The Weekly Steam News 25th June – 1st July 2007 by Gert Jubileus

STEAMING NEWS FROM A FROZEN SANDSTONE ESTATES

Despite frozen weather and heavy snowfalls, we managed to move four wagons from Kommandonek to the Farm storage line in Hoekfontein Station.

Early on Monday morning we offloaded the coach that we moved from Kommandonek to the Farm. The wagon slept in the yard at Hoekfontein over the weekend. We removed some of the rail panels on the 3’6” storage line in Hoekfontein to allow us to have a open level place to reverse the wagon over the storage line.

After we removed the dolly wheels under the wagon, we rolled in the rear bogey of the wagon and slowly lowered the wagon while aligning the centre pin into the pivot of the bogey as illustrated below.

We then loosened the bolts keeping the wagon secured on the fifth wheel of our Freightliner and lifted the wagon with our new crane to a appropriate height to enable the Freightliner to drive out underneath the wagon as illustrated below.

The front bogey was then placed on the rail where the freightliner was standing and was rolled in under the wagon. The wagon was then lowered onto the front bogey. The wagon was then hooked with a sling and pushed onto the rest of the consist behind the Class 10CR

We immediately moved all our equipment to Kommandonek to load the next wagon. Six goods wagons will be moved on the same way but will be offloaded on the 3’6” Storage line at the Waenhuis.

Two goods wagons were hooked with a sling and moved forward to the loading place at the stop block end of the line with the help of a tractor. The braking gears were uncoupled and removed from under the wagon. The pivot rings were loosened and removed to enable us to separate the wagon from his wheels.

The wagon was lifted and the front bogey was removed. The Freightliner reversed in under the wagon. The wagon then was lowered unto the fifth wheel and secured with bolts.

Below: Arno securing bolts on the fifth wheel.

The dolly wheels were brought closer before we lifted the rear of the wagon. The rear bogey was removed and the Dolly wheels were fitted in under the wagon. The wagon was secured on the dolly wheel frame and we were ready to depart, taking the wagon on her journey to her new home on the Farm.

Below left: The first goods wagon taking the tar road to the Farm.

Below right: The wagon arrived at her new home next to the Waenhuis.

Below: The offloading of the wagon with threatening snow clouds hanging low.

This wagon then was moved all the way down on the storage line.

The next wagon was loaded on the same way but all wagons differ when loading them due to different frames, braking gears and sometimes pipes or side steps that were in the way.

Below : A centre pin with a quarter.

Below : A photo taken of the dolly underneath the wagon.

The second wagon on the way to the Farm!

This wagon was offloaded and moved down on the storage line hooked onto her sister wagon that was offloaded the day before.

Below: A photo taken from the side.

We loaded the third wagon and offloaded it on the same storage line. Below are some interesting photos of the loading.

Below: The third wagon being offloaded!

Below left: The next two wagons were moved to the loading place with a John Deer Tractor.

Below right: The Guards Van being loaded.

Below: The Guars van loosing her wheels!

The Guars van on her way to the storage line next to the Waenhuis!

The Van arrived on the Farm late Friday afternoon and will be offloaded on Monday morning.

STEAMING ON SANDSTONE  

This Saturday we had a visit from one of our V.I.P guests, Michael Whitehouse. We steamed the Peckett early on Saturday morning to have great photo opportunities with the early morning sun.

Below : The Peckett greeting the Semaphore signals with the Maluti Mountains in the backdrop. Quite a place to call heaven!

Below : The Peckett taking an early morning break in Hoekfontein Station!

Below: Michael enjoying a hands on, keeping a sharp lookout on the little two foot line rolling in underneath the locomotive as we raced towards Hoekfontein Station!

Below: Michael and Pat Ackerman posing at the side of a beautiful lady!

THE BSA RAILCAR:  

Derrick is working fulltime with the construction of the frame work needed on the BSA Railcar. Progress is slow but the end effect will be remarkable.

We left Derrick home alone at the Steam shed to work on the BSA Railcar. He is currently busy with the left side of the frame work on the car and will finish it soon.

A light was fitted in the headlight of the Class 10CR in the Station as well as a cab light. Only needs a little steam blowing from underneath to make her look well and alive!

OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK!
 

·        To move wagons from Kommandonek.

·        Ratanga wagon restoration.

·        Ratanga locomotive restoration.

·        BSA restoration.

STEAM GREETINGS
THE
STEAM TEAM