NUMBER 88
The last Unit of Number 88 arrived on the Farm and was assembled by the Bloemfontein team. All the pipes were coupled and she was steamed and tested.
The rear Unit of 88 being offloaded at Vailima.
The Unit was coupled to a B wagon and was pulled off the low bed.
The Boiler and the 2 Units were shunted into the triangle to assemble her.
The boiler was jacked and the bogeys were removed.
The Units were shunted in carefully and the boiler was placed down into the centre pots of the Units.
The rear Unit in place.
Number 88 was completed and was shunted down to the inspection pit to couple up all the pipes and fittings.
A pretty Sexy number 88 just as she pulled in the Hoekfontein workshops.
Number 88 being steamed for the first time in many years.
Number 88 raising steam slowly just outside the Hoekfontein Steam Shed.
Steam of love covered the cylinders as she gained steam.
Number 88 eager to show what is boiling in her boiler.
A brick arch was build and number 88 was used on a special passenger train last Saturday morning.
Number 88 showing her eager to depart with a short mixed train to the Lesotho border and back.
Number 88 at Grootdraai.
THE WEDDING TRAIN
The previous Saterday we had a special wedding train and used number 153 to do the honour. Jannet and Essex Barret daughter got married and they chosen the Sandstone Steam Railway and Estates to celebrate this very special day.
Number 153 being steamed.
Cleaning the brass dome to make our Lady special.
The tent outside the Waenhuis for the wedding ceremony.
Number 153 shinning bright in her wedding dress.
Our passengers arrived just before 16H00 and boarded the train for a special run to Grootdraai where they had a little picnic.
The Bride and all her guests just before departure.
It was a special day, the skies were clear and the locomotive was shinning bright as she slowly tackled the climb towards Grootdraai.
Number 153 shinning in the sun while our guests enjoyed a picnic under the trees.
No one could resist the beautiful colors of the near growing cosmos. A perfect background for photos.
The bride posing at number 153.
Just after 17H00 we departed from Grootdraai towards Mooihoek and back again to Hoekfontein.
STEAM STEAM STEAM
This however was not the end of our Steaming on the Sandstone Steam Railways. We steamed all our Locomotives to test them all and invited a couple of drivers to assist as well as a handful of photographers to capture our Locomotives working there harts out.
But before we could start with this we had to prepare all the locomotives and repaired all the known little problems on them. We needed consists to hook on the locos so we loaded consist and shunted consists ready just to couple and go.
Our little O&K number 4102 raising steam on a wood fire for testing purposes.
The new O&K number 2510 was also steamed and tested.
Derrick setting the piston packing's on number 153.
The regulator valve on the side of the dome ( 4102 ) was leaking very badly and was removed and repaired.
The regulator valve on 4102 being removed.
Our NG 4 was also steamed and all the repairs and leaks were repaired whilst in steam so we could test the locomotive till she was just fine.
A 100% better steam tight locomotive than ever.
All the locomotives were shunted out and coaled. The tenders were filled in advance to minimize the water usage on operating days.
A row of locomotives waiting their turn to be coaled.
James Hall Lawley.
NGG number 2836 received a fresh coat of varnish to make part of interesting consists on the testing days.
A row of Box wagons were shunted together for a special box consist.
All the water columns were inspected and filled with water prior to our steaming week.
The Hunslet in the far back, shunting consists ready.
A busy Hoekfontein shunting yard.
A row of flat wagons were shunted into the triangle to be loaded with tractors, implements etc.
The consist being loaded.
DZ wagons covered with new SAR branded tarpaulins.
GALLERY
Our Steaming week started on Monday and ended on Saturday afternoon. Here is a gallery of photos of our locomotive testing week.
NG 15 number 17 pulling out of Grootdraai.
The NG 15 waiting in Hoekfontein Station for the line to clear, in the far the little Decauville is on her way to Hoekfontein Station.
A goods train running into Grootdraai with the NG 15 at the helm of the train.
A passenger view as the awesome Eastern Free State landscapes passes bye.
Nostalgic moments at Vailima Siding.
Number 17 covered with Thunder clouds.
A view from the cab of 153, number 113 at her side.
Number 153 on shunting duties in Hoekfontein station.
Number 113 steaming into Hoekfontein Station.
A different view from 153 front unit.
Number 113 and 153 on a photo run past with a box train consist.
This is what it is all about for the photographers (Adian)
A view from the front unit of 113 with 153 in front.
Taking water in Hoekfontein Station just before departure to tackle the severe climb towards Vailima.
Driver Bob on his favorite Locomotive, the NG 4
Driver Paul behind the controls of number 88 just before she left the shed to show what she have.
Number 88 making a show as she slowly near Hoekfontein Station.
Number 88 on shunting duties.
Number 88 with a tanker consist seeing on the mainline towards Grootdraai.
Number 88 with a new number plate fitted.
Number 88 from a tanker view.
Number 88 with a tanker consist as she gained speed to run out of Grootdraai.
Number 88 making a spectacular scene just before she departed with a late afternoon train over the mountains.
Number 88 with fireman Bob and driver Paul.
Driver Paul on 88 on the way back to the shed after another great steaming day.
Driver Bob and fireman Paul preparing the Peckett for another interesting day.
Double heading O&K's leaving the shed.
The Peckett in action ready to depart with a goods train to Grootdraai.
The Peckett steaming out of Hoekfontein.
The Peckett, Star of the day!
The Peckett on a photo session at Grootdraai.
The Peckett posing for photos just before Hoekfontein Station.
The triple crossing as the Peckett storms into Hoekfontein Station while the double headed O&K's await its arrival.
The Peckett on shunting duties.
Departure of the double headed O&K locomotives.
The O&K's and the Peckett on a photo run to Grootdraai.
The O&K's at Grootdraai.
A vintage tractor with Oom Nick.
Early morning steam scenario at Hoekfontein Shed.
The green Lawley performing early morning shunting in Hoekfontein South.
Sizella number 3 in action.
The Beira Lawley in full swing storming passed the photographers with Driver Peter Randall.
Sizella at Grootdraai.
The Lawley and the Barclay double heading a long goods train to Grootdraai and back.
The Barclay and Lawley showing what they got.
The double header pulling into Hoekfontein Station.
The Fowler on shunting duties with Driver Bob and fireman paul.
Oom Nick wellengoed posed for a photo in mid Hoekfontein Station.
Shunting in Hoekfontein South.
Bob and paul oiling the NGG 13 number 49 just before departure.
49 on her way to the water column.
Double header Garratt locomotives ready to depart with the MG car club train to Grootdraai and Vailima.
49 and 88 racing towards Grootdraai.
Number 49 and 88 tackling the severe climb out to Vailima.
The NG 4 on her way out to Hoekfontein station with a rake of tanker wagons.
The photo run pass by the NG 4
More of the NG 4.
The Feldbahn between Hoekfontein and Grootdraai.
Below right: The NG 4 at Grootdraai.
The NG 4 and the Feldbahn.
O&K number 2510 at Grootdraai crossing the Feldbahn.
The NG 4 back in Hoekfontein Station.
Number 153 on Shunting duties while the Little Bess await clearance of the track to enter Hoekfontein Station.
Number 153 taking water at Vailima just before departure on a round trip.
The Bagnal with 13 B wagons and a Van as she returns from Grootdraai on a photo session.
A Very special thanks to Mr. Mole who made this week possible, to Bob, Paul, Peter, Shaun for helping so much to man the locomotives, we had good times that we never will forget. A special thanks to Leon and Thinus and the Hoekfontein Steam team who helped to make every move possible.
FROM THE PAST
Today the Banana Express is from the past and so was the world famous number 88 but luckily Number 88 was restored to her full Glory after years of dereliction.
Once the pride of the South African Railways is now the pride of the Sandstone Steam Railways.
OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK
• Collect 2 DZ wagons at Port Elizabeth.
• To decommission boilers
• XC cosmetic restoration.
• Locomotive repairs
• Train trip on Saturday.
STEAM GREETINGS
THE STEAM TEAM!!!