I went to the annual Rand show in 1971 and found the Rand Society of Model Engineers inside the show grounds. I joined the Society immediately, a few hundred meters up the road there was the South African Railways pavilion.
I always wanted to build a GEA Garratt in 5" gauge but after seeing 2-foot gauge locomotives running on 7.25" inch gauge, I realised this was the answer to building chunky compact locomotives and more fun to drive. I then decided the GEA was a lot of work and two small in 5" gauge the 7.25" gauge being to big for practicality.
Rob Steiger owner of the Albert Falls miniature railway asked me to spread the word around that he will have an open weekend at his miniature railway from the 14th to the 15th November, the railway is almost a kilometre in length and caters for 5" and 7 1/4" gauge trains. All enthusiasts welcome with or without a engine, the station complex houses a bar and good braai facilities with plenty of camping space. Rob can be contacted at 082 343 9686.
Having visited the site myself previously, I can recommend a visit to Rob's place, see you there.
Attached a few pictures of previous events
Best regards
Hannes
The P. E. track is situated in the residential suburb of Sunridge Park and is part of a sports complex. The main line consists of 3 1/2" and 5" gauges of which the main line is approx. 602m. The outer loop is only about 240m. We generally do not use the shorter line as it traverses the main roadway into grounds and then we also feel obliged to give the passengers a double circuit for their moneys worth. Using the longer ride they only get one circuit.
There is a carriage storage tunnel near the club house that we have just extended by 4.2m. These contain twin lines that can now hold 6 carriages and the diesel on each line. Due to an increase in passengers we are having to construct two more 2m long passenger trucks to cope with the loads. The 4 bogies have just about been completed between Gunter and myself. Gunter doing most of the work. The attached are some photos to give you an idea of what the grounds look like on a typical running day. Station, clubhouse and general.
Brian Simpson
It was a typical day Wednesday June 29th, the ballast lay undisturbed as the sleepers were sleeping, the last winter leaves clinging for deer life to grey trees, aloes in full bloom... and then it all changed.
Bloemfontein depot is an integral part of the Sandstone loco restoration programme today under the direction of Lukas Nel, here's how this magnificent depot was in days gone by in 1933. ..
After two years of steady construction work the new locomotive yard at Bloemfontein is now practically completed.
Lukas Nel who is far too busy restoring locomotives to produce long reports does nonetheless keep us up-to-date.
The water tank on NGG16, No. 88 has been repaired
7th July 2009
Our Bloemfontein workshops have definitely got a grip on this project. A set of drawings has been sourced from Bedford Borough Council's Archive Department. We would like to thank Sue Edwards, a Senior Archivist, for her excellent service in this regard.
The boiler is now being inspected and work on the boiler has commenced...
03 July 2009 - Update 13
Further to the completion of restoration of 19D no 2654 Trevor Staats from Australia has supplied these excellent archive photos of 2654 working at Loraine gold mine in the Free State.
Our Bloemfontein workshops continue to move ahead relentlessly on the above project. Having had some experience of rebuilding Garratts it is the wish of our Chief Fitter that we build a locomotive that is probably the finest rebuild of this magnificent class of Narrow Gauge locomotive ever attempted. As an indication of the type of work being completed here is the first picture released of the coal bunker with the classic riveted extension that was a feature of some of the Natal Garratts.
NGG 16, No. 88, is coming along very steadily. Here is an updated picture of one of the engine units being completely rebuilt in our Bloemfontein workshops. Thanks to Lukas Nel and his team for the photograph.
From: Peter Micenko
Subject: SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY; Restoration of steam crane at Bloemfontein
Also, Lucas and the steam team should be justifiably proud of their work on 19D #2654.
The Sandstone Heritage Trust owns the following O&K locomotives, together with an Arn Jung unit also of German origin. For the sake of this exercise we have included the Arn Jung under the same grouping as the O&K locomotives.
Kerr Stuart loco, No. 4062, has been problematic since it was restored.There is a technical question mark relating to its performance and it has been decided to send it back to Bloemfontein to be looked at in detail and to be reworked and upgraded.
Locomotive O&K number 10311 was offloaded in Bloemfontein last week. Attached is a preliminary report on work Lucas and his team intend to do.
