LOCOMOTIVE NEWS FROM THE CAB! 02-09 January 2008
CLASS NG 4 NUMBER 16
Our Class NG 4 received attention to her left and right piston packing. Both sides were set and additional string of tough rope was inserted to insure a steam tight packing. The piston rods have some pitting on it after all the years she stood out of service. This pitting is a problem with the metal packing’s and therefore it was needed to pack it with rope that is very softer and could expand over the pitting holes. The more she run, the better the metal packing’s will work.
Both sides’ valve glands were packed with rope. The regulator gland was removed and all hardened rope was removed. This is a constant periodical repair because of the rope that becomes hard.
Below: The regulator gland being removed and attention was given to minor steam leaks in the cab.
She will be scheduled on our steam rotation roster and will be tested after the major spring hanger repairs. This will be a good opportunity to test her tractive effort after weight adjustment.
CLASS NG 15 NUMBER 17
The piston packing on the left side of our Class NG 15 was set this week.
Below: NG 15 stuffing box with piston packing rings.
CLASS NG 6 THE LAWLEY
All the valve glands and piston glands were pulled up this week to compress the rope again. Usually small pieces of the rope work out and it is needed to pull up the glands to compress the rope again.
The old packing inside the regulator stuffing box was removed and was packed with new rope. It is usually needed to pull the gland up once it is in steam.
CLASS NGG16 NUMBER 113
The rear Unit piston packings on 113 were set this week.
CLASS NGG 16 NUMBER 153
Only the rear left piston packing of number 153 had problems and was set this week to ensure a steam tight packing.
CLASS 19D’s AT VAILIMA
Oupa started with the cosmetic upgrading of our three Class 19D’s at Vailima. The smoke boxes were first and all the old paint was brushed of before he painted them again. The boilers, cabs and tenders will receive a new coat of paint as soon as he finishes the three smoke boxes. The buffer beams will be painted red again while the motion will be wiped of with diesel and oil mix to protect them from nature.
SANDSTONE WAGON NEWS!
SUGAR CANE WAGONS
Extensive restoration of the Ex Ellingham Estates sugar cane wagons are in full swing. All the cane wagons were taken to the sandblaster this week and all rust and old paint was removed. Derrick finished the bearing overhaul of one of the two cane wagon that he will convert into small passenger type wagons for our smaller locomotives.
Below left: unnecessary steel was cut away to compensate for modifications into passenger wagons.
Below middle: A cane wagon ready for sandblasting.
Below right: The sandblaster in action!
Below: Sandblasted sugar Cane wagons.
Two of the seven Cane wagons will be converted into Passenger wagons while the remaining five will be restored into original cane wagons. Derrick is doing the passenger wagons while Henk will restore all the original Cane wagons.
Below left: A sandblasted cane wagon.
Below middle: It was time to fit back the wheels of Derrick’s passenger wagon after he overhauled the bearings. The bearings were packed with new grease.
Below right: Derrick cutting away steel that is not needed with the conversion.
Below: The old braking gear was replaced with a new one and Derrick fitted the new ones back in under the small passenger wagon.
Below: Lining up the braking gears. The handbrake will be fitted next and will be fitted with a original NG wagon handbrake and wheel.
Below: Henk’s Cane wagon was stripped from its wheels this week. The bearings were removed and will be cleaned before being packed again with new grease. The remaining five sandblasted wagons will be sprayed with red oxide to protect them from rust till they will be attending to.
Below: The bearings removal. Restoring these wagons back into Cane wagons will be easy and except for the mechanical side that will take some time.
RATANGA NUMBER 4
The restoration of our fourth Ratanga wagon is in full swing again. The braking gears were fitted back and an overhauled vacuum cylinder was fitted before we spray painted the complete under frame with a red oxide. Pony cut the floor planks and fitted them. Foam in the roof on the inside was removed and the bare plates were sanded and prepared to paint. The wood for the sides were collected and will be cut to size and fitted to the wagon.
Below: Spray painting the under frame.
Below left: Pony cut the angle iron to secure the wooden floor planks.
Below middle: Pony in fast forward, cutting floor planks.
Below right: The foam removed from the roof.
The wagon was sanded and Pony painted the wagon with PWD brown. The vacuum steel pipes were secured and the wagon will be moved to the inspection pit for brake blocks and brake adjustment.
RAIL NEWS!
We removed the rail panels on the rear end to offload wagons from Kommandonek and this week we fitted back the panels and aligned them again.
RAILWAY SAFETY
A new year could not be started without setting new safety targets on the Sandstone Steam Railway’s. We already have 89 915 accident free passenger kilometers and our target is 500 000 passenger kilometers accident free.
Below: New Safety Posters for the Sandstone Steam Railway.
OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK!
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Restoration of Ratanga number 4
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Restoration of Cane passenger wagons
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Restoration old original cane wagons
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Restoration of Ellingham Diesel locomotive.
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Cosmetic upgrading of Vailima 19D’s
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Offloading of bales using the O&K 4102
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Remaining locomotive repairs
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Wagon maintenance.
STEAMING GREETINGS FROM THE
STEAM TEAM
