Railway Heritage

RN349 - The Port Shepstone project has almost completed.

The very last few items in Port Shepstone are currently being loaded and moved to the Sandstone Heritage Trust.
We move these items with great sadness because there do not seem to be any initiatives afoot which might succeed in saving what must be one of the most interesting and scenically beautiful narrow gauge lines in the world.

During the next few days our Hunslet diesel and our 10-ton Hyster forklift truck will be removed and we will bid farewell to Port Shepstone.

RN351 - Assembling a rusty Garratt is not work for the fainthearted

Assembling a rusty Garratt is not work for the fainthearted. It is tough manual labour with a lot of skill involved. However, the Sandstone team has done it many times.

RN353 - NGG16 No. 88 prepares herself for restoration!

NGG 16 No. 88 prepares to relocate to Bloemfontein. The photograph shows the boiler being prepared for loading and delivery to our Bloemfontein workshops for restoration.

RN354 - The last of the Garratts has arrived from Port Shepstone

These photographs show the work that has to be done in reassembling an NGG16 Garratt from components.
An engine unit is shunted into position.
One engine unit is aligned to the boiler, the second one to follow.
It all comes together.
What would we do without our little Funkey Mine Diesel?

RN355 - Work is progressing well on the Kerr Stuart Locomotive No. 4063

Work is progressing well on the Kerr Stuart Locomotive No. 4063 and attached are pictures reflecting what parts have been manufactured to date. The next major step will be to manufacture the new firebox.
Note the waste on the stays
Removal of Firebox
Machining dome flanging former
Manufacture of throat plate for the McLaren Traction Engine (work being completed in tandem)
Fitting outside wrapper
Manufacture of new tube plate for McLaren Traction Engine
Smoke Box front and front tubeplate
Parts to Manufacture new dome
Smoke Box Wrapper
Drilling outer Wrapper Rivet holes

RN356 - Sandstone adopts uniform coupling policy

There are two types of couplings typically available on narrow gauge rail freight stock in South Africa. The more robust of these is what is known as the Natal coupling, which is shown in the attached photograph. A decision has been made to retrofit Natal couplings to all passenger and freight stock on the Sandstone Narrow Gauge Railway.

This project will be completed in 2-3 weeks. Because of the larger trains that are being pulled, particularly with triple headers, it is important that the integrity of the couplings be of the highest order.

RN357 - Narrow Gauge World surveys global narrow gauge scene

An excellent article has appeared in the March/April edition of Narrow Gauge World, Edition 50. David Joy, the Editor, has written this searching article entitled "The Changing Scene". The entire article is reproduced herewith. We draw your attention specifically to page 9, column 2, where reference is made to South Africa's narrow gauge situation and in particular the role played by the Sandstone Steam Railroad.

As usual, grateful credits are due to Narrow Gauge World Magazine and David Joy for giving us the permission to re-publish their article! Visit their website at www.atlanticpublishers.com/NGW.html

RN358 - A letter from Lukas Nel and update on the O & K 2510 from Bloem

Sir,

Thanks to you - I received the Narrow Gauge World magazine on Saturday.
Interesting statement about Sandstone on page 9 column two.
At last somebody has taken note that we have the worlds largest collection of narrow gauge locomotives!
Congratulations to you and well done.

Attached is an updated picture on the O&K 2510's progress.

Regards,
Lukas. A Nel

RN360 - The Sandstone Heritage Trust Library

One of the unsung heroes of the Sandstone Heritage Trust is our Library, which is managed in the most professional manner by Judy le Grange. After some three years of hard work we have now reached the point where we have compiled a detailed list of our books, photographs, maps and many other items. Of particular interest to enthusiasts, particularly modellers, are the drawings that we have. For their interest we have published our inventory of drawings herewith.

If you have any queries please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and she will liaise directly with the Library on your behalf.
Above: An NG4 drawing

RN364 - A painting and prints of Sandstone Estates Narrow Gauge Railway Locomotive: "Lawley"

As a result of purchasing the Sandstone Estates Song of the Rails DVD last year and the book ‘The First Ten Years’, I have come to really like the above locomotive.

I have grown to like it so much that I have commissioned a painting of the locomotive pulling Sandstone’s dining car - the converted ex SAR NGV-16 guards Van No 3185 and detailed on page 107 of the book.

I have also commissioned three prints of the painting.

I would very much like the prints to go to South Africa and was wondering if you could help me get them there as you know all the contact details and the best method to get them there.

I would them to go to:

1) Mr Wilfred Mole;
2) The mess room of the locomotive workshop at Sandstone where the loco was restored;
3) Mr Sam Hewitt (or is it Hewett?) the man shown on the DVD converting the guards van to the dining car.


The prints are gifts from me to Mr Mole and his workforce in appreciation of the all the effort expended in the restoration and as a thank you for the enjoyment I have obtained from the DVD and book.

I still don’t know whether I will ever get to see the locomotive, coach and Sandstone Narrow Gauge Railway yet. My son is still trying to arrange is sabbatical year in SA construction industry project manger working in the Durban area, but has yet to find employment for the year. If he does, then my wife and I may be able to arrange a visit to Sandstone as part of our holiday next year if we go to visit him.

The loco and dining car has been painted by Jonathan Clay whose web-site is here:

http://www.jonathanclay.co.uk/


with kind regards

Kim Winter

Kingsley (Kim) Winter
223 Camp Road
St Albans
Herts
AL1 5NE

RN365 - Weekly Report by Derick van Zyl - 13th - 20th April 2007

We completed the last coach from Port Elizabeth - machined and rebuilt the second and the last couplers.
Overhauled one of the cattle wagons' brake systems and put in new vacuum pipes under the wagon, then changed all the split pins.

The team inspected the line for defect points and looked out for sand between the rails and between the points.

We are busy building and painting doors for the Ratanga unit.
Gert Jubileus spraying the railway line for weeds after the line inspection.
 
Above: Making up loads for the train trips to shunt the passenger and goods wagons together.
Left: Putting the whistle on the little Funkey diesel for safety.

We are also building a wash-out system for the wash-bay outside the loco shed and putting in a bigger water tank in the ground to recycle water.

Planning for next week:

Move the Port Shepstone Garratts from Vailima.
Shunt Garratt no.88 out to get her ready for Bloemfontein.
Shunt Port Shepstone wagons to the new storage line.
Do running repairs on the locos.
Rectify Vailima halt points.
Secure loose fish plate bolts on the railway line.
Ballast stopblock at Kommandonek siding.
Spray weeds on the storage line.

RN366 - Bloemfontein update - the O&K 2510

As usual, Lukas & Anna Nel and the Bloemfontein steam team are working their magic!

RN368 - Derrick van Zyl's Weekly report - 23rd April 2007

We have started changing one of the Port Elizabeth coach's couplers from Norwegian couplers to Bell couplers.

Building a wooden floor for the second Port Shepstone flat wagon

Finishing the floor of the second Port Shepstone flat wagon. We are putting a steel frame around the wooden floor to make it stronger, safer and smoother.

We are also building frames for the seats in the Ratanga passenger coach and painting the inside and the outside.

Preparing the spray trolley for the weeds on the line.


Preparing the Feldbahn and Little Bess for Phillip Maurer's visit from Switzerland with Swiss TV.
Planning for next week:
Finishing the one side of the last PE coach; machining and rebuilding.
Go on with the second Port Shepsone flat wagon and finish the floor.
Start to repair and rebuild the brake system on the second Port Shepstone flat wagon.
Go on with the Ratanga wagon; finish painting and start with the window frames and hand rails.

RN369 - Steam Railway Magazine Article, UK, May 2007 - Porta's Water

RN370 - Internationally acclaimed steam authority, John Middleton visited us at Sandstone recently.

Internationally acclaimed steam authority, John Middleton visited us at Sandstone recently.

He took some wonderful images of the steamed locomotives.
Edwardian Event - Sandstone Estates - Saturday, 21st April 2007

Dear Wilf,

I just want to thank you for the truly wonderful weekend at Sandstone. You said that this would be the last one but I hope that may be you can be persuaded otherwise. Standing under the trees at Grootdraai as the Lawley sizzled in the background and the sun set over the Maluti Mountains and we sipped Champagne was the perfect tonic for making the troubles of the world evaporate for a few hours. As said during the speechs, an atmosphere to be bottled, if only that were possible, may the photo below sums up a little of that wonderful atmosphere.

Many thanks to all the crews who got up early to make it happen.


Kind Regards
John