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Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 272 - Weekly Report by Gert Jubileus - 10th - 15th October 2006

16th October 2006
 
The Ratanga Locomotive
During last week, the Ratanga Locomotive frame was de-scaled and this week Henry spray-painted the wheels and the frame. The Buffer beam was sprayed red and the wheel tires were painted white. Henry then fitted back the wheels and started to fit back the motion of this Little Locomotive. The cab was sanded and prepared to be spray painted in next week. The boiler is in Bloemfontein and Lukas Nel needs to expand the tubes with a special little tube expander that was ordered.

Below are photos of the restoration of the Little Locomotive:
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Below are photos of Henry while he was fitting back the wheels and the motion.
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CLASS NGG 16 NUMBER 153
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This week Derrick fitted the remaining loose pipes back and also packed the expansion joint while it still was easy to reach. He I busy with repair work to the bunker of 153.
Below are photos of the Derrick busy with repair work to 153.
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THE FUNKEY DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE:
This week the little diesel locomotive worked very hard, shunting Hoekfontein station as well as wagons to Mooihoek Station for storage.

She was used on Monday to shunt a Flat wagon to load a Garratt Unit at Pandora. The Unit then was shunted to Hoekfontein and was offloaded.
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The Funkey on her way to Mooihoek
The Funkey just after returning from Pandora.
Below are some images of the Funkey performing shunting duties in Hoekfontein Station.
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She then was used to shunt wagons to Mooihoek station.
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Below are more images of the Funkey in action, with Derrick behind the controls.
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The Sandstone Estates Freightliners arrived from Port Shepstone late Thursday afternoon, loaded with three flat wagons and three containers.
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We offloaded the trucks early on Friday morning. First we offloaded the flat wagons.
Below are photos of the offloading!
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After the wagons were placed on the rails, we offloaded the containers.
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The Funkey rushed to our rescue and shunted the flat wagons to load the containers onto.
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Below are images taken of the loading of the containers onto the flat wagons.
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THE SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY TRACK NEWS:
This week we sprayed the weeds on the Railway line with the Wickham and the weed attack trolley. With the double row of sprayers on it took us only one day to spray the entire railway line. It used to take us five full day to do, but with another 500-liter tank on the trolley, we don’t need to refill the tanks often and this also speeds up time.
Below are photos taken of the weed attack!
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SEMAPHORE SIGNAL:
The first of the two restored Semaphore signals were erected this week between Hoekfontein and Mooihoek. The hardest work that was needed was to dig the huge hole.
Below is photos taken of the first Semaphore being erected.
 
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Below: The Funkey on her way to Mooihoek to get another wagon to store at Mooihoek.
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We at first tried with the Hyster, but soon realized that we need more than a Hyster to erect the signal. Finally the signal was up and really looks great.
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GENERAL
This week Derrick made a Fire bucket stand, like those they have used so many years ago on the Railway Stations. Below are images of the Fire buckets.
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WOODEN TOOLS
This week Jacob started with the closing of the wooden tolls. Off cut wood were used and once it is done, it will be loaded on Dz wagons.
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SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGONS
This week the XC wagon number 2227 received a second coat of paint. This wagon will be ready to use by the end of next week.
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SHAFT AND BUSH FOR SANDSTONE MILLS

Henry machined a new steel bush and brash bush for the mill on Hoekfontein.
Below are photos of his excellent work, the old and the new!
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PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK:
1.) Restoration of the Ratanga Locomotive.
2.) To finish restoration of the XC 2227.
3.) To clean all wagons that were loaded from Pandora.
4.) To make vacuum wasters for couplers.
5.) To ballast, lift and pack storage line.
6.) To clean up coal yard.
7.) To make sprags.
8.) To sort the T-bolts.
9.) Clean the ash pits.
10.) Clean the locomotives.
11.) To erect a second Semaphore.
12.) Carry on with repair work on 153.
13.) Carry on with the wooden cable drums.
14.) Shunt the wagons to Mooihoek.
15.) Shunt the Hoekfontein main lines clear.
16.) Do the valve settings on the Lawley.
 
 
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