NGG13 49 on a demonstration freight on a winter’s morning. Picture by Dave Richardson
Visitors to Sandstone will know that NGG13 49 and NG 15 17 have been stalwarts of the Sandstone 2ft narrow gauge railway since 2004. The locomotives were moved from Umlaas Road and Humewood Road respectively by (then) Spoornet for safe keeping and eventual preservation during the 1980’s.
Ng15 number 17 hauls the Avontuur Adventurer rail tour out of Humewood Road Station in September 2005. Picture by Chris Webster
Eventually they were forgotten and the local vegetation in Springs took over. Sandstone persuaded Spoornet to let them move the locomotives and rebuild them and in March 2002 both were moved to Sandstone’s workshop facility in Bloemfontein. In July 2003 NG15 number 17 was returned to service and moved to Sandstone followed by NGG13 number 49 in November 2004.
Thanks to photographer, Alex Lyell, for letting us have a copy of his photo gallery of the two locomotives taken on the day of their move from Springs. Enjoy the photo gallery and you will see we came a long way with these two locos!
