RN 203 - Weekly Steamshed Report & activities - 08th -15th July 2006 - By Gert Jubileus

This week almost everyone jumped onto the Douglas Locomotive to have it complete by the end of the week. Henkie finished the roof of the Douglas and gave it a protecting coat of Varnish while Derrick completed the last welding work on this locomotive. Henry and Jacob did the spray painting and the last colouring in of the Douglas.
Below are photos of the refurbishing of this Locomotive:

Henry sanding the spray filler that was sprayed onto the tanks.

Henkie fitted the gauges into the cab.

Jacob painting the smoke box with a mix of black and silver paint.

The fitted gauges in the cab

Derrick welding angle iron to the cab floor.

Jacob doing some detailing

Everyone jumped onto the locomotive to speedup the refurbishment.

The inside of the cab.

Right: Derrick, the proud re - builder of the Douglas cab!

The perforated plate

The perforated plate removed

The sifter valve removed

Below: Photos of the Bypass valves and the condition they were in.

This was only the beginning of the repair were done. The play on the rear unit pivot will also receive attention within the next days. Below is a photo of Derrick in a very confined space between the bunker and the unit frame, inspecting the pivot of the rear unit.

 

THE CLASS NG 15 Number 17: This locomotive was washed out this week and is prepared for boiler inspection. The Gauge columns and blow down corks were taken off and all the water and steam ports were cleaned. The blow down and gauge column valves were overhauled and the packing nuts were packed with new rope. Below are some photos taken while we were busy with number 17.
Below: Removing old rope and packing with new wool.
Gauge columns and blow down valve	The super heater elements
THE O& K This locomotive is also being prepared for Boiler inspection. The gauge columns were removed and the steam and water ports were cleaned. The packing nuts on the gauge columns were also packed with new rope. Below is photo of the O&K.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT: G WAGON NUMBER 3210: Ben fitted new wood sides to 3210.
The doors were removed and replaced with better condition doors from Pandora. Petrus started to sand the wagon down while Ben was busy cutting with new floor planks for this wagon. This wagon will be spray painted in next week and will be restored as a cattle wagon. The under frame restoration of this wagon is already done and she will be fully restored by next week Friday.
Ben and Petrus removing the old doors.	Ben fitting planks to 3210.
During next week we shall spray paint two flat wagon to be used with the consist of the Feldbahn locomotive on the second of September this year. An old Guards Van will also be refurbished for this consist. Derrick had a great idea of spraying the Van white with the Red Cross stencilled on it. SIGNS AND DECALS: Derrick cut out eight plates this week and they were sprayed with yellow paint. These signboards will be stencilled with safety notices on and will be hanged inside the shed just above eye level. Below are some photos.
SEMAPHORE SIGNALS: The restoration of the two Semaphore signal were in full swing this week. Both were de-scaled and were painted in original livery this week. The signal arms were removed and the balancing weights were straightened. We only need to repair the signal arms to complete these first two Semaphores. Below are photos of the Semaphore restoration.
THE BSA RAILCAR: We started again with the restoration of the BSA Railcar. Henk started with the making of new doors for this special old car. He will work on the BSA for four days of a week and on the fifth day he will go on with the restoration of the Ratanga locomotive (Little Miss Brakpan”) Below: Henk manufacturing the new door for the BSA.
Below: Grooves being cut into the angle iron to bend it to a perfect shape.
WOODEN CRATES: Ben assembled two wooden crates this week. They will be spray painted and stencilled in next week.
THE SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY TRACK MAINTENANCE Oupa went on with the track maintenance on the section Hoekfontein to Mooihoek.
FROM THE PAST
A Class 15CA in a shunting yard in Germiston in the early 1970’s.
Planning for next week...
1.) To hydraulic test number 17 before inspection. 2.) To finish restoration of 3210 3.) To finish two wooden crates 4.) To refurbish Peerless truck. 5.) To spray paint two flat wagons 6.) To sand old Guards Van 7.) To spray Guards Van white. 8.) To go on with the restoration of the BSA railcar 9.) To do Track maintenance from Hoekfontein to Mooihoek. 10.) To upgrade cosmetics of an old ox wagon. 11.) To finish restoration of the Semaphore signals 12.) To move coaches in town. 13.) To finish safety notice signs and fit them. 14.) To go on with repairs on 153 15.) To move spares from Pandora salvage 16.) To washout Fowler B5 and prepare for Boiler inspection.