Foreman. A 25Nc number 3469 storming through Petrusburg station in 1987 with a freight train headed for Kimberley. A few years later they were gone, the colour signals were removed and the station abandoned. All the beautiful stations “died” soon after Steam was withdrawn, almost like a protest not to live without what made them live, Steam. PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To finish the restoration of 3210 2.) To hydraulic test the Kalahari. 3.) To build a 90 meter 3”6” Storage line at the Waenhuis. 4.) To finish restoration of Peerless truck 5.) To finish cosmetically upgrading of the Ox wagon. 6.) To go on with the restoration of the BSA 7.) To go on with the restoration of the Ratanga Locomotive. 8.) To finish safety signboards and to fit them. 9.) To paint Semaphore signals complete. 10.) To move last spares from Pandora salvage yard 11.) To finish repairs work on 153. 12.) To finish repair work on the Kalahari. 13.) Might start with moving of wagons from Kommandoneck Station to Hoekfontein.

RN 213 - Our German made Feldbahn locomotive is of huge significance to the Sandstone Heritage Trust

Our German made Feldbahn locomotive is of huge significance to the Sandstone Heritage Trust. Not only are we collectors of classic military vehicles but many of the people who have supported us and participated in our activities have military backgrounds of one form or another. If you need time to reflect about life think about being in the First World War on the Western front. The Sandstone Heritage Trust is fortunate to have obtained some very rare and exciting archive items including a complete set of black & white photographs complete with photo viewer. We have taken some of these photos and made them available to provide a backdrop to the theme "Steel and the First World War", which in our case is represented by two items of major significance - our big B5 Crane Engine, examples of which would have done service in the First World War, although they were first introduced in a war theatre during the Boer War. The second item is our Feldbahn, which will be unveiled to a specialist group of VIP's on 2nd September at the Sandstone Narrow Gauge Railway in the Eastern Free State.

"Male Tadpole tank, especially designed to cross the Hun trenches, moves forward in battle line."

"Our 16 inch railway guns demolish the Hun concrete emplacements and open the way for the infantry."

Feldbahn locomotives such as our locomotive, No. 498, were there too, right in the thick of it

RN 214 - 1892 article - In the year 1892 railway troops built a 600mm Feldbahn of Uelzen

Philipp Maurer who located and sourced this Feldbahn locomotive for restoration in South Africa has provided us with the following translation of an article that appeared on Feldbahn locomotives as deployed in their
original application.

The concept of Feldbahns was developed much earlier than 1915, which is when our Feldbahn was built.

RN 215 - Fedbahn returns to Africa

Sandstone Heritage Trust have a (temporary) new charge:
A remarkable story has played out over the last few weeks that sees a locomotive which was exported from Africa in 1999-2000 returning to South Africa for restoration.

The locomotive has a very interesting history was built by Henschel in 1915, works no. 13779, and served with the DFB in the First World War. Known as the Feldbahn type, an 0-8-0TT, hundreds of these locomotives were built by a variety of German builders such as Orenstein & Koppel, Hartmann, Schwartzkopff, and others for use on the miles of railways serving the trenches, and at other military installations.

After the First World War many of these locomotives were exported around the world and a considerable number found themselves at the Sena Sugar Estates in Mozambique, at the Marromeu and Luabo mills. These closed during the Mocambiquan civil war and most of their locomotives, with the exception of those purchased later by Sandstone, were purchased by a UK based dealer and taken to a quarry in England.
The collection was gradually sold, finding new homes on preserved railways in England, Wales and Germany, and a couple have been restored to working order. Eventually only three Feldbahns were left and were advertised for sale by a locomotive broker. At the eleventh hour a Swiss enthusiast decided to step in and purchase one, and just in time, for he bought the last remaining example, Sena No. 2.

The locomotive is more complete than might be expected and after making enquiries around Europe as to the cost and time scale of getting it restored to working order has chosen Sandstone Heritage Trust as having the skills and expertise as well as cost structure to complete the restoration to a high standard.
So Sena No. 2 was loaded into a container and made the long return journey to Africa and has been offloaded in the eastern Free State and is ready to be assessed to see what work is required and which spares are needed.

Surely a unique story of a locomotive from Europe being exported twice to Africa and a measure of the way this country has progressed in terms of locomotive restoration. It means that, at least for the time being, Sandstone has narrow gauge locomotives manufactured in South Africa, England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, France and the USA.

RN 216 - Brakevan ready for use

The South African Brake van has permission for use on the WHR main line once it has had an examination by FR. The HMRI had no objection to it. Marcus Ingram is appealing for some one to upholster one seat cushion for the Brake van. If any one out there can help could they contact him directly on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Brake van is then ready for the construction teams working on Phase 4. After a shunt of wagons, two of the three remaining DZs will be overhauled at Dinas in the coming months to enlarge the WHR's freight train for special events.

This northerly view shows the recently completed ex-SAR brakevan. The van was shunted into the Dock Siding at Dinas by the end of May. This image is copyright Marcus Ingram.

This internal view (11/6/06) shows the recently completed ex-SAR brakevan, with the seat that requires upholstering on the right. This image is copyright Marcus Ingram.

RN 217 - Feldbahn moves to Sandstone Estates to commence steam trials

On her South African home railway for the first time in over 90 years. As soon as the weather cleared, the loco was offloaded and left in the sunlight to chill out before steam trials begin - Photograph courtesy of Hester Papenfus

Our Feldbahn arrives at its new home IN THE SNOW which it not doubt remembers from its days behind German lines.

The Feldbahn which took our Bloemfontein workshops a little over a year to totally rebuid has been loaded and is now at the running shed at Hoekfontein to commence its steam trials.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 218 - Weekly steamshed report - by Gert Jubileus - 24th - 31st July 2006

SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE REPORT CLASS NG 15 Number 17
After the Dome was placed back into position, we hydraulic tested the Kalahari again and she tested 100% and is now ready for the Boiler Inspection by the Boiler Inspector Willie Lottering. The regulator valve was seated this week and it takes up a lot of time with the grinding paste to seat this valve. Below left: Henry and Ben secured the dome. Below right: A non-return valve was fitted onto the water feed pipe that went into the boiler. As soon as the acquired pressure is reached we could turn the pump off and the non-return valve then trapped the water pressure inside the boiler.
Below: The facing of the regulator valve.
The O & K
The O&K was next to prepare for Boiler Inspection this week. Preparing these boilers for B.I. are no easy task and takes up a lot of time and patience. The first problem on the O&K was also the regulator valve and we had to take it of to face the valve to insure that the boiler can keep the water pressure. The injector steam spindle packing nuts were packed as well as the blower valve spindle-packing nut. The O&K tested okay and is ready for Boiler Inspection. Below is a photo of the O&K, while we were draining the water to fit a new wash out plug in the smoke box.
THE FOWLER B5 This week the jig of the B5 was fitted back and she was moved closer to the shed for preparations for Boiler Inspection. This boiler is already inspected internal and will now undergo a hydraulic test. This Fowler Road Locomotive underwent a cosmetic upgrade some time ago and looks great (below left). Henry overhauled a Simpson hydraulic pump this week to enable us to do the hydraulic test without any problems. Below right: Henry stripped the Simpson pump and cleaned and overhauled the pump inside.
THE RATANGA LOCOMOTIVE: Henk started with the restoration of the tender of this locomotive. The tank was removed from the tender and the tender frame was moved to Henk’s workplace in the workshop.
Henk stripped some of the framework of and removed the wheels, brake gears and axle boxes. A new buffer beam will be made in next week with a proper coupler and drag boxes. As soon as Henk is finish with the frame and the buffer beams, he will start to build a new coalbunker and tank, a more authentic looking coal wagon. Below left: Henry assists Henk to remove the tender tank.
Below: Henk stripped the steel plates from the tender that will be replaced with new plates.
Below: The side view of the tender frame with the wheels and the axle boxes removed.
THE BSA RAILCAR: Henk is still struggling to get the new doorframe to fit the shape of the BSA sides. He made new hinges and fitted them to the existing frame on the BSA. We are going to make new side plates for the BSA railcar and will then bend it exactly into the original shape of the existing sides.Below: Henk grinding the new doorframe for the BSA railcar.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT: G WAGON NUMBER 3210: Ben cut wood and builds a new wood floor for this cattle wagon. The two under doors were repaired and were fitted back onto this wagon.
Above: Below: Ben repairing the doors of the Cattle wagon.
B-WAGON: Ben spray-painted the B wagon a second coat of paint and also spray - painted the two 2” trolleys that came from Pandora Salvage yard.
Jacob painted the handrails and handbrakes yellow on this B wagon and also painted the yellow on the grey painted Dz wagons that we are going to use on the consist of the War train.
Jacob also painted the floor of the Ratanga wagon and the yellow on 3210.
We then shunted the two Ratanga passenger wagons together to compare the two.
The War Van
Jacob painted the handrails and steps this week while Ben removed the old seat inside the Van. This Van will get a cosmetic upgrade in the inside in next week.
TRACK NEWS: This week we have build another 90 meter 3’6” storage line at the Waenhuis next to the existing storage line. The sleepers were loaded and were taken to a place near the shed where we could use the air tools to assemble these panels without wasting any time. By the end of the day we had all 9 panels ready to be moved to Hoekfontein station the next day. The next morning the panels were offloaded in Hoekfontein station and we lay the 90-metre storage line next to the existing line. The track then was ballast and we just await another load of Ballast to lift and pack this storage line. AUTOMOBILES: Henry went on with the restoration of the Peerless truck this week and sanded the mudguards. It was spray painted with an undercoat. THE OX WAGON: Jacob finished the paint upgrading of the Ox wagon this week. This Ox wagon will be loaded onto one of the Dz wagons for the War train. THE STEAM SHED: This week we painted the shed floors again and will paint the yellow stripes in next week. WOODEN CRATES: We found some more wooden crates and Ben is busy with the fixing them.   FROM THE PAST! GB Garratt number 2162. The place where this photo was taken is unknown, but it looks like this was a service train with a load of platelayers.   PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK:   1.) To go on with the restoration of the Ratanga Locomotive. 2.) To go on with the restoration of 3210. 3.) To prepare the Fowler B5 for B.I. 4.) Restoration of the Peerless truck. 5.) To refurbish Guards Van inside. 6.) To fix wooden crates. 7.) To clean all locomotives 8.) To finish paintwork in Shed. 9.) To finish safety signs and fit them. 10.) To offload wood from Mooihoek. 11.) To do repairs needed on the Barclay. 12.) To do repair work on 49. 13.) To fit new firebox doors to 113. 14.) To go on with the restoration of the BSA railcar. 15.) To start with the restoration of a stationary engine. 16.) To load two locomotives for Bloemfontein workshop.

RN 219 - Peckett saddle tank says goodbye to Bloemfontein

It was less than a week ago that this locomotives restoration companion was loaded for the private 2ft narrow gauge railway at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State.This is another unique restoration achievement with 2 ex Sena Sugar (Mozambique) Locos coming out of the shop at the same time.

Always modest Lukas and Anna Nel did not include themselves in this photograph of the restoration team

Big, Bold and forthright this saddle tank stands as a living example of great British engineering..Peckett were undoubtedly among the best of breed.

RN 220 - Weekly steam shed report - by Gert Jubileus - 30th July 2006 - 04 August 2006

SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE REPORT
THE FELDBAHN:
This week the Feldbahn Locomotive arrived at Sandstone Estates and she was welcomed with white feathers of snow. We have tried to offload her but were interrupted with a heavy snowstorm and we had to postpone the offloading till Friday when the weather was more favourable although it was still freezing and the temperature far below zero degrees. The Feldbahn was offloaded at Vailima and the rails were connected to the rail panel on the truck. The Hunslet Diesel locomotive was used and she was pulled down off the truck very slowly.
We then oiled the motion and cylinders inside before we pulled her back to the Steam Shed in Hoekfontein Main complex. Henk was the pilot on the Feldbahn and we stopped at several places on our way to take her to her new home. She really is a masterpiece and her restoration is astonishing, another locomotive that was saved from the scrap heap and another locomotive that is brought back to live by Sandstone Estates. They might be busy to cut locomotives up throughout South Africa, but every few months a phoenix arises from the ash and steams into a new preserved and secured career on the Sandstone Steam Railway. This locomotive is restored to her full glory and Lukas Nel and his team can be really proud on their achievements over the last couple of years. The Bloemfontein Team is the Legend that brings our locomotives back to life. Below: Photos of the Feldbahn on her way to a new life on the Sandstone Steam railway. Once she thought that her life was over, but….
Below: Close-up photos of the Feldbahn’s miraculous restoration.
Safe and sound in her NEW HOME!
LOCOMOTIVES TO BLOEMFONTEIN Two Locomotives were loaded this week and will depart for Bloemfontein early on Monday morning. First we had to re-rail the locomotives in the back of the Wagon shed and then they were shunted out to enable us to load them at a suitable place. Below Left: Arno and Henry busy re-railing the Illovo Sugar cane locomotive: Below Right: Henk and Ben coupled the Locomotive to the Hunslet and pulled her up to be loaded.
Below: The Loading of the Locomotives.
All the available spares for these two locomotives were loaded onto pallets and these pallets as well as the cabs and boiler for the blue locomotive were loaded onto the low bed. CLASS NGG 13 NUMBER 49 Number 49 received special attention to a leaking cone on the steam pipe behind the left rear cylinder. A very concealed space to work and special tools were used to rectify the problem. Below: front and side view photos of the cone joint and bolts almost impossible to reach without special tools. THE BARCLAY: This week the regulator gland, tarot spindle packing nuts and the ejector packing nuts were packed. The right side injector was removed and all the cones were cleaned. Below left: The Barclay injector Below right: Tarot spindles inside the cab of the Barclay. CLASS NGG 16 NUMBER 153 New clinkerite packings were made for the four snifter valves and the snifter valves were fitted back to the locomotive. All eight Bypass valves were also fitted back and with the problems we found on these valves rectified, she will drift much easier and it also will prevent gasses to be sucked in by the cylinders from the smoke box. These valves must be kept in good working condition. CLASS NGG 16 NUMBER 113. Henry fitted new firebox doors to 113 this week. The old ones were worn out and occasionally got stuck when the doors were opened to fire the locomotive. He machined new pins for the doors to. THE RATANGA LOCOMOTIVE: Henk made good progress with the restoration of the tender for this locomotive. He made a new buffer beam for the tender and is busy to make a Bell buffer for the rear end of the tender. The frame will be sandblasted in next week and will receive a undercoat. Once this is complete he will build a new bunker for the frame. Below: Photos taken of the restoration of the Ratanga Locomotive tender. Below left: The Coupler compression spring. Below Right: A photo of the Bell Coupler. SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT: WAGON 3210. Ben fitted a new release valve and new chamber pipes to this wagon this week, while Jacob painted the inside of the wagon with Battle Ship grey paint. Below left: Jacob painting the inside of 3210. Below Right: Ben fitted the new release valve. AUTOMOBILES The restoration of the Peerless truck is marching on and Henry stripped the bonnet and front panels with fenders to sand them to perfection. The restoration will be complete by the end of next week and the Peerless truck will be ready to load onto a train wagon. Below: Photos of the Peerless restoration. WOODEN CRATES Ben repaired all the available crates that we could find and they are going to be stencilled in next week. We now have eleven new crates that we can load onto our consists. In next week we are going to fill more sandbags that we can use for display purposes. SIGNS AND DECALS: All the safety signs were stencilled on the backside this week and they will be fitted in next week. This helps a lot to make people aware of safety. Class 26, the Red Devil near Behrshoek 7 June 1999. (Photo by Judy Odell) PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) Stencilling of wooden crates 2.) Sand and varnish 3210. 3.) Finish restoration of Peerless Truck. 4.) Fit safety signboards. 5.) Sandblast Ratanga Tender and build new bunker. 6.) Restoration of BSA railcar. 7.) Hydraulic Fowler B5 8.) Clean all level crossings 9.) Clean coaches 10.) Roadworthy passenger coaches and adjusts brakes. 11.) Prepare locomotive for tour. 12.) Train tour Thursday. 13.) Steam test Feldbahn next Saturday 14.) Finish War Van inside and outside with Red Cross. 15.) Test Stationary engine. 16.) Assemble Cochran boiler and accessories. 17.) Fit doors to B wagon 2968 and finish restoration of it.