Steam News from the Sandstone Steam Railway!

WARM SPARKING SPARKS!!!

During a rainy week we had the chance to finish the second AY Ballast wagon from Port Elizabeth. Two of our XC Tanker wagons was attacked by the scrap dealers and suffered from frame cuts. The frames were cut and the channels were sold for scrap. It was decided to lift the tanks from the main frames and to fit them onto two flat wagons that arrived from Port Elizabeth in last year. First of all we have to restore these two flat wagons to working condition before we can fit the tanks onto them.

AY NUMBER 2800

The restoration of number 2800 was completed this week. The brakes were adjusted and a full vacuum brake test was done to complete the mechanical restoration that was needed. The one side brake axle was stuck and after battling a few hours we decided to remove the one V hanger and move the axle so we could grease it.

Number 2800 on the pit very near completion.

Wouter demonstrated his eager to hammer a stuck brake axle. &*^%%^#

The 18" vacuum cylinder fits perfectly on these AY's.

The AY from below!

A new piston being fitted to the vacuum cylinder.

The AY was spray painted with a undercoat of Red Oxide and will be sprayed grey again with sister AY number 2033.

Wouter spray painted the second AY.

The 4th AY almost ready to go out of the shops.

Henk fitted new vacuum hoses and couplers to number 2800.

The Hunslet with a short ballast train during shunting movements in the Locomotive yard.

XC TANKER RESTORATION

The two sad XC Tanker wagons were shunted to the Workshop for restoration. First of all the tanks were removed and two flat wagons are under restoration to carry the heavy tanks.

XC Number 4036 – The photo shows the cuts in her frame.

Henk cut out all the rivets and bolts keeping the tanks secured to the frame.

The Brake axle was stripped as well as all the loose spares attached to the main frame.

The foundation plate was also welded to the main frame and Henk had to cut them loose to free the tanks from their cripple frames.

Henk cut the rivets and hammered it out off all the holes to ascertain that the tankers will be loose when we lift it with the 10 ton Forklift.

The vacuum cylinder, handbrakes and braking gears were stripped from the frames.

A stubborn frame refused to let go of the tank after all the years together.

At last the tank was free!

The tank was lifted and placed aside where they will await the completion of the two flat wagons.

The two scrap frames was shunted to the shed and the rest of all the loose spares were stripped from the frames.

NG SR NUMBER 2003

The restoration of number 2003 started this week. First of all the brake gears were stripped, de scaled and painted with Red Oxide. The frame was lifted and the two bogeys were rolled out to grease and oil the pivot pin and side wearer friction plates. The brake hangers were loosened and greased and new brake blocks were fitted. The Bogeys received new bearings and Wouter packed the axle boxes with new oil soaked wool. The bogeys were rolled back under the wagon. The Flat wagon then was shunted to the inspection pit to fit back all the braking gears and pins. The brakes will be adjusted during the today.

NG SR 2003 on the inspection pit for brake adjustment after the bogey restoration was completed.

Number 2003 about to loose her wheels!!!

And the bogey restoration could commence.

Wouter removed all the old oil wool from the 4 axle boxes and cleaned the boxes before he fitted the new bearings. He then packed the axle boxes with new soaked wool and fitted back the axle box covers.

NG SR NUMBER 2016

We are quite in a hurry to finish the restoration of the two NG SR wagons in order to fit the tanks back onto the Flats and the restoration of the second SR started and is almost completed and was restored the same way as 3002. Both wagons only needs overhauled vacuum cylinder and vacuum hoses to be fitted to be mechanically complete.

The front bogey being rolled out for restoration.

Number 2016 with her nose up!

Wouter overhauled the bogeys and Victor de scaled the old braking gears and painted them with red Oxide.

Victor carefully painted the braking gears and packed them neatly ready to fit back.

The vacuum cylinder bracket bolts were cut off to remove the cylinder for a full vacuum overhaul.

The mechanical restoration will be completed on both wagons during next week and the tanks will be fitted on these flat wagons. The cosmetic restoration of the wagons will then commence.

FROM THE PAST

Class 24 number 3635

Number 3636 with Loco Inspector Mostert in Theunissen just after she arrived from the Winburg branch line.

A real shinning little branch line engine once upon a time, today she is gone for ever but we still have the good memories trapped in photos to remind us that she once exist.

Number 3635 tackling the severe climb out of Winburg Station on the second last steam trip on the line, dieselization commenced only a week ago. April 2008.