SHOCKING SANRASM CHAMDOR REPORT
Last week a team visited the Chamdor site in Krugersdorp and provided us with a report on their visit.
Click here to view the report - 4MB PDF (opens in a new window)
Gert Jubileus has also submitted a follow-up report on his initial visit.
Click here to view the report - 915KB PDF (opens in a new window)
ON THE MOVE!!!
Gert Jubileus has submitted his latest weekly report.
Click here to view this report - 4MB PDF (opens in a new window)
MODERN HISTORY!!!
Gert Jubileus has submitted his latest weekly report.
Click here to see what has been happening - 1MB PDF (opens in a new window)
THE SANDSTONE HERITAGE TRUST – RSR INTERNAL AUDIT 2010/2
We recently completed an RSR Internal Rail Audit report which some of our web site visitors may find of interest.
Click here to view the report - 139KB Word document (Opens in a new window)
Sylvia Hedgecock on the locomotive in 1956 at the Scottbough Railway.
Another lost treasure to the Natal coast line was the demise of the Scotburgh Miniature Railway. Again I have very little info on it other than the few pictures I have in my collection. The one above is from one of our club members, Sylvia Hedgecock, also known as the lady in control of the signal box. We see now her interest in steam engines dates well back!
Last NG15 class Loco built be Societe Anglo-Franco Belge in 1953.
Delivered to Namibia, based at the Loco works in Usakos. Tue engine was transferred to Port Elizabeth after the narrow gauge system in Namibia was re-gauged to 3'6" in 1960.
Boiler Works on the No.136 (Dates are maybe not complete, still working on it):
12.10.1976 28.08.1978 12.09.1978 13.08.1979 09.01.1980
09.11.1981 05.09.1983 15.09.1983 23.07.1984 07.09.1984
The engine was for major overhaul works in the SAR workshops in early 1987.
DERAILED
Gert Jubileus has submitted his latest weekly report.
Click here to see what has been happening - 2MB PDF (opens in a new window)
Country Music on a Steam Train
Reefsteamers will be running a special train on 4th September 2010 where several Country Music artists will be appearing.
Unfortunately this article is no longer available.
Click here for a larger view of the article
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Regarding the little 2' gauge ex Ratanga loco mentioned, which Gert Jubileus is tackling at Sandstone (although he's had to drop it till the festivities are over!) here are some pics I took on the first recce. It's always nice to have some 'before' pics!"
Andy Selfe.
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23rd May 2006 - New photos added to David Shepherd Tour article >>
View Tessa Joughin's photo gallery - "Avril" >> (unfortunately this article is no longer available)
RN 165 - A day to remember - by C.A. Janisch >>
Read the reply - RN 170 - "RE: A day to remember - by John Ashworth" >>
3052 was steamed on the 26th and David had an emotional twilight reunion with the locomotive presented to him by Spoornet in 1991 in exchange for a specially commissioned painting of it. After some quiet time on the footplate in the evening, David expressed his strong attachment to the loco, which is named "Avril" after his wife.
The locomotive has been in the custody of Sandstone since February 2004 but David last travelled behind her on a fleeting visit to South Africa in 2002. The 15F was the most numerous class of the then South African Railways, 3052 being built by North British in 1946. The spectacle of this massive loco on 3'6" gauge prompted David to remark that it made his British 9F, 92203, "Black Prince", look small!
Three trips were made in glorious weather during the day over the scenic 13 kilometre route.
After the excitement of the day David was treated to a special sunset run on the Sandstone Narrow gauge behind Sandstone's 1895 built, ex-Beira Railway Lawley 4-4-0, BR7.
3052 performed faultlessly and it is hoped that David will be able to enjoy his locomotive again on a future trip to South Africa.
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
Read the reply from John Ashwell - "RE: A day to remember - by John Ashworth" >>
16th May 2006
On Thursday 27 April 2006 it was dark, chilly and misty as fellow Pretorian Henry Lazenby and myself headed south towards the Free State to witness a special day of steam. The railway maestro himself David Shepherd along with Sandstone were hosting a series of runs with the artist's 15F 3052 "Avril" stationed at Ficksburg. Having never seen steam operate over this section and with future prospects for steam trains here rather bleak this was a chance not to be missed. We broke through the mist near Bethlehem and were soon heading towards Fouriesburg, the rising sun glinting gold off the sandstone cliffs. Around 9am we arrived in the sleepy hollow of Ficksburg, a sharp right turn bringing us into the station. Hearts skipped a beat as we saw 3052 shrouded in steam at the head of her consist. Swinging on board I greeted the intrepid FOTR train crew of Cliff Petzer, Mike Haslam, John Ashworth, John Dadford and Kobus Steyn. All was well on the footplate, the grumbling stoker warming her up and the crew mingling with the diffusing steam as they fussed over the loco.
T. Green No. 2135 -latest report
On Sunday 9th May 2010 2135 was prepared for a full steam test and road run.
After much work over the winter the engine sounded much better but final timing was still necessary.
We took the roller for a test run of about half a mile, the engine sounded OK, but the gear train was more than noisy and the vibration was horrendous!
And so it was back to the yard and back to the drawing board.
Here we had a conference on what should be done. We decided that the gear train needed to be stripped down and assessed, and repaired as necessary.
And so on Thursday 13 May we started to strip the gear assembly.
Firstly let me explain how we thought that something was amiss.
After the primary gears and selector had been repaired, changing gear was very difficult, this we assumed was that it needed 'running in', but we now know better.
The primary to secondary meshing was too deep! More about that later.
After removal of the ash pan, for 'jacking purposes' the engine was jacked and supported with timbers, for safety, the wheel hub cap removed and the pin and sleeve removed in readiness for rear wheel removal.
This done and the wheel rolled forward and tied off for safety.
We then proceeded to remove the gear guards and put in the barn out of the way.
What greeted us was horrendous.
The differential spur gear was 85 thou loose on the bevel gear shaft, this sleeve bearing was later found to be the original and was already worn out. After removal of the differential spur gear, (laid flat on a pallet) it was found that the 'new bevel gear', which is the drive to the roller was loose on the drive shaft, was later found to be 15 thou too loose! (Should be a 'drive on fit',) and could be pulled off easily and the flat bed keys just fell out! Should also be a tight fit. These keys had had some weld added and filed to 'fit' but were 100 thou too loose!
So together with the diff spur movement and the bevel gear and keys moving, the gear teeth have suffered, and will also need redressing.
So now to the secondary shaft, this was also too loose, both play in the sleeve bearings and laterally (side to side), of some 80 thou and 185thou. Respectively.
This shaft was then removed, for bearing replacement.
So correct gear train meshing could never have been attained, with a combination of incorrect sized bearing, or worn bearings or incorrectly fitted bearings and keys!!
Also to add to the problems, the main drive bearing support casting, which has taken the brunt of this vibration, is cracked, (this has been braised before!), I may however get away with this as it is, we think, supported adequately. See enclosed photos.
So in short the mechanics of this beautiful rare engine have been a total 'Stuff up'
And have caused me a lot of work and some considerable expense, and it hasn't stopped yet!
My biggest headache is to reduce the bore of the bevel gear, this I intend to do by having it's internal diameter chrome plated and reground to fit, plus new keys.
I don't want to have to have a 'new' gear cut, as that would really cost.
As you can imagine this work, could take me the rest of this years rally season, mainly because I am at the mercy of specialist engineering services, but when completed and the engine timing finally done should give me a good mechanically sound engine and roller.
I will then need to have it boiler tested for another year.
In conclusion, so far, I think that the 'Restoration, mechanically' has been very suspect, but at the same time a steep learning curve for me.
Photo gallery
A SHORT STORY!!!
Gert Jubileus has submitted his latest weekly report.
Click here to see what has been happening - 2MB PDF (opens in a new window)