John Deere celebrates 100 years in 2018 and one of the earliest examples of a John Deere tractor in South Africa is Sandstone’s 1924 Model N, Waterloo Boy. This has been loaned to John Deere for the duration of the largest agricultural show in South Africa and is on display at their stand at NAMPO 2018 in Bothaville in the Free State.
Sandstone is a major user of John Deere equipment and wishes John Deere another successful 100 years.
The first phase of the cosmetic restoration of 1555 is nearing conclusion with the locomotive now painted together with the tender tank. The painting of the tender frame is nearly complete. Our final picture shows some of the extremely rusted boiler cladding and other components that will need to be replaced when the Transnet tender for Phase 2 of the restoration to final assembly is awarded.
The restoration is now picking up pace with the fabrication of the regulator lever assembly and its fitment to the boiler backhead. The main steam pipes have now been assembled in the smokebox.
We received some good coverage of the NG10 restoration in the latest issue of SA Rail. Click below to view the articles:
A major milestone has been reached with the completion of the main steam pipe as in our picture whilst the smokebox acts as a scheduling board for work to be completed in August.
While the work on the NG10 continues, the team working on the 4AR, number 1555 for Transnet are making good progress with the locomotive and tender now stripped and cleaned and the application of the red ochre preservative paint starting to be applied.
As the myriad of smaller tasks continues the reverser handle has been completed and fitted together with the reversing mechanism. The vacuum ejector and piping has also been assembled and fitted but the train pipes are still to be attached.
