Moving of Dairy Wagon
30th November 2007Into the Big Blue Skies!
Two weeks ago Reef Steamers shunted our Dairy wagon number 14013649 to Kommandonek with our Class 15F Avril. The Dairy wagon was bound to be moved to Hoekfontein storage line next to the Waenhuis. Early on Monday morning we started with the operations to move this special wagon by road. Because of two DZ wagons at the stop block, we had to redirect the line at Kommandonek. The Rail panel fishplates were loosened and we re-aligned the line onto an off ramp.
Below left: The Dairy wagon was moved to the loading place with the help of a Tractor.
Below right: The tracks were first lifted out of the ballast before we aligned it to the off ramp.
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Below left: Leon Flint, our Crane operator for the operations.
Below right: Lifting the track out of the ballast.
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Below: Time to align the straight track into the direction of the ramp.
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Henk used the TLB and build a off ramp and to level the loading place. The line was then filled with ballast to support it.
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The Dairy wagon was pulled onto
the off ramp with the tractor and Derrick uncoupled the braking gears and pivot
to enable us to lift the wagon from the bogeys. Our New Crane lifted the Dairy
wagon from the front bogey and the bogey was taken off from the track and was
loaded onto a trailer.
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Our Freightliner truck reversed up onto the ramp and in under the Dairy wagon. The wagon was lowered onto the fifth wheel of the Freighliner and proper alignment was needed to align up the holes in the frame of the wagon with the holes on the fifth wheel attachment.
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This is a slow process and all bolts were secured properly to secure the wagon onto the fifth wheel attachment.
Below left: The Freightliner taking up its load.
Below right: Derrick securing the wagon frame on the fifth wheel.
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The Freightliner pulled the wagon forward just after the bolts on the fifth wheel was secured and we lifted the rear end of the Dairy wagon to separate it from the rear bogey.
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The rear bogey was removed and was loaded onto the trailer. The Dolly wheels then were fitted in under the rear of the wagon and were secured the same way.
Below left: Henry moving the rear bogey out with our 10ton Hyster.
Below right: The wagon was lifted high enough to enable us to fit the dolly wheels in.
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Below left: The Hyster lifted the dolly wheels and placed it right under the wagon.
Below right: Ready to depart to Hoekfontein.
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It took about one hour to travel from Kommandonek to the Farm and our Freightliner arrived just after 15H00 at Hoekfontein. We offloaded the rear bogey first and fitted it onto the track. The Freightliner reversed in over the 3'6" Storage line and we loosened the bolts on the dolly wheels. The Crane lifted the wagon and the dolly wheels were pushed out under the wagon.
Below left: The Freightliner with our Dairy wagon nearing the main gate at Hoekfontein.
Below right: The rear bogey on the storage line.
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Below left: Derrick loosening the bolts under the wagon.
Below right: The dolly wheels pushed out under the wagon.
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Below: Our Hyster was used to lift the dolly wheels out of the way. The dolly was lifted high because of confined space.
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The rear bogey was pushed in under the wagon and the wagon was lowered onto the bogey. The Freightliner pushed the wagon back on the line. The bolts were loosened on the fifth wheel and the Crane lifted the wagon from the Freighliner.
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The rear bogey was pushed in under the wagon and the wagon was lowered onto the bogey. The Freightliner pushed the wagon back on the line. The bolts were loosened on the fifth wheel and the Crane lifted the wagon from the Freighliner.
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Below: The Freightliner pulling out under the wagon.
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The Hyster placed the front bogey on the tracks and we pushed the front bogey in under the wagon. The wagon was lowered onto the bogey and our mission was complete. Our Dairy wagon is now safe and sound at her new Home.
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STEAM GREETINGS FROM THE STEAM TEAM!