Heritage - News

A view from the top

3rd September 2007

Although we have many thousands of visitors to the Sandstone Heritage Trust, very few of them climb to the top of our grain silos to look down. Recently all our historic freight wagons were moved from Kommandonek Siding to the main complex where they now stand fully restored in preservation so that visitors can get a closer look at them. With the demise of steam tourism on the Eastern Free State line there is not much point in maintaining a heritage presence at one of the two 3'6" branch line sidings that would traditionally have been used for passenger embarkation on the farm.

We have therefore moved these historic wagons. One of the more interesting wagons is an elephant circus wagon which is painted yellow and which can be seen in one of the attached photographs. A summary of some of the interesting wagons that SAR&H used to use in their heyday is covered in the attached scan of an old publication. Notice the circus wagon is featured on the bottom right hand corner of the second page.

We are currently looking for an elephant to take up residence of this wagon as a means of enhancing our vision of "living preservation".

 

 

Cooley Panoramas

3rd September 2007

For people who want to be reminded of what it was like to be at Cooley, or for those who were not able to get there for the event but would like to "experience" it anyway, Roger Hamlin has produced some major photographs which can be purchased and wall mounted. Beware however, you will need a big wall....

To see our main page on the World Record attempt in August 2007 - click here.

For info or to order the panaromas please visit www.oceansapart.uk.com

(Click on the images for a larger version in a new window)

Heritage - News

The rains have arrived

10th October 2007

One of the unique features of the Sandstone Heritage Trust Narrow Gauge Railway is the fact that we have some very scenic backdrops for our photographers. Now that the rains have come the dams are all full so photographers can look forward to an excellent summer, particularly if they want to obtain loco reflections in our railway dams. Below is a picture of the Pandora Dam filling rapidly.

A picture by Dick Manton is also included to show what can be done with the correct light and with water.

Heritage - News

Mechanical work on BSA Rail Car almost completed

27th August 2007

After something of a lull due to other distractions Desmond Clarke has taken the BSA Rail Car in hand and has moved rapidly to complete the mechanical work.  Des is an ingenious engineer, as can be seen from the picture of the grey Fergie rear PTO unit adapted to drive the rear axle.

The next step is for the bodywork to receive careful attention and for the upholstery to be done.  However before that the rail car will be tested and adjusted so that its mechanical condition is completely up to specification.

 

Heritage - News

New arrival

26th August 2007, updated 10th June 2008

10th June 2008

Just browsing through some of your older articles I came across an article on your website dated 26 August 2007 [see below].

The wagon looks very much like it was originally the O4 version of covered van.

250 of these were supplied by the USA to the ViciCongo Railway in the old Congo currently Zaire and then purchased in 1945? by the South African railways.

Your particular version looks to be one of the 155 members of the class that had their roofs raised 12 inches to increase their capacity.

Sydney Moir’s book "24 Inches Apart" has a bit on these wagons including a sketch.

I know a little about these wagons as I have just built a 16 mm/foot model of one of them.

Peter Micenko

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26th August 2007

An interesting old cattle truck has arrived from Cape Town.  It has a Diamond type bogey and predates all the other cattle trucks that we own. Our present inclination is to restore it back to its original cattle truck configuration.  It had been used for some time as a shop.  I wonder how it
enjoyed its sojourn in the retail sector?

Heritage - News

Cherry Festival

21st November 2007

CHERRY WEEK! CHERRY TRAIN! CHERRY WEEK! CHERRY TRAIN The annual Cherry Festival unique to Ficksburg, was held this week on the 15th to the 17th November. We were fortunate to run three Cherry trains on each day. Class NGG 16 number 113 was the chosen locomotive and hauled a train that was capable of 150 passengers at a time. Our trains run over the entire Sandstone Steam Railway giving passengers an experience of a lifetime. We started our week with preparations for the Cherry trains. All the wagons were shunted to the inspection pit for brake adjustments and under frame inspections for our coaches were about to travel close to 300km this week. Below: The Guards van on its way for brake block renewal. Below right: Eight new brake blocks were fitted and the brakes were adjusted. CLASS NGG 16 NUMBER 113 Number 113 was due for a washout before she could be used on the Cherry trains. Again our chemicals did the work for us and the boiler was easily washed out using our centrifugal pump connected to the boiler with a 2” pipe and washout nozzle. Below left: High-pressure water was pumped through the 2” pipe to wash out the boiler. Below right: The two front lead plugs before removal. The tubes were cleaned and the three lead plugs were removed. The old lead was fused out with the torch and new lead was thrown into the lead plugs before fitting them back. Below left: The threads of all lead plug and washout plugs were inspected. Below right: Heating the lead plugs for tinting before the lead is thrown in. We started to clean the locomotive just after we washed her out. Henry polished all the brass on the locomotive for her to shine like a cherry. Safety notices were placed at designated areas for all passengers to read. All the coaches were cleaned for the rides. Below: 113 as seen from the Lawley’s footplate. THE CHERRY TRAINS: We fired up number 113 at 04H00 on Thursday morning and she was in full steam at 08H30, just in time to perform shunting work needed in Hoekfontein Station. Below left: Number 113 on her way out from the shed to Hoekfontein Station. Below right: Our fireman for the day, Henry Brown. We steamed the Lawley on Thursday to work a short train to Grootdraai, spoiling the organizers for the Toyota Prado launch. Below: Two shining locomotives ready to hook onto the consists. Toyota launched the new Land rover Prado at Sandstone Estates this week. A Ramp was erected and was set at 43 degrees to test the grip of the new Prado. It was totally unbelievable to witness the Prado performing the test with no effort at all. After the launch, all the organizers were taken on a short train trip to Grootdraai and back. The departure time for this train and the Cherry train worked out to be at the same time.  A train crossing was organized at Grootdraai and number 113 departed first and waited at Grootdraai for the Lawley. Below: The Ramp at 43 degrees. Below right: The Prado, reaching for the skies! Below left: 13H00, Number 113 running to Grootdraai under a looming thunderstorm. Below right: The Lawley, clearing the mainline for 113 at Grootdraai. At 17H 45 we dropped the fire of 113, the end of the first day. Below: Driver Pat Ackerman, thundering out of Grootdraai with the Cherry Express. Below left: A African view through the Guards van window. Below right: Number 113, replenishing her thirst at Hoekfontein water column. The Cherry Express trains departed from Hoekfontein Station and headed to Grootdraai on the Lesotho border before returning to Hoekfontein. Baas de Bruin, our Station Master, signaled the driver to run through Hoekfontein if there were no new latecomer passengers. The train then headed to Pandora Junction where the points were set to run around the big balloon clockwise. This is the most scenic part of the line with sharp curves and stunning gradients. Soon 113 slowed down to a crawling pace, allowing her train to slowly follow every curve through the peach trees on the way to Vailima Halt. Giant Sandstone rocks can be seen as the tracks run adjacent the Vailima Mountains. From Vailima Halt the train runs downhill, all the way to Vailima. Resting time for the fireman and the locomotive that by now have worked over severe gradients to reach the top. The breathtaking scenery captured the attention of the passengers in such a way that no one noticed the effort of the locomotive and the crew’s effort to make the view possible. From Vailima the train runs over the mountain down the Pandora bank over the level crossing on way back to Hoekfontein. At the end of the trip, two tons of coal was shoveled into the firebox of 113. Below left: Driver Pat behind the controls just before departure. Below right: The Cherry Express sailing down from Vailima Halt on her way to Vailiam. Below left: Passengers boarding the train at Hoekfontein Station. Below right: Number 113 raising steam before departing from Platform 2. Below left: Passengers boarding the Cherry Express on Platform 2 Below right: Number 113 on her way to the border of Lesotho with the Cherry Express. Promising clouds building up for late afternoon thundershowers. Below left: Number 113 storming up to Pandora Junction. Below right: The end of an unforgettable train ride through the scenic Eastern Free State. After each train trip we had a tractor-taking passengers on a tour on the Estates. THE DOUGLAS COLLIERY LOCOMOTIVE This week we loaded the Douglas Colliery locomotive. She will join number 112 at Centurion City in Cape Town for display. The low bed was parked in front of the Coal stage and a ramp was build. A temporary 3’6” line was build from the Douglas onto the low bed, supported with sleepers. A tractor was used to pull the Douglas locomotive onto the low bed. Below: The construction of a temporary line onto the low bed. Below left: Securing the fishplates of the temporary line to the rail panel on the low bed. Below right: Everything was inspected before the Douglas was moved over this line. Below left: Wooden sleepers for support. Below right: The Douglas on her way onto the low bed. The Douglas was pulled onto the low bed and then was secured. The temporary line was removed and the Douglas was ready for a long journey to Cape Town. Below : The Douglas moving over the wooden support bridge. Below: The Douglas, almost aboard. OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK! To clean all passenger wagons To clean all locomotives To clean all ash pits PE 52 under frame repairs. Passenger consist brake adjustment. NG 15 braking gear repairs. Ratanga wagon restoration number 4. Locomotive repair work. Train tours (Friday and Saturday) STEAM GREETINGS! THE STEAM TEAM! Click here to see the Cherry Festival invitation page

Heritage - News

Ray of hope... may the old cranes steam again.

17th October 2007

As a result of a number of initiatives the scrap tender has been halted. Read all about it...

UPDATE: 19th October 2007

We have just been advised that Crane No. 84 that we applied for has been cut up for scrap. This is notwithstanding our letter (attached) and the reassurance given to HRASA (also attached). This is perhaps some indication of the way railway heritage items are treated in South Africa.

UPDATE: 29th October 2007

Despite a stay on the awarding of the Transnet tender for steam cranes, due to the intervention of those involved in preservation who convinced the authorities that they should not be cut up ,the best laid plans were shattered when it was discovered that two units were being cut up in Kimberley. They are lost forever. While the option closing date was in the process of being extended to the 30th of November, Sandstone was alerted to the fact that the cranes were being cut up. The response, after an urgent call was made to the authorities who issued the tender, was that this was not possible as the tender had not been awarded. Further calls however confirmed that this was indeed the case. One can but only wonder what the outcome of the investigation which has apparently been launched into this travesty will reveal.

UPDATE: 5th November 2007

Although the tender to purchase these cranes was not even adjudicated TFR cut them up for scrap anyway.  They should hang their heads in shame... Pictures below.

 

(Click on the thumbnails to open PDF's in a new window)

 

Save

As you can see (below) we have been very industrious and made very good headway especially as the weather has not been at all favourable during the last month with heavy deluges of rain (and most of our work is done outdoors). We found that the drive shaft was badly bent and had to be straightened before we could weld up the journals.  We have devoted most of our time during the last month in assembling, riveting and caulking the boiler as you will see from the attached photographs.  I have also fabricated the new front axle pivot for the boiler and I am now involved in manufacturing the smoke box and then I will start on the fire box.  If all goes well I would like to think we should have the boiler completed towards the end of next month.  We have also fitted and riveted new spokes in the front wheels.

LOCOMOTIVE WHEELS

During the last month the wheels for O & K Locomotive 12493 and 12140 were re-gauged and re-profiled.  The wheels for O & K Locomotive No. 11112 were re-profiled only.

A wheel on O & K Locomotive 11112 gave us a problem as one of the wheels refused to move but after much ado we sent the wheel out to a bigger press to resolve the problem.

Re-profiling went reasonable well apart from very hard spots on the flanges.

All these wheels were completed and are awaiting collection.

Straightening the drive shaft

Finished Tube Plate

Completed Backhead

Finishing touches to Locomotive Wheels

Riveting up the Backhead and Throat Plate to the Top Wrapper

Horn plates riveted to Firebox end

Job done

Fitting Boiler Barrel to Firebox end

It's in

Drilling and Reaming Throat Plate

Fitting new spokes in front wheel

Riveting in spokes

Front axle support for Boiler

Update 20th January 2008

This last month we have steadily been carrying on manufacturing the boiler and have progressed extremely well considering that we have been hampered along the way as we have encountered serious rainfall combined with Eskom load shedding of electricity services.  During the rains we have retired to the workshop and have done a lot of necessary machining of firebox stays, nuts and studs, gear blanks etc.  We did get the smoke box and the smoke box door manufactured and this was attached to the boiler.  The long stays were also fitted.  This now completes the outer boiler, all to be manufactured now is the firebox and re-tube which I now shall be busy with.

Riveting the smoke box

Tube plate fitted to boiler

Smoke box and axle pivot fitted to boiler

Smoke box door fitted - smoke box complete

A bit of plastic surgery on smoke box chimney base 0710 - Still a way to go as we have none of the broken parts

Firebox crown nuts and studs for girder stays

Boiler door re-furbished

Cylinder foundation nuts and bolts

Firebox stays with gear blanks for steering and gear change Keith Stevens

 

Update 18th February 2008

Due to a problem with the firebox tube plate material (which had to be returned to the suppliers) progress with the firebox was held up.  I was hoping to have this completed about 3 weeks ago, however new material arrived and I should have the firebox completed and fitted next week.

Nevertheless, we have been kept very busy in the numerous items we have manufactured.  Apart from the firebox we have re-bored the cylinders and fitted to the boiler, also new piston rings, cylinder covers and valve covers complete with top safety valve cover have been manufactured and fitted.

We have also completely overhauled the Differential including new bushes and pins on the planetary gears and the main centre bush of the Differential has been skimmmed and the relative bevel gear on which the Differential runs has been machined, sleeved, machined again to suit the Differential centre bush.

Countershaft journals have been welded up and re-machined and the Bearing Housing has been re-bushed.

During the last month we have also fitted steel bands to the wheels and have sent them to the relevant people to have them rubberised.

Keith Stevens

Smoke Box Chimney Base repaired

Re-boring Cylinders

Re-boring Cylinders

Welding steel bands to wheels ready for rubberising

Wheels ready to go for rubberising 0730 - Loading wheels

Cylinders fitted to Boiler

Machining Differential

Main drive pinion welded up and re-machined

Countershaft Journals welded up and re-machined and Bearing Housing re-bushed (on the left)

Drilling Planetary Gear Pins for removal and replacement

Pistons fitted and new covers manufactured for the Cylinders and Valves

Riveting Firebox

Wheels in the process of being rubberised

Re-bushing Planetary Gears

Update 3rd March 2008

Keith Stevens has sent these photographs clearly demonstrating the steady progress on the McLaren Traction Engine.

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Update 18th March 2008

This report is somewhat shorter as the month was taken up with manufacture of the Firebox and fitting this to the Boiler which was quite a mammoth task, but it fitted like a glove.  It was fitted in the presence of an independent Boiler Inspector.  We have since riveted up the Foundation Ring
and the Firehole Ring and have fitted the Stays (150 in all) and we are in the process of riveting them over.  There are now only 30 ends to go.

We have also manufactured the Eccentric Straps and Quadrants and Double Eyes for the Valve Gear, as all these parts were missing.

We have now received the materials and are proceeding to manufacture the Tender and the Tanks and the new Boiler Tubes will be attended to shortly.

Regards
Keith

0780 Tapping out the Stay Holes

0781 Manufacture of Eccentric Straps

0782 Firebox Stays in position

0783 Eccentric Straps fitted to Crankshaft

0788 Riveting over Stay Ends

0758 Firebox being lowered into the Boiler

0759 Firebox being lowered into the Boiler 0760 Almost there

0762 Firebox in place - fits like a glove

Update 11th April 2008

A lot of work during the last month has been entailed in the manufacture of the Tender, this is almost complete apart from riveting which we shall be doing next week.  We managed to locate a place in Pinetown where we could buy the rivets which has saved us a lot of work not having to make our own.

The wheels have now been returned after being rubberised and a superb job was made of this, these are now to be painted.

We are well under way in the manufacture of the Belly Tank.

We have had the necessary gears cut for the steering worm and gear change rack and pinion.  I have also spent some time on refurbishing the gland followers and reversing quadrants, dyes and stop valve assembly.

We are expecting the tubes to arrive today and the re-tubing will be carried out next week.  My next big project is to design and manufacture the safety valves to enable us to get a hydraulic and possible steam test on the Boiler.

Keith Stevens.

Front wheels rubberised

Offloading the rear wheels after being rubberised

Start of manufacture of the Tender

Tender almost complete

Making up frame for belly tank

Pair of quadrants and tumbling blocks along with stop valve assembly

Steering worm and high/low speed gear rack

Update 16th May 2008

The engine is at the stage where all of a sudden it will come together. Here is a pictorial with captions.

1515 - Rubberised rear wheel

1516 - As the boiler now stands - rear view

1518 - Newly constructed Tender

1520 - Rubberised front wheels

1522 - Rear wheel

1523 - Assembled crank shaft

1526 - Rear axle box

1528 - Steering worm

1529 - Tubes annealed and swaged with motion quadrants on the top of the tubes

1531 - Boiler - front view

1533 - Boiler cylinders

1534 - Smoke box tube plate

1535 - New bushes fitted on secondary shaft housing

1536 - Fire box

1539 - Secondary shaft

1540 - Rear suspension box

1543 - Speed selector rack & pinion

1545 - Speed selector arm

1547 - Differential

Update 20th May 2008

The long slog continues... Keith Stevens reports...

This project is still very much keeping us busy amongst the many tasks and different problems which we hit, but all in all things at long last seem to be coming together. This project has also made us much more proficient in riveting, which I am sure you will see from the pictures of the belly tank and tender. I was hoping to get a hydrostatic test on the boiler last week but have had to wait for boiler door jointing, hopefully we will attend to this shortly.

In the last few weeks we have re-tubed the boiler, manufactured and fitted the boiler doors (which was a week's work in itself), manufactured the belly tank, completed the tender, manufactured the ash pan and manufactured and fitted the chimney.

At the moment I am busy re-bushing the front wheels and attending to all the necessary parts for the front axle assembly. I will then be able to attach the front axle and wheels.

The pictures enclosed depict the following :

0805 - Governor valve and spindle assembly

0806 - Riveting up the Tender

0822 - Completed Tender

0823 - Fitting top plate on the Belly Tank

0824 - Cutting bottom plate of the Belly Tank

0826 - Annealing tube ends in sand

0828 - Manufacturing chimney

0829 - Manufacturing boiler hand hold doors & dogs 0830 - Tubes fitted (note slight cutaways on the smoke box front to enable us to get the bottom tubes in)

0831 - Manufacture of ash pan

0832 - Ends and sides of Belly Tank partially riveted

0833 - Chimney fitted

Update 25th June 2008

This last month has been extremely busy. The biggest task I have undertaken is the manufacture of the safety valves so that we can steam the boiler.

This has been no mean feat (regrettably I do not have pictures to send with this report as there was a fault with my camera and I lost the pictures. We have also re-conditioned the steering chain drum and pedestal bearings and have fitted them to the bottom of the belly tank.

It was good to get the front axle and wheels on as it seemed to be a major breakthrough and the engine looks as though it is starting to come together.

Another big task has been making up a boring rig for boring out the drive pin hole in the rear wheel to make it round again. We have also manufactured all the necessary hubcaps and given them a coat of copper hammertone paint. Last of all a steering wheel has been fabricated.

On Saturday 21 June we steamed the boiler for the first time and apart from a couple of weeps here and there the boiler was tight. After one or two more steams it should be ok. We are going for 150 psi working pressure and the UK test pressure would be one and a half times that which is 225 psi which we have already had the boiler up to on the hydraulic.

We have also done extensive work on the boiler fittings, i.e. gauge standards, check valves, cylinder drain cocks etc.

Once the boiler has been certified for hydraulic and steam test, I can then fit the crankshaft and tender and assemble the engine ready for road trials.

The pictures enclosed depict the following :

Front axle and wheels assembled

Rear axle rejuvenated

Re-conditioned steering chain drum and pedestal bearings fitted to the bottom of the belly tank

Front hubcap attached

Wheel drive pin hole bored out from oval to round

Engine in steam

Steering wheel manufactured

Rear Hubcaps manufactured

Regards
Keith

Update 28th July 2008

Over the last month we have been working 7 days a week to try and get on top of this momentum job. As you will see from the pictures we have made a huge dent in the outstanding work. We are feeling somewhat exhausted but as I have stated this must be completed as soon as possible. Hopefully by next week I shall be steam testing and running the engine.

Until the boiler has been certified, I cannot fit the Belly Tank and as the steering gear fits on the bottom of the Belly Tank we have no steering.

As always there are bound to be adjustments and modifications to be made here and there but everyone is getting excited to see this finally run, including myself.

As you can see we have manufactured and fitted all the rear suspension, complete with rear axle and Tender. We have manufactured and fitted all the valve rods, piston rods, cross heads, crankshaft, set the valves, manufactured and fitted the whistle, fitted the lubricator, manufactured regulator lever and also the blank for the final drive gear. We have repaired the winch drum as there was a big piece missing out of the side of it and manufactured a pawl for driving it. We have manufactured the driving pin for the rear wheel, also all the cylinder drains have been fitted along with the necessary operating arms.

The Tender and Belly Tank have been painted and the wheels lined.

At present I am busy making up the reverser arm so that the engine can be run.

A lot of this work is of my own design as there are no drawings and this has been very pressurising but nevertheless I think I can say we are on the downhill run.

Regards
Keith

The pictures depict the following

0842 Rear suspension, tie bars and springs and top collars

0844 Belly Tank painted

0845 Rear wheel lined with drive pin fitted

0846 Winch repaired

0847 Gauge standard (safety guard yet to be manufactured) and test cocks fitted along with rear suspension

0848 Connecting rods, valve rods and crosshead and motions fitted

0849 Whistle and lubricator now fitted along with main regulator arm

0852 Starting to line out Belly Tank

0853 Differential ready for fitting

0854 Manufacturing reverser

0855 Pinion gear blank

0856 Rear axle in position

As you can see (below) we have been very industrious and made very good headway especially as the weather has not been at all favourable during the last month with heavy deluges of rain (and most of our work is done outdoors). We found that the drive shaft was badly bent and had to be straightened before we could weld up the journals.  We have devoted most of our time during the last month in assembling, riveting and caulking the boiler as you will see from the attached photographs.  I have also fabricated the new front axle pivot for the boiler and I am now involved in manufacturing the smoke box and then I will start on the fire box.  If all goes well I would like to think we should have the boiler completed towards the end of next month.  We have also fitted and riveted new spokes in the front wheels.

LOCOMOTIVE WHEELS

During the last month the wheels for O & K Locomotive 12493 and 12140 were re-gauged and re-profiled.  The wheels for O & K Locomotive No. 11112 were re-profiled only.

A wheel on O & K Locomotive 11112 gave us a problem as one of the wheels refused to move but after much ado we sent the wheel out to a bigger press to resolve the problem.

Re-profiling went reasonable well apart from very hard spots on the flanges.

All these wheels were completed and are awaiting collection.

Straightening the drive shaft

Finished Tube Plate

Completed Backhead

Finishing touches to Locomotive Wheels

Riveting up the Backhead and Throat Plate to the Top Wrapper

Horn plates riveted to Firebox end

Job done

Fitting Boiler Barrel to Firebox end

It's in

Drilling and Reaming Throat Plate

Fitting new spokes in front wheel

Riveting in spokes

Front axle support for Boiler

Update 20th January 2008

This last month we have steadily been carrying on manufacturing the boiler and have progressed extremely well considering that we have been hampered along the way as we have encountered serious rainfall combined with Eskom load shedding of electricity services.  During the rains we have retired to the workshop and have done a lot of necessary machining of firebox stays, nuts and studs, gear blanks etc.  We did get the smoke box and the smoke box door manufactured and this was attached to the boiler.  The long stays were also fitted.  This now completes the outer boiler, all to be manufactured now is the firebox and re-tube which I now shall be busy with.

Riveting the smoke box

Tube plate fitted to boiler

Smoke box and axle pivot fitted to boiler

Smoke box door fitted - smoke box complete

A bit of plastic surgery on smoke box chimney base 0710 - Still a way to go as we have none of the broken parts

Firebox crown nuts and studs for girder stays

Boiler door re-furbished

Cylinder foundation nuts and bolts

Firebox stays with gear blanks for steering and gear change Keith Stevens

 

Update 18th February 2008

Due to a problem with the firebox tube plate material (which had to be returned to the suppliers) progress with the firebox was held up.  I was hoping to have this completed about 3 weeks ago, however new material arrived and I should have the firebox completed and fitted next week.

Nevertheless, we have been kept very busy in the numerous items we have manufactured.  Apart from the firebox we have re-bored the cylinders and fitted to the boiler, also new piston rings, cylinder covers and valve covers complete with top safety valve cover have been manufactured and fitted.

We have also completely overhauled the Differential including new bushes and pins on the planetary gears and the main centre bush of the Differential has been skimmmed and the relative bevel gear on which the Differential runs has been machined, sleeved, machined again to suit the Differential centre bush.

Countershaft journals have been welded up and re-machined and the Bearing Housing has been re-bushed.

During the last month we have also fitted steel bands to the wheels and have sent them to the relevant people to have them rubberised.

Keith Stevens

Smoke Box Chimney Base repaired

Re-boring Cylinders

Re-boring Cylinders

Welding steel bands to wheels ready for rubberising

Wheels ready to go for rubberising 0730 - Loading wheels

Cylinders fitted to Boiler

Machining Differential

Main drive pinion welded up and re-machined

Countershaft Journals welded up and re-machined and Bearing Housing re-bushed (on the left)

Drilling Planetary Gear Pins for removal and replacement

Pistons fitted and new covers manufactured for the Cylinders and Valves

Riveting Firebox

Wheels in the process of being rubberised

Re-bushing Planetary Gears

Update 3rd March 2008

Keith Stevens has sent these photographs clearly demonstrating the steady progress on the McLaren Traction Engine.

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Update 18th March 2008

This report is somewhat shorter as the month was taken up with manufacture of the Firebox and fitting this to the Boiler which was quite a mammoth task, but it fitted like a glove.  It was fitted in the presence of an independent Boiler Inspector.  We have since riveted up the Foundation Ring
and the Firehole Ring and have fitted the Stays (150 in all) and we are in the process of riveting them over.  There are now only 30 ends to go.

We have also manufactured the Eccentric Straps and Quadrants and Double Eyes for the Valve Gear, as all these parts were missing.

We have now received the materials and are proceeding to manufacture the Tender and the Tanks and the new Boiler Tubes will be attended to shortly.

Regards
Keith

0780 Tapping out the Stay Holes

0781 Manufacture of Eccentric Straps

0782 Firebox Stays in position

0783 Eccentric Straps fitted to Crankshaft

0788 Riveting over Stay Ends

0758 Firebox being lowered into the Boiler

0759 Firebox being lowered into the Boiler 0760 Almost there

0762 Firebox in place - fits like a glove

Update 11th April 2008

A lot of work during the last month has been entailed in the manufacture of the Tender, this is almost complete apart from riveting which we shall be doing next week.  We managed to locate a place in Pinetown where we could buy the rivets which has saved us a lot of work not having to make our own.

The wheels have now been returned after being rubberised and a superb job was made of this, these are now to be painted.

We are well under way in the manufacture of the Belly Tank.

We have had the necessary gears cut for the steering worm and gear change rack and pinion.  I have also spent some time on refurbishing the gland followers and reversing quadrants, dyes and stop valve assembly.

We are expecting the tubes to arrive today and the re-tubing will be carried out next week.  My next big project is to design and manufacture the safety valves to enable us to get a hydraulic and possible steam test on the Boiler.

Keith Stevens.

Front wheels rubberised

Offloading the rear wheels after being rubberised

Start of manufacture of the Tender

Tender almost complete

Making up frame for belly tank

Pair of quadrants and tumbling blocks along with stop valve assembly

Steering worm and high/low speed gear rack

Update 16th May 2008

The engine is at the stage where all of a sudden it will come together. Here is a pictorial with captions.

1515 - Rubberised rear wheel

1516 - As the boiler now stands - rear view

1518 - Newly constructed Tender

1520 - Rubberised front wheels

1522 - Rear wheel

1523 - Assembled crank shaft

1526 - Rear axle box

1528 - Steering worm

1529 - Tubes annealed and swaged with motion quadrants on the top of the tubes

1531 - Boiler - front view

1533 - Boiler cylinders

1534 - Smoke box tube plate

1535 - New bushes fitted on secondary shaft housing

1536 - Fire box

1539 - Secondary shaft

1540 - Rear suspension box

1543 - Speed selector rack & pinion

1545 - Speed selector arm

1547 - Differential

Update 20th May 2008

The long slog continues... Keith Stevens reports...

This project is still very much keeping us busy amongst the many tasks and different problems which we hit, but all in all things at long last seem to be coming together. This project has also made us much more proficient in riveting, which I am sure you will see from the pictures of the belly tank and tender. I was hoping to get a hydrostatic test on the boiler last week but have had to wait for boiler door jointing, hopefully we will attend to this shortly.

In the last few weeks we have re-tubed the boiler, manufactured and fitted the boiler doors (which was a week's work in itself), manufactured the belly tank, completed the tender, manufactured the ash pan and manufactured and fitted the chimney.

At the moment I am busy re-bushing the front wheels and attending to all the necessary parts for the front axle assembly. I will then be able to attach the front axle and wheels.

The pictures enclosed depict the following :

0805 - Governor valve and spindle assembly

0806 - Riveting up the Tender

0822 - Completed Tender

0823 - Fitting top plate on the Belly Tank

0824 - Cutting bottom plate of the Belly Tank

0826 - Annealing tube ends in sand

0828 - Manufacturing chimney

0829 - Manufacturing boiler hand hold doors & dogs 0830 - Tubes fitted (note slight cutaways on the smoke box front to enable us to get the bottom tubes in)

0831 - Manufacture of ash pan

0832 - Ends and sides of Belly Tank partially riveted

0833 - Chimney fitted

Update 25th June 2008

This last month has been extremely busy. The biggest task I have undertaken is the manufacture of the safety valves so that we can steam the boiler.

This has been no mean feat (regrettably I do not have pictures to send with this report as there was a fault with my camera and I lost the pictures. We have also re-conditioned the steering chain drum and pedestal bearings and have fitted them to the bottom of the belly tank.

It was good to get the front axle and wheels on as it seemed to be a major breakthrough and the engine looks as though it is starting to come together.

Another big task has been making up a boring rig for boring out the drive pin hole in the rear wheel to make it round again. We have also manufactured all the necessary hubcaps and given them a coat of copper hammertone paint. Last of all a steering wheel has been fabricated.

On Saturday 21 June we steamed the boiler for the first time and apart from a couple of weeps here and there the boiler was tight. After one or two more steams it should be ok. We are going for 150 psi working pressure and the UK test pressure would be one and a half times that which is 225 psi which we have already had the boiler up to on the hydraulic.

We have also done extensive work on the boiler fittings, i.e. gauge standards, check valves, cylinder drain cocks etc.

Once the boiler has been certified for hydraulic and steam test, I can then fit the crankshaft and tender and assemble the engine ready for road trials.

The pictures enclosed depict the following :

Front axle and wheels assembled

Rear axle rejuvenated

Re-conditioned steering chain drum and pedestal bearings fitted to the bottom of the belly tank

Front hubcap attached

Wheel drive pin hole bored out from oval to round

Engine in steam

Steering wheel manufactured

Rear Hubcaps manufactured

Regards
Keith

Update 28th July 2008

Over the last month we have been working 7 days a week to try and get on top of this momentum job. As you will see from the pictures we have made a huge dent in the outstanding work. We are feeling somewhat exhausted but as I have stated this must be completed as soon as possible. Hopefully by next week I shall be steam testing and running the engine.

Until the boiler has been certified, I cannot fit the Belly Tank and as the steering gear fits on the bottom of the Belly Tank we have no steering.

As always there are bound to be adjustments and modifications to be made here and there but everyone is getting excited to see this finally run, including myself.

As you can see we have manufactured and fitted all the rear suspension, complete with rear axle and Tender. We have manufactured and fitted all the valve rods, piston rods, cross heads, crankshaft, set the valves, manufactured and fitted the whistle, fitted the lubricator, manufactured regulator lever and also the blank for the final drive gear. We have repaired the winch drum as there was a big piece missing out of the side of it and manufactured a pawl for driving it. We have manufactured the driving pin for the rear wheel, also all the cylinder drains have been fitted along with the necessary operating arms.

The Tender and Belly Tank have been painted and the wheels lined.

At present I am busy making up the reverser arm so that the engine can be run.

A lot of this work is of my own design as there are no drawings and this has been very pressurising but nevertheless I think I can say we are on the downhill run.

Regards
Keith

The pictures depict the following

0842 Rear suspension, tie bars and springs and top collars

0844 Belly Tank painted

0845 Rear wheel lined with drive pin fitted

0846 Winch repaired

0847 Gauge standard (safety guard yet to be manufactured) and test cocks fitted along with rear suspension

0848 Connecting rods, valve rods and crosshead and motions fitted

0849 Whistle and lubricator now fitted along with main regulator arm

0852 Starting to line out Belly Tank

0853 Differential ready for fitting

0854 Manufacturing reverser

0855 Pinion gear blank

0856 Rear axle in position

Heritage - News

Visitors flock to Sandstone Estates - Makarios Goue Jare Klub

13th December 2007

From Childrens groups to specialist international steam enthusiasts as well as old folk.. they all come to enjoy the special sandstone experience.. Makarios Goue Jare Klub

A group off 30 old age people from the Goue Jare Klub in Virginia visited Sandstone Estates recently. They came from Theunissen, Welkom , Virginia and Henneman.

They worked very hard to make sure this tour is possible, selling pancakes and hamburgers for weekends and weekends!

The weekend break started with tour to Fouriesburg staying over at Meiringskloof where they enjoyed breakfast in the morning. Then they depart to visit Sandstone Estates.

The group arrived at 9h00 and enjoyed some coffee and tea in the Waenhuis. After that, they had a train ride to Grootdraai and back to the station like in the old days.

Sandstone Estates presented each of them with a gift. They enjoyed a three course lunch in the Waenhuis and went off for a tour though the tractor sheds. Photos were taken at the Waenhuis after lunch before they left each with there gift in the hand.

Next year they would like to come back with a much bigger group. We received many phone calls the next day thanking Sandstone for the wonderful time this old age group had on the farm.

Heritage - Rail - News

Soya Planting

19th November 2007 - Updated 17th December 2007

Click here to jump down the page to the latest update

The 24 hour a day Soya planting program continues at Sandstone and nearly 800 Ha has already been planted. With a let up in the rain the progress has been steady and the planting should be completed within the prescribed planting period.

Soya Drop Update mid December 2007

Heritage - Rail - News

Sugar Cane Wagons From Crookes Brothers Natal

22nd January 2007

Gert Jubileus' latest report includes a section on the restoration of Sugar Cane trucks which have been kindly made available to us from Crookes Brothers in Natal.  Work is continuing rapidly on this project.  For those who might be interested in what was available on the market originally here is an extract from R. Hudson Ltd whose outstanding catalogue provides a mouth watering selection of products.







See previous report: Sugar Cane Wagons from Crookes Brothers Natal

 

 

 

Heritage - Rail - News

Professional steam weekend for Natal Narrow gauge enthusiasts

Steam News - 12th November 2007

ROY RAATS TRAIN TOUR!

Update 28th January 2008
Sandstone receives letters of appreciation from members of the Roy Raats visitor group.

I was just in time back for our special guests leaded by Roy Raats from the Umgeni Steam Railway. They all were a great tour group and we had a time of our life. We steamed our Class NG 15 number 17 and NG4 Class NG 4 number 16. Our volunteer crews for the weekend were Anton and Frandri Bosch and a new volunteer driver John Cronje also fro Bloemfontein.

Below: Frandri, watering our NG 15 and not afraid to fire at all.

Below: Class NG 15 drifting out of Hoekfontein Station towards the Lesotho border on a photo run.

After a few photo run pasts, the NG 15 clear in Grootdraai for the approaching Class NG 4 with driver John Cronje behind the controls. It was a clear day with cloudless skies and our little giants performed with eager, showing what they got.

Below left: A view over the Kalahari’s running board with the approaching NG 4 in a distance.

Below right: Class NG 15 storming out of Grootdraai.

On the last NG 15 run past, she proceeded to Hoekfontein for servicing duties while we boarded the Class NG 4 back to Hoekfontein.


On the last NG 15 run past, she proceeded to Hoekfontein for servicing duties while we boarded the Class NG 4 back to Hoekfontein.


Below: Class NG 4
passing the Hoekfontein home signal just before she was used as banker to
Vailima


Above right: Class NG 15 storming the Pandora bank with our NG 4 as banker locomotive.

Below left: Number 17 performing a run past between Vailima and Vailima Halt.

Below right: Number 17 running around our train at Vailima.

  Below left: Familiar faces, Gary Barnes and his parents. We are always honored to have them aboard.

Below right: Gary suggested we double head number 16 and 17 on Saturday afternoon train to Grootdraai. The two locomotives really worked together very nice and we performed some run pasts at Grootdraai.

Below left: NG 4 number 16 and NG 15 number 17 storming out of Grootdraai giving all they had for a perfect photo.

Below right: Driver John Cronje behind the controls of number 17 approaching the Grootdraai warning board.

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Below left: NG 15 thundering out off the balloon, showing number 16 how to smoke!

Below right: NG 15 leaving a trail of smoke over the balloon at Grootdraai.

We waited for the sun to go down and took great photos. We ended our day and we all had supper at the Waenhuis. At 03H00 on Sunday morning, we were back on duty, steaming our class NG 15 for sunrise photos on Sunday morning. We were ready in Hoekfontein at 04H30 and performed some early morning shunting that was needed.

Below left: Last photos for Saturday.

Below right: Our NG 15 showing off as she runs past the Hoekfontein Home signal early on Sunday morning.

FROM THE GALLERY TAKEN ON SUNDAY


Below: Number 17 beating her hart out!



Below: Number 17 at full swing out of Grootdraai.



THE END OF THE DAY, NUMBER 17 ON HER WAY TO THE SHED.



Below left: Driver John Cronje

Below right: Driver Anton Bosch and John Cronje with number 17.

BELOW: PHOTOS TAKEN BY FRANDRI BOSCH











OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK!

• Loading Douglas Locomotive for Cape Town.
• Wash out number 113
• Cherry festival trains.
• To clean all coaches and locomotives for Cherry festival.
• To put up safety signs at Hoekfontein Station for Cherry trains.
• To clean crossings and railway lines.
• Ratanga wagon number 4
• Weed spraying on sidings.
• ST and flat wagon restoration.

STEAM GREETINGS

THE
STEAM TEAM!

Railway Storage facility for 3'6" locomotives and rolling stock

It is not well known but we have a major Railway storage facility for 3'6" locomotives and rolling stock in Ficksburg itself. This facility recently came under attack from scrap thieves and we lost a considerable number of valuable parts from some of the locomotives. It has been decided to shut down this facility and so we are currently debating where to locate the items.

LIVING STEAM!

Pretty Faces of a glorious past!