Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 130 - Restoration of Sandstone Heritage Trust 19D, No. 2654 is proceeding steadily Lukas Nel and his team at the Sandstone Heritage Trust's main steam restoration facility in Bloemfontein are making steady progress with regard to the Company's 19D. These universally popular and successful locomotives are certainly likely to dominate steam traction on the Cape gauge lines of Southern Africa for the foreseeable future. Although the Trust is not focussed on 3'6" rail tourism it nonetheless believes that a locomotive of this versatility would be a great asset in the future. Negotiations are currently underway with a number of specialised tourist operators who are interested in hiring a locomotive on a long-term basis. The pictures tell the story.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 131 - Clearing of redundant items from Ratanga Junction site continues <<RN 125 - Read the first part of the rescue! This week we loaded carriages and bogies. In due course a decision will be taken as to how to configure these coaches which were originally old 2ft narrow gauge livestock wagons.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 133 - The Feldbahn being restored by Sandstone Bloemfontein workshops is proceeding steadily

 

Weekly activities
LOCOMOTIVES FROM RATANGA JUNCTION New to the Sandstone collection of locomotives are the two NGG 16’ from Ratanga Junction, with the numbers 110 and 112. The four units came on two links while the boilers were loaded on the Sandstone lo-beds.
First of all we needed to offload the Units from the links before we could start with the offloading of the boilers. We again used the fully equipped Mobile Workshop to assist us with the offloading. No easy tasks at all, for the units were secured on wooden sleepers and we first had to jack the units to remove the sleepers underneath.
The rear unit on the back of the link was the easiest for we did not have to lay track except for the short rail panel that we usually use to load locomotives. This panel was re-gauged to a two feet panel again. We used the Hunslet diesel locomotive and slowly pulled the unit unto the rail connected to the existing line at Vailima.
To offload the front unit on the link, we had to build in another 10 metres of rail panel to link it to the existing line. Thunder clouds were threatening to ruin the offloading process, but luckily we made it in time.
The next day we moved the units to Hoekfontein where we wanted to offload the boilers. The Hunslet and 4 empty B wagons were used for adequate braking effect while going down the Pandora bank. Two units at a time were used and they were coupled with a bulbar between the units. Before we could move the Units, we had to oil the motion and the boxes. The cylinders were oiled threw the inspection holes in the stream chest.
The two units were shunted into the correct order and the one was turned on the tri-angle. The one unit then was uncoupled in front of the boiler, and the other at the rear. Leon Flint, Truck driver at Sandstone Estates, then had to reverse the lobed with the boiler over the railway line in such a way that the complete boiler was in line and that the centre of the boiler is in the centre of the Railway line.
The boiler then was lifted from the lobed with the help of air jacks and the Mobile Workshop. We then moved the two units in under the boiler and slowly jacked it into the centres on the units while we supported the boiler all time.
The same process was done the next day with the second boiler.
Both the locomotives then was shunted down into the wagon shed where they will be stored till the time brakes to restore them.
While we were busy with the offloading, Henk pulled out all the Vintage tractors and parked them on the grass. After individual photos were taken, they were moved back into the Vintage shed and were parked in a neat line up.
LOCOMOTIVE REPORT NGG16 Number 153: All the repairs on NGG 16 number 153 were done and all the locomotives were cleaned for the SABC broadcasting from the farm in next week. NGG 16 Number 88: We started fitting back all the spares on 88’s units and now needs to insert the wheels again. The units then will be moved out of the shed to clean up space to build a third line inside the Hoekfontein Shed.
LITTLE LOCOMOTIVE FROM RATANGA Also new to the Sandstone collection is this very special locomotive. She was placed on a steel bench for display inside the shed for now.
WAGON REPORT B WAGON CONVERSION: We are working full steam to have eight B wagons completed for the Harvest Festival on the First and the second of January 2005. B wagons are standing in a line in front of the shed, ready to be converted. The best is that it is just as easy to convert them back to normal B wagons when needed to.
Derrick is responsible for the steel structures that are fitted onto the wagons, while Henkie fits the wooden sides. Jacob is busy all the time, cutting the wooden sides and the steel structures to the correct sizes.
While they are busy with the construction works, I have time to adjust the brakes and do the vacuum brake tests on these wagons. The brakes need to be 100%, due to the heavy weight that they are going to handle. A special foam sealer is ordered to seal the doors of the B wagons. WAGONS FROM RATANGA JUNCTION: New to the Sandstone stock list are three wagons that arrived from Ratanga Junction. These wagons will be offloaded in next week.
GENERAL: WATER TANK FROM THE EASTERN CAPE: Petrus started with the de-scale work needed to the last pillars of the water tank. This tank will be finished and ready to be put together within the next week. BLACK WATER WAGON: Henry spray painted the water wagon that is standing outside the shed as well as the disposal water tank down at the wagon shed. He also stencilled hazardous/ dangerous disposals on the disposal tank.
SIGNS AND BOARDS Ben fitted the remaining signs and boards in front of the Vintage Shed and is still busy with the last ones.
From the Past
Class 25 NC number 3454 storming threw Petrusburg station westbound to Kimberley in 1985. The water column at the east side of the Station already was removed and the main water stations on the line were De Brug and Perdeberg.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To offload wagons from Ratanga. 2.) To convert B wagons to FZ’s 3.) To fit all remaining signs 4.) To prepare locomotives for SABC broadcasting from the Farm 5.) To clean up railway line 6.) To repair weed eater 7.) To service 19D spares for Bloemfontein. 8.) To ballast storage line and new points at Hoekfontein. 9.) To de-scale water tank from the Eastern Cape. 10.) To pack freight stock on Flat wagons 11.) To assemble 88 12.) To adjust remaining B wagon brakes.
Steam Greetings, Gert

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 135 - SABC Television held a live Broadcast from the Hoekfontein Station

We then did some run pasts to be used on Tuesday broadcasting. However, we could not leave out the oldest Lady in our collection, the 1895 Lawley build in England.
Tuesday we steamed the class NGG 16 again, although we did just pose in Hoekfontein Station where the SABC crews have set up their “Studio” for the live broadcast.
The rehearsals started at 12H00 and at 14H25 twenty children arrived on the site to act as studio guests. The intermittently broadcasting started at 14H45 till 17H30. Here (left) is a photo of Lucy Leheilleix, the Editor in front of the screens monitoring the broadcasting. She edited the footage that was taken on Monday to be used in the broadcasting. Here is a photo of a live broadcast in front of my favourite Lady, the Lawley. (Below)
The presenters of the Supper Summer Tour also interviewed Gavin Boy (Below) from the Ficksburg tourist Centre.
The SABC show ended just before 17H30. These people are well organised and every one just knows what to do and when. Here (below) is a group photo of the crew:
From left to right: 2 left- taxi drivers for the children of Ficksburg Lucy Leheilleix – VT opp/Editor Gert Greyling - Director Jean Viljoen - Runner Nic van der Westhuizen – Cameraman Lesedi Sennelo - Sound assistant Piere Viljoen - Production Manager Nick Greyling - Soundman Phillip de Bruin – Globecast engineer Kneeling in front – Esther Smith Production Assistant who worked out the Supper summer tour.
Then the Presenters (Below): From left to right Jonathan Tefu, Sihle Dube, Siphokazi January.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 136 - Sandstone Weekly Steamshed Report 10th - 15th December 2005

 

STEAM SHED ACTIVITIES This week saw a hectic week for the steam staff. The conversion of the B wagons to FZ wagons for the Harvest event is in full swing. Every one is on this project and work is delegated in such way to ensure mass production at one time. The photos tell the story!
And then the satisfying end result of a hard week!
The Wagons from Ratanga Junction We offloaded the one lobed with the wagons from Ratanga junction this week. Arno took the lobed to Vailima. The Hunslet was used again to assist us in doing so. Arno, Henry Petrus and I offloaded the wagons while the rest of the Steam Staff converted the B wagons. First and most important is to line up the rail panel under the wagon to the existing rail at Vailima, but with Arno as driver it’s not difficult at all. We then had to secure the panel to the existing line with fishplates and support the joint with wooden sleeper because of the overlap of the rail between the lobed and the existing line. Then we coupled the Hunslet leaded by an empty B wagon before we could loosen the chains that secured the wagons on the long journey from Ratanga Junction. The wagons then were pulled of very slowly. Because of the uneven weight of these wagons, it was not possible to move them from Vailima safely and the one wagon now needs to be offloaded first before they can be taken to Hoekfontein. Rail News Goldfields track laid the new set of points for the storage line in Hoekfontein Station this week as well as ballast the 3ft 6 storage line at the back of the Waenhuis. Because of the limited space where the points were to be fitted, they had to build the points on the existing line in Hoekfontein Station. With the NGG 16 in steam for the Supper Summer tour, it was used to pull the points to the desired place to insert the points. Early this morning we shunted the wagons from the loop line to the storage line to free the two main lines threw Hoekfontein Station. All the wagons at the coal stage will now be re-railed and shunted to this storage line and will await restoration there. Here are photos of a busy shunting yard at Hoekfontein. On Monday all Steam Staff pulled out weeds on the Railway line from Pandora Junction to Vailima Halt all the way down to Vailima. Tractor for the steam shed Chris Wilson overhauled a John Deere tractor for the Steam shed. Thanks Chris, you did a great job! FROM THE PAST Double headed Class 25Nc’s storming up the last embankment just before Petrusburg with the daily 15:15 train to Bloemfontein. These locomotives usually ran double headed to Bloemfontein and would return single locomotives departing 19H 30 from Bloemfontein with the return trip to Kimberley. This photo was taken in July 1988 and the Kimberley crews worked all the trains with steam on the Kimberley – Bloemfontein line at that stage. The Bloemfontein diesel crews only worked the Orange Express on Tuesdays and Fridays and a speed freight goods train on Saturdays. After the withdrawal of Steam traction, this line was only worked solely by the Bloemfontein Diesel crews. PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK 1.) To have 8 converted B wagons ( FZ) 2.) To prepare locomotives for Harvest days in next week. 3.) To work harvest trains 4.) To go on with water tank from Eastern Cape 5.) To fit remaining signs in Shed and Vintage Shed 6.) To offload second lobed with wagons from Ratanga 7.) To spray line for weeds 8.) To clean up Hoekfontein Station 9.) Gardening Steam Greetings... Gert!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 137 - Lubricators needed

The ability of our main restoration workshop to turn out smaller locomotives is becoming very parts dependent. We desperately need lubricators for the small locomotives. We require both mechanical and hydrostatic lubricators. If we could receive any information on availability of these, including the amount of oil they can hold and deliver as well as their possible size, we would be most grateful. A photograph or a drawing would be most useful.

If you have something available in South Africa please e-mail Lukas Nel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For contacts outside South Africa please contact Joanne West at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 138 - Weekly steam shed report - December 2005 by Gert Jubileus

 

Sandstone Estates Wagon Works All the wagons to be used on the Harvest days 1 and 2nd January 2006 came to the inspection put inside the Shed. The brakes were adjusted and some brake blocks were renewed. The wagons were carefully inspected from beneath to ensure a safe operation on the Harvest Festival. The handbrakes were tested and a vacuum brake test was done on each wagon. After the inspection, a roadworthy certificate is written out for each wagon used in the train consists for the weekend.
The passenger coaches also came in for brake adjustments and some brake blocks were needed to be replaced. They also were carefully inspected and a vacuum brake test was done on each. These activities are done prior to each event or train trip and are to ensure the safe running of trains on the Sandstone Steam Railway.
Wagon Rebuilds Another three B wagons were converted to FZ wagons this week. Arno and Henk fitted the wooden sides while Derrick did all the welding of the channel iron on the wagons. Here are photos of the wagon conversions this week.
Special foam was ordered that will be used to seal the doors and the gaps between the wood and the wagon sides.
Locomotives
Class NGG 16 number 153 was steamed this week after she was fitted with new piston rings. She was tested to Grootdraai and back. The rest of the locomotives were prepared for the Harvest weekend and all the of cut wood from the B wagons conversions were placed into the fireboxes of the locomotives. Class NGG 16 number 113 will be used on the train trip to Grootdraai on old year evening. For me there is no better pace to be than on the footplate of a Steam Locomotive on 12 o’clock the 31st of December. Steaming all the way into the New Year.
Weed Spraying Jacob and Petrus did the weed spraying this week using the little Funky Diesel locomotive. They sprayed the line between Hoekfontein and Grootdraai as well as Hoekfontein to Vailima Halt as far as the Farm School. Jacob is a very responsible person and takes great care of this little locomotive. This weed train will be scheduled for each third week. Here is Jacob, a very proud driver on his Locomotive while working the weed train.
3’6” STORAGE LINE Goldfields Track ballast the 3’6” storage line behind the Waenhuis and tamped the line. Next week we shall start moving the goods wagons from Kommandonek to this storage line. Two stop blocks will be fitted at both ends of the 50 metre storage line.
GENERAL Len Alberts finished the foundations needed for the water softeners at all the water columns. We shall fit the softeners into the softener houses early in the New Year. The use of the water softeners will minimize scale inside the boilers by removing all the unwanted salts from the water that we use on the locomotives. Most boiler defects are caused by scale and that is why these water softeners are essential to preserve the boilers. We wash out the boilers after each 7th steaming day. We however shall wash out the boilers frequently despite the influence the softeners will have.
GARDENING Jacob slashed the grass this week with our own tractor. He also cut the grass at both sides of the Railway line to Grootdraai.
From the Past
Above is a Class 23 pulling out of Vetrivier Station in the late 1960’s. Electrification to this line did not end the Steam operations on the Bloemfontein to Kroonstad Mainline. A daily workers train was scheduled each day between Bloemfontein and Brandford and lasted till the mid 1980’s as well as all the 15F’s in Kroonstad that were taken to Bloemfontein for the 15M. The Class 19D based at Theunissen was exchanged every two weeks for wash out purposes. Then there were two 15F locomotives that worked in Virginia and Hennenman. The last of these Steam operations were the Virginia based Class 15F’s and they were withdrawn from service on 29th of September 1990. The last 15 F to work the Virginia to Glen Harmony branch was number 3119. This last day on Steam was not the best we had, we only had enough coal on the 23 Class tender to get us in Kroonstad. To make it an unforgettable day, the mechanical stoker broke down and I had to trim the coal from the rear corners on the 23 Class tender to the shovel plate and then from there to the firebox. The driver was travelling 100km/h and the F was roaring all the time. A sad and unforgettable day. 3119 was one of the five 15F’s that performed shunting in the Kroonstad shunting yards till the end of October that same year and is now facing the torch after all the faithful service she gave to Spoornet.
The Christmas"Braai" Friday afternoon all the Sandstone Estates workers came into the Christmas feeling and we all gathered at the Waenhuis for a “Braai” We all enjoyed it and want to thank Uncle Wilfred Mole for making this possible. We really appreciate it. Below: The Christmas Braai.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK 1.) To wash out stationary boilers 2.) To foam all B wagons for the Harvest 3.) To offload 2” wagons from Ratanga Junction 4.) To offload Goods wagon from Kommandoneck 5.) To shunt all consists ready for the Harvest festival 6.) To get the gardening perfect 7.) To inspect all locomotives over the put and to fill the boilers 8.) To do rail inspection prior to the Harvest Festival. 9.) To prepare Stationary and Traction engines.
Steam Greetings, GERT

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

17th January 2006

RN 140- The Funkey mine locomotive fully re-built by Zach Van Staden and Associates

Our Funkey mine locomotive fully re-built by Zach Van Staden and Associates near Bloemfontein is seen here doing sterling work spraying the line. A low density weed killer is sprayed directly onto the ballast to inhibit weed growth. It is inevitable that weeds will occur in the first two years of the construction of any railway line, but once the situation is controlled minimum weed treatment is needed. The Funkey diesel was built for a typical underground locomotive, similar to the ones featured in the photo attached. The 3LW Gardiner engine in this little locomotive makes for a reliable and cost-effective traction solution for a narrow gauge railway.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 141 - Special feature on John Cockerill NGG 16's by David Payling 17th January 2006 SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS NG/G16 LOCOMOTIVES JOHN COCKERILL 1936 NG 85 to NG 88 - DECEMBER 2005 Click here to download the article written by David Payling >>

APPENDICES (To download the excel sheets, click below) 1. Index of Drawings for John Cockerill NG/G16 Nos. NG85-Ng88 (1936) (CE No. A 14533). 2. SAR Catalogue of Details for John Cockerill NG/G16 Nos. NG85 – NG88 (1936). –available from ---THF Library, Johannesburg 3. SAR Catalogue of Details for Beyer Peacock NG/G16 Nos NG109-NG116 (1939) -available from ---THF Library, Johanesburg

In the early 20th Century the railway authorities in South West Africa saw the solution to the future development of narrow gauge motive power as lying with fast, powerful Pacific and Mikado locomotives with a fixed wheelbase for passenger and freight traffic, respectively. In South Africa itself the South African Railways faced a similar question for power for its narrow gauge lines in Natal and at Port Elizabeth. Their solution however was quite different from that chosen in the neighbouring territory. With their first order for three narrow gauge articulated Garratt locomotives in 1914 they became pioneers in the use of this type. For the next fifty years they continued to foster their use and development. The delivery of the first three NG/G11 locomotives was delayed until 1920 by the First World War but their immediate success in service ensured a repeat order in 1925. Just two years later, however, freed by the lapse of the HW Garratt articulation patent, the South Africans went to Hanomag of Germany to develop a project to build a new class of Garratt locomotives. These were the three NG/G13 locomotives of 1927. Performance trials with them led to the immediate extension of the order by a further two engines and, within a year, a further seven had been ordered. The NG/G13s had proved to be both powerful and free steaming, despite having a smaller grate area than their predecessors! By 1936 Hanomag’s locomotive building business had been sold to Henschel of Cassel and SAR turned again to Beyer Peacock for their next locomotives. However the order for four new engines constrained the supplier to build them essentially to the German NG/G13 design. These were the four engines whose construction was out-licensed by Beyer Peacock to John Cockerill of Seraing, Belgium, because their own workshops were fully occupied. In the next thirty years a further thirty Garratts and at least three spare boilers were built, essentially to the same design. Indeed they were the only type of locomotive built for the SAR narrow gauge during this period, other than the fifteen NG15 Mikados built in the 1950s for service in South West Africa. This folder contains a summary of the information so far discovered about the place of the John Cockerill batch of NG/G16 locomotives in the history of the development of this class. It includes an account of the historical development of the NG/G16s, starting with the design of the NG/G13 locomotives in 1927. A further Section deals with the distinguishing features of the Cockerill locomotives. A summary of the history of Class member NG87 is also included together with the SAR General Arrangement Drawing and Weights Diagram. David Payling 9th December 2005

Click here to download the article written by David Payling >>

Click on the thumbnails below to view more information on these locos and read the articles from The Locomotive April 15th, 1937 & The Locomotive April 14th, 1951.

The fore-runners (1). Hanomag NG/G13 No. NG83 (1928) is shown in an old print from the 1950s. L Paxton collection The fore-runners (2). Another of the Port Elizabeth engines, Hanomag NG/G13 No. NG82 (1928) is shown in a later state of modification. L Paxton John Cockerill NG/G16 No. NG87 on shed at Ixopo, 11th May 1971. Leith Paxton NG/G16 No. NG88 stands at Paddock with a Banana Express excursion in 1971. Photo: Errol Ashwell NG/G16 No. NG85 stands at Ixopo on 6th September 1966. Photo: Leith Paxton A more recent view of John Cockerill NG/G16 No. NG85 on a train at Ixopo (11th May 1971). Photo Leith Paxton "The Locomotive" - April 15, 1937 - Page 105 "The Locomotive" - April 14, 1951 - Page 52 "The Locomotive" - April 14, 1951 - Page 105 "The Locomotive" - April 14, 1951 - Page 54

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 143 - Weekly Steamshed Report - 27th - 31st December 2005 - By Gert Jubileus

17th January 2006

SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES This was the last week before the Harvest Festival and we had to shunt all the locomotives in the correct order to minimise shunting on the Harvest Festival. All the boilers were filled with water and were inspected over the pit.
We also had to prepare wash out the Colonial Steam tractor, Marshall Roller and two portables for the Harvest Festival.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGONS All the B wagons that were converted to FZ type wagons were foamed with the special foam to prevent them from leaking the wheat out when they harvest into them. Here are some photos of the B wagons:
All the wagons were shunted in the planned consists for the weekend and all the passenger coaches were cleaned as well.
THE RAILWAY LINE Before each event, we take the Wickham to do a Rail inspection, and all the problems are rectified if found. Here is Derrick busy securing bolts on the points.
GENERAL All the Vintage tractors in the Vintage Shed were cleaned this week.
OFFLOADING OF BLOEMFONTEIN LOCOMOTIVE SPARES We offloaded the frames and parts of locomotives that came from the Bloemfontein works this week. This trailer was needed to transport wheat from the lands to the Sandstone Estates Mills.
The Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival started with a train ride on Old Year’s Day. We used the Class NGG16 number 113 to haul this special passenger train. The train departed at 17H40 and a complete roundtrip was taken. Below is number 113 shunting out the passenger coaches from the wagon shed late the Saturday afternoon, a rare sight to see a Garratt in the wagon shed.
The train then departed again just before 23H00 to Grootdraai on the Lesotho border. It was really a dark night and the rain was poring a blessing to the almost New Year.
SATURDAY Saturday was the little locomotive day and we steamed the Lawley, O&K, Little Bess and the Decauville locomotive for this day. The Lawley was booked on the passenger service for the day while the Decauville and Little Bess double headed the Little Bess coach to Grootdraai. Here are some photos of the little locomotives:
Above: on the left are Shaun and Pat Ackerman who came a long way to help us with the driving of these locomotives.
Above: On the right is Phillip Maurer with Little Bess.
Above: The Lawley with Driver Pat Ackerman working the Passenger service.
Above: Driver Dave Richardson on the O&K on his way to Grootdraai!
The Lawley
Above: The Britannia raising steam.
Driver Dave Richardson on the right and fireman Gary Barnes on the left, in front of the Barclay, about to depart working double head with the Lawley. On Saturday afternoon, we again had a train on a roundtrip and Class NGG 16 Number 113 was used again. The train was worked by driver Shaun Ackerman and fireman Phillip Maurer. The train just arrived in time for a delightful “Braai” at the Waenhuis.
From the Past
Above is a photo of number 1, Class 16Cr now owned by Sandstone Estates. This photo was taken in the shunting yard in Welkom late in 1993. This used to be a very busy siding and we use to get not less than 30 freight wagons a day. It was needed to have a special shunting locomotive in those years. The class 14CRB was mainly used for the shunting, but was withdrawn only days before this photo was taken. The class 14CRB was “Accidentally” cut up by a scrap dealer who bought 3 Class 16Cr’s. St Helena G.M had a fleet of seven Class 16Cr’s and two Class 14CRB’s.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK 1.) To clean all the locomotives that was used. 2.) To clean all the ash puts. 3.) To clean all coaches 4.) Clean all portable boilers in Vintage shed 5.) To shunt all wagons back to the wagon shed. 6.) To offload Ratanga wagons 7.) To move 3”6’ wagons from Kommandonek 8.) Drain boilers 9.) To prepare boilers for Boiler Inspections 10.) To do repairs on locomotives 11.) To start with the restoration of Ratanga coaches.
Steam Greetings and a Happy New Steam Year! Gert

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 142 - Weekly Steamshed report - 2nd - 6th January 2006 - by Gert Jubileus

17th January 2006

Please be patient for the images to load.

After the Harvest weekend all the locomotives were cleaned again. We started with the repairs on the locomotives. The shed was cleaned again and the floors were washed.
LITTLE LOCOMOTIVE FROM RATANGA: Derrick started with this locomotive this week. The lagging and the cab was removed. She will be put on the rail in next week and will be washed out. This locomotive will be inspected by the Boiler inspector with her bigger sister locomotives near the end of this week. This little locomotive is mechanically in a good condition and it will not take long before she can steam around on the Sandstone Steam Railway. Here are some photos of this little locomotive:
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGONS: We offloaded the two wagons from Ratanga this week. The first one was the easiest one to offload.
The restoration of this wagon already has started. The braking gears were stripped, de-scaled and painted with Red Oxide paint. Jacob is now busy with the de-scaling of the steel frame. The wooden sides will be sanded and varnished. This wagon will then get a wooden floor and will be used as a passenger coach when we are finished. Here are some photos of the restoration to this wagon:
THE SECOND WAGON: This wagon was loaded on its side onto the flat wagon from Ratanga. This wagon first had to be lifted of and then was placed on its side on the soft grass.
We then had to lift it carefully to flip over onto the frame. We then lifted the bogeys onto the rail.
These two wagons were then shunted down to the shed after the bearings were inspected and the wool oiled. Petrus then stripped of the old wood from the floor of the flat wagon. This flat wagon will get a new wooden floor and will undergo under frame restoration.
These however were not the only riggings that were done this week. Here are some photos of the Coles Crane in action:
Harvest Day
This Friday was Harvest day on Sandstone Estates. Because of the rain last weekend, we could not do the Harvest. We steamed two Steam Locomotives for this day, the Barclay and Class NGG 16 number 153.
A consist of 13 wagons were shunted together for the use on the very strong NGG16 Locomotive:
The little Barclay was used with two flat wagons and one B wagon. She was used in the wheat land to the Mooihoek side while the NGG16 again was used with the modern combines to the Grootdraai side.
The massive modern Combines started harvesting at 17H00 at the Grootdraai side of Mooihoek Station. The speed at what these combines work is amazing!
The five Massive combines then lined up next to the train and tipped all the wheat into the converted B wagons.
Just a special thanks to Ron Nel who captured all these magic moments and who goes to any depths to get the perfect footage for our favourite DVD’s.
We departed for Grootdraai and were back at Mooihoek at 16H30. Another great day on the Steam!
From the past
The lease lend of the Class 15CA’s to the Gold Mines gave them a new lease of life. This photo was taken by Steve Harding of me with number 2808 on my way to the exchange siding with a load of empty wagons in July 1992. The Class 15CA’s were not very successful on this Mine because the rails were originally build for smaller locomotives. The curves were very sharp at some places. The CA’s moved the rails with sleepers and all to suite their limitations where the curves were to tight. They were very strong and had the loudest beats of all locomotives. I remember people pitching up at midnight, begging “Mr, can you please shut up you’re loco, we can’t sleep”. One guy even stood crying at the side of my cab, he was really frustrated with the noise that never stopped threw out the night. I then promised him that I shall try my best, driving the locomotive on the drifter only, but not for long, I wanted the world to hear the sound of my lovely machine.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To go on with the restoration of the Ratanga wagon. 2.) To start with the restoration of the Flat wagon from Ratanga. 3.) To prepare seven boilers for Boiler Inspections. 4.) To offload wheat in B wagons 5.) To go on with restoration of little locomotive ( not priority) 6.) To offload wagon from Kommandonek 7.) To move another two wagons from Kommandonek to the Waenhuis. 8.) To wash out boilers in Vintage shed. 9.) To clean up Shed yard. 10.) To go on with water tank from the Eastern Cape. 11.) To go on with Britannia B wagon. 12.) To clean Railway line and do weed spraying again. 13.) To finish coal extractor (floor)
	Steam Greetings... Gert!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 144 -  Steamshed weekly report - 7th - 15th January 2006 - by Gert Jubileus

17th January 2006

SANDSTONE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE REPORT THE LITTLE RATANGA LOCOMOTIVE: This little Miss. Brakpan locomotive is in a very good mechanical and boiler condition. One of the pistons was stuck and after treatment with penetrating oil, it came loose. All the motion was stripped and Derrick removed all the rust and old paint with the wire brush.
	The boiler of this locomotive was still full of water. The locomotive was re-railed this week. We drained the water and acid washed the boiler till it was crystal clear inside. The fire bars were removed and the complete boiler and inner firebox was de-scaled and painted with red oxide paint. This boiler will be given a hydraulic water test and will be ready for boiler inspection at the end of this month. The running boards, cylinder covers and smoke deflectors were sanded of and painted with red oxide. This will now be flattened and spray painted before it is assembled again.
On the sides of the smoke deflectors we found two brass plates upside down. When we took it of we discovered that “Miss Brakpan” was engraved on the other side. We still need to find a name for this little angel.
BOILER INSPECTIONS: The little locomotive was not the only locomotive that was washed out this week. Two class NGG 16’s; numbers 113 and 153 was washed out and are prepared for the internal Boiler Inspection by the end of this month. We still need to wash out and prepare the Fowler locomotive too. Eight boilers will be inspected by our Boiler Inspector Willie Lottering. The boiler inspections are in three stages namely, internal, hydraulic and steam test. This is planned to be done in three days and therefore needs to be properly planned. The internal test is only a visual inspection with all the wash out plugs and mud hole covers of. This includes a hardness test on the boiler as well. We then have to place all plugs and mud hole covers back and will need to fill the boilers for hydraulic test. The boilers will be hydraulic at 25% higher water pressure than the normal working pressure of the boilers and must be in such a state to maintain that pressure without any leaks. Once this is done we need to drain the boilers to the correct level of water in the gauge glasses to steam them on the third day. The safety valves then need to be set at the correct working pressure. Because of the limited time and the quantity of boilers to be tested, I shall need all the hands working in the steam shed for the three days. Here are photos of the wash outs this week:
THE 19 D CAB: The 19D cab was loaded onto a flat wagon this week. This was a mission to shunt out all the locomotives to free up some space inside the shed to enable the Coles crane to offload the cab from the flat wagon inside the shed. This cab will be restored to the original condition with all the brass pipes and gauges for display purposes. 19D SPARES: The spares needed for the 19D in Bloemfontein were sorted and moved down to the shed. The clack box and lubricator was serviced this week. SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT: With the flat wagon inside the shed with the 19D cab, it was a favourable time to load the new freight stock onto it. We also shunted out all the wagons that we used on the harvest trains and offloaded the bales and the bags of wheat. An Interesting consist! We also offloaded the old B wagon and shunted them to the storage line at Hoekfontein station. All the old un restored wagons at the Coal shed will be re-railed in next week and will be shunted to this storage line where they will await restoration. The converted B wagons that were loaded with wheat on the Harvest day last Friday were shunted to the silos where they were offloaded by means of an Agri vac. THE RATANGA WAGON: Restoration on the Ratanga wagon is in progress and Jacob went on with the de-scale work on the frame. Petrus sanded the wooden sides of the wagon. Some of the wood was replaced and Henry is almost finished with the fitting of the new wooden floor for this wagon. The braking gears were fitted back and the vacuum cylinder was overhauled. A new release valve was fitted and the brakes were adjusted. The handbrakes were made workable again and new vacuum pipes were fitted. Once the wooden floor is finish, it will be sanded too and will be varnished together with the outside wood. The steel frame will be painted with the same brown paint as the PE coaches. The window frames will be replaced with wooden tar poles and will give a rough and exquisite look to this coach. The existing doors, normal wagon doors, will be replaced with strong wood finished doors and suburban coach seats will be mounted inside this wagon. There are another wagon that will be rebuild the same way. Here are some photos of this restoration: SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LINE REPORT: This week Derrick repaired the points just in front of the shed. This points and the one at the ash put was lifted and packed to remove the slacks on this points. Here are some photos of the tamping of these points: Line inspection was done this week after 100-150 mm of rain fell on the farm. This was a good time to evaluate the adequacy of the drainage system on the new line and there was only one place where we need to fit a culvert to prevent the water from damming up near the Railway line. SIGN BOARDS: The sign board that we used on the low bed to Port Elizabeth was fitted outside the shed. We also came to an old Post Office sign and mounted it to a wooden pole: And the Post Office sign! We started with a big cleaning up program that will be finished in next week. Jacob cut the lawn this week with the John Deere tractor and slasher, while Oupa worked the weed eater where the slasher can’t reach. FROM THE PAST Left to right: Hannes Coetzee and Gert Jubileus The last day of Steam in Virginia. Class 15F number 3119, with driver Hannes Coetzee and fireman myself. We were not aware that Steam was about to end on Saturday the 29th of September 1990 and were notified the Friday the 28th the afternoon just before we went of duty. It was devastating news to me and in a rush I made the Last Day of Steam board that was fitted on the Smoke box door. This locomotive was not our regular locomotive and 15F number 3108 was taken back to Kroonstad just the day before. After we hauled the last Steam train to Glen Harmony, we took her back to Kroonstad. When we came back from Kroonstad, my driver and I sat down where she used to stand. We were very sad that day, it was like the end of an era . I remember that just after we left, a coal train derailed at a very high speed just on the right side track of this photo, and 28 coal wagons crashed into the ground. It took us a week to clear up the station and to rectify the railway lines again. One of the B wagons that were on the wagon list of the coal train was never found. It is believed that it buried itself under the ground and the new tracks were laid over it. A day to remember? PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To re-rail all freight wagons at the coal stage and to shunt them to the storage line. 2.) To start with under frame restoration of an old B wagon. 3.) To go on with restoration of the Ratanga coach. 4.) To prepare boilers for B.I. 5.) To move all rail to Pandora 6.) To move 3’6” wagons to storage line 7.) To clean up shed yard. 8.) To clean railway line 9.) To do weed spraying over entire Railway line. 10.) To fit back little locomotive motion and to make new lagging. 11.) To start with the restoration of the Ratanga Flat wagon. 12.) To clean up Coal shed yard. 13.) To overhaul 19D spares for Bloemfontein. Steam greetings, Gert!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 145 -  The Feldbahn makes steady progress

17th January 2006

People following the restoration of our Feldbahn locomotive by Lukas Nel will notice that it is now sporting an original headlamp and a classic Feldbahn chimney.   For those that have not been following the history of this locomotive its story is as follows:    Bought in Germany before the First World War. Worked behind the trenches supporting the German troops throughout the First World War. Sometime between 1918 and 1925 it was exported to Sena Sugar in Mozambique where it was heavily modified but worked as a Sugar Cane locomotive until the early 1970's. At the outbreak of hostilities all farming and sugar mill activity ceased at Sena Sugar.  All locomotives became derelict.

Approximately 5-years ago a batch of about 20 locomotives was imported to the UK by a dealer.  These locos were mostly sold off to different preserved railways in the UK but this loco remained unsold. It was purchased by a Swiss enthusiast and collector who commissioned the Sandstone Heritage Trust to rebuild it.  This restoration is now underway.  This was one of the most derelict locomotives ever received in our Bloemfontein workshops.   So, to summarise, this locomotive was born in Germany, fought in the First World War, spent most of its subsequent working life in Africa, took a recreational trip to England, and has returned to South Africa to be totally rebuilt.  In short its life begins again.  Because of the time span involved no human being could ever have experienced a travel and working experience which even begins to remotely compare to the above.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 146 - Sandstone Steam Locomotive Report - 16th - 27th January 2006 - By Gert Jubileus - Page one 17th January 2006
Weekly Activities
The Little Ratanga Locomotive
The little locomotive’s cab, smoke deflectors and cylinder cladding was spray painted. Henkie overhauled the safety valves, injectors and the blow down cork. The brass pipes and fittings were cleaned too. The restoration of this locomotive is postponed till after the Cosmos festival. Here are some photos of the progress on this little locomotive:
THE 19D SPARES: We are still busy with overhauling of the spares for the 19D in Bloemfontein. All the air clack valves and steam valves are faced and new rope is used to pack the packing nuts on the ejector. The ejector cones are cleaned as well. Here are some photos of the stripped ejector.
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BOILER INSPECTIONS: The Boiler Inspector will be down at the farm next week from Tuesday to Friday to do all the inspections needed on seven boilers.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT THE RATANGA WAGONS: Both the Ratanga wagons received a complete under frame restoration. The first wagon was sanded and Petrus started with the second wagon. The restoration of these wagons will be postponed till after the Cosmos Festival. Here are photos of the progress on the wagons:
B WAGON RESTORATION: Five B wagons were re-railed with our ten ton Fork lift and will undergo a complete under frame restoration. The wagons will remain in original rusty livery for the authentic look of it. The rest of the wagons will be lifted onto the rails in next week and will be stored in the new storage line in Hoekfontein Station where they will await restoration. Here are photos of these B wagons:
GUARDS VANS: Two very old V-16 Guards vans were shunted out of the wagon shed. These two Vans immediately came to the put in the Steam shed for a complete under frame restoration. Petrus and Jacob stripped of both wagons braking gears. Jacob de-scaled the braking gears while Petrus was painting the de-scaled ones. Ben removed the vacuum cylinders and overhauled them completely. The braking gears will be fitted back and the brakes will be adjusted. The outside of these vans will undergo minor restoration and will be kept in original condition where possible. Ben started with the minor repair work to the wooden surfaces. The bearings were inspected and the boxes were packed with new wool soaked in oil. Here are some photos of this restoration: The first B wagon that was re-railed is next to go over the put for the under frame restoration. This B wagon is one that will be used with the old Guards vans. Here is a photo of this B wagon: 3’6” WAGONS FROM KOMMANDONEK All three wagons were moved from Kommandonek to Hoekfontein. They were offloaded on the 3’6” storage line at the Waenhuis. Here are photos of moving of these wagons. We lifted the back of the wagon first and removed the dolly wheels with the help of the 10 ton Fork lift. The rear bogey was re-railed under the wagon and we slowly let the wagon down. Arno reversed the Man with the wagon on the rear bogey to line up with the Coles Crane to lift the front of the wagon. All three wagons were offloaded the same way and will now undergo minor restoration work. THE COAL DUST EXTRACTOR: Derrick built a steel floor for the Coal dust extractor and will fit it to the Coal dust extractor in next week.   THE BSA RAILCAR: Henkie started with the restoration on the BSA railcar. He made a new bonnet frame to accommodate the radiator of the railcar and once the frame is complete he will start with the bonnet and sides. Henry is the specialist in body repairs and started with the body work that is needed on the BSA. Here are photos of this restoration: RAIL REPORT: Henry made speed posts that will be placed at certain places on the Railway line where speed restrictions are needed. He also made gradient posts that will indicate the ruling grade. All these will be finished in next week and will be mounted on tar poles. SANDSTONE RIDES THE RAIL AGAIN: The Senior citizens from Fouriesburg visited Sandstone Estates last week. The Hunslet diesel locomotive was used for this special event. The train departed from Hoekfontein Station at 10H00 and arrived back from Grootdraai at 10H45. On the return from Grootdraai, the passengers enjoyed a tea break in the Waenhuis and they were taken on a Farm tour there after. They really had a great time and loved to see the old vehicles in the Vintage Shed. Here is Ben (below), helping the passengers to get onto the train.     From the Past   A Class 19 D at Lorain Gold Mines in Allenridge 1993, now one of the Locomotives on the Sandstone stock list. The Goldfields used to be a steam arena in those years. A fleet of different classes of locomotives could be seen in operation, from the Class 3Br, 10, 11, 14Crb, 15Ca, 16Cr, 19B as well as the North British Tank locomotives. Faithful servants of the South African Railways became the faithful servants of all the Mines in Welkom. PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK:   1.) To restore 2 x V 16 Guards vans 2.) To restore 5 x B wagons ( under frames) 3.) To finish Britannia B wagon 4.) To load consists for Under the African Skies. 5.) To go on with the BSA 6.) To finish Extractor floor and fit it 7.) To re-rail B wagons at Coal shed and shunt them to the storage line. 8.) To finish and fit speed posts and gradients signs. 9.) To start with the maintenance program on all wagons. 10.) Weed spraying on the Railway line.   STEAM GREETINGS... GERT!!!