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:
http://www.railwaysafrica.com/assets/mag/2-2018/RA_2-2018-FINALweb.pdf
