The ex SAR NGG11 Garratt locomotive
no: 55 has been returned to working
order by the Sandstone Heritage Trust
team after an extensive restoration at their
Bloemfontein workshops.

The bulk of the work was done at the
Bloemfontein workshops under the
personal supervision of Lukas Nel.

Due to the fact that the locomotive
arrived without brass, the Sandstone
Heritage Trust has made available a
full complement of brass which is
fitted to the locomotive.

No 55 was withdrawn from Humewood
Road depot in October 1974 after bein
g displaced by dieselisation on the
Avontuur line. It was plinthed at Weenen,
after the Estcourt to Weenen line’s
closure in the mid 80s until removal for
restoration in 2003

The locomotive has been fully restored
from a scrap condition by the Sandstone
Heritage Trust.

The locomotive is fully restored and its
specifications are as new.

No: 55 will be placed in service on
the preserved Ixopo to Madonela
branch line being operated by
Paton’s Country Narrow Gauge
Railway after commissioning trials
at the Sandstone Steam Railroad
near Ficksburg in the Eastern Free
State of South Africa.