Railway Heritage

RN351 - Assembling a rusty Garratt is not work for the fainthearted

Assembling a rusty Garratt is not work for the fainthearted. It is tough manual labour with a lot of skill involved. However, the Sandstone team has done it many times.

RN353 - NGG16 No. 88 prepares herself for restoration!

NGG 16 No. 88 prepares to relocate to Bloemfontein. The photograph shows the boiler being prepared for loading and delivery to our Bloemfontein workshops for restoration.

RN354 - The last of the Garratts has arrived from Port Shepstone

These photographs show the work that has to be done in reassembling an NGG16 Garratt from components.
An engine unit is shunted into position.
One engine unit is aligned to the boiler, the second one to follow.
It all comes together.
What would we do without our little Funkey Mine Diesel?

RN355 - Work is progressing well on the Kerr Stuart Locomotive No. 4063

Work is progressing well on the Kerr Stuart Locomotive No. 4063 and attached are pictures reflecting what parts have been manufactured to date. The next major step will be to manufacture the new firebox.
Note the waste on the stays
Removal of Firebox
Machining dome flanging former
Manufacture of throat plate for the McLaren Traction Engine (work being completed in tandem)
Fitting outside wrapper
Manufacture of new tube plate for McLaren Traction Engine
Smoke Box front and front tubeplate
Parts to Manufacture new dome
Smoke Box Wrapper
Drilling outer Wrapper Rivet holes

RN356 - Sandstone adopts uniform coupling policy

There are two types of couplings typically available on narrow gauge rail freight stock in South Africa. The more robust of these is what is known as the Natal coupling, which is shown in the attached photograph. A decision has been made to retrofit Natal couplings to all passenger and freight stock on the Sandstone Narrow Gauge Railway.

This project will be completed in 2-3 weeks. Because of the larger trains that are being pulled, particularly with triple headers, it is important that the integrity of the couplings be of the highest order.

RN357 - Narrow Gauge World surveys global narrow gauge scene

An excellent article has appeared in the March/April edition of Narrow Gauge World, Edition 50. David Joy, the Editor, has written this searching article entitled "The Changing Scene". The entire article is reproduced herewith. We draw your attention specifically to page 9, column 2, where reference is made to South Africa's narrow gauge situation and in particular the role played by the Sandstone Steam Railroad.

As usual, grateful credits are due to Narrow Gauge World Magazine and David Joy for giving us the permission to re-publish their article! Visit their website at www.atlanticpublishers.com/NGW.html

RN358 - A letter from Lukas Nel and update on the O & K 2510 from Bloem

Sir,

Thanks to you - I received the Narrow Gauge World magazine on Saturday.
Interesting statement about Sandstone on page 9 column two.
At last somebody has taken note that we have the worlds largest collection of narrow gauge locomotives!
Congratulations to you and well done.

Attached is an updated picture on the O&K 2510's progress.

Regards,
Lukas. A Nel

RN360 - The Sandstone Heritage Trust Library

One of the unsung heroes of the Sandstone Heritage Trust is our Library, which is managed in the most professional manner by Judy le Grange. After some three years of hard work we have now reached the point where we have compiled a detailed list of our books, photographs, maps and many other items. Of particular interest to enthusiasts, particularly modellers, are the drawings that we have. For their interest we have published our inventory of drawings herewith.

If you have any queries please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and she will liaise directly with the Library on your behalf.
Above: An NG4 drawing

RN364 - A painting and prints of Sandstone Estates Narrow Gauge Railway Locomotive: "Lawley"

As a result of purchasing the Sandstone Estates Song of the Rails DVD last year and the book ‘The First Ten Years’, I have come to really like the above locomotive.

I have grown to like it so much that I have commissioned a painting of the locomotive pulling Sandstone’s dining car - the converted ex SAR NGV-16 guards Van No 3185 and detailed on page 107 of the book.

I have also commissioned three prints of the painting.

I would very much like the prints to go to South Africa and was wondering if you could help me get them there as you know all the contact details and the best method to get them there.

I would them to go to:

1) Mr Wilfred Mole;
2) The mess room of the locomotive workshop at Sandstone where the loco was restored;
3) Mr Sam Hewitt (or is it Hewett?) the man shown on the DVD converting the guards van to the dining car.


The prints are gifts from me to Mr Mole and his workforce in appreciation of the all the effort expended in the restoration and as a thank you for the enjoyment I have obtained from the DVD and book.

I still don’t know whether I will ever get to see the locomotive, coach and Sandstone Narrow Gauge Railway yet. My son is still trying to arrange is sabbatical year in SA construction industry project manger working in the Durban area, but has yet to find employment for the year. If he does, then my wife and I may be able to arrange a visit to Sandstone as part of our holiday next year if we go to visit him.

The loco and dining car has been painted by Jonathan Clay whose web-site is here:

http://www.jonathanclay.co.uk/


with kind regards

Kim Winter

Kingsley (Kim) Winter
223 Camp Road
St Albans
Herts
AL1 5NE

RN365 - Weekly Report by Derick van Zyl - 13th - 20th April 2007

We completed the last coach from Port Elizabeth - machined and rebuilt the second and the last couplers.
Overhauled one of the cattle wagons' brake systems and put in new vacuum pipes under the wagon, then changed all the split pins.

The team inspected the line for defect points and looked out for sand between the rails and between the points.

We are busy building and painting doors for the Ratanga unit.
Gert Jubileus spraying the railway line for weeds after the line inspection.
 
Above: Making up loads for the train trips to shunt the passenger and goods wagons together.
Left: Putting the whistle on the little Funkey diesel for safety.

We are also building a wash-out system for the wash-bay outside the loco shed and putting in a bigger water tank in the ground to recycle water.

Planning for next week:

Move the Port Shepstone Garratts from Vailima.
Shunt Garratt no.88 out to get her ready for Bloemfontein.
Shunt Port Shepstone wagons to the new storage line.
Do running repairs on the locos.
Rectify Vailima halt points.
Secure loose fish plate bolts on the railway line.
Ballast stopblock at Kommandonek siding.
Spray weeds on the storage line.

RN366 - Bloemfontein update - the O&K 2510

As usual, Lukas & Anna Nel and the Bloemfontein steam team are working their magic!

RN368 - Derrick van Zyl's Weekly report - 23rd April 2007

We have started changing one of the Port Elizabeth coach's couplers from Norwegian couplers to Bell couplers.

Building a wooden floor for the second Port Shepstone flat wagon

Finishing the floor of the second Port Shepstone flat wagon. We are putting a steel frame around the wooden floor to make it stronger, safer and smoother.

We are also building frames for the seats in the Ratanga passenger coach and painting the inside and the outside.

Preparing the spray trolley for the weeds on the line.


Preparing the Feldbahn and Little Bess for Phillip Maurer's visit from Switzerland with Swiss TV.
Planning for next week:
Finishing the one side of the last PE coach; machining and rebuilding.
Go on with the second Port Shepsone flat wagon and finish the floor.
Start to repair and rebuild the brake system on the second Port Shepstone flat wagon.
Go on with the Ratanga wagon; finish painting and start with the window frames and hand rails.

RN369 - Steam Railway Magazine Article, UK, May 2007 - Porta's Water

RN370 - Internationally acclaimed steam authority, John Middleton visited us at Sandstone recently.

Internationally acclaimed steam authority, John Middleton visited us at Sandstone recently.

He took some wonderful images of the steamed locomotives.
Edwardian Event - Sandstone Estates - Saturday, 21st April 2007

Dear Wilf,

I just want to thank you for the truly wonderful weekend at Sandstone. You said that this would be the last one but I hope that may be you can be persuaded otherwise. Standing under the trees at Grootdraai as the Lawley sizzled in the background and the sun set over the Maluti Mountains and we sipped Champagne was the perfect tonic for making the troubles of the world evaporate for a few hours. As said during the speechs, an atmosphere to be bottled, if only that were possible, may the photo below sums up a little of that wonderful atmosphere.

Many thanks to all the crews who got up early to make it happen.


Kind Regards
John



RN371 - Weekly Steam Shed Report by Gert Jubileus! 10th - 19th April 2007

Gerts back!
Gert Jubilius has resumed his task as foreman of our running shed on the farm Hoekfontein at Sandstone Estates. We have all missed his popular reports which were always full of steam related action and happy memories. His assistant Derek Van Zyl handled this task while Gert was away... Thanks Derrick, you did well. Now both of them will contribute, which is a win for all!
This week we prepared Locomotives, wagons and tracks for a very special Edwardian event on the 20th April.

THE SANDSTONE STEAM LOCOMOTIVES:
THE CLASS NG 4
This week we really got head and heels into repairing minor problems on the NG 4, Feldbahn, Lawley, 153, and Little Bess.
We have removed the dome of the NG4 to enable us to seat the regulator valve that was slightly leaking through. The brakes were adjusted and minor steam leaks were repaired. The NG 4 was shunted to the inspection pit where we found a loose spring hanger on the left intermediate driver wheel. The locomotive was jacked and the spring hanger was secured again. The weights on the driver wheels were adjusted too.

Below: Arno Serfontein,taking a good look into the boiler of the NG4!
Below: Photos of the loose hanger and the collapsed spring. With the NG4 it is imposible to inspect the springs and hangers from the outside of the locomotive. The only way to inspect them is from below when she is standing on a inspection pit.
Below: Derrick van Zyl carefully jacked the NG4 to take off the weight of the wheels and springs.
First of all we removed the regulator and the gooseneck and then blanked off the internal steam pipe with a special made blank, equipped with a nozzle to fit an air pipe onto. We then filled the boiler and tested the internal steam pipe with compressed air.
After the repairs were done on the NG4, she was steamed and tested. The NG4 was used to perform shunting duties in the shed as well as shunting wagons for brake adjustments. She was also used to shunt all the locomotives to the coal shed to coal them.Below: The NG4 showing her eager to perform with blowing safety valves.
Henry and Derrick on the Loco shunt with the NG4
Below: The NG4 shunting locomotives to coal and consists ready for the Edwardian Express
CLASS NGG 16 NUMBER 153
The strongest and very reliable Locomotive in the Sandstone Steam fleet was shunted to the Inspection pit this week. Twelve new brake blocks were fitted to this locomotive and her brakes were adjusted. The wedges were adjusted and locked as well.
Below: Henk and Derrick assisting with the brake block change and repair work on number 153
The broken driver wheel spring was removed and a new spring was fitted.
Below: 153 awaits her spring toe be changed.
Below: Arno and Henry jacked the locomotive to release the tension on the springs.
After we have changed the spring on 153, we steamed her to shunt the locomotives to the new storage lines as well as to shunt 31 wagons from Mooihoek siding into this storage line.
Below: Photos taken of 153 shunting locomotives and wagons!

Below: 153 at Mooihoek siding just before departure with 15 freight wagons to the storage line near the Steam Shed. In the backdrop, the Kommandonek mountains.
Number 153 left a cloud of black smoke before charging the steep gradient to Hoekfontein Station.
THE FELDBAHN

We received assistance from our Bloemfontein Steam Team to help us with the repair work that was needed before the Edwardian weekend. Time was running out and we were happy to have more helping hands to finish in time. The Feldbahn was shunted to the pit and I inspected the locomotive with a inspection hammer. All the repairs were written down with white chalk on the frame of the locomotive and then the Bloemfontein Team followed the instruction on the frame to do all the repairs. After the repairs were done, the Feldbahn was steamed and tested. Our Bloemfontein Steam Team manned the Feldbahn and loved the experience of manning the locomotive.

Below: Photos taken of Leon and Thinus repairing the Feldbahn.
Below Left: Thinus performing stoker duties.
Below Right: The Feldbahn on a trial run in Hoekfontein Station.
Henry repaired the Simpson pump of the Feldbahn. Below is an action photo of the pump sucking water out of the bucket and back into it.
SANDSTONE WAGONS

The Class NG4 and the Funky was used to shunt wagons from the wagon shed to the inspection pit for brake adjustments and a full vacuum brake test. A broken braking gear was found on our Guards Van and was replaced with a new one. Wagons numbers 52,67,184,185,2834,3178,2968,1976,3571,1746,3579,2819 and 1644 brakes were adjusted.

A wagon maintenance plan is being drawn up and will include the packing of boxes too. All the wagons will come in for a service on a weekly base till we have serviced all the mobile wagons
Below: A photo of the Fun key shunting the last two wagons to the pit for brake adjustments. The NG 4 shunted the rest the previous day and we were busy till late Thursday night.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY TRACKS:

A rail inspection was don prior to the Edwardian weekend and we found a half cork problem with point’s number 15 and we found broken fishplate bolts. All these problems were rectified and all level crossings were cleaned prior to the event.

The Wickham was used to spray the weeds over the entire Railway line this week.

Below: Derrick fixing the points at Vailima Halt.
Below left: The rectified half cork points, demonstrated perfect in the two photos below!
Above right: Broken fishplate bolts on the Mainline between Vailima and Vailima Halt.
Below: Derrick securing loose fishplate bolts.
Below: The Weed attack!
Finally the Steam Shed and all the locomotives were cleaned, a neat workshop is a Safe Workshop!
NEXT! THE EDWARDIAN EXPRESS AND THE ROVOS TOUR!!!