The loading area at Sandstone was very busy the other day with the loading of 1000 tons of yellow maize for our customer, Nu Pro, of Bethlehem.
Our picture shows the trucks lining up for loading. Around 30 truck loads were required to fill the order.
Sandstone is always on the lookout for items under threat and it was with great delight that we received a letter from Sean Brown of Singisi Forest Products donating two old portable steam engines that stood outside their sawmill gates in Weza, Kwa Zulu Natal, some 50kms east of Kokstad, and were to be scrapped. The initiative is thanks to a good friend of Sandstone, Brian Collinge, who discovered their pending fate and negotiated the donation.
At this moment in time the details of the type and age of the two portables is unknown as records are not available however we shall be examining them in great detail when they arrive at Sandstone.
The boiler cladding has now been completed and fabrication of the cab floor and running plates is underway. The new cab frame has also been placed in position. Production of number 61’s number plates has also been set in motion together with the Baldwin works plates and the unique smokebox number plate originally fitted to this class in true American fashion. Our thanks go to Leith Paxton who provided the drawings for the works plates and smokebox plates.
The Lake Goldsmith Preservation Association in Victoria, Australia has sent us their latest Goldsmith Gazette with a very well reserached and illustrated article on the history of the fire engine, from the earliest steam powered version to a Boeing 747 Supertanker. Sandstone has a small collection of these type of vehicles and we think we should be looking for a few more after reading this excellent article. Even if you have little interest in fire engines you will find this enthralling.
Click the below image to read PDF
Good progress has been made on the cosmetic restoration of the ZASM “B” 0-6-04T number 230, “Jan Wintervogel”. The stripping of the locomotive has been completed together with the cleaning of the main components. Our pictures show the boiler and frames now completed and painted in red oxide together with the side tanks and the cab roof and cab coal bunker.
Work will now continue on a number of smaller parts from the locomotive that will be cleaned and stored for safekeeping.
Our last picture for interest shows number 230 at Waterval Boven station in 1998 while operating a tourist train down the line to Waterval Onder. Luckily 15F number 3094 was on hand to tackle the heavy gradients to bring the train back to Waterval Boven!
With the boiler now mounted and positioned correctly in the frames work has begun on fitting the lagging and cladding to the boiler together with the boiler rings. Our pictures show the final bolt hole being drilled for the boiler in the smoke box saddle, the boiler with the boiler rings and the first lagging in place plus one of the boiler rings.
The work schedule to complete the loco is as follows:
Locomotive.
Fit main steam pipes and blast pipe.
Set valve timing
Fit all boiler mounts and cab fittings.
Fabricate new cab
Tender:
Complete fabrication of new tender frame and fit new tank already completed.
As you know Sandstone Heritage Trust is a member of the South African Museums Association and we have some exciting news for our younger readers from the National English Literary Museum..
Here's an exciting opportunity for young photographers, at the National English Literary Museum.
Get your kids involved, they can use their cell phone cameras.
"Youth of South Africa! Participate in the National English Literary Museum's new exhibition, 'Humanature'.
Submit photographs that look at environmental issues and/or their solutions, and your photos will appear in the exhibition.
Photos taken on any device or camera are welcome. Click here to see the flyer for details, and please share."
We could not resist this picture from Rico Viljoen of Sekonyela Mountain at dusk after a stormy afternoon.
