Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 281 - Steam News - Weekly report - 30th October - 4th November 2006 - by Gert Jubileus

7th November 2006

SANDSTONE STEAMS AGAIN!!!

This week we steamed our Class NG15 number 17 to haul two passenger trains on Saturday. The first train was for the Sunday school children who came all the way from Bethlehem to experience a real Steam train. For most of the children, it was their first time ever on a train. 05H00, Saturday morning Derrick and myself fired up the Kalahari so it would be ready at 08H00. The Kalahari was built in 1931 by Henschel and despite the fact that she turned 75 years old this year, she performed flawlessly.

Below are some early morning shots of number 17 steaming her way into the day (and into the hearts of the children).

The children are the Steam enthusiasts of tomorrow.

We were ready at Hoekfontein Station at 07H30 with Petrus as our guard for the day.

All the children were very excited and could not wait to jump on the train.
At Grootdraai we stopped briefly for a little picnic and all gathered around the steaming wonder.

We then departed back to Hoekfontein Station and all the children said: Thank You Mr. Mole!

We then turned around the train and cleaned the fire for the late afternoon train to Grootdraai and Vailima.
With the huge tender fitted to the Kalahari, it is not needed to replenish her thirst very often.
We also had a visit from Peter Pauls from Germany (below right) who helped me a lot to get through the long day. Below is a photo of Peter Pauls next to the Kalahari, a very keen enthusiast indeed.

At 16H00 we were ready to depart and Derrick heated her up for the ride.

Video clip Shovel! (right click and save for windows) >>>

Below are photos of the ride to Vailima and Grootdraai.

At Grootdraai the passengers had some snacks and for the rest it was time for pigeon shooting till dusk.
Below left: A very tired Derrick, just after we arrived back in Hoekfontein Station.


THE KALAHARI: Before we could use the Kalahari on Saturday, we first had to fit back the regulator and the dome. The regulator was removed and the valve was faced some time ago. Below is photos taken of Derrick fitting back the regulator and the dome.



We then had to fill the boiler with water and hydraulic tested it to make sure that the dome was not leaking. This can save a lot of extra work. Below: Photos of the Kalahari near the washout pump in front of the shed. The water is pumped in through a two-inch pipe at a very fast rate.


THE FOWLER: Last week we took apart the Fowler’s injector and cleaned the cones and clack valves. This week the cones and clacks were fitted back and the rest of the valves were serviced. Below left: A photo from above the injector. Below right: The cones and clack valves.

Below left: The injector of the Fowler. Below right: The repairs on the injector now completed.

The rest of the valves then were serviced.


CLASS NGG 13 Number 49:

This week the regulator gland of number 49 was packed with new rope. Below are photos taken of the regulator gland being packed.

OVERHEAD WATER COLUMN: This week we made a overhead column that will be fitted just outside the shed. This will speed up a lot of time to be able to take water while waiting for the locomotive to raise steam. The locomotives will now be able to depart from the shed directly after the boiler have enough steam and will not need to go all the way to a column before coupling up to the trains. This column will not have water in all the time, when we want to use the column, we just screw on our two inch water pipe and start the pump to pump the water from the big black water tank. Below are photos of the construction of the column, fitted with two two-inch valves, one for each line into the shed. Look out for next weeks report to see the completed column.

Oupa laid a 40mm pipe from the existing water column at the Coal stage to the black water tank at the shed. This is to fill the tank with speed when needed. Below is a photo of the 40mm pipe.

TRACK INSPECTION: After heavy rainfalls this week, a track inspection was done to evaluate the drainage systems on the Railway line. Below is a photo of the beautiful landscape that unfolds when traveling on the Sandstone Steam Railway.


WOODEN TOLLS: Petrus went on with the boxing of the wooden tolls this week; he completed fifteen in total. Below are photos of the tolls.


PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To finish an erect overhead column. 2.) To go on with wooden tolls. 3.) To make coupler beams for the Peckett. 4.) To go on with the restoration of the Ratanga locomotive. 5.) To do repairs needed on locomotives. 6.) To make switch number plates. 7.) To clean ash pits. 8.) To stencil goods wagons. 9.) To do valve setting on the Lawley. 10.) To rectify batter at Mooihoek points. 11.) To clean Locomotives. 12.) To clean wagon shed. 13.) To do wagon maintenance 14.) To finish restoration of XC 2227 15.) To spray weeds on Railway line. 16.) To ballast 3’6” storage line and lift and pack.