20 September 2007
Bagnall Locomotive, Works No. 3204, 1961 (ex Rustenburg Platinum Mines), is now really taking shape.
After a tough 3-year rebuild by Zach van Staden, who is our diesel locomotive specialist, our robust Bagnall diesel (204 hp, 0-6-0DM) with its wonderful 8LW Gardner engine is at the point where it is looking forward to flexing its muscles on the Sandstone Steam Railroad in the Eastern Free State. This is an ex Alfred County Railway locomotive that had actually gone past the point where it was feasible to restore it but the higher the mountain the greater the sense of achievement in climbing it.
Diesel enthusiasts can read more about these and other diesel locomotives in "The Sandstone Steam Railroad - The First Ten Years".
The entire history of the restoration is detailed in this set of photographs supplied by Zach van Staden.
14th April 2007
With Sandstone’s ex Rustenburg Platinum Mines Bagnall diesel now in traffic, we were pleased to see that it now has a miniature cousin. Edward Hodson from the Stafford and District Model Engineering Society sent us this pic of their 71/4” gauge replica. At present it is a running chassis as the picture shows. Stafford, of course is the home of Bagnall.
