Railway Heritage

Port Elizabeth Model Locomotive Society

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

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Station View

2009 - National Live Steam Meet Pietermaritzburg

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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.

The New Locomotive Layout In Bloemfontein

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.

Bloemfontein is the largest engine depot of the Orange Free State, and prior to the provision of the new facilities, was served by an old round-house type of engine shed erected a considerable number of years ago, when only about 25 engines were stationed at this centre. With the development of agriculture in the Free State and the resultant increase in traffic, the accommodation for locomotives at Bloemfontein rapidly became inadequate and, with the greatly increased number of engines and limited amount of space, efficient working was extremely difficult. The provision of a new locomotive layout was therefore an absolute necessity, and accordingly in 1931 a commencement was made with the construction of a most modern yard on a site to the south of the old loco yard.

Updates from Bloemfontein Shed

Lukas Nel who is far too busy restoring locomotives to produce long reports does nonetheless keep us up-to-date.

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The water tank on NGG16, No. 88 has been repaired

Old crane saved

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...

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Bloem Class 19D 2654 Tender

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.

Update on reconstruction of NGG 16, No. 88.

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.

As always this project is now ahead of schedule.

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NGG 16, No. 88, is coming along very steadily - engine units rebuild

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.

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Australian Visitor Pops In At Bloemfontein Works.

From: Peter Micenko
Subject: SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY; Restoration of steam crane at Bloemfontein

Whilst on a quick and short visit to South Africa recently, I visited the Bloemfontein locomotive depot and was permitted to view the restoration work being conducted by Lucas Nel and his team. It was interesting to see NG16 #88 being so lovingly and meticulously restored. I look back with fondness at the times I fired her at Port Shepstone and some of the various incidents that occurred in the normal life of a locomotive.

Also, Lucas and the steam team should be justifiably proud of their work on 19D #2654.

Feedback on O&K Locomotives

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.

Two locomotives move to Bloemfontein.

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.

O and K loco no 10311 moves to Bloemfontein for upgrade...

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.

  • Possible removal of boiler to clean in-between frames water tanks from rust and paint with sealer and anti rust paint.Remove wheels to set wheels in a railway workshop to correct gauge.
  • Remove left and right coal bunkers drivers cab, roof and back plate for riveting as per O&K standards.
  • Fabricate and fit a proper lubrication system for valves and cylinders. (Mechanical lubricator and valves).
  • Rebuild regulator to a safe standard as the regulator is not operating smooth at the moment.
  • Remove boiler cladding to fit proper flanges to boiler to attach clack valves.
  • Replace and refit all steel piping with copper piping on locomotive.
  • Fabricate boiler water level attachments and fit level gauges to O&K standards.
  • Fabricate and fit left and right clack boxes to O&K standards.
  • Rebuild no 1 and no 2 buffer beams and buffers to O&K standards.
  • Refit missing left water injector and refit right water injector.
  • Prepare locomotive boiler for a hydraulic and steam test to obtain a valid boiler certificate.
  • Retest and certify boiler pressure gauge.
  • Fit brass cladding to left and right cylinders.
  • Grind and polish left and right side rods and valve motion gear.
  • Paint locomotive and frames.

Restoration begins on another Angolan sugar loco

After Sandstone's visit to Angola in 2003, a number of ex sugar estate locos were acquired and brought to South Africa . Of these two have been restored, namely Decauville "Bathala" and O&K 0-4-0T 10311 of 1922.

Three other O&K locomotives of 0-6-0T configuration were also brought to South Africa and no: 11112 of 1925 has now been earmarked for restoration. Originally delivered in September 1925 to the Companhia Do Assucar De Angola for their estate in Caixito, it was of 500mm gauge and of the 30hp type. It is believed to be their No: 5 and was last reported in service in 1969.

As with its sisters the locomotive was in a very poor state and was not considered restorable but times change! Initial work has begun on the boiler at Stevens Mechanical in Howick, Kwa Zulu Natal. The boiler has been stripped completely for a total rebuild.

Progress report – O&K Locomotive No. 11112

23rd November 2009

O&K 11112 is progressing well in Bloemfontein. The original 500mm gauge has been changed to 2ft.

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NGG 16 No:88

20th April 2010

Assembled and ready to work at Sandstone Estates.

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