Railway Heritage

RN 273 - Weekly steamshed report - by Gert Jubileus - 16th - 22nd October 2006

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 273 - Weekly steamshed report - by Gert Jubileus - 16th - 22nd October 2006


This week saw a very hectic week down at the Steam Shed. We started the week with an audit from the Rail Safety Regulator and end the week with steaming the 1895 Lawley for a short passenger train from Hoekfontein to Grootdraai. The Inspectors of the Rail Safety Regulator visits all the operators in South Africa to perform a general audit on Railway Safety. We also went out on a Track inspection on the entire Rail network of the Sandstone Steam Railway and then a audit was done on the file systems that is in place to ensure safe running of trains on the Sandstone Railways. Below: The Railway Safety Inspectors, Mr. Daan Le Roux and Mr. Justus Marais. Track inspection on the left and auditing the books, files and rail standards on the right.



SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES: THE FUNKEY: This week, the Funkey diesel locomotive continued to shunt wagons to Mooihoek station for storage purposes. Below are photos of Derrick performing shunting duties in Hoekfontein Station before shunting wagons to Mooihoek.



THE PECKETT: This week Derrick fitted a vacuum steel pipe to the Peckett locomotive. A ejector will be overhauled in next week and will be fitted to this marvelous locomotive to enable her to work vacuum trains. First Derrick had to work out where the pipes should be fitted, not to spoil this great looking locomotive. Below are photos taken while Derrick fitted the vacuum pipes.


Henry manufactured a coupler beam that will be bolted onto buffer beam of this locomotive. This was done to enable us to couple any type of wagon to this locomotive. The original couplers will remain in the same position. This locomotive was designed with a different coupler that was unique for the Railways she used to work on. Below are some photos taken of the new coupler for this locomotive.

THE LAWLEY: Before we steamed the Lawley, she was shunted to the put for a under frame inspection.

Part of this inspection was to inspect each and every bolt and nut on the locomotive with a special inspection hammer. This is the key to a flawless performance of a locomotive and not one locomotive will dare to go out of the shed if not inspected with the hammer.

Below is a photo taken of the side control springs on the pony of the Lawley.

The passenger wagons were also shunted to the put for an inspection and brake adjustments.

Finally, the Lawley could couple up to her wagons and a vacuum brake test and leak off test was done. At 12H30 we departed from the shed and took the train to Hoekfontein station.



The train departed to Grootdraai at 15H 35 and arrived at 15H50 for a short stop to take some late afternoon pictures. Below: Mr. And Mrs. Mole, Rhys and Norma Rolfe from Viljoenskroon, and Mike and Helen Mullin from Perth.

To view a short video clip of the Lawley in steam, click here >>> (For PC users, right click and save file. For Mac users, control click and save linked file)


Lindie and the Lawley, Mr. Mole’s favorite ladies!

SEMAPHORE SIGNALS: The Home signal for Hoekfontein Station was moved down to the shed and the restoration of this signal is currently in progress. Below is a photo of this signal.

GENERAL: Ben closed five wooden tolls this week and fitted vacuum pipes and couplers to all the wagons recently restored. Oupa bagged the coal spillage at the coal stage. These bags of coal will be used to coal the little Locomotives. Below is a photo of the wooden tools.


PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To strip vacuum cylinders and bogeys from the wagons at Port Shepstone. 2.) To overhaul an ejector for the Peckett. 3.) To do the valve setting of the Lawley. 4.) To go on with the restoration of the Home signal. 5.) To make and fit couplers to the Peckett. 6.) To spray weeds on the storage line in Hoekfontein Station. 7.) To move the bags of coal into the Coal stage. 8.) To ballast 3’6” storage line in Hoekfontein (lift and pack) 9.) To build an overhead column for the locomotives. 10.) Track maintenance section Mooihoek -Vailima.

RN 274 - No more Contract Trains... It is indeed very sad

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 274 - No more Contract Trains... It is indeed very sad

27th October 2006

Posted by: "This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:49 am (PST)

Hallo All!

We were told yesterday that no special passenger trains will be allowed from 2007 onwards.

It is indeed very sad, but it was clear that the decision was taken much higher up in Spoornet and we had to accept it. At least we can look back at more than eleven years in which we were privileged to share the wonderful scenery of Southern Africa with thousands of passengers.

Even if we only received one report like Quinten's, it was worth it and one is indeed sad that this will no longer be possible. Fortunately we still have six trips left, of which three (Namibia and two Cherry Safaris) are fully booked. The others (Komatipoort weekend, Nine Provinces and Two Oceans) will most probably run to maximum capacity as well.

Regards

Boon.

RN 275 - Weekly Report - 23rd- 29th October 2006 - By Gert Jubileus

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 275 - Weekly Report - 23rd - 29th October 2006 - By Gert Jubileus

27th October 2006

SANDSTONE STEAMS AGAIN
This week we shunted “Sandy”, our 92 year old Fowler Locomotive from the sheds and steamed her to
haul a Passenger train from Hoekfontein to Grootdraai and Vailima. The Armour Museum gave training
on the Estates for the Military troops. In the photo above they posed for a photo with Mr.Mole and
Hester Papenfus, office manager, in front of the Fowler at Grootdraai near the Lesotho border.
Just left of Mr. Mole is their Instructor, Andrew Doyle.

The Fowler Locomotive hauled her train with ease and I could feel that she was happy to steam down
the tracks. This was good exercise for the locomotive and it gave me the opportunity to log all the
repairs that were needed. All the locomotive repairs are logged in one repair book and this helps
me to keep track of what has been done and what needs to be done.

Below are more photos of Sandy’s steaming day!

Click here for a VIDEO CLIP OF SANDY!!!
(For windows users, right click and save/play)
Mac users, control - Click, you know what to do.

Sandy’s right injector clack got stuck open while we were on our way to Vailima, the cut-off valve was
closed and the injector was put to work again. Although the injector worked again, we stripped both
injector cones and clack valves. The injector cones were cleaned and the clack valves were seated with
fine grinding paste. The cones were laid over the weekend in a special mix of soap to clean off all hard
salts that cannot be accessed due to the size of this little injector cones.
Below are photos taken of the repair work to both Sandy’s injectors.

The Left injector

The cut-off valve

The cone and clack valve

The left Injector

CLASS NGG 16 Number 153

This week Derrick finished the repair work that was needed inside the bunker of 153. He welded in a
new plate on the place where water was leaking out.
Below are photos of Derrick welding inside the bunker of 153.

The blow down cork spindle packing nut needed to be packed with new rope. The blow down
cork of these NGG is situated at a very unconvertible place under the boiler, and this was when I realised
that another requirement to be able to do this work, is to be able swear for ten minutes without using
the same word twice!!!
Below are photos taken of the repair work to the Blow down cork of 153.

THE BARCLAY
When we shunted the Folwer out, the Barclay landed on the inspection pit and I grabbed the opportunity
to adjust her brakes and to inspect her under frame with the hammer.
Below are photos of the Barclay on the pit.

Oupa started with the cleaning of all the locomotives in the shed.
Below: The Barclay on the pit and Oupa cleaning 49.

THE FUNKEY:
This week we adjusted the brakes of the Funkey and used her to shunt the mainline clear in Hoekfontein
Station. She shunted a total of 19 wagons from the mainline to the storage line.
Below are photos of the Funkey performing her duties.

View a short video clip of the wagons passing the tri-angle points in Hoekfontein Station. Click here >>>
(For windows users, right click and save/play)
Mac users, control - Click, you know what to do.

PORT SHEPSTONE WAGONS: We loaded our ten-ton Forklift early on Tuesday morning to assist with the loading and moving of wagons in Port Shepstone.

The Loading of the Forklift.	Arno secured the Forklift.
The Sandstone crew arrived back from Port Shepstone on Friday afternoon with a full load of 18 bogeys. All the bogeys were offloaded and the crew prepared again for the return trip to Port Shepstone. Below are photos of the load of bogeys.


GENERAL: SEMAPHORE SIGNAL. This week Petrus finished the de-scale work that was needed on the semaphore. He then painted the signal completely. WOODEN TOLLS: Petrus boxed another eight wooden tolls this week. We now have 13 wooden tolls ready to load onto the goods wagons.

WEED SPRAYING: Before we shunted the 19 wagons into the storage line, we sprayed the weeds with our weed trolley. We also sprayed the shunting yard around the Steam shed. WASH OUT PUMP: This week Derrick fitted another pipe next to the existing 2” pipe. This pipe can now be used to fill the smaller boilers.

THE COAL YARD This week Oupa finished the cleaning up of the coal yard. All the coal was bagged and stored inside the Coal stage for the use on small locomotives.

THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS

How far will you go? Sandstone Estates will go over the highest mountains, will cross the deepest rivers, travel across the borders and will go across the wildest oceans to save fast-disappearing Locomotives and wagons. A sad site to see, locomotives standing in immaculate conditions in derelict Locomotive graveyards. They are disappearing by the day, and the judge’s word was final, they must die! Below: Queenstown Locomotive Depot (photo taken 2006-10-29)


They might look little rusty, but it is not difficult to notice that who ever maintained these locomotives standing here, were well worth fitters. It is just so sad that within months these Giant machines, masters of a long gone era, will be gone forever!


One can just imagine how it will feel to have one of these locomotive? Why can’t they stop the slaughtering of these machines?



Class 19D number 2692 taking water at the column at Winburg Station, May 1979. She was the first Locomotive that took my breath away and she was the beginning of my Steam life. I was totally blown away when the driver took me on her footplate that day. I knew then that I was stuck to her forever. After a year our paths split and I never saw her running again.

October 1992 she was in a terrible accident near Lady Grey Station where she derailed with a passenger train in a cutting. Five passengers died on the scene and 38 were injured. A man and his wife were on her footplate and were killed too. She died too! After 27 years we met again in Queenstown and memories of her flashed through my mind. She was my first love and it really crippled my heart when I saw her yesterday and how badly she was hurt. After 27 years the circle was complete and we were reunited. Of all the Locomotives on the scrap list, she was the only one not crying out for help, for she knew that she was too badly hurt for anyone to save her from the torch and that her life ended on 10 October 1992. I touched her cold body yesterday and I know that it was our last goodbye. I wrote a poem for her some time ago:
	I AM THE LOCOMOTIVE SHINNING BRIGHT I am the locomotive shining bright Who greets the early morning light What a lovely day Received the ride away My whistle sounded loud My driver hanging out proud With thousand tons behind my back Speeding viciously down the track It’s a cold sunny day Then the track gave away Then the vicious sound My wheels touched the ground 26 ninety two Where is my crew? All the sounds I hear The very day I fear My warm body crashed the ground With a loud banging sound My body is torn apart The rocks in the cutting are hard This is my dying day My last steam blew away In Memory of her and all the people who died with her on the 10th October 1992.

PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To finish 153 2.) To fit back regulator of number 17 3.) To spray weeds on 3’6” storage lines. 4.) To manufacture another coupler beam for Peckett 5.) To finish wooden tolls 6.) To clean all locomotives 7.) To clean ash puts 8.) To Prepare locomotives for Saterday trains 9.) To finish Semaphore Home signal. 10.) Clean all goods wagons in Station. 11.) To go on with the restoration of the Ratanga locomotive. 12.) To build a overhead column near the shed.

RN 276 - Who needs tourists anyway? - ED's blog - Railways Africa

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 276 - Who needs tourists anyway? - ED's blog - Railways Africa

1st November 2006

WHO NEEDS TOURISTS ANYWAY?
Transnet has done it again. Effectively, entrepreneurs running heavily patronised excursions have been told by Spoornet to get lost, with management officially confirming this week that no tour trains will run in 2007.

Four months ago there was an outcry when the railway cancelled a number of booked-out tour trains at a week's notice - trains which it had contracted to operate. One operator alone, Shongololo Express, had had 19 contracts cancelled by June. As MD Christian Gross pointed out at the time: "we contract with 391 tour operators in 27 countries worldwide. These are customers of South Africa as a tourism destination. Some of them are real big guys: DERTour of Germany held their famous Travel Academy for 700 participants only last December in Cape Town - for the 2nd time. They service about 21,000 travel agencies worldwide, and print dedicated Africa brochures of 184 pages twice a year - with 180,000 copies. Other big names include Thomas Cook, Kuoni, and the numerous brands of TUI, from various different countries in which they operate."

Spoornet's Molatwane Likhethe told the Citizen, which ran a front-page story under banner headlines, that Spoornet "had to take in consideration the constraints that a lack of resources had brought about and had taken the decision to rather focus on freight delivery."

Which does nothing to explain what is to happen when Shosholoza Meyl is shunted off shortly to the Department of Transport (DoT). Will DoT be providing its own tracks?

In June, the tour train operators were told that because of motive power shortage, locomotives could not be allocated to their trains. One operator - who stood to lose his hard-won livelihood - observed bitterly: "They should find a more convincing story. There are lines of locomotives standing at depots around the country. There are coal trains running north because the run-down Hwange colliery cannot meet Zimbabwe's needs, and petrol trains, and maize trains: largesse at the expense of South Africa while we throw away millions in valuable foreign tourist revenue."

Only the other day, 8 Spoornet diesels were sent to Tanzania. The railway itself boasted recently that 60 of its locomotives are at work beyond our borders.
And another thing. The government keeps repeating its commitment to getting freight off the roads and people out of cars and into public transport. This is a funny way to go about it.

RN 277 - Keith Stevens reports - The O & K locomotive No. 10311

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 277 - Keith Stevens reports - The O & K locomotive No. 10311

2nd November 2006

This month we completed the O & K Firebox. We did get somewhat delayed with this project due to the exceptionally heavy rains which we have experienced here in Howick. However, we fitted the firebox into the boiler and found that we had to make a small adjustment on the firebox ring, thereafter everything fitted "as snug as a bug in a rug".

We then carried on to rivet up and caulk.

We manufactured 72 short threaded stays, drilled for test leakage holes and also 10 long ones for on the firebox
crown. Inside the firebox, all stays have been hand-peened over and the outside peened over with the use of a riveting gun. We fitted the firebox tube plate centre stay to the boiler barrel.

The tanks and cab were then painted.

The firebox ready to fit into the boiler

Knocking down the final rivet

Firebox in, drilling & reaming rivet holes

The firebox being fitted to the boiler

Tapping out the stay holes

The stays in place

Peening stays on the inside of the firebox

The Painted Cab

The Painted Tank

RN 278 - Valuable loco spares sourced in Europe

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 278 - Valuable loco spares sourced in Europe 3rd November 2006 The Sandstone Heritage Trust has with the assistance of Philipp Maurer, a close friend of ours based in Switzerland, managed to source the following valuable steam accessories in Europe. Many of them are of South African origin originally and are being repatriated back to South Africa to be reunited with locos similar to those from which they were removed.

RN 279 - NG4 update from Bloemfontein

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 279 - NG4 update from Bloemfontein

3rd November 2006

Attached some photos of NG4 after Lukas and team fitted the side tanks.

Still a long way to go to finish her though!

RN 280 - GMAM update at Capital Park

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 280 - GMAM update at Capital Park

10th November 2006

GMAM No. 4079 "Lyndie-Lou" at Capital Park on Wye. Photograph courtesy of A. Kritzinger

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

31 March 2010

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.

RN 282 - Rovos Digest - News from Capital Park

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 282 - Rovos Digest - News from Capital Park

12th November 2006

RN 283 - Steaming Along! An exerpt from the Rovos Digest

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 283 - Steaming Along! An exerpt from the Rovos Digest

10th November 2006

RN 284 - Sandstone's Elephant van

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 284 - Sandstone's Elephant van

12th November 2006

Perhaps the most interesting project we have ever tackled is our extremely unique Elephant wagon. Built for circus use, this wonderful old wagon has been standing patiently in our possession for over 10-years now waiting for some TLC. Its time has come.

RN 286 - Old, unique freight wagons restored.

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 286 - Old, unique freight wagons restored

14th November 2006

We have started to tackle some of the most interesting old South African Railways freight wagons that we have accumulated over the years. The two featured would have been used for Accommodation for track workers in outlying areas.

RN 287 - Decauville arrives at Beaulieu - a cutting from "The Railway Magazine"

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 287 - Decauville arrives at the Beaulieu - a cutting from "The Railway Magazine"

14th November 2006

RN 288- Weekly Steam Report - 13th - 19th November 2006 - by Gert Jubileus

31 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 288 - Weekly Steam Report - 13th - 19th November 2006 - by Gert Jubileus

21st November 2006

title

This week the Eastern Free State was really steaming with all the Steam activities that took place, not only on
the Sandstone Steam Railway, but also with the annual held Cherry Festival. Steam Locomotives came
all the way from Germiston to haul a special passenger service between Ficksburg and Generaalsnek. This
was a very exciting week indeed and it started with a one-coach train pulled with the Sandstone Steam
Railway smallest locomotive, Little Bess. Join me onboard of this little train through the beautiful landscape
of the Eastern Free state as it travels over the mountains around the curves and through the orchards.

Mr.Mole, the man behind it all!

Charles Viljoen mastering the Sentinal.

Little Bess raising steam at the Locomotive Shed.

Above & below: Mr.Mole and Gerhard Wille between the remarkable Sandstone wheat lands.

Our passengers, Mr.Mole and Gerhard Wille onboard of the train discussing farming matters and others than most
Farmers who would inspect the lands with a 4x4, they inspected the wheat lands traveling by train.

After a short service stop at Vailima, Little Bess departs out of the loop on her journey to Vailima Halt.

A lovely time of the day when the sun softens as it made ready for sundown. Little Bess joyously hauled her little
train around the curves through the bushes and tackled the heavy climb up to Vailima Halt.

Click here to view a video clip of Little Bess, storming up the embankment to Vailima Halt. >>>

Little passengers awaited the little train at Vailima Halt and joined us on hour journey through the orchards.

Derrick and Henry manned the train. Everyone picked peaches of the trees as Little Bess slowly drove through
the orchards.

As the day draws slowly to an end, magic moments were captured, for where in the world would you get a Farmer
leaning on his Steam Locomotive next to his wheat lands breathing the fresh farm air of another great day!

The very next day we steamed our Class NGG 13 number 49 to haul a bale train to Vailima Halt. The bales were
loaded onto flat and B wagons and were offloaded at the line side where erosion was taking place due to excessive
rain storm that occur in this region of South Africa.
Below is 49 coupled to a heavy loaded train full off bales.

Below is a photo of the train being loaded in Hoekfontein Station. Mr.Mole and Gerhard Wille soon made themselves
comfortable on the goods train between the bales.

The train then was turned on the triangle and ready to depart to Vailima Halt.

Mr.Mole and Gerhard volunteered to be the Guards of train!

Then came the offloading of the bales in the cuttings!

Little passengers jumped aboard our train, for some of them an experience they will never forget.

Click here to view 49 at a crawling pace up the steam embankment to Vailima Halt.

After hard work and sweat, it was time to replenish 49’s craving for water at the new water column at
Vailima Halt. The same train ran again on Friday morning and another load of bales were offloaded. 49
then was stabled at the Steam Shed where the Feldbahn and the Sentinal awaits their chance to steam
to Grootdraai for a late afternoon steaming experience.

All of us were weary at the time after a long day behind Steam. At Grootdraai we all relaxed for a while
camping on the green grass near the Maluti Mountains.

Below is a photo of Leon Flynn admiring the Sentinal steam truck. Perhaps he was thinking of trading his Freightliner for one of these models!

Below: Photos of the inside.

Below are photos taken of the Sentinel and the Feldbahn at Grootdraai.

Below right: Mr.Mole behind the controls of the Feldbahn.


*Click here to see a video clip of the Feldbahn in action.*

The day draws to an end and without anyone knowing it, we did not relive history, we are just making history in a changing world where there is no time to appreciate the great days that we live in. Early on Saturday morning we steamed the Peckett to haul a passenger train to Grootdraai for the Porsche Club who visited the Estates. Below is the Peckett, wrapping her steam arms around the Station and the trees just after she arrived back from Grootdraai.


Soon the Station turned to life with people gathering around the Peckett.

After refreshments served in the Waenhuis, the passengers were taken on a tour to the Vintage and Steam Shed.


This weekend, the Ficksburg Station was blocked out with trains from allover to support the annual held Cherry Festival. Below is a Diesel Locomotive shunting out Passenger wagons just before the arrival of the Reefsteamers Double headed class 25NC and 15F that came all the way from Germiston to haul the Cherry Festival trains.

Below: Reefsteamers shining Class 15F number 3016.

Below: Shaun Ackerman, one of our volunteer Train Drivers, servicing, and Shaun behind the controls of 15F number 3016.

Leaning out of the Cab of the shining Class 15F!

Below: A photo taken of Class 25Nc number 3472 as she pulled into Ficksburg Station on her return trip from Generaalsnek.


The two prestige Locomotives belonging to Reefsteamers. Operating Steam Locomotives on the Mainlines in South Africa is almost an impossible due to the missing infrastructure. Well done to the Reefsteamers who showed their talent to run steam in these days and thanks for keeping our Steam Locomotives alive.


PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To make beams for bogeys to load Garratt locomotives in Port Shepstone. 2.) To clean all locomotives that was used last week. 3.) To go on with restoration of BSA Railcar body and mechanical 4.) To box remaining wooden Tolls 5.) To go on with restoration of Ratanga Locomotive. 6.) To ballast storage line and lift and pack 7.) To stencil wagons 8.) To do under frame restoration of XC and stencil. 9.) Locomotive Repairs. 10.) Wagon repairs. 11.) To move wagons and bogeys from Port Shepstone. 12.) To go on with restoration of Ratanga Locomotive.