Railway Heritage

RN 154 - Progress on Sandstone's rail construction and maintenance

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 154 - Progress on Sandstone's rail construction and maintenance

17th January 2006

Goldfields Track, the official rail construction subcontractor and maintenance support organisation for the Sandstone Heritage Trust Narrow Gauge Railway, is carrying out some extensive works on the line at present. This involves slightly reducing the gradient and improving the curve at Pandora. This is a well known sticking point but as our trains get bigger and heavier we have decided to improve our margin of safety on this particular section of the line. The pictures tell the story.

RN 155 - Update on GMAM No. 4079.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News RN 154 - Progress on Sandstone's rail construction and maintenance 17th January 2006 GMAM 4079, “Lyndie Lou”, nears completion. Since being moved to Pretoria in 2005 on loan to Rovos Rail, GMAM number 4079 has undergone a great deal restoration to bring the locomotive back to mainline standard. Although in excellent condition, the locomotive had been used in mine service for many years where requirements are very different to mainline passenger service. The team led by John Dadford has completed a number of tasks and the loco is expected to steam very shortly. At present 4079 will remain in the colours of Sandstone Steam Railroad as the paintwork is still in extremely good condition and is polishing up well.
Moving around the loco, the following has been done: Running Gear: The brake hangers have been refurbished in the machine shop, the bushes have been replaced and hardened by John. The locating pins have been remade and need to be hardened before fitment.

The composite brake shoes have been removed as they are not entirely suited to this type of loco and will be replaced with iron blocks which are ready and on site for refitting. (Right). Boiler Mountings The coppersmith has remade all the pockets covering the washout plugs including two interesting ‘round a corner’ variations. (Below left and right)

The entire lubricating system has been dismantled, inspected, cleaned, with any problems corrected and refitted on both lubricators. (Below left). The drifting valve steam pipe which had been dangerously routed under the driver’s seat using substandard ‘household’ copper pipe has been safely rerouted, and replaced with ‘grade a’ pipe. In the smoke box the spark arrestor was found not to be in good condition with very large holes and will be replaced. (Below right).


The spark deflector was very rusted and has been replaced.	Some of the vanes above the spark arrestor were replaced.

Two elements are being replaced. (Above right). An initial boiler inspection has been done by Inspector P Britz on 15/3/06 whereby it tested without leaks and maintained a pressure of 1725Kpa. A provisional certificate has been signed but an internal inspection is still required.
The water tanker has been cleaned and wheels and other items (ladder) painted.

Before 4079 can enter service a number of final jobs and inspections need to be done, these are:
A boiler wash out A full internal boiler inspection A Department of Labour boiler inspection and measurement for registration of the boiler on the Department database. The locomotive must then be sealed up and the connecting rods, brake hangers and other motion items refitted before a final steam test.
With the loco having run very little mileage since a comprehensive rebuild in 1997, the whole of the Sandstone team is very excited at the prospect of seeing GMAM number 4079, “Lyndie Lou” take to the rails again in full steam.

John Dadford (left) and Wolf Mensing of Rovos Rail examining the locomotive.	The cab cleaned up.

RN 156 - Steaming through Sandstone - Article in Country Life Magazine - by Alex Cremer

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 156 - Steaming through Sandstone - Article in Country Life Magazine - by Alex Cremerd

23rd March 2006

"The Age of steam lives on in a big way on a working Free State farm. Between March 29th and April 9th, Sandstone Estates will be hosting the biggest steam festival under African skies. - Alex Cremer, Country Life Magazine."

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RN 157 - A serious narrow gauge train on a serious estate.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 157 - A serious narrow gauge train on a serious estate.

The attached photographs shows probably the longest narrow gauge train ever worked by steam anywhere at anytime. Two NGG 16 Garratts and an NG15 is seen here working a 48 wagon train at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State of South Africa.

The wagons were pulled by:
NG16 No. 113
NG16 No. 49
NG15 No. 17

The list of wagons are as follows:

1.	B-wagon	2926
2.	B-wagon	2436
3.	B-wagon	1125
4.	B-wagon	1136
5.	B-wagon	922
6.	B-wagon	2947
7.	B-wagon	921
8.	B-wagon	1146
9.	B-wagon	1680
10.	B-wagon	2951
11.	DZ	1405
12.	DZ	1976
13.	DZ	862
14.	Ay	2806
15.	Ay	2032
16.	O-wagon	4000
17.	O-wagon	3733
18.	OZ	3197
19.	GZ	2834
20.	QZ	180
21.	V-15	2814
22.	V-16	3175
23.	PE-coach	52
24.	PE-coach	67
25.	DZ	2901
26.	Passenger	185 (ex G)
27.	Open coach	Ex DZ
28.	Saloon	Ex B
29.	Dinning car	3185 (ex V-15)
30	O	4003
31	S2	3293
32.	S2	3570
33.	GZ	2836
34.	S2	3571
35.	S2	3579ex 1699
36	V-16	3178
37.	B	2454
38	V-16	3171
39	B	1629
40	B
41	B	1812
42	B	1118
43	B	931
44	B	2260
45	B	2273
46	DZ	1722
47	B	2464
48	G	2819
Loco	Driver	Fireman
113	P Maurer	P Ackerman
49	J Bunch(WHR)	A Shaw (WHR)
17	G Jubileus	D van Zyl

A seriously spectacular sight!

Coming up to Grootdraai.

Coming around the bend at Grootdraai. You can see the rest of the train snaking in the background.

RN 159 - Sandstone takes a train ride with Reefsteamers

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News 3rd March 2006 Saturday the 29th April saw the Sandstone Heritage Trust team ride the wider rails of Spoornet on the Reefsteamers special to Bethal for the Potato Festival. The trip was the inaugural run of Class 25NC no: 3472, "Anne", after extensive boiler repairs done entirely by Reefsteamers at their facility in the old Germiston steam depot. Double heading with Class 15F no: 3016, no: 3472 performed faultlessly and effectively hauled the entire 12 coach train single handed. Sandstone Heritage Trust trustee, Wilfred Mole, rode on the footplate of 3472 to Bethal, thoroughly enjoying the experience as the adjoining photo shows!
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RN 160 - Update on the Guards Van, NGY 3172, donated and shipped by the Sandstone Heritage Trust to the Welsh Highland Railway

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 160 - Update on the Guards Van, NGY 3172, donated and shipped by the Sandstone Heritage Trust to the Welsh Highland Railway

11th May 2006

The Guards Van, NGY 3172, donated and shipped by the Sandstone Heritage Trust to the Welsh Highland Railway, is virtually complete. Marcus Ingram who has been in charge of the restoration project sent us this excelelnt photograph of the pristine Guards Van which will undoubtedly become an integral part of the Welsh Highland Railway network operations from this point on.

RN 161 - A "Braai" with Little Bess!

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

17th January 2006

RN 161 - A "Braai" with Little Bess!

12th May 2006

Our event “Under African Skies” was so diverse it is hard to describe all the activities that took place. There was a formal programme and there were many informal gatherings. In this case our Wren Class locomotive, Little Bess, was hooked to a single passenger wagon, and taken up to Vailima Mountain complete with Coco Pan for an impromptu barbeque. Travelling and cooking without gas and without diesel – maybe the future of the world.

RN 162 - A "Stray Photographer"

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

17th January 2006

RN 162 - A "Stray Photographer"

12th May 2006

Sometimes photographers stray off the beaten track and take pictures that show the daily life at Sandstone Estates. Here our Hunslet diesel proceeds away from the silos while the Lawley returns to the workshops after carrying out passenger duties.

RN 163 - Our Feldbahn restoration proceeds apace.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

17th January 2006

RN 163 - Our Feldbahn restoration proceeds apace.

19th June 2006

Related articles at the bottom of the page >>

Our Feldbahn restoration proceeds apace. The sand boxes have now been fitted. We have also successfully sourced a banjo pump for lifting water. Traditionally these Feldbahn locomotives would have had the ability to draw water from shell craters during the First World War.

RN 199 - First World War German Imperial Eagle flies again in preservation

RN 193 -Lest we forget, this is what the Feldbahn looked like when it arrived from the UK

RN 192 - Feldbahn locos working in Eastern Europe

RN 176 - Bloemfontein. Brigade (Feldbahn) Locomotive

RN 163 - Our Brigade (Feldbahn) restoration proceeds apace.

RN 148 - The Brigade Loco (Feldbahn) makes more steady progress

RN 132 - The Feldbahn being restored by Sandstone Bloemfontein workshops is proceeding steadily

RN 84 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive boiler

RN 72 - Work continues on Feldbahn locomotive

RN 164 - Track revisions at Sandstone

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

17th January 2006

RN 164 - Track revisions at Sandstone

12th May 2006

Significant improvements to the 2-ft Narrow Gauge railway line at Sandstone Estates have been undertaken in recent weeks. As part of an ongoing process to continually improve and upgrade the line, the Vailima loop and Pandora sections have seen extensive earthworks to create shallow cuttings and ease some of the spectacular (but difficult operationally) climbs over the summit to Vailima and down from the Vailima Mountain to Pandora.

Gradients have been eased from 1 in 20 on the new Vailima section descending from the mountain to 1 in 30 while at Pandora a similar reduction in the gradient was carried out reducing the maximum gradient from 1 in 22 to around 1 in 30.

By easing the maximum gradients as well as some of the curvature of the line the section from Mooihoek through Pandora to Vailima will put much less strain on locomotives and rolling stock while retaining the outstanding photographic nature of this section.

Laying of track in progress at the new Pandora cutting

The completed line after the new cutting had been completed

RN 166 - “Lyndie-Lou” steams again.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News 17th January 2006
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In the cab: Left, driver Gert van Vuuren and Fireman Dirk Nagel.
Standing: John Dadford, Lyndie "Lou" and Wilfred Mole from Sandstone and Marlene Sturgeon from Rovos Rail.

RN 167 - Article in Railways Africa - Wartime loco being restored

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 167 - Article in Railways Africa - Wartime loco being restored

23rd May 2006

RN 168 - Article in Narrow Gauge World - Tourism and The Avontuur Express

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 168 - Article in Narrow Gauge World - Tourism and The Avontuur Express

23rd May 2006

RN 169 - Bulletin of the Railway History Group - No. 83

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

RN 169 - Bulletin of the Railway History Group - No. 83

23rd May 2006

The Railway History Group's Malcolm Bates has been kind enough to allow us to republish the bulletin on our website. We look forward to a good relationship with them, and cooperation on matters of mutual interest in the future.

RN 171 - New photos added to David Shepherd Tour article

Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News

17th January 2006View Tessa Joughin's photo gallery - "Avril" >> (unfortunately this article is no longer available)
RN 158 - David Shepherd reunited with his South African 15F locomotive >>
RN 165 - A day to remember - by C.A. Janisch >>

Read the reply - "RE: A day to remember - by John Ashworth" >>

3052 looks particularly smart having been attended to very diligently for nearly two weeks by the Sandstone Heritage Trust 2-ft narrow gauge team who put aside their normal work to get this locomotive ready for David Shepherd's visit.