Ex Tongaat Sugar, Maidstone Estate, 0-4-2T, "Egolomi"

Barclay 1459/1916

Updated - 15th May 2006

Built in Kilmarnock, Scotland, number 1459 was the first industrial 2ft gauge locomotive acquired by Sandstone. A member of the "N" class with 9" x 14" cylinders, James Brown of the Point Engineering Works in Durban ordered it for the Umhloti Sugar Co., it was despatched on the 29th June 1916 on the SS Director. It ultimately found its way to Dunns of Witbank where it stood out of use for many years before being bought by Mr. JA Paling of Witbank as a restoration project. The loco was never restored and it was purchased, together with a spare boiler, for the Sandstone collection. Having stood in the open air for many years it was in poor condition but was taken to the REGM workshops at Randfontein where Sandstone's GMAM Garratt was being rebuilt. The cab and water tanks were extremely corroded, the motion was worn out and the boiler so thin that one could push one's finger through it. Nevertheless the spare boiler was available but was found to be 300mm longer and also larger in diameter. It was decided to refurbish this boiler and modify the locomotive to accept it. It was duly retubed and recertified in 2001.

To accommodate the "new" boiler the frames were cut behind the driving wheels and extension pieces fitted, further frame modifications allowed the firebox to fit correctly. All of these changes are virtually unseen by the casual observer. A new cab, chimney and side tanks were manufactured while the wheels and motion were removed for overhaul. It was then painted in REGM blue to match GMAM number 4079. During its life the locomotive had seen various modifications to its valve gear which were to cause further problems when the locomotive entered service at Sandstone. However the frame lengthening and additional weight of the longer boiler were to cause endless problems with the loco which have only recently been resolved. The extra weight of the boiler and in particular the firebox which now sat further back and closer to the trailing axle caused in effect a pivotal weight transfer on the rear driving wheels to the trailing axle which suffered constant overheating of its bearings.

Because of this the loco saw very little service and was staged in 2003. To solve the problem it was decided to fit it with the tender purchased with "Sandy" and dispense with the carrying of water and coal on the loco. As it is no longer in original condition after the modifications, nothing is lost aesthetically. The locomotive has been fitted with vacuum brake equipment and a new slide valve head on one side to assist in solving the valve timing problems. The rear of the cab has been removed but the tanks have been left in situ as they are of new construction. Number 1459 is now an 0-4-2TT. The subsequent weight saving on the loco appears to have solved the problems and the little Barclay, now resplendent in crimson red livery, has given good service since the middle of 2005.