Many golden years of Steam went pass and today we only live in the shadows of Steam. The Steam locomotive once was to see everywhere and today only a handful remains in preservation. So many locomotives lost their lives in the struggle to modernization and we pray that the few that is left will be saved for ever. We all should stand together and fight for what is left because the shadows of these Giant Machines are getting all smaller.
I hope I have all my facts in order but I do speak under correction, as far as I know the 2 coaches were built during the Second World War to raise money for the war effort. They were built on the 5 inch gauge, are about 1.8meters in length, have a wooden frame and foot rests and a leather covered seat. Western Province Live Steamers acquired the coaches around 2007. They can be seen in the picture below in their original form at the 2008 National Steam Meet in Centurion.
A live steam model in 1" scale of the South African Railways Class 15F 4-8-2 locomotive "City of Cape Town".
It is finished in late-1960s SAR black livery, typical of a top passenger-link supershine locomotive with numerous steel washout plug casings, stainless steel boiler bands, and cosmetic detail including cab, builders and smoke deflector plates.
LYNDIE LOU GMAM ex SAR No: 4079 Beyer Peacock, Manchester 7677/1956
Sandstone recently visited Rovos Rail to view the progress being made by Rovos Rail on Lyndie Lou at their Capital Park railway workshops.
This locomotive is being made ready to be brought back into mainline service with Rovoas Rail and is expect to be ready in January 2006.
The Rovos Rail steamfitters that are working said that they impressed with the condition of the locomotive and remarked that it was a pleasure to work on.
The work being carried out on the locomotive consists of the foloowing Repairing of the complete spark arrestor system. Replacing small end bushes Making the boiler ready for re-certification (closing of holes in the ash pan). Steam cleaning and painting of the auxiliary water tank for the GMAM.Steam cleaning of the locomotive under frame and wheels.
Wolf Mensing and his team are very proud of what they have managed to achieve. Three drivers at Rovos Rail, namely, Cliff Petzer, Gert van Vuuren and Dirk Nagel are very keen to work this locomotive as they remember the GMAM from their days on the S.A.R in Natal and Western Transvaal.
We all look forward to the auspicious occasion when Lyndie Lou takes to the rails again .
RN 130 - Restoration of Sandstone Heritage Trust 19D, No. 2654 is proceeding steadily
RN 130 - Restoration of Sandstone Heritage Trust 19D, No. 2654 is proceeding steadily
Lukas Nel and his team at the Sandstone Heritage Trust's main steam restoration facility in Bloemfontein are making steady progress with regard to the Company's 19D. These universally popular and successful locomotives are certainly likely to dominate steam traction on the Cape gauge lines of Southern Africa for the foreseeable future. Although the Trust is not focussed on 3'6" rail tourism it nonetheless believes that a locomotive of this versatility would be a great asset in the future.
Negotiations are currently underway with a number of specialised tourist operators who are interested in hiring a locomotive on a long-term basis.
The pictures tell the story.
RN 131 - Clearing of redundant items from Ratanga Junction site continues
This week we loaded carriages and bogies. In due course a decision will be taken as to how to configure these coaches which were originally old 2ft narrow gauge livestock wagons.
RN 132 - The Feldbahn being restored by Sandstone Bloemfontein workshops is proceeding steadily
One should bear in mind that this locomotive was one of the very last to be disposed of in the UK resulting from the bulk import of narrow gauge locos including Feldbahns from Sena Sugar some years ago. Therefore our workshops never had the advantage of starting out with a locomotive that was more or less complete.
RN 133 - The Feldbahn being restored by Sandstone Bloemfontein workshops is proceeding steadily
Weekly activities
LOCOMOTIVES FROM RATANGA JUNCTION New to the Sandstone collection of locomotives are the two NGG 16’ from Ratanga Junction, with the numbers 110 and 112. The four units came on two links while the boilers were loaded on the Sandstone lo-beds.
First of all we needed to offload the Units from the links before we could start with the offloading of the boilers. We again used the fully equipped Mobile Workshop to assist us with the offloading. No easy tasks at all, for the units were secured on wooden sleepers and we first had to jack the units to remove the sleepers underneath.
The rear unit on the back of the link was the easiest for we did not have to lay track except for the short rail panel that we usually use to load locomotives. This panel was re-gauged to a two feet panel again. We used the Hunslet diesel locomotive and slowly pulled the unit unto the rail connected to the existing line at Vailima.
To offload the front unit on the link, we had to build in another 10 metres of rail panel to link it to the existing line. Thunder clouds were threatening to ruin the offloading process, but luckily we made it in time.
The next day we moved the units to Hoekfontein where we wanted to offload the boilers. The Hunslet and 4 empty B wagons were used for adequate braking effect while going down the Pandora bank. Two units at a time were used and they were coupled with a bulbar between the units. Before we could move the Units, we had to oil the motion and the boxes. The cylinders were oiled threw the inspection holes in the stream chest.
The two units were shunted into the correct order and the one was turned on the tri-angle. The one unit then was uncoupled in front of the boiler, and the other at the rear. Leon Flint, Truck driver at Sandstone Estates, then had to reverse the lobed with the boiler over the railway line in such a way that the complete boiler was in line and that the centre of the boiler is in the centre of the Railway line.
The boiler then was lifted from the lobed with the help of air jacks and the Mobile Workshop. We then moved the two units in under the boiler and slowly jacked it into the centres on the units while we supported the boiler all time.
The same process was done the next day with the second boiler.
Both the locomotives then was shunted down into the wagon shed where they will be stored till the time brakes to restore them.
While we were busy with the offloading, Henk pulled out all the Vintage tractors and parked them on the grass. After individual photos were taken, they were moved back into the Vintage shed and were parked in a neat line up.
LOCOMOTIVE REPORT
NGG16 Number 153: All the repairs on NGG 16 number 153 were done and all the locomotives were cleaned for the SABC broadcasting from the farm in next week. NGG 16 Number 88: We started fitting back all the spares on 88’s units and now needs to insert the wheels again. The units then will be moved out of the shed to clean up space to build a third line inside the Hoekfontein Shed.
LITTLE LOCOMOTIVE FROM RATANGA Also new to the Sandstone collection is this very special locomotive. She was placed on a steel bench for display inside the shed for now.
WAGON REPORT
B WAGON CONVERSION: We are working full steam to have eight B wagons completed for the Harvest Festival on the First and the second of January 2005. B wagons are standing in a line in front of the shed, ready to be converted. The best is that it is just as easy to convert them back to normal B wagons when needed to.
Derrick is responsible for the steel structures that are fitted onto the wagons, while Henkie fits the wooden sides. Jacob is busy all the time, cutting the wooden sides and the steel structures to the correct sizes.
While they are busy with the construction works, I have time to adjust the brakes and do the vacuum brake tests on these wagons. The brakes need to be 100%, due to the heavy weight that they are going to handle. A special foam sealer is ordered to seal the doors of the B wagons.
WAGONS FROM RATANGA JUNCTION: New to the Sandstone stock list are three wagons that arrived from Ratanga Junction. These wagons will be offloaded in next week.
GENERAL: WATER TANK FROM THE EASTERN CAPE: Petrus started with the de-scale work needed to the last pillars of the water tank. This tank will be finished and ready to be put together within the next week.
BLACK WATER WAGON: Henry spray painted the water wagon that is standing outside the shed as well as the disposal water tank down at the wagon shed. He also stencilled hazardous/ dangerous disposals on the disposal tank.
SIGNS AND BOARDS Ben fitted the remaining signs and boards in front of the Vintage Shed and is still busy with the last ones.
From the Past
Class 25 NC number 3454 storming threw Petrusburg station westbound to Kimberley in 1985. The water column at the east side of the Station already was removed and the main water stations on the line were De Brug and Perdeberg.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To offload wagons from Ratanga. 2.) To convert B wagons to FZ’s 3.) To fit all remaining signs 4.) To prepare locomotives for SABC broadcasting from the Farm 5.) To clean up railway line 6.) To repair weed eater 7.) To service 19D spares for Bloemfontein. 8.) To ballast storage line and new points at Hoekfontein. 9.) To de-scale water tank from the Eastern Cape. 10.) To pack freight stock on Flat wagons 11.) To assemble 88 12.) To adjust remaining B wagon brakes.
Steam Greetings, Gert
RN 135 - SABC Television held a live Broadcast from the Hoekfontein Station
RN 135 - SABC Television held a live Broadcast from the Hoekfontein Station
We then did some run pasts to be used on Tuesday broadcasting. However, we could not leave out the oldest Lady in our collection, the 1895 Lawley build in England.
Tuesday we steamed the class NGG 16 again, although we did just pose in Hoekfontein Station where the SABC crews have set up their “Studio” for the live broadcast.
The rehearsals started at 12H00 and at 14H25 twenty children arrived on the site to act as studio guests. The intermittently broadcasting started at 14H45 till 17H30.
Here (left) is a photo of Lucy Leheilleix, the Editor in front of the screens monitoring the broadcasting. She edited the footage that was taken on Monday to be used in the broadcasting.
Here is a photo of a live broadcast in front of my favourite Lady, the Lawley. (Below)
The presenters of the Supper Summer Tour also interviewed Gavin Boy (Below) from the Ficksburg tourist Centre.
The SABC show ended just before 17H30. These people are well organised and every one just knows what to do and when. Here (below) is a group photo of the crew:
From left to right: 2 left- taxi drivers for the children of Ficksburg Lucy Leheilleix – VT opp/Editor Gert Greyling - Director Jean Viljoen - Runner Nic van der Westhuizen – Cameraman Lesedi Sennelo - Sound assistant Piere Viljoen - Production Manager Nick Greyling - Soundman Phillip de Bruin – Globecast engineer Kneeling in front – Esther Smith Production Assistant who worked out the Supper summer tour.
Then the Presenters (Below): From left to right Jonathan Tefu, Sihle Dube, Siphokazi January.
STEAM SHED ACTIVITIES This week saw a hectic week for the steam staff. The conversion of the B wagons to FZ wagons for the Harvest event is in full swing. Every one is on this project and work is delegated in such way to ensure mass production at one time. The photos tell the story!
And then the satisfying end result of a hard week!
The Wagons from Ratanga Junction We offloaded the one lobed with the wagons from Ratanga junction this week. Arno took the lobed to Vailima. The Hunslet was used again to assist us in doing so. Arno, Henry Petrus and I offloaded the wagons while the rest of the Steam Staff converted the B wagons. First and most important is to line up the rail panel under the wagon to the existing rail at Vailima, but with Arno as driver it’s not difficult at all.
We then had to secure the panel to the existing line with fishplates and support the joint with wooden sleeper because of the overlap of the rail between the lobed and the existing line.
Then we coupled the Hunslet leaded by an empty B wagon before we could loosen the chains that secured the wagons on the long journey from Ratanga Junction. The wagons then were pulled of very slowly.
Because of the uneven weight of these wagons, it was not possible to move them from Vailima safely and the one wagon now needs to be offloaded first before they can be taken to Hoekfontein.
Rail News Goldfields track laid the new set of points for the storage line in Hoekfontein Station this week as well as ballast the 3ft 6 storage line at the back of the Waenhuis. Because of the limited space where the points were to be fitted, they had to build the points on the existing line in Hoekfontein Station. With the NGG 16 in steam for the Supper Summer tour, it was used to pull the points to the desired place to insert the points.
Early this morning we shunted the wagons from the loop line to the storage line to free the two main lines threw Hoekfontein Station. All the wagons at the coal stage will now be re-railed and shunted to this storage line and will await restoration there. Here are photos of a busy shunting yard at Hoekfontein.
On Monday all Steam Staff pulled out weeds on the Railway line from Pandora Junction to Vailima Halt all the way down to Vailima.
Tractor for the steam shed Chris Wilson overhauled a John Deere tractor for the Steam shed. Thanks Chris, you did a great job!
FROM THE PAST
Double headed Class 25Nc’s storming up the last embankment just before Petrusburg with the daily 15:15 train to Bloemfontein. These locomotives usually ran double headed to Bloemfontein and would return single locomotives departing 19H 30 from Bloemfontein with the return trip to Kimberley. This photo was taken in July 1988 and the Kimberley crews worked all the trains with steam on the Kimberley – Bloemfontein line at that stage. The Bloemfontein diesel crews only worked the Orange Express on Tuesdays and Fridays and a speed freight goods train on Saturdays. After the withdrawal of Steam traction, this line was only worked solely by the Bloemfontein Diesel crews.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK 1.) To have 8 converted B wagons ( FZ) 2.) To prepare locomotives for Harvest days in next week. 3.) To work harvest trains 4.) To go on with water tank from Eastern Cape 5.) To fit remaining signs in Shed and Vintage Shed 6.) To offload second lobed with wagons from Ratanga 7.) To spray line for weeds 8.) To clean up Hoekfontein Station 9.) Gardening
The ability of our main restoration workshop to turn out smaller locomotives is becoming very parts dependent. We desperately need lubricators for the small locomotives. We require both mechanical and hydrostatic lubricators. If we could receive any information on availability of these, including the amount of oil they can hold and deliver as well as their possible size, we would be most grateful. A photograph or a drawing would be most useful.
If you have something available in South Africa please e-mail Lukas Nel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For contacts outside South Africa please contact Joanne West at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
RN 138 - Weekly steam shed report - December 2005 by Gert Jubileus
RN 138 - Weekly steam shed report - December 2005 by Gert Jubileus
Sandstone Estates Wagon Works
All the wagons to be used on the Harvest days 1 and 2nd January 2006 came to the inspection put inside the Shed. The brakes were adjusted and some brake blocks were renewed. The wagons were carefully inspected from beneath to ensure a safe operation on the Harvest Festival. The handbrakes were tested and a vacuum brake test was done on each wagon. After the inspection, a roadworthy certificate is written out for each wagon used in the train consists for the weekend.
The passenger coaches also came in for brake adjustments and some brake blocks were needed to be replaced. They also were carefully inspected and a vacuum brake test was done on each. These activities are done prior to each event or train trip and are to ensure the safe running of trains on the Sandstone Steam Railway.
Wagon Rebuilds
Another three B wagons were converted to FZ wagons this week. Arno and Henk fitted the wooden sides while Derrick did all the welding of the channel iron on the wagons. Here are photos of the wagon conversions this week.
Special foam was ordered that will be used to seal the doors and the gaps between the wood and the wagon sides.
Locomotives
Class NGG 16 number 153 was steamed this week after she was fitted with new piston rings. She was tested to Grootdraai and back. The rest of the locomotives were prepared for the Harvest weekend and all the of cut wood from the B wagons conversions were placed into the fireboxes of the locomotives. Class NGG 16 number 113 will be used on the train trip to Grootdraai on old year evening. For me there is no better pace to be than on the footplate of a Steam Locomotive on 12 o’clock the 31st of December. Steaming all the way into the New Year.
Weed Spraying
Jacob and Petrus did the weed spraying this week using the little Funky Diesel locomotive. They sprayed the line between Hoekfontein and Grootdraai as well as Hoekfontein to Vailima Halt as far as the Farm School. Jacob is a very responsible person and takes great care of this little locomotive. This weed train will be scheduled for each third week. Here is Jacob, a very proud driver on his Locomotive while working the weed train.
3’6” STORAGE LINE
Goldfields Track ballast the 3’6” storage line behind the Waenhuis and tamped the line. Next week we shall start moving the goods wagons from Kommandonek to this storage line. Two stop blocks will be fitted at both ends of the 50 metre storage line.
GENERAL
Len Alberts finished the foundations needed for the water softeners at all the water columns. We shall fit the softeners into the softener houses early in the New Year. The use of the water softeners will minimize scale inside the boilers by removing all the unwanted salts from the water that we use on the locomotives. Most boiler defects are caused by scale and that is why these water softeners are essential to preserve the boilers. We wash out the boilers after each 7th steaming day. We however shall wash out the boilers frequently despite the influence the softeners will have.
GARDENING
Jacob slashed the grass this week with our own tractor. He also cut the grass at both sides of the Railway line to Grootdraai.
From the Past
Above is a Class 23 pulling out of Vetrivier Station in the late 1960’s. Electrification to this line did not end the Steam operations on the Bloemfontein to Kroonstad Mainline. A daily workers train was scheduled each day between Bloemfontein and Brandford and lasted till the mid 1980’s as well as all the 15F’s in Kroonstad that were taken to Bloemfontein for the 15M. The Class 19D based at Theunissen was exchanged every two weeks for wash out purposes. Then there were two 15F locomotives that worked in Virginia and Hennenman.
The last of these Steam operations were the Virginia based Class 15F’s and they were withdrawn from service on 29th of September 1990. The last 15 F to work the Virginia to Glen Harmony branch was number 3119. This last day on Steam was not the best we had, we only had enough coal on the 23 Class tender to get us in Kroonstad. To make it an unforgettable day, the mechanical stoker broke down and I had to trim the coal from the rear corners on the 23 Class tender to the shovel plate and then from there to the firebox. The driver was travelling 100km/h and the F was roaring all the time. A sad and unforgettable day. 3119 was one of the five 15F’s that performed shunting in the Kroonstad shunting yards till the end of October that same year and is now facing the torch after all the faithful service she gave to Spoornet.
The Christmas"Braai"
Friday afternoon all the Sandstone Estates workers came into the Christmas feeling and we all gathered at the Waenhuis for a “Braai” We all enjoyed it and want to thank Uncle Wilfred Mole for making this possible. We really appreciate it.
Below: The Christmas Braai.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK
1.) To wash out stationary boilers 2.) To foam all B wagons for the Harvest 3.) To offload 2” wagons from Ratanga Junction 4.) To offload Goods wagon from Kommandoneck 5.) To shunt all consists ready for the Harvest festival 6.) To get the gardening perfect 7.) To inspect all locomotives over the put and to fill the boilers 8.) To do rail inspection prior to the Harvest Festival. 9.) To prepare Stationary and Traction engines.
Steam Greetings,
GERT
RN 139 - Article and original plans for SAR NG4 Class 4-6-2-T
RN 140- The Funkey mine locomotive fully re-built by Zach Van Staden and Associates
Our Funkey mine locomotive fully re-built by Zach Van Staden and Associates near Bloemfontein is seen here doing sterling work spraying the line. A low density weed killer is sprayed directly onto the ballast to inhibit weed growth. It is inevitable that weeds will occur in the first two years of the construction of any railway line, but once the situation is controlled minimum weed treatment is needed. The Funkey diesel was built for a typical underground locomotive, similar to the ones featured in the photo attached. The 3LW Gardiner engine in this little locomotive makes for a reliable and cost-effective traction solution for a narrow gauge railway.
RN 141 - Special feature on John Cockerill NGG 16's by David Payling
In the early 20th Century the railway authorities in South West Africa saw the solution to the future development of narrow gauge motive power as lying with fast, powerful Pacific and Mikado locomotives with a fixed wheelbase for passenger and freight traffic, respectively. In South Africa itself the South African Railways faced a similar question for power for its narrow gauge lines in Natal and at Port Elizabeth. Their solution however was quite different from that chosen in the neighbouring territory. With their first order for three narrow gauge articulated Garratt locomotives in 1914 they became pioneers in the use of this type. For the next fifty years they continued to foster their use and development.
The delivery of the first three NG/G11 locomotives was delayed until 1920 by the First World War but their immediate success in service ensured a repeat order in 1925. Just two years later, however, freed by the lapse of the HW Garratt articulation patent, the South Africans went to Hanomag of Germany to develop a project to build a new class of Garratt locomotives. These were the three NG/G13 locomotives of 1927. Performance trials with them led to the immediate extension of the order by a further two engines and, within a year, a further seven had been ordered. The NG/G13s had proved to be both powerful and free steaming, despite having a smaller grate area than their predecessors!
By 1936 Hanomag’s locomotive building business had been sold to Henschel of Cassel and SAR turned again to Beyer Peacock for their next locomotives. However the order for four new engines constrained the supplier to build them essentially to the German NG/G13 design. These were the four engines whose construction was out-licensed by Beyer Peacock to John Cockerill of Seraing, Belgium, because their own workshops were fully occupied. In the next thirty years a further thirty Garratts and at least three spare boilers were built, essentially to the same design. Indeed they were the only type of locomotive built for the SAR narrow gauge during this period, other than the fifteen NG15 Mikados built in the 1950s for service in South West Africa.
This folder contains a summary of the information so far discovered about the place of the John Cockerill batch of NG/G16 locomotives in the history of the development of this class. It includes an account of the historical development of the NG/G16s, starting with the design of the NG/G13 locomotives in 1927. A further Section deals with the distinguishing features of the Cockerill locomotives. A summary of the history of Class member NG87 is also included together with the SAR General Arrangement Drawing and Weights Diagram.
Click on the thumbnails below to view more information on these locos and read the articles from The Locomotive April 15th, 1937 & The Locomotive April 14th, 1951.
The fore-runners (1). Hanomag NG/G13 No. NG83 (1928) is shown in an old print from the 1950s. L Paxton collection
The fore-runners (2). Another of the Port Elizabeth engines, Hanomag NG/G13 No. NG82 (1928) is shown in a later state of modification. L Paxton
John Cockerill NG/G16 No. NG87 on shed at Ixopo, 11th May 1971. Leith Paxton
NG/G16 No. NG88 stands at Paddock with a Banana Express excursion in 1971. Photo: Errol Ashwell
NG/G16 No. NG85 stands at Ixopo on 6th September 1966. Photo: Leith Paxton
A more recent view of John Cockerill NG/G16 No. NG85 on a train at Ixopo (11th May 1971). Photo Leith Paxton
