Lukas Nel and the Bloemfontein team have completed the fitting of all the copper ferrules in the firebox tube plate of number 113. Out pictures show the copper raw material, sealing the ferrules into the tube plate and the completed job.

The hard work continues at Bloemfontein with the copper ferrules being placed in the tube plate prior to the final fitting of the tubes. Our pictures show the delicate process of fitting the ferrules and a completed section of the tube plate. The ferrules are then expanded and act as a seal between the tube plate and the boiler tube when fitted.

James Hall Museum of Transport, Johannesburg, Open Day Saturday 17^th February.

The James Hall Museum will be holding an Open Day on Saturday 17^th February. Sandstone Heritage Trust has a close working relationship with the museum. The Lawley steam locomotive, NG97, at Sandstone is on loan from the museum and was restored by Sandstone to working order.

The museum is well worth a visit with varied exhibits ranging from a London bus to South Africa’s own electric car. For full details of the event click here to view

The repairs to and preparation of the front tube plate are now complete and the retubing will begin very shortly.