The Port Elizabeth to Avontuur 2 ft narrow gauge railway was very much a viable proposition in the late 60’s and early 70’s for Spoornet (now Transnet Freight Rail [TFR]). With heavy limestone traffic from Loerie to the EPCC cement factory in New Brighton and fruit traffic from the Langkloof, it was decided to dieselise the line and sent aside the ageing NGG13 and 16 Garratts and the NG15 locos.
On Saturday the 24th of September we had our Heritage day event and have steamed Class NGG 16’s numbers 153 And 88 to haul the train over the mountains.
Our 16CR locomotive Number 821 has been scheduled for a cosmetic restoration for some time. Gert Jubileus, our railway foreman, who drove this loco at St Helena Gold Mine (where it was Number 1 “Black Beauty”) has been keen on this project for some time and his team has begun cleaning and stripping the loco. The loco has no tender but we will use the tender from another loco to complete the restoration. Dennis Moore’s picture shows Number 1 at work at St Helena in 1993.
During the last week and a half we have pulled out all the Stationary Boilers and Traction Engines from the Vintage Shed for washouts and same time preparing them for Boiler Inspections.
The sole surviving NG10 narrow gauge pacific has been in the Sandstone collection for a number of years
The last month we have spend quite a lot of time washing out our boilers. The past week or so we have washed 5 boilers and only need to washout number 4063 to complete the washout of all the locomotives in our fleet. Below: Images of Sezela being washed out.
15F 3052, “Avril” made her first run to Cullinan on September 4th after moving to Friends of the Rail on August 28th. The train was fully booked with 550 passengers and was a great day out for all concerned. 3052 will take her next trip to Cullinan on Saturday September 24th (Heritage Day) and Sunday September 25th. Our images of the trip are from David Benn. Please note these photographs are copyright David Benn. Our thanks to David for a splendid photo gallery.
Coach 8041 which was built in 1902 for the Cape Government Railways has been obtained from Transnet Foundation (TF) by Sandstone Heritage Trust. Originally thought to be a “Missionary” coach or Medical Officer’s coach it is now believed that it was an Officials Coach. Originally built as a 4 wheel vehicle it was modified in 1929 by the addition of a steel underframe and a bogie at one end. It was removed from the railway’s asset register in 1978 and placed at De Aar in the company of 6th Class 462.
The coach was moved to Millsite Depot as part of the National Collection but some 29 years in the elements has severely damaged the body and it was due to be scrapped. With the historical significance of the coach, Sandstone decided to lease lend it from TF. The extraction was difficult as the coach was parked between a flat wagon and 4E electric locomotive, E219, which could not be shunted to clear the coach. Nevertheless Des Clarke and the Sandstone team successfully lifted it clear and it is now on its way to Sandstone for restoration.
Our pictures show the lift and John Middleton’s picture shows 8041 at De Aar with 6th Class 462 in 1975.
Sunday morning was a busy day for the Friends of the Rail (FOTR) crew of Driver Les Labuschagne, Fireman Nathan Berelowitz and Pilot Kobus Blignaut as they moved 15F 3052, “Avril”, from Germiston to Hermanstad. Delays were experienced in exiting Germiston Yard and Station with the train 90 minutes late at Kempton Park but then it was a clear run right through to Hermanstad. “Avril” will haul her first train for FOTR to Cullinan on Sunday September 4th.
Our photo gallery from Shaun Ackerman, Japie Terblanche, Les Labuschagne and Dave Richardson show departure from Germiston, along the line and safely in Hermanstad.
Photo Credit : Shaun Ackerman
Photo Credit : Japie Terblanche
Photo Credit : Japie Terblanche
Photo Credit: Dave Richardson
Photo Credit: Dave Richardson
Photo Credit: Dave Richardson
Photo Credit: Dave Richardson
Photo Credit : Les Labuschagne
The past week we have washed out 6 Locomotive boilers, our Class NGG 16 number 153, the Barclay, Peckett, O&K 2510, O&K 4102 and O&K 10311.
During the last week we had 4 train trips on the Sandstone Steam Railway. Last Saturday we steamed our Lawley For the 80th Birthday of Liz Hindle’s father and had a short trip to Grootdraai and back.
The front tank has now been fitted and work has begun on the mechanical lubricator, sanders and cylinder drain cocks. The number plates have also arrived from the manufacturer plus the works plates. As was the practice of Beyer Peacock at the time (1919) there is no works number shown. Not long to go now!
Photography by Lukas Nel
We now have started full time with the earthmoving work that is needed before we can construct the new 2,49Km tracks. Des and his people did a excellent job this week in widening the dam wall as well as opening the road through the Forest.
