As we are fabricating many parts from scratch we have had to slow down a bit but will soon pick up the pace. Our pictures from Lukas Nel show the newly fabricated reversing ratchet, part of the drop grate, the finishing touches on the roof and more small parts for the regulator assembly and main steam pipe.
Great progress has been made on the boiler of NGG13 number 49 at Reefsteamers as it is prepared for retubing.
The old tubes have been removed and the tube plates cleaned. The boiler barrel has been descaled and washed out and subject to MPI (Magnetic Particle Inspection) as have the tube plates. The initial report is that all is well. A full boiler inspection by the Boiler Inspector prior to commencing the retube will take place next week. The tubes have been cut to length ready to be fitted.
Our pictures from Reefsteamers show the boiler being descaled and washed out and the flue tubes being annealed ready for fitment and the small tubes after being cut to size.
As mentioned in our last report there are numerous small items that take up a lot of time to complete. Our pictures from Lukas Nel show the chimney in its first stages of fabrication (when received the locomotive had a wooden replica), the inner cab wooden roof in place, the boiler flange for the turret and the regulator valve in its first stages of fabrication.
Although seemingly small tasks they all go together towards the restoration of this special locomotive.
Railways Africa has published a great article on the building of the new Seb’s Railway at Sandstone. Have a look at Pages 36 & 37. Please Click the link below to read more:
Work has now begun on stripping the loco at Reefsteamers in Germiston for the retubing with the removal of the ashpan, fire bars and brick arch as our pictures from Reefsteamers show. Luckily a cracked fire bar was discovered during the process which will be replaced when the locomotive is re-assembled at Sandstone.
Sandstone has awarded the contract to Reefsteamers as they have the correct facilities to engineer the work and also to assist the club with income for their preservation efforts.
We had some interesting visitors at Sandstone when a group of seven Gyrocopter pilots from all over the country descended on Sandstone for an overnight visit. Today they will be taking a walking tour of Sandstone before flying off to another destination.
An autogyro (from Greek αὐτός and γύρος, "self-turning"), also known as a gyroplane or gyrocopter, is a type of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to develop lift. Forward thrust is provided independently, typically by an engine-driven propeller. They were invented by a Spanish engineer, Juan de la Cierva in 1923 and have quite a following throughout South Africa and the world.
The restoration of Class 4AR number 1555 foe Transnet Foundation.
The locomotive and tender have now been completely stripped and the cleaning process has begun. With bitterly cold temperatures in Bloemfontein an impromptu boiler has been set up for warmth!