NGG13 49 stands at Umlaas Road in 1985
NGG13 number 49, built by Hanomag in 1928, has led a chequered career before arriving at its current home at the Sandstone Steam Railway. Originally allocated to the Port Shepstone to Harding line, it spent some time in South West Africa (Namibia today) on the Otavi Railway as part of an experiment to test Garratt locos there.
The experiment was not deemed a success as the crews felt the cabs were small and hot compared with their beloved NG15 locos. 49 returned to Port Shepstone where it worked until the arrival of the 91 Class diesels on the Avontuur line in 1972. The NGG16 locos based on the Avontuur were moved to Port Shepstone and the entire NGG13 class were withdrawn in the mid-70s. Number 49 was moved to Umlaas Road for preservation (and it appears that it was used there until at least early 1985) and then to Springs alongside NG15 number 17. Both locos were buried in the undergrowth before rescued by Sandstone and eventually rebuilt by Lukas Nel in the Sandstone Bloemfontein workshops.
American, Robert L Bucher, was an avid visitor to South Africa in the 70s and 89s and chronicled most of the narrow gauge systems and locos. He even bought NGG13 number 50 and took it back to Texas where he built his own 2ft narrow gauge railway, the Hempstead & Northern Railway. He also has NG15 number 18 at the railway. He recently sent us the picture of NGG13 number 49 at Umlaas Road in 1985. We have completed a short photo feature with a shot of the newly built number 49, shots of 49 at Springs Depot and finally, 49 at work at Sandstone. Enjoy the history of 49!
The official Hanomag works picture from of NGG13 number 49 in 1928 courtesy of Andreas Giller at the Hanomag Museum
49 stands in a forlorn state at Springs in 2002 as Sandstone rescue arrives
NGG13 49 hauls a demonstration freight past Mooihoek at Stars of Sandstone 2019