Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

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

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

17th January 2006

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.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 141 - Special feature on John Cockerill NGG 16's by David Payling 17th January 2006 SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS NG/G16 LOCOMOTIVES JOHN COCKERILL 1936 NG 85 to NG 88 - DECEMBER 2005 Click here to download the article written by David Payling >>

APPENDICES (To download the excel sheets, click below) 1. Index of Drawings for John Cockerill NG/G16 Nos. NG85-Ng88 (1936) (CE No. A 14533). 2. SAR Catalogue of Details for John Cockerill NG/G16 Nos. NG85 – NG88 (1936). –available from ---THF Library, Johannesburg 3. SAR Catalogue of Details for Beyer Peacock NG/G16 Nos NG109-NG116 (1939) -available from ---THF Library, Johanesburg

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. David Payling 9th December 2005

Click here to download the article written by David Payling >>

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 "The Locomotive" - April 15, 1937 - Page 105 "The Locomotive" - April 14, 1951 - Page 52 "The Locomotive" - April 14, 1951 - Page 105 "The Locomotive" - April 14, 1951 - Page 54

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 143 - Weekly Steamshed Report - 27th - 31st December 2005 - By Gert Jubileus

17th January 2006

SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES This was the last week before the Harvest Festival and we had to shunt all the locomotives in the correct order to minimise shunting on the Harvest Festival. All the boilers were filled with water and were inspected over the pit.
We also had to prepare wash out the Colonial Steam tractor, Marshall Roller and two portables for the Harvest Festival.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGONS All the B wagons that were converted to FZ type wagons were foamed with the special foam to prevent them from leaking the wheat out when they harvest into them. Here are some photos of the B wagons:
All the wagons were shunted in the planned consists for the weekend and all the passenger coaches were cleaned as well.
THE RAILWAY LINE Before each event, we take the Wickham to do a Rail inspection, and all the problems are rectified if found. Here is Derrick busy securing bolts on the points.
GENERAL All the Vintage tractors in the Vintage Shed were cleaned this week.
OFFLOADING OF BLOEMFONTEIN LOCOMOTIVE SPARES We offloaded the frames and parts of locomotives that came from the Bloemfontein works this week. This trailer was needed to transport wheat from the lands to the Sandstone Estates Mills.
The Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival started with a train ride on Old Year’s Day. We used the Class NGG16 number 113 to haul this special passenger train. The train departed at 17H40 and a complete roundtrip was taken. Below is number 113 shunting out the passenger coaches from the wagon shed late the Saturday afternoon, a rare sight to see a Garratt in the wagon shed.
The train then departed again just before 23H00 to Grootdraai on the Lesotho border. It was really a dark night and the rain was poring a blessing to the almost New Year.
SATURDAY Saturday was the little locomotive day and we steamed the Lawley, O&K, Little Bess and the Decauville locomotive for this day. The Lawley was booked on the passenger service for the day while the Decauville and Little Bess double headed the Little Bess coach to Grootdraai. Here are some photos of the little locomotives:
Above: on the left are Shaun and Pat Ackerman who came a long way to help us with the driving of these locomotives.
Above: On the right is Phillip Maurer with Little Bess.
Above: The Lawley with Driver Pat Ackerman working the Passenger service.
Above: Driver Dave Richardson on the O&K on his way to Grootdraai!
The Lawley
Above: The Britannia raising steam.
Driver Dave Richardson on the right and fireman Gary Barnes on the left, in front of the Barclay, about to depart working double head with the Lawley. On Saturday afternoon, we again had a train on a roundtrip and Class NGG 16 Number 113 was used again. The train was worked by driver Shaun Ackerman and fireman Phillip Maurer. The train just arrived in time for a delightful “Braai” at the Waenhuis.
From the Past
Above is a photo of number 1, Class 16Cr now owned by Sandstone Estates. This photo was taken in the shunting yard in Welkom late in 1993. This used to be a very busy siding and we use to get not less than 30 freight wagons a day. It was needed to have a special shunting locomotive in those years. The class 14CRB was mainly used for the shunting, but was withdrawn only days before this photo was taken. The class 14CRB was “Accidentally” cut up by a scrap dealer who bought 3 Class 16Cr’s. St Helena G.M had a fleet of seven Class 16Cr’s and two Class 14CRB’s.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK 1.) To clean all the locomotives that was used. 2.) To clean all the ash puts. 3.) To clean all coaches 4.) Clean all portable boilers in Vintage shed 5.) To shunt all wagons back to the wagon shed. 6.) To offload Ratanga wagons 7.) To move 3”6’ wagons from Kommandonek 8.) Drain boilers 9.) To prepare boilers for Boiler Inspections 10.) To do repairs on locomotives 11.) To start with the restoration of Ratanga coaches.
Steam Greetings and a Happy New Steam Year! Gert

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 142 - Weekly Steamshed report - 2nd - 6th January 2006 - by Gert Jubileus

17th January 2006

Please be patient for the images to load.

After the Harvest weekend all the locomotives were cleaned again. We started with the repairs on the locomotives. The shed was cleaned again and the floors were washed.
LITTLE LOCOMOTIVE FROM RATANGA: Derrick started with this locomotive this week. The lagging and the cab was removed. She will be put on the rail in next week and will be washed out. This locomotive will be inspected by the Boiler inspector with her bigger sister locomotives near the end of this week. This little locomotive is mechanically in a good condition and it will not take long before she can steam around on the Sandstone Steam Railway. Here are some photos of this little locomotive:
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGONS: We offloaded the two wagons from Ratanga this week. The first one was the easiest one to offload.
The restoration of this wagon already has started. The braking gears were stripped, de-scaled and painted with Red Oxide paint. Jacob is now busy with the de-scaling of the steel frame. The wooden sides will be sanded and varnished. This wagon will then get a wooden floor and will be used as a passenger coach when we are finished. Here are some photos of the restoration to this wagon:
THE SECOND WAGON: This wagon was loaded on its side onto the flat wagon from Ratanga. This wagon first had to be lifted of and then was placed on its side on the soft grass.
We then had to lift it carefully to flip over onto the frame. We then lifted the bogeys onto the rail.
These two wagons were then shunted down to the shed after the bearings were inspected and the wool oiled. Petrus then stripped of the old wood from the floor of the flat wagon. This flat wagon will get a new wooden floor and will undergo under frame restoration.
These however were not the only riggings that were done this week. Here are some photos of the Coles Crane in action:
Harvest Day
This Friday was Harvest day on Sandstone Estates. Because of the rain last weekend, we could not do the Harvest. We steamed two Steam Locomotives for this day, the Barclay and Class NGG 16 number 153.
A consist of 13 wagons were shunted together for the use on the very strong NGG16 Locomotive:
The little Barclay was used with two flat wagons and one B wagon. She was used in the wheat land to the Mooihoek side while the NGG16 again was used with the modern combines to the Grootdraai side.
The massive modern Combines started harvesting at 17H00 at the Grootdraai side of Mooihoek Station. The speed at what these combines work is amazing!
The five Massive combines then lined up next to the train and tipped all the wheat into the converted B wagons.
Just a special thanks to Ron Nel who captured all these magic moments and who goes to any depths to get the perfect footage for our favourite DVD’s.
We departed for Grootdraai and were back at Mooihoek at 16H30. Another great day on the Steam!
From the past
The lease lend of the Class 15CA’s to the Gold Mines gave them a new lease of life. This photo was taken by Steve Harding of me with number 2808 on my way to the exchange siding with a load of empty wagons in July 1992. The Class 15CA’s were not very successful on this Mine because the rails were originally build for smaller locomotives. The curves were very sharp at some places. The CA’s moved the rails with sleepers and all to suite their limitations where the curves were to tight. They were very strong and had the loudest beats of all locomotives. I remember people pitching up at midnight, begging “Mr, can you please shut up you’re loco, we can’t sleep”. One guy even stood crying at the side of my cab, he was really frustrated with the noise that never stopped threw out the night. I then promised him that I shall try my best, driving the locomotive on the drifter only, but not for long, I wanted the world to hear the sound of my lovely machine.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To go on with the restoration of the Ratanga wagon. 2.) To start with the restoration of the Flat wagon from Ratanga. 3.) To prepare seven boilers for Boiler Inspections. 4.) To offload wheat in B wagons 5.) To go on with restoration of little locomotive ( not priority) 6.) To offload wagon from Kommandonek 7.) To move another two wagons from Kommandonek to the Waenhuis. 8.) To wash out boilers in Vintage shed. 9.) To clean up Shed yard. 10.) To go on with water tank from the Eastern Cape. 11.) To go on with Britannia B wagon. 12.) To clean Railway line and do weed spraying again. 13.) To finish coal extractor (floor)
	Steam Greetings... Gert!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 144 -  Steamshed weekly report - 7th - 15th January 2006 - by Gert Jubileus

17th January 2006

SANDSTONE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE REPORT THE LITTLE RATANGA LOCOMOTIVE: This little Miss. Brakpan locomotive is in a very good mechanical and boiler condition. One of the pistons was stuck and after treatment with penetrating oil, it came loose. All the motion was stripped and Derrick removed all the rust and old paint with the wire brush.
	The boiler of this locomotive was still full of water. The locomotive was re-railed this week. We drained the water and acid washed the boiler till it was crystal clear inside. The fire bars were removed and the complete boiler and inner firebox was de-scaled and painted with red oxide paint. This boiler will be given a hydraulic water test and will be ready for boiler inspection at the end of this month. The running boards, cylinder covers and smoke deflectors were sanded of and painted with red oxide. This will now be flattened and spray painted before it is assembled again.
On the sides of the smoke deflectors we found two brass plates upside down. When we took it of we discovered that “Miss Brakpan” was engraved on the other side. We still need to find a name for this little angel.
BOILER INSPECTIONS: The little locomotive was not the only locomotive that was washed out this week. Two class NGG 16’s; numbers 113 and 153 was washed out and are prepared for the internal Boiler Inspection by the end of this month. We still need to wash out and prepare the Fowler locomotive too. Eight boilers will be inspected by our Boiler Inspector Willie Lottering. The boiler inspections are in three stages namely, internal, hydraulic and steam test. This is planned to be done in three days and therefore needs to be properly planned. The internal test is only a visual inspection with all the wash out plugs and mud hole covers of. This includes a hardness test on the boiler as well. We then have to place all plugs and mud hole covers back and will need to fill the boilers for hydraulic test. The boilers will be hydraulic at 25% higher water pressure than the normal working pressure of the boilers and must be in such a state to maintain that pressure without any leaks. Once this is done we need to drain the boilers to the correct level of water in the gauge glasses to steam them on the third day. The safety valves then need to be set at the correct working pressure. Because of the limited time and the quantity of boilers to be tested, I shall need all the hands working in the steam shed for the three days. Here are photos of the wash outs this week:
THE 19 D CAB: The 19D cab was loaded onto a flat wagon this week. This was a mission to shunt out all the locomotives to free up some space inside the shed to enable the Coles crane to offload the cab from the flat wagon inside the shed. This cab will be restored to the original condition with all the brass pipes and gauges for display purposes. 19D SPARES: The spares needed for the 19D in Bloemfontein were sorted and moved down to the shed. The clack box and lubricator was serviced this week. SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT: With the flat wagon inside the shed with the 19D cab, it was a favourable time to load the new freight stock onto it. We also shunted out all the wagons that we used on the harvest trains and offloaded the bales and the bags of wheat. An Interesting consist! We also offloaded the old B wagon and shunted them to the storage line at Hoekfontein station. All the old un restored wagons at the Coal shed will be re-railed in next week and will be shunted to this storage line where they will await restoration. The converted B wagons that were loaded with wheat on the Harvest day last Friday were shunted to the silos where they were offloaded by means of an Agri vac. THE RATANGA WAGON: Restoration on the Ratanga wagon is in progress and Jacob went on with the de-scale work on the frame. Petrus sanded the wooden sides of the wagon. Some of the wood was replaced and Henry is almost finished with the fitting of the new wooden floor for this wagon. The braking gears were fitted back and the vacuum cylinder was overhauled. A new release valve was fitted and the brakes were adjusted. The handbrakes were made workable again and new vacuum pipes were fitted. Once the wooden floor is finish, it will be sanded too and will be varnished together with the outside wood. The steel frame will be painted with the same brown paint as the PE coaches. The window frames will be replaced with wooden tar poles and will give a rough and exquisite look to this coach. The existing doors, normal wagon doors, will be replaced with strong wood finished doors and suburban coach seats will be mounted inside this wagon. There are another wagon that will be rebuild the same way. Here are some photos of this restoration: SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LINE REPORT: This week Derrick repaired the points just in front of the shed. This points and the one at the ash put was lifted and packed to remove the slacks on this points. Here are some photos of the tamping of these points: Line inspection was done this week after 100-150 mm of rain fell on the farm. This was a good time to evaluate the adequacy of the drainage system on the new line and there was only one place where we need to fit a culvert to prevent the water from damming up near the Railway line. SIGN BOARDS: The sign board that we used on the low bed to Port Elizabeth was fitted outside the shed. We also came to an old Post Office sign and mounted it to a wooden pole: And the Post Office sign! We started with a big cleaning up program that will be finished in next week. Jacob cut the lawn this week with the John Deere tractor and slasher, while Oupa worked the weed eater where the slasher can’t reach. FROM THE PAST Left to right: Hannes Coetzee and Gert Jubileus The last day of Steam in Virginia. Class 15F number 3119, with driver Hannes Coetzee and fireman myself. We were not aware that Steam was about to end on Saturday the 29th of September 1990 and were notified the Friday the 28th the afternoon just before we went of duty. It was devastating news to me and in a rush I made the Last Day of Steam board that was fitted on the Smoke box door. This locomotive was not our regular locomotive and 15F number 3108 was taken back to Kroonstad just the day before. After we hauled the last Steam train to Glen Harmony, we took her back to Kroonstad. When we came back from Kroonstad, my driver and I sat down where she used to stand. We were very sad that day, it was like the end of an era . I remember that just after we left, a coal train derailed at a very high speed just on the right side track of this photo, and 28 coal wagons crashed into the ground. It took us a week to clear up the station and to rectify the railway lines again. One of the B wagons that were on the wagon list of the coal train was never found. It is believed that it buried itself under the ground and the new tracks were laid over it. A day to remember? PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To re-rail all freight wagons at the coal stage and to shunt them to the storage line. 2.) To start with under frame restoration of an old B wagon. 3.) To go on with restoration of the Ratanga coach. 4.) To prepare boilers for B.I. 5.) To move all rail to Pandora 6.) To move 3’6” wagons to storage line 7.) To clean up shed yard. 8.) To clean railway line 9.) To do weed spraying over entire Railway line. 10.) To fit back little locomotive motion and to make new lagging. 11.) To start with the restoration of the Ratanga Flat wagon. 12.) To clean up Coal shed yard. 13.) To overhaul 19D spares for Bloemfontein. Steam greetings, Gert!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 145 -  The Feldbahn makes steady progress

17th January 2006

People following the restoration of our Feldbahn locomotive by Lukas Nel will notice that it is now sporting an original headlamp and a classic Feldbahn chimney.   For those that have not been following the history of this locomotive its story is as follows:    Bought in Germany before the First World War. Worked behind the trenches supporting the German troops throughout the First World War. Sometime between 1918 and 1925 it was exported to Sena Sugar in Mozambique where it was heavily modified but worked as a Sugar Cane locomotive until the early 1970's. At the outbreak of hostilities all farming and sugar mill activity ceased at Sena Sugar.  All locomotives became derelict.

Approximately 5-years ago a batch of about 20 locomotives was imported to the UK by a dealer.  These locos were mostly sold off to different preserved railways in the UK but this loco remained unsold. It was purchased by a Swiss enthusiast and collector who commissioned the Sandstone Heritage Trust to rebuild it.  This restoration is now underway.  This was one of the most derelict locomotives ever received in our Bloemfontein workshops.   So, to summarise, this locomotive was born in Germany, fought in the First World War, spent most of its subsequent working life in Africa, took a recreational trip to England, and has returned to South Africa to be totally rebuilt.  In short its life begins again.  Because of the time span involved no human being could ever have experienced a travel and working experience which even begins to remotely compare to the above.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 146 - Sandstone Steam Locomotive Report - 16th - 27th January 2006 - By Gert Jubileus - Page one 17th January 2006
Weekly Activities
The Little Ratanga Locomotive
The little locomotive’s cab, smoke deflectors and cylinder cladding was spray painted. Henkie overhauled the safety valves, injectors and the blow down cork. The brass pipes and fittings were cleaned too. The restoration of this locomotive is postponed till after the Cosmos festival. Here are some photos of the progress on this little locomotive:
THE 19D SPARES: We are still busy with overhauling of the spares for the 19D in Bloemfontein. All the air clack valves and steam valves are faced and new rope is used to pack the packing nuts on the ejector. The ejector cones are cleaned as well. Here are some photos of the stripped ejector.
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BOILER INSPECTIONS: The Boiler Inspector will be down at the farm next week from Tuesday to Friday to do all the inspections needed on seven boilers.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT THE RATANGA WAGONS: Both the Ratanga wagons received a complete under frame restoration. The first wagon was sanded and Petrus started with the second wagon. The restoration of these wagons will be postponed till after the Cosmos Festival. Here are photos of the progress on the wagons:
B WAGON RESTORATION: Five B wagons were re-railed with our ten ton Fork lift and will undergo a complete under frame restoration. The wagons will remain in original rusty livery for the authentic look of it. The rest of the wagons will be lifted onto the rails in next week and will be stored in the new storage line in Hoekfontein Station where they will await restoration. Here are photos of these B wagons:
GUARDS VANS: Two very old V-16 Guards vans were shunted out of the wagon shed. These two Vans immediately came to the put in the Steam shed for a complete under frame restoration. Petrus and Jacob stripped of both wagons braking gears. Jacob de-scaled the braking gears while Petrus was painting the de-scaled ones. Ben removed the vacuum cylinders and overhauled them completely. The braking gears will be fitted back and the brakes will be adjusted. The outside of these vans will undergo minor restoration and will be kept in original condition where possible. Ben started with the minor repair work to the wooden surfaces. The bearings were inspected and the boxes were packed with new wool soaked in oil. Here are some photos of this restoration: The first B wagon that was re-railed is next to go over the put for the under frame restoration. This B wagon is one that will be used with the old Guards vans. Here is a photo of this B wagon: 3’6” WAGONS FROM KOMMANDONEK All three wagons were moved from Kommandonek to Hoekfontein. They were offloaded on the 3’6” storage line at the Waenhuis. Here are photos of moving of these wagons. We lifted the back of the wagon first and removed the dolly wheels with the help of the 10 ton Fork lift. The rear bogey was re-railed under the wagon and we slowly let the wagon down. Arno reversed the Man with the wagon on the rear bogey to line up with the Coles Crane to lift the front of the wagon. All three wagons were offloaded the same way and will now undergo minor restoration work. THE COAL DUST EXTRACTOR: Derrick built a steel floor for the Coal dust extractor and will fit it to the Coal dust extractor in next week.   THE BSA RAILCAR: Henkie started with the restoration on the BSA railcar. He made a new bonnet frame to accommodate the radiator of the railcar and once the frame is complete he will start with the bonnet and sides. Henry is the specialist in body repairs and started with the body work that is needed on the BSA. Here are photos of this restoration: RAIL REPORT: Henry made speed posts that will be placed at certain places on the Railway line where speed restrictions are needed. He also made gradient posts that will indicate the ruling grade. All these will be finished in next week and will be mounted on tar poles. SANDSTONE RIDES THE RAIL AGAIN: The Senior citizens from Fouriesburg visited Sandstone Estates last week. The Hunslet diesel locomotive was used for this special event. The train departed from Hoekfontein Station at 10H00 and arrived back from Grootdraai at 10H45. On the return from Grootdraai, the passengers enjoyed a tea break in the Waenhuis and they were taken on a Farm tour there after. They really had a great time and loved to see the old vehicles in the Vintage Shed. Here is Ben (below), helping the passengers to get onto the train.     From the Past   A Class 19 D at Lorain Gold Mines in Allenridge 1993, now one of the Locomotives on the Sandstone stock list. The Goldfields used to be a steam arena in those years. A fleet of different classes of locomotives could be seen in operation, from the Class 3Br, 10, 11, 14Crb, 15Ca, 16Cr, 19B as well as the North British Tank locomotives. Faithful servants of the South African Railways became the faithful servants of all the Mines in Welkom. PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK:   1.) To restore 2 x V 16 Guards vans 2.) To restore 5 x B wagons ( under frames) 3.) To finish Britannia B wagon 4.) To load consists for Under the African Skies. 5.) To go on with the BSA 6.) To finish Extractor floor and fit it 7.) To re-rail B wagons at Coal shed and shunt them to the storage line. 8.) To finish and fit speed posts and gradients signs. 9.) To start with the maintenance program on all wagons. 10.) Weed spraying on the Railway line.   STEAM GREETINGS... GERT!!!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 147 - Weekly Steamshed Report - 28th January - 3rd February 2006 - By Gert Jubileus 17th January 2006
The Cosmos signboard at Sandstone's entrance
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT: The race is on and it is the final countdown to have fifty wagons in operational condition for the longest Narrow Gauge train ever on the Sandstone Steam Railway before the Cosmos Festival and the “Under the African Skies “that starts at the end of March this year. This week we managed to out shop four wagons and another two is half way restored. But here is the story!
THE GUARDS VANS: The restoration of the two Guards Vans was completed this week and both of them were shunted out to the storage line outside the shed. The broken windows were removed and new windows will be fitted to them in next week. These two Vans will remain their original colours and will make part of a train consist from the “Bygone era” together with old rusty B wagons.
THE RATANGA FLAT WAGON: The Ratanga Flat wagon was then shunted to the pit; all the braking gears were removed, de-scaled and painted. The vacuum cylinder was removed and Ben overhauled it. Here are some photos of its restoration: Before and After!
This flat wagon is making part of the Military train and Henry spray painted it in a camouflaged Military colour. Here are some photos of a camouflaged Ratanga Flat wagon:
TWO B WAGONS: The first two B wagons that will remain in their original rusty colours came to the put on Friday. They will undergo a complete under frame restoration. THE LOADING OF THE MILITARY TRAIN: This week we started with the loading of available flat wagons with Military vehicles. Here are some photos of the loaded flat wagons. We however were not sure if our camouflaging was sufficient, so we pulled the two camouflaged wagons to a vegetation background and put it to the test. Here is the result: The general restorations to the wagon under frames are the same with all the wagons. All the braking gears are removed, de-scaled and painted with red oxide. The vacuum cylinders are overhauled completely with new roll rings and release valves. We use the new plastic release valves and I personally find them to be more reliable than the older ones. The advance of the plastic one are the ports for the vacuum are bigger and therefore the time to create vacuum at the chamber side is very faster than with the old brass ones. Here are some photos of the under frame restorations. Chamber tanks are de-scaled and painted with red oxide. Braking gears are straighten, de-scaled and painted with Red oxide as well. Then we fit the braking gears, vacuum cylinder, chamber tanks are fitted back and the brakes are adjusted. After these steps are completed, we remove the old vacuum pipes and new ones are fitted together with vacuum chamber pipes. New Bearings are fitted and the axle boxes are packed with new wool soaked in oil. After this is done, the wagon handbrakes are tested and they are vacuum brake tested. TWO B WAGONS: The first two B wagons that will remain in their original rusty colours came to the put on Friday. They will undergo a complete under frame restoration. THE LOADING OF THE MILITARY TRAIN: This week we started with the loading of available flat wagons with Military vehicles. Here are some photos of the loaded flat wagons.  THE BSA RAILCAR This week huge progress was made with the restoration of our 1910 BSA railcar. The biggest work to be done is on the body of this car, and needs special attention to rebuild some of the parts as it use to be in 1910. Here are some photos of the bonnet and how Henk and Henry managed to bend the bonnet and bonnet sides of the BSA.It all started with a piece of steel plate and the creativity of the mind was placed to hand. The gearbox arrived and Henry is at present busy to fit it into the BSA. Once this is fitted, it shall enable us to design the floor that we need to make to fit into the enclosed areas. THE SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY Casuals are busy with cleaning up the vegetation close to the Railway line. It takes time, but surely looks really neat and clean. We had a really bad thunderstorm last Sunday night, and a rail inspection was done to inspect the railway line of flooded areas. Here are photos of the neat railway line: Here is the Wickham facing towards the Lesotho border, just as a thundershower burst open over the Maluti Mountains. RAILWAY SIGNS Speed posts were fitted to tar poles this week and will be planted at appropriate places on the Railway line. All the speed posts and gradient posts will be fitted on a special rail day that we plan to have. All the required signs and boards will be fitted as well as clearance marks where the new lines were build. From The Past A 19 D shunting at Potgietersrus in Transvaal - Photo by Michael Carter. The 19D ‘s were mainly used on the branch lines in South Africa and therefore also used to perform the shunting duties at such depots. They were very successful locomotives and definitely one of my favourites. PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK 1.) To finish the restoration of the two B wagons 2.) To finish the restoration of another 2 B wagons 3.) To start with the restoration of another 2 B wagons 4.) To re-rail all the wagons at the coal shed 5.) To clean up the Shed yard 6.) To do Boiler Inspections on 8 boilers (internal, hydraulic and steam test.) 7.) To stencil 3’6” wagons at Waenhuis 8.) To make clearance marks out of short pieces of rail. 9.) To have a Rail day ( signs, speed posts and gradient posts) 10.) Train ride for the visit of the High Commissioner. 11.) To go on with the BSA 12.) To send a train to load all the bags of weeds at the railway line side. STEAM GREETINGS... GERT!!!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 148 - The Brigade Loco (Feldbahn) makes more steady progress Related articles at the bottom of the page >> The cab for the Feldbahn locomotive is coming together, as one can see from this photograph. When Lukas Nel and his team advise us that they are working on the cab we know that the job is very far advanced. It means the really heavy work is behind them.

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

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 150 - The Brigade Loco (Feldbahn) makes more steady progress 20th January 2006
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGON REPORT: Because of the Boiler Inspections this week, the progress on the wagon restorations was on a slower pace, though we managed to have 46 wagons in roadworthy condition to use on the longest train ever on the Sandstone Steam Railway. We took one of the Guards Vans and sanded it. Derrick spray painted the Van in Military colours. The inside of the Van was sprayed with Battle ship grey paint and new seats were fitted.
One of the DZ wagons was spray painted so it can be used on the Military train consists. This DZ also came into the shed for brake adjustment and was vacuum brake tested.
Bearings were fitted to all the B wagons and all the boxes were packed with oil and wool. All of them are roadworthy and only needs minor rectifications to the doors. They all will be shunted to the shunting yard in the Hoekfontein Station in next week to clear up space for the next wagons to be worked on. Here are some photos of this restoration.
Another four wagons were re-railed in this week. Two perfect DZ’s were re-railed and will come to the shed for restoration in the next week.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES AND BOILERS Eight boilers were inspected by the Boiler Inspector Willie Lottering this week. First we did the Internal Inspection and as we proceed Henry and Derrick started to close the boilers for the Hydraulic testing.
Here is Willie busy with the inspecting of the boilers:
The boilers then were hydraulic tested and steam tested. All passed the Boiler Inspection and were issued with a three year certificate. We also visited the 15F number 3052 in town to inspect the condition of the Boiler. Work on the boiler of this locomotive will commence in next week to get her Boiler Certificate to be used in April this year on David Shepard’s visit.
SANDSTONE IN STEAM AGAIN: This week we had two train tours on the Farm. The first one was the South African Police that held a Seminar. They started the Seminar early the morning and had lunch in the Waenhuis. They all then were spoiled with an exotic train ride to Grootdraai and back to Hoekfontein. Because we had to steam our Class NGG 16 number 113 for the Boiler Inspector, we used her to haul the 50 passengers.
After the train ride, they were taken on a tour through the Vintage and Steam Shed.
The second train tour was 60 Bikers from the Rabies’ Club who visited the Farm on Saturday.
The Wickham was used again to inspect the Railway line before the train departed and two volunteer line Inspectors inspected the line, but could not find a fault, except for some flowers that were out of line according to them.
We again steamed number 113 to haul the train. All the brass on 113 was cleaned to perfection and was ready in the Hoekfontein Station by 12H00.
Some posed for photos in front of 113 and some could not resist climbing into the cab of this beautiful Lady.
From left to right: Edrique Botha, Charl Meyer, Hannes v.d.Merwe.
THE SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY Goldfields Track, the Rail contractor for Sandstone Estates has started with severe upgrading work to the Railway line. They are busy with welding and grinding of all the batters on the line and will start with removing slacks on all the points as well as tamping work in the Hoekfontein Station. A third line will be laid in the Steam Shed to accommodate the fleet of restored locomotives. Below are the photos of the welding and grinding of the batters at Hoekfontein Station.
A full update and photos in next weeks report!
FROM THE PAST!
A Class 6 leaving Kimberley on the well-known “ Kimberley se Trein” organised by Steamnet 2000. Photo by: Judy Odell
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK:
1.) To re-rail all the wagons at the Coal shed 2.) To restore a 2 DZ’s and another 2 B wagons 3.) To load consists for Under the African Skies 4.) To start with repairs needed on Locomotives 5.) To Waterproof 3x 3’6” wagons in Hoekfontein Station 6.) To fit speed posts 7.) To wash out and prepare the 15F for B.I. 8.) To spray paint flat wagon in camouflage colours 9.) To spray paint a DZ in camouflage colours 10.) To shunt all wagons not to restore to the Station Storage line 11.) To spray Paint all Railway signs on the Line.
STEAM GREETINGS... GERT!!!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 151 - Weekly Steam Report - 19th - 25th February 2006 - By Gert Jubileus 17th January 2006
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY “ RAIL NEWS” Goldfields Track is still busy with the upgrading of the Railway line on the Estates. All the mainline points are serviced and all the slacks over these points are removed. The line through the Hoekfontein Station was moved to have a safe clearance of passing trains to the Station building roof. The slacks in the Station were removed and tamped. The rails at the Pandora embankment were loosen and removed to enable the slewing of the gradient. The first curve past the Pandora house is also going to be moved to ease the radius. This however is not the only place where the gradients are slewed. The gradient at the Farm School as well as on the newest line also will be slewed. Here are some photos of the work on the Railway Line:
THIRD LINE IN STEAM SHED This week we had to move locomotive number 88 out of the shed to clear the space where the third line must be lay. Because of too much rain every day it was not possible to move outside the shed and we loaded the units on available Flat wagons and will move them again.
All the little locomotives were shunted to the wagon shed for the mean time. First of all the paving is removed to fit in the set of points and the rails for this line. Goldfields Track will fit the points and the new line and the paving will be laid again after completion. This is a good opportunity to clean the shed and new floor paint will be painted in next week.
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES: NGG 16 Number 113 This week we have done all the repairs on 113 including changing the water pipe between the Front unit and the Main Frame. This water pipe is connected to the pipe under the front unit water tank and there is not much space to work. We also washed out this locomotive and cleaned all the tubes. Here is Derrick busy with the wash out of 113:
The Fowler also was washed out this week!
SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGONS: Almost all the wagons at the Coal Shed were re-railed this week and were shunted to the Storage line at Hoekfontein Station.
Two wagons were brought to the put and all the braking gears, vacuum cylinders and tanks were removed, de-scaled and painted with Red Oxide paint. The vacuum cylinders were overhauled and were fitted back together with the braking gears. New chamber pipes were fitted and secured by glue and clamps to secure a leak free joint on the chamber side. The brakes were adjusted and the handbrakes were made workable. The Dz wagon was de-scaled and will be spray painted in camouflaged colours. The total of restored wagons is 48 and we need to do another 2 wagons to have 50 wagons ready by the end of March for the longest train on the Sandstone Steam Railway.
Here are photos of the restoration of another B wagon and a beautiful DZ wagon.
We started with the restoration of the Ratanga wagon again. Henry finishes the fitting of the wooden floors inside this wagon and I am busy with the windows of the wagon.
From the Past
Photo by Allen A Jorgenson Running 12 hours late, the Orange Express, hauled by a 15E 4-8-2 after leaving Kransfontein. The new devoted line had been in service less than a week when this photo was taken in April 1968.
PLANNING FOR NEXT WEEK: 1.) To move rails and points from Pandora 2.) To waterproof 3’6” goods wagons at Waenhuis with steel plates 3.) To go on with the restoration of the Ratanga Wagon. 4.) To wash out locomotives and do repairs needed 5.) To move wagons to the storage line in Hoekfontein Station. 6.) To paint shed Floors 7.) To start with the preparations for the Under African Skies. 8.) To clean up at Coal Shed 9.) To move all spares and locomotive frames to be stored under new Roofs. 10.) To spray paint a Dz in camouflage colours 11.) To shunt all wagons not to restore to the Station Storage line 12.) To spray Paint all Railway signs on the Line. 13.) To fit speed posts 14.) To have a train for weed spraying to Grootdraai and Mooihoek.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 152 - Steam technology - A Combined Cycle Locomotive? - Courtesy of Rob Dickson

The Sandstone Heritage Trust is investigating a number of areas where it can use steam power (which in turn is fired by easily available bio mass). One of the fuel sources is timber from invasive species of trees which must be cleared by Law. The attached article deals with one area of this technology that is currently being investigated.A Combined Cycle Locomotive? Harry Valentine, Transportation Researcher. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. writes (16th April 2001). (Harry adds, 24th September 2001 "There is a modification which can be made to the combined cycle steam locomotive concept. A US company called Ramgen http://www.ramgen.com builds a ramjet which turns a shaft, which in turn drives electrical generating gear."

There seems to be some modern opportunity to re-introduce the combined cycle locomotive (gas turbine plus steam) to modern service. As you may be aware, there is a new gas-turbine project underway with the Railpower group http://www.railpower. com
A combined cycle locomotive using steam could pave the way for a return of steam traction, but burning bio-fuel instead of coal.

Introduction:
Combined cycle power systems are exist in power stations, in the form of bottom-cycle engines which operate off the waste heat of another power generation system. The CHP (combined heat and power) power station can qualify as a combined system, since its waste heat goes to another use. In navy operation, combined power cycles usually saw the use of diesel and gas turbine, or diesel and steam turbine powering the same vessel, where waste heat from one system was used to supplement the energy input into another system. Combined power cycle was used in railway operations, in the UK in 1927, in which the Still locomotive combined steam and diesel power. The Still company was a small company which went bankrupt during the economic upheavals of the late 1920's, yet their locomotive achieved an in-service efficiency of 27-percent. The waste heat from the diesel engine (22-23-percent efficient) preheated the water prior to entering the boiler, thus raising the overall locomotive drawbar efficiency above that on any pre-1930 steam or diesel locomotive.

Periodically, the idea of using the waste heat of diesel locomotives has resurfaced, to no avail. Railway companies had developed an aversion to steam locomotives following the switch to mainline diesel power. The concept of a combined diesel and steam system on rails was not something to be mentioned to top railway management. During the 1960s, railroad management were all to aware of the high maintenance and low availability of steam traction. A successful water recirculation system had not yet been developed (oil from the pistons would get into the exhaust steam), on-board water purification was also essentially unavailable, fluidised bed combustion was still in the experimental stages, steam turbine was out of the question and direct current generators were still in widespread use on diesel locomotices. Besides, in countries where mainline diesel traction had become the predominant motive source, diesel fuel was still selling at bargain prices. When diesel fuel prices started rising after the mid-1980's, discussions revolved around electric traction in some nations.

The Contemporary Situation:
Rising fuel prices as well as environmental concerns have focused attention on alternative energy sources for the transportation industry, including railways. The price of high-horsepower fuel-cell locomotives is still quite prohibitive (US$2, 000-US$3, 000 per Kilowatt). The cost of long distance railway electrification in countries like the USA (cost of US$6-million/mile) is also prohibitive ..... the USA is also amidst a shortage of electrical generating capacity, not to mention the clearance problems of overhigh US rail cars such as triple-stacked shipping containers and tri-level car-carriers going under bridges and through tunnels.

One alternative fuel being tested for rail power in the USA is natural gas. It can be combusted in a reciprocating engine (a converted diesel engine), it can be processed by solid-oxide fuel cells or be combusted in gas turbine powerplants. Contemporary turbines such as the Rolls Royce Trent and the Mercury 50 by Solar Turbines operate as high as 38-40-percent efficient on natural gas, while a piston engine delivers less power as well as lower thermal efficiency. A locomotive experiment is getting underway in the USA to use a natural gas fueled 5500-Hp Mercury 50 regenerative gas turbine powerplant driving electrical generating equipment. This locomotive is intended for heavy freight use, while another gas turbine high-speed locomotive experiment is also underway.

The price of natural gas has risen with market demand, but is still lower that diesel fuel. The classic part-load efficiency loss still exists for new generation, high-efficiency regenerative turbines ..... which typically will deliver 80-percent of maximum efficiency at 50-percent power output. Despite this part-load efficiency loss, the cost of the natural gas turbine is still very competitive against modern diesel locomotives. The Mercury 50 Solar Turbine can be developed to an output of 10, 000-Hp on natural gas. Savings are not only realised from the lower cost of fuel, there is also a substantial cost savings in lubricating oil and engine coolant. In operation, the contemporary gas turbine locomotive is expected to be cost competitive against its diesel counterparts, in heavy-haul freight service. It is also expected to be far more environmentally friendly, emitting only a miniscule amount of the pollutants typically emitted by a modern diesel locomotive.

The Potential of a Combined Steam Locomotive:
A modern steam locomotive, using all the improvements that have been developed or researched thus far, could operate in a combined cycle mode with the natural gas Solar Turbine. The Mercuty 50 Solar Turbine engine operates at 39-percent efficiency at 5500-Hp .... and rejects some 8500-Hp (21, 000, 000-Btu's/hr at some 300-degrees centigrade) from its exhaust. This is energy that could be used to boil water, in either a firetube or water-tube boiler. If the gas turbine locomotive is developed to a level of 10, 000-Hp at 40-percent efficiency, it would reject some 15, 000-Hp(38, 000, 000-Btu's/hr at 300-degrees centigrade) via the exhaust. If 20-percent of that reject heat could be delivered to the driving wheels, that would be 0. 2 x 15, 000 = 3, 000-Hp from the steam section.

In American heavy-haul freight operation, slug units are at times used to provide added tractive effort, but source their energy from a companion locomotive. A combined cylce locomotive could at various times operate as a slug unit allowing added tractive effort, it could provide additional horsepower to help pull heavy trains and it could be used to enable higher fuel efficiencies. A pound of natural gas holds 20, 500-Btu's of energy. At 39% efficiency, the 5500-hp turbine processes35, 900, 000-Btu's/hr or 1750 lbs of natural gas (3. 14-Hp/lb of fuel). The waste heat from the turbine is sufficient to raise superheated steam at 600-psia. If higher steam pressures are desired, or higher superheat temperatures needed, small amounts of natural gas could be burned to these ends (5-Hp/lb of fuel). A triple-turbine in a 1-2-4 power ratio(250-Hp, 500-Hp, 1000-Hp) could enable maximum efficiency at 7-power settings. If the gas turbine is rated for 10, 000-Hp, the steam section could use a quad turbine in a 1-2-4-8 power ratio (250-Hp, 500-Hp, 1, 000-Hp and 2, 000-Hp), yielding 15-power settings at maximum efficiency.

At power levels below 33-percent of maximum gas turbine power, the part-load efficiency loss is sufficiently drastic that the steam section running on its own, directly burning the natural gas, would offer a more efficient and cost effective alternative. Such operations may be desirable on occasions where the combined cycle locomotive is being used to pull a lightly loaded trains between major centres, so that it may be transferred to a much heavier train at the destination. On other occasions, the combined cycle locomotive may be pulling a very heavy heavy train through a speed restricted zone, requiring low overall power (gas turbine off, steam in service) and high tractive effort.
The steam section of the combined-cycle locomotive would benefit from the work of people who have been researching modern and future steam. Concepts like the onboard water purifier and chemical cleaning have reduced boiler wash-downs to twice a year. The modern boiler insulation techniques that reduce heat loss and the concept of using a recirculating water heater to reduce steam generation times, will also enhance the steam combined cycle locomotive. The research at ACE in the area of re-using the steam and using a cooled, multiple-expansion valve to convert exhaust steam to hot water, to be cooled in a radiator, will extend the operating range of the combined cycle locomotive. The research of maintaining heat on cylinder walls can be applied to steam turbines ... a large section of the non-insulated turbine outer casing can be located inside the "firebox", so that high heat will be maintained on the steam turbine stators (or nozzles), raising efficiency. The turbine bearings will be located outside the "firebox", on a driveshaft and away from heat.

Overall Efficiencies:
The gas-turbine concept, fueled by natural gas, has competitive potential over piston engines. The efficiency of modern regenerative gas turbines is almost on par with modern diesel engines ...... with savings in cost of lubricating oils, engine coolants and longer in-service duration between powerplant tear-downs and rebuilds. The gas turbine is also more readily adaptable to combined cycle operation, due to the energy volumes and temperatures in the exhaust, which can raise steam ...... something not easily achieved with a diesel piston engine. The steam side of the combined power cycle can also be used with natural gas powered solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) which operate at temperatures well excess of 500-degrees centigrade. Whereas the overall efficiency of a combined cycle gas turbine and steam (COGAS) can approach 50-percent, a combined cycle of SOFC and steam could operate in the 60-70-percent range .... on natural gas.

Future Steam Railway Traction:
The steam locomotive could return to mainline railway service, as part of a combined cycle locomotive. The advances that have occurred in steam technology, including advances which have occurred in naval service as well as power stations, will inevitably be incorporated into the steam section of a combined cycle locomotive. The potential return of steam technology to railway service does open a door for expanded steam operation, in a non-combined cycle system. Some precedents in the UK, such as Thetford Power Station, indicate a possible future scenario as to what types of fuels a non-combined cycle steam locomotive would use. The environmental revolt against coal makes coal an unlike future locomotive fuel.

Renewable solid fuels are gaining popularity ..... eg, UK's Yorkshire Power Station's Willows to Watts program. Biofuels such as wood pellets (or other bio pellets), alfalfa stems, compacted farm livestock bio-solids, compacted municipal treatment centre bio-solids all feature prominently as potential future locomotive fuels. There is a considerable amount of support amongst environmental groups, various green groups and even in numerous political circles to use domestic bio-fuels. Very powerful farm lobbies exist in many nations. There is a growing revolt against using bio-solids from municipal treatment centres as fertilizer, plus increasingly more stringent regulations pertaining to the disposal of bio-solids from livestock farms. Burning it as locomotive fuel has large-scale support ....... and there is a large availability of such fuel across countries like the USA. First, various railway companies around the world would have to become comfortable with operating combined cycle locomotives which have a steam power section. Once such locomotives gain acceptance, the next step would be the introduction of bio-solid fuel burning steam locomotives ..... ones which use the pioneering work of Andre Chapelon and Livio Dante Porta.

Courtesy of Rob Dickinson.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 153 - Weekly steamshed report - 27th February - 10th March 2006 - By Gert Jubileus 17th January 2006

SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES:
Four locomotive boilers were washed out during this period. They are 49, Kalahari, Little Bess and the Decauville. The new Star Delta starter for the big centrifugal pump from St Helena was fitted this week and we tested the ability of the new pump and washed out Class NGG13 number 49. The force of the water through this pump is remarkable and is washing out of the boilers very sufficiently.

Here are photos of the Star Delta starter and the wash out of 49:

Above: The Washout through a 2” pipe.

We washed out the Little Bess and the Decauville on the same day because of the size of the boilers, but with the larger locomotives it takes up to two days to complete the process.

The Kalahari's dome was removed and a new brass joint ring has been made for her to ensure a steam tight joint at the Dome. With the dome off, it was an excellent time to wash out the Kalahari too.

Here is Derrick busy with the copper ring:

SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY WAGONS:
The Dz and the B wagon were completely restored this week and were shunted out to the Station.
The Dz was also spray painted with the camouflaged colours.
Here are some photos of Ben and Henk busy with the rectifications to the B wagon doors.

THE 49th WAGON came into the shed for restoration. Petrus and Jacob removed the braking gears and vacuum cylinder and also fitted bearings to this wagon. The vacuum cylinder was overhauled and the braking ears were cleaned and painted with the Red Oxide paint. Jacob started with the de-scale work on the Dz.

THE RATANGA WAGON: Henry started with the Ratanga wagon again and is busy with the windows of the wagon while Henkie is busy with the making of the steel frames for the seats with 50x50 angle iron. 3'6" WAGONS: Henkie and Ben started with the waterproofing of the 3 wagons in Hoekfontein Station. First of all they had to secure the existing wooden roof and then covered the wood with 0,8mm steel sheets. This will be finished early in next week.

 

SANDSTONE STEAM RAILWAY LINE:
Goldfields Rail was hectically busy this week. The third line in the Loco Shed was completed and they are halfway with the laying of the paving bricks. Here are photos of the third line under construction:

Here they are busy moving in the very heavy set of point:

Then, the laying of the paving again:
With all the locomotives out of the shed, it was an excellent time to paint the shed floors and the yellow stripes again.

THE PANDORA EMBANKMENT:
The rail panels on the Pandora embankment were loosened and removed fro the track bed.

All the ballast was removed and a stock pile was made. Karel Senekal then started with the earthmoving to slew the gradient. Amazing that only one man can do this with these giant earthmoving machines of Sandstone Estates.

Then the rail panels were laid again:

While Goldfields Rail was busy with the track, Karel started with the curve just above Pandora house.


This morning we started to ballast the line again with the Hunslet and AY wagons.

SPEED POSTS:
All the speed post signs were planted at the appropriate places over the line where special speed restrictions are essential. Seven speed post signs were placed over the line.

WEED SPRAYING!
My worst enemy this year was definitely the weeds that were growing like crazy. This week we sprayed the line from Hoekfontein to Grootdraai and to Pandora to just before where the track was not disconnected.

YARD CLEANING:
This week all the wagons were except three were re-railed. The bogeys of the three wagons are used under the boilers without units, but they were placed neatly near the 3’6”wagons. The rest of the locomotive spares and units were moved and placed under roofs near the main complex.