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News from Bloemfontein. The NG10 receives its new boiler

News from Bloemfontein. The NG10 receives its new boiler.

The rebuilt boiler for NG10 number 61 has been re united with the loco frames after its extensive repairs by Keith Stevens. Our pictures show unloading the boiler from the Sandstone lowbed and placing the boiler into the waiting frames of number 61. A very exciting day for the restoration of the NG10!

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NGG16 Number 113 almost complete.

The small and large tubes for number 113 have been fitted and expanded into the firebox tube plate. Our pictures show the small tubes expanded and fitted and the setting up of the expanding machine for the large tubes. Not long to go now.

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NGG16 number 113 update 2 Mar 2018

The hard work is paying off and the small tubes have now been placed in the boiler. The larger tubes have been swaged and will be fitted early next week. Not too long to go now!

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The tubes are prepared for NGG16 Number 113

The boiler tubes have now been swaged and annealed ready for fitment into the boiler of number 113. Our pictures show the tubes being swaged and then annealed and cooled by being covered with clean sand.

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Steam Report 19 Feb

The latest Steam Report from the Sandstone Steam Team

Steam Report 19 Feb

Click here to Read

NGG16 Number 113. The firebox tube plate is now complete

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.

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NGG16 Number 113 boiler update

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.

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NGG13 number 113.

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

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NG10 Boiler completed

The completely rebuilt boiler for NG10 number 61 has now been completed by Keith Stevens and his team at the workshop in Howick. The boiler will be collected shortly for transport to Bloemfontein where Lukas Nel’s team will continue with the final restoration.

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More progress on NGG16 number 113.

Work on cleaning up the tube plates is nearly complete although the grinding and welding is a slow but necessary process of the retubing.

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Our first Steam Report for 2018

Steam report Jan 2018

Click here to see the latest Sandstone Railway news.

Our Lawley and her sister in times gone by

We could not resist these photographs of our Lawley BR7 (SAR NG 106) and sister NG105 that we received from Hannes Palling. They show the sisters at Fort Beaufort where they worked sometime between 1930 and 1934 and are credited to SH Carter. These two locos are the only Lawleys fitted with the “Fowler” type bogie tender. The other photo is of Hannes’ magnificent live steam model of NG105.

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Railway Safety Regulator Permit

Railway Safety Regulator Permit

Sandstone receives its Railway Safety Regulator operating permit for 2018.

The Railway Safety Regulator has issued Sandstone with its operating permit for 2018.

It has been issued without any exceptions. Click here to view

Boiler repairs on NGG16 number 113

Lukas Nel and his team have now begun the descaling process on the boiler and outer firebox of 113. This is a massive task with both tubeplates requiring  normal repairs. This will keep the team busy for some time to come. Our pictures show the guys hard at work deep inside the boiler.

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NGG16 number 113, a first update for 2018.

Work has begun on grinding the tube plate at the firebox end of the boiler on 113. This needs to be ground to be totally clean and smooth to allow the crack testing chemicals to work and also to check if the tube plate may have any bulging or be bent in any spot.

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