This week another very special miracle arrived from the Bloemfontein Workshop, fully restored by Lukas Nel and his Steam Team. This little Saddle Tank Locomotive was taken to the Bloemfontein workshop only a few months ago, with no motion and no spares. We received drawings from the National Railway Museum in York, UK, who allowed Mr. Geoff Pethick access to the drawings before they were generally open to the public.
They then supplied all the drawings requested and we thank them for their great assistance.

She returned to steam into her new career on the Sandstone Steam Railway in full magnificence.

We offloaded her at the Vailima Siding and towed her back to the Hoekfontein Locomotive shed.
Below are some photos to share of the offloading and her journey to the shed.

The Moon, symbol of the night, the end of the day, but for this little Locomotive it’s a symbol of new life. For many Locomotives its already night, with no shining light.

We were very excited to steam the two new Locomotives, but before we could steam them, we had to go through all pre inspections. Then the boilers were filled and the locomotives were coaled. We fired up the locomotives and raised the steam slowly, monitoring every aspect and then finally to listen to their beats.

The Peckett and the Feldbahn locomotives were tested to Grootdraai and back, with the help of brothers Shaun and Pat Ackermann.

The Feldbahn at Grootdraai.

Driver Pat Ackermann behind the controls of the Peckett.

A view out of the cab of the Peckett.

The Peckett and the Feldbahn posing for photos at Grootdraai.

This was not the only steaming day on the Sandstone Steam Railway. The “Radio sonder Grense” 4x4 club visit the farm on Thursday and because of the large amount of passengers we had to steam the mighty class NGG 16 number 153. Early on Thursday morning we steamed the giant for the train tour to Grootdraai and Vailima. This was a good opportunity to test the drifting capabilities of 153 after we had cleaned the Bypass valve and snifter valves. She was again a stunning performer and did her duty with eager.

Below: Number 153 ahead of the Passenger train just before departure to Grootdraai. On our return from Grootdraai we ran through Hoekfontein station to Vailima.

After the train ride the people were taken on a tour to the Vintage and Locomotive Shed, while some preferred to get their hands dirty with Hands on, firing the locomotive.

THE RATANGA LOCOMOTIVE: Henk is finish with the modifications to the tender frame and also with a new Bell buffer for the tender. The tender is next to build, but the next two weeks he will be working on the BSA Railcar again.
The tender frame	The Buffer for the tender
WAGON REPORT: THE WAR VAN: This week Petrus scraped of the inside of the Van and he started to paint the inside with Battleship Grey. Once he is finished, we shall paint the Red Cross sign on the sides of the Van, just need two Blonde nurses now!
CATTLE WAGON 3210 Jacob finished the painting in the inside of this wagon this week.
B WAGON 2968: Jacob and Ben overhauled a vacuum cylinder for this wagon and fitted it to the wagon together with a new chamber tank. A new release valve was fitted with the needed chamber pipes. Jacob fitted the bearings and packed the boxes. New hinges for the doors of this wagon will be made in next week and the braking gears will be fitted back. The wagon will then receive another coat of paint before it is finished.
Jacob and Ben busy with the fitting of the vacuum cylinder	Jacob fitting the bearings to this wagon
AUTOMOBILES Henry is almost done with sanding of the Peerless truck. The Peerless will be spray painted in next week and the woodwork will be done to. Below: Henry sanding the body parts of the Peerless truck.
THE BELLIS MORCOM STATIONARY ENGINE: This week we drained the oil of the Stationary engine and cleaned the inside of the oil sumps. After all the parts were oiled, we tested the engine with compressed air and the engine is running like a sewing machine. Below: The Bellis Morcom Engine.
Derrick working on the mechanical lubricator.	The engine started to work at 200kpa pressure.
Not only did the locomotives disappear, but also the special breed of people who worked on them. Drivers, Fireman’s and Steamfitters were born to work on these machines and were not ordinary men from the streets. They were hard and stubborn and without being like that, they would never be what they were. They kept the iron wheels running with no fear with thousands of tons behind their locomotives working day and night in the worst weather conditions, rain, hail and dust storms racing to keep their trains on time. From left to right: Locomotive Inspector – the late Mr. Mostert, Fireman (name unknown) and Driver Willie May all from the Bloemfontein Steam Depot.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK:
1.) To finish the Peerless Truck 2.) To Finish the War Van 3.) To Assemble the generator on Bellis Morcom and to test. 4.) To Finish the B wagon 2968 5.) To go on with restoration of BSA Railcar. 6.) Boiler Inspections and Steam tests. 7.) To spray weeds on Railway line 8.) To move Pandora salvage yard complete. 9.) To finish Cattle wagon 3210. 10.) Stencilling of wooden crates 11.) Assemble Cochran boiler and accessories 12.) To fit Safety Sign boards. 13.) To move coaches from the Handyman. 14.) To do Track maintenance on section Hoekfontein – Mooihoek.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 223 - Report back from Sean Ackermann on the steam run for the Feldbahn and the Peckett

What a wonderful day we had at Sandstone with Lukas joining us. We steamed the Peckett and Feldbahn, did the neccesary checks and sorted out the minor teething troubles then we steamed both the locomotives to Grootdraai where we had a braai our traditional way!

The locomotives both steamed and ran like Swiss watches and a good day was had by all on the warm winters day in the Eastern Free State.

Again a thumbs up to yourself and Lukas and his team for another succesfull rescue and restoration. Pat and I will unload the Sentinal tommorow and steam run her too, we will update you with pictures from then too.

Lukas Nel looking very proud next to his handiwork, and so he should be!

The Feldbahn leaving the steamshed

The Feldbahn and the Peckett at Grootdraai

The Peckett taking on water with driver, Pat Ackermann

From left to right: Henk and Sean having a "Braai the traditional way".

Decauville Bathala has arrived at The Beaulieu workshops in the UK where Eddie Neylon has reassembled her after the long Sea voyage from South Africa.
Eddie advises:
"I've just finished re-assembling Bathala in the motor museum workshops. This morning was spent polishing the paintwork, copper and brass. She is shining like a new pin. I've fitted the two brass plaques about the loan from the Sandstone Estate just below the Decauville name plates.
She is looking really good. Ralph Montague is thinking of putting her in the main visitors reception as a static display first and get the reaction from the public."

The Cherry Festival Launch was held here on the Farm this week. All the sponsors for the annual held Cherry Festival in November were here and Gavin Boy (St. Ives Communications) scheduled a very interesting day. We again steamed the Giant of the Narrow Gauge, Class NGG 16 Number 153. She again performed gigantically and the new generation people were crazy about her. Most people already forget what made the Railways what they are today, and by watching these giants perform, they can’t believe that these machines are not being used anymore. They are very close to modern, yet their fates were inevitable.
Below: Class NGG 16 Number 153, just before departure on the Cherry Festival Journey.

Just before the train departed, picnic baskets and drinks were loaded into the Guards Van. The train left for Vailima at 12H30 and returned back to Grootdraai with very excited passengers. They were a nice crowd and all were very friendly and full of fun.

Below: Number 153 storming up the Mooihoek embankment.

Transnet recently awarded The Sandstone Heritage Trust a tender for 180 narrow gauge wagons, which are at Port Shepstone. A huge logistics plan was put into action to move the wagons from site.
Examples of these wagons can be seen below.

The Coles Crane was loaded on Monday and was taken to Port Shepstone to load these wagons. We immediately started with the loading of the wagons and the first two loads of wagons arrived on the Farm on Friday. The Hunslet Diesel Locomotive will be shipped to Port Shepstone in next week to shunt the wagons to a suitable place to load.

 
Tiffany, Lindie Lou & Bianca, Capital Park

Following the awarding of the narrow gauge tender to Sandstone by Transnet, The Sandstone Heritage Trust is pleased to announce that we are able to make some of these wagons and bogies available to interested parties.

Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Timber wagons
Fully restored timber trucks Unit comes complete with bogies, bearings, uprights, vacuum pipes and brake blocks and painted in red oxide - ready to work.		Euro 8 150.00
Unrestored timber trucks As above in terms of components but unrestored		Euro 5 980.00
Unrestored timber wagons less components Unit is unrestored and does not come with Bearings and brake blocks		Euro 3 860.00
B-Wagons B5/B6
Fully restored B-Wagons
Unit comes with all sides bearings, break blocks, vacuum Pipes, painted in red oxide – ready to work		Euro 8 695.00
Unrestored B-Wagons As above in terms of components but unrestored		Euro 5 980.00
Unrestored B-wagons less components Unit is unrestored and does not come with Bearings and brake blocks		Euro 4 295.00
Bogies
Fully restored Bogies Standard SAR&H 4 wheel bogies fully restored complete With bearings and brake blocks		Euro 2 065.00
Unrestored Bogies As above in terms of components but unrestored		Euro 1 230.00
Unrestored Bogies less components Unit is unrestored and does not come with Bearings and brake blocks		Euro 545.00
Above: An example of one of the unrestored bogeys, and a restored bogey below.

Terms and conditions

All items are quoted FOB Durban Port
Delivery is four (4) weeks from date of order for all items
Payment with order
All prices quoted per single unit.
Bulk prices available on request.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 238 - Sad, very sad. Port Shepstone wagon update

It seems inconceivable that in a relatively go ahead province like Kwa-Zulu Natal, heritage assets of great significance can be allowed to deteriorate to the level depicted in these photographs. The Banana Express was a once proud railway - in fact almost an icon in the world of 2-ft Narrow Gauge worldwide.

It was a popular tourist attraction for visitors to the South Coast and it had a rich and proud history of serving the inland communities in that part of South Africa. Notwithstanding the supposed interest by the local Municipalities, the Kwa-Zulu Natal Government and its related tourist organisation, the private rail clubs in Natal, and the many influential private collectors and enthusiasts, it would appear that nothing of any significance was done to arrest the steady and relentless deterioration of not only the assets but the entire railway and its infrastructure.

Onc can only shake one's head in disbelief.