Railway Heritage
RN 02 - The Vailima Track Extension
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
Issued by Sandstone Estates (Pty) Ltd:
The Vailima Track Extension
| Sandstone Heritage Trust's 2-ft narrow gauge railway line at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State is under construction again. An additional 1.5 kms is being constructed through the fruit orchards at Vailima farm. This will eventually complete the balloon back to Vailima Siding. The reliable and experienced contractors, Messrs. Goldfield Track, are once again the on-site contractors. |
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RN 01 - April '04 - Sandstone continues the transportation of 2-ft narrow diesels and steam locomotives from Beirra
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RN 1 - April '04 - Sandstone continues the transportation of 2-ft narrow diesels and steam locomotives from Beirra
In cooperation with Sena Sugar, the Sandstone Heritage Trust acquired a broad cross-section of locomotives, spare parts, machine tools and rolling stock and other items. Some of these have now been moved to Beira and the exercise of moving them to the Sandstone Heritage Trust site in the Eastern Free State has commenced.Two of the company's Freightliners with low beds, driven by Leon Flynn and Willem de Klerk, recently made the long and arduous trip to Beira. The total distance was 2587 kilometres. It took 10 days and 1354 litres of diesel were consumed at a total of R4522.00, at a total of around 1.91 Litres per Km.
The transportation of these items was something of an experiment because one of the 0-6-0 Pecketts had already been shipped late last year by sea from Beira to Durban where it was collected.
The cost effectiveness of the operation was measured, and it has been decided to arrange a combination of sea and road for the rest of the haulage programme.
The remaining items, some of which are featured in the attached photographs, will move by sea to the Port of Maputo where they will be collected by the company's heavy vehicles and then transported to the Eastern Free State. The major reason for this is the state of the roads in the northern sector approaching Beira.
RN 121 - Reef Steamers Magazine Article by John Batwell - "The Victoria Falls Bridge"
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RN 121 - Reef Steamers Magazine Article by John Batwell - "The Victoria Falls Bridge"
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RN 178 - Download and read the latest Cape Rail Enthusiast Association's Newsletter (CREA)
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RN 178 - CREA Newsletter - June 2006
RN 99 - The Sunday Times, 25 September 2005 - Article on The Avontuur Adventurer - by Paul Ash "A slow train coming"
Unfortunately this article is no longer available
RN 84 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive boiler
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RN 84 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive boiler
Related articles at the bottom of page >>
The Feldbahn boiler has been stripped down, all the tubes removed and the plates have been thickness tested etc. The interior has been thoroughly cleaned and found to need surprisingly little work.
The accompanying photographs show the inside of the boiler and the arrangement of the stays around the firebox area and the refurbished tube plates.
RN 193 - Lest we forget, this is what the Feldbahn looked like when it arrived from the UK
RN 192 - Feldbahn locos working in Eastern Europe
RN 176 - Bloemfontein. Brigade (Feldbahn) Locomotive
RN 163 - Our Brigade (Feldbahn) restoration proceeds apace.
RN 148 - The Brigade Loco (Feldbahn) makes more steady progress
RN 132 - The Feldbahn being restored by Sandstone Bloemfontein workshops is proceeding steadily
RN 84 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive boiler
RN 72 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive
RN 72 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RN 72 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive
Related articles at the bottom of page >>
Work is continuing on the ex Sena Feldbahn locomotive recently returned from Europe.
It has been completely stripped down and a list of the missing parts compiled. An assessment of the boiler is currently being carried out using some high tech equipment imported from overseas. This establishes the thickness of the boiler plates and thus its suitability for repair and further use. Early signs are encouraging.
There are also some photographs of restored Feldbahns in France taken by European enthusiast Phillipe Maurer. This is what the finished article should look like. Note by the way the very nice little turntable! (Below right).
| A very interesting item on the Feldbahn locomotives is the Klein Lindner type of axle. Originally fitted to the front and rear, the latter has been removed and a plain axle substituted, with wheel flanges removed. This form of construction served instead of a leading pony truck, enabling an extra set of driving wheels to be fitted at the expense of considerable extra complexity. One side effect is that it seems to make it difficult if not impossible to turn the tyres in a conventional fashion. |  |
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RN 193 -Lest we forget, this is what the Feldbahn looked like when it arrived from the UK
RN 192 - Feldbahn locos working in Eastern Europe
RN 176 - Bloemfontein. Brigade (Feldbahn) Locomotive
RN 163 - Our Brigade (Feldbahn) restoration proceeds apace.
RN 148 - The Brigade Loco (Feldbahn) makes more steady progress
RN 132 - The Feldbahn being restored by Sandstone Bloemfontein workshops is proceeding steadily
RN 84 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive boiler
RN 72 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive
RN 32 - Vintage railcar taking shape in the workshop
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RN32 - Vintage railcar taking shape in the workshop
Some time ago Sandstone Heritage Trust was offered a strange looking chassis that had been found under a pile of scrap in a breakers yard.
The wheels are 2ft gauge and consist of a four wheel bogie with a two wheel axle at the other end. No engine, mechanicals or body unfortunately and no immediate clue as to its identity. Could it be the remains of the forty seater Wickham railcar built for Consolidated Gold mines in 1956 which had a similar layout, possible as that has disappeared, or is it something else perhaps that Dunns or one of the old rail industry companies acquired or even produced?
Whatever its origins it was obviously too good to scrap so was placed in safe undercover storage in the hope that more information would be forthcoming at a later date.
More recently Sandstone was offered the body and some other parts of a circa 1910 BSA car. This once grand vehicle was an open four seater tourer but as it was far from complete and looked to be another interesting item that would also be saved for posterity but with little chance of seeing the light of day in any meaningful way again.
However, following Desmond Clarke's restoration of the small narrow gauge Wickham trolley it was decided to see if the narrow gauge rail chassis and BSA tourer body could somehow be united into one unique inspection car, reminiscent of those old scenes of early days of African railways and tours of inspection by the management.
Desmond got busy and gathered all the parts together in the workshop to see if such a vehicles was possible and lo and behold, with a lot of work, the period radiator from the car, a modern engine, gearbox, drive train and accessories, and some high class mechanical work and panel beating, turn of the century upholstery and trim it will all fit together and look like it was made that way.
Another interesting feature will be a hydraulically driven turntable mounted underneath, similar to those under the modern Trackmaster inspection vehicles, to enable the vehicle to be turned at the end of the line rather than having to run for several kilometers in reverse with the risk of damage to engine or gearbox. In the days of yore the line's General Manager would have had his party of African bearers but that's probably not politically correct these days!
Fortunately the workshop staff have plenty of expertise with hydraulic equipment as there is a lot of it fitted to modern agricultural machinery.
In the process of turning two interesting artifacts into one interesting and useful piece of vintage rail equipment Desmond and the other staff concerned will gain an enormous amount of knowledge and skills not normally able to be gained by the younger generation which will stand them in good stead for the future – empowerment at its best and most interesting.
Work continues as the accompanying illustrations show and there will be regular updates on the website.
Further work has been done over the Christmas period which has included a trial fit of one of the BSA mudguards. Still in unrestored conditioned it gives an idea of what the finished article will look like when complete.
Desmond has also fitted a differential or reduction drive rear flat belt pulley mounted PTO (power take off).
from a Massey Ferguson 135. He took off the flat belt pulley, put a sprocket on it, which now makes this
sprocket on the back just visible on the left-hand-side. It is a very heavy duty reduction box which will do an excellent job.
That is one of the advantages of rail preservation alongside a big agricultural operation because you have access to lots of interesting parts that, provided you are prepared to use some lateral thinking, can serve a variety of different uses.
RN 07 - The Eastern Free State - An unlikely destination for world class steam Heritage preservation
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
The Eastern Free State - An unlikely destination for world class steam Heritage preservation
| An event was held over the weekend where an 80 year old locomotive was put through its paces after having been rehabilitated. The Sandstone Heritage Trust which is part of the large Sandstone Estates commercial farming operation has a significant steam restoration capability.
Normally this facility preoccupies itself with the restoration of rare locomotives which have been saved throughout the SADC region. Over a year ago however, a locomotive was rescued in Natal. This NGG11 was one of three survivors in South Africa, of which none were in operation. The Alan Paton Railway at Ixopo were given the locomotive in order to boost the tourism and job creation potential in their area. The Sandstone Heritage Trust agreed to restore the locomotive and this task was completed in just on a year.The leader of the team handling the restoration was Lukas Nel, assisted by his wife Anna. They in turn were supported by qualified steam fitters and apprentices. |
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| The Sandstone Heritage Trust is twinned with the Ffeistiniog and Welsh Highland Railway in Wales, the oldest preserved railway on earth. Lukas Nel and Leon Myburgh, his assistant, will be travelling to the UK next month in order to exchange ideas on the latest engineering techniques needed to bring these venerable old steam engines to life.
Today commercial farming needs to remain commercially viable in order to be successful. More and more the Sandstone Heritage Trust workshops at Sandstone Estates are being recognised as a world class engineering facility and enquiries are being received from around the world for assistance with regard to locomotive rehabilitation. Steam Railways are a growing tourist phenomena throughout the western world in particular. |
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RN 06 - Sena Narrow gauge locomotives arrive in South Africa
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RN 06 - Sena Narrow gauge locomotives arrive in South Africa
| On Wednesday 14 July 2004 a further batch of heritage locomotives arrived in South Africa. These were purchased from the Sena Sugar Estates by Sandstone Heritage Trust and bring to ten the number of locomotives in South Africa from this world famous sugar cane railway. Latest 2ft gauge arrivals are four Baguley Drewry 0-6-0DMs, nos. D6, D7, D8, D11. The other new arrivals are 3ft 6in gauge Peckett 0-6-0Ts No. 6, works no. 2141, built 1954 and No. 7,works no. 2165, this being the last Peckett built in 1958.They were shipped on Sena Sugar Estates barge from Marromeu to Beira, then transferred to a coastal vessel for onward shipment to Durban from where they will be collected by Sandstone's own trucks. These join the other ex Sena 2ft gauge locomotives - Peckett no. 14 2161/1957, no. 11 2143/1953, Baguley Drewry diesel No. 10 and Ruston and Hornsby 48DL Mk 2 No. SSE 5.The diesels will be going to Sandstone's diesel refurbishment works near Bloemfontein, and the steam locomotives to Sandstone Heritage Trust at Hoekfontein. Further locomotives and other equipment are expected in due course. |
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RN 05 - NGG11 no: 55 passes its final test
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RN 05 - NGG11 no: 55 passes its final test
| In an intensive two days of steaming on the 24th and 25th of July and with varied loads, Paton Country Narrow Gauge Railway's 1925 built 2 foot gauge Beyer Peacock Garratt locomotive no:55 was declared fit for its transfer from Sandstone Heritage Trust, in the Eastern Free State, to its permanent base at the Ixopo depot of PCNGR.
The loco which had been plinthed at Weenen Station in Kwa Zulu Natal for some 20 odd years, was restored from near scrap condition by the Sandstone Heritage Trust under the supervision of Lukas Nel. This intensive rebuild included the manufacture of many new parts which had long since been removed during its time in Kwa Zulu Natal. First steamed in late June no: 55 had very few problems during its commissioning trials at Sandstone and no major work was required. Over the two days the loco operated on the full Sandstone system, including the new Vailima extension and was also double headed with its more modern sister, NGG16 Garratt no: 113. No: 55 is one of three remaining Class NGG11 locomotives still in existence but is the only one currently in working order. Until the commissioning of the K1 Garratt at the Welsh Highland Railway, it is currently the oldest operating Garratt locomotive in the world.It is expected to make the road journey to KZN by Sandstone's own transport early in August for commissioning at Ixopo. It will be the largest locomotive at Ixopo and is expected to see an intensive season hauling trains on the fledgling PCNGR. |
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RN 04 - July 6th saw a successful steaming of NG11 No: 55 at Sandstone
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Railnews
RN 04 - July 6th saw a successful steaming of NG11 No: 55 at Sandstone
July 2004
RN 28 - Bloemfontein workshop report mid February 2005
Sandstone Steam Railroad - Rail News
RN 28 - Bloemfontein workshop report mid February 2005
Lukas Nel and his small team are making good progress with the locomotives at the Bloemfontein workshop. The value of a husband and wife team like Lukas and Anna, who have created a well motivated, trainable group whose capabilities grow by the week and show the value of skills transfer in a way that is a example to all. Lukas has been involved with steam locomotives for the best part of forty years and works to very high standards as well as knowing all the little tricks that make jobs easier while not compromising safety or standards.
As the number of serviceable steam locomotives declines nationally it is worth remembering that most, if not all, last saw the inside of a railway workshop for major work fifteen years ago or more. They are all now wearing out and overdue for repairs under the previous SAR protocols. Only by securing decent facilities, the skilled manpower, and transferring those skills to the next generation can steam hope to survive into the future. Sandstone Heritage Trust is fortunate indeed to have a man like Lukas Nel heading up our steam locomotive restoration programme, for he is a steam man through and through.
The ex Angola Decauville is now far from the rusty relic it was when it arrived. The side tanks are nearly complete and the chassis is on rail and just needs the springs plus final assembly. The springs are finished and Lukas will collect them and the boiler mounts next week.
Work continues on the boiler, which is not in such poor condition as feared. This is no doubt due to the fact that it was kept in the Museum for many years, even if the roof did collapse of late, which prevented much of the corrosion suffered by those left to their fate outside. The photographs show it to be in fair condition although as often happens the bottom of the smokebox had rotted away because of water collecting in it, which combined with any ash present forms a corrosive acidic mixture.
Replica works plates are being made using details from a photo from another loco in Angola for a pattern, as well as assistance from contacts in France who have preserved other Decauville locomotives.
The locomotive was originally named BATHALA but there is no trace of a name plate and no photographs survive of it so named. Does anyone have any details of this which may be of assistance in making replica plates, or were names generally painted on the sides of the tanks like many other industrial locomotives?
The “Decauville” portable railway system was widely used in industrial and military applications and a reprint of the January 1905 catalogue is available from
Feld-und Schmalspurbahnen verlag und Buchhandel e-mail:
It contains much detail of the equipment and some fascinating illustrations of a time when rail was king.
Similar designs were manufactured by a variety of French and Belgian companies and there is a similar locomotive built by SA des Usines Metallurgiques du Hainaut, Couillet, Belgium plinthed on the platform at Maputo Station.
Work is continuing on the ex Sena Peckett No 14 (P 2161/1957). The boiler, which was repaired by SGE Services in Pretoria, has been returned to the frames and the boiler inspectors are sorting out the paperwork concerned.
Because the locomotive was stored under cover at Sena for many years, only being pushed out into the open a year or so before being acquired by Sandstone, most of the platework is free of serious corrosion and has needed a good cleaning to get rid of loose paint and surface rust before being painted. Even the inside lower corners of the saddle tank, which are often where corrosion forms as water gathers, are OK.
There’s a lot of work still to do, making good damage sustained in its Sena days and during its movement to Beira, as well as replacing all the non ferrous fittings and manufacturing missing items such as coupling and connecting rods, slidebars etc. There is also the task of straightening the front buffer beam which was bent in a heavy shunt during its industrial service.
Fortunately thanks to our good relationship with the UK’s National Railway Museum in York we have been able to acquire some drawings from amongst those saved when Peckett went into liquidation. Not everything was saved, but we have a good start with those we have acquired.
The NG 4 has not been forgotten and the boiler is due for inspection soon. A lot of work has been carried out on the side tanks as the old ones had suffered corrosion and lifting damage in pre-Sandstone days and a new cow catcher has been fabricated.
The rare Jung locomotive ‘Gazengo’ has not had any work done on it of late as it looks likely that a new boiler will be required. We have had no success in acquiring drawings for this locomotive which is perhaps unsurprising given that the Jung works received a major visit by Allied bombers in October 1944 with catastrophic results.
However, we have received permission from Jeff Lanham to reproduce a photograph he took in October 1969 of the locomotive at Bomb Jesus sugar mill by when it was out of use. It, and many other historic photographs of Angolan, Mozambican and African Steam (not South African) are contained on two CDs by Rob Dickinson entitled Steam Safari (South) and Steam Safari (North) and available from Rob, who has been very helpful with our loco research.
Rob’s contact details are:
http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/internat.htm
http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/javatour/java1997.htm
email