SANDSTONE GOES WAGONS!!!
RATANGA WAGON
This week the doors of the Ratanga wagon were varnished and painted. The wagon is complete and hooked onto our passenger consist. The fourth Ratanga wagon was shunted from the storage line closer to the shed.
Below: Menasse completing the last touches on the third Ratanga wagon.
ST NUMBER 248
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Arno is currently restoring this ST to original condition. Extensive work is done to the frame and uprights.
All the cross channels are corroded very badly and are removed to be replaced. This wagon under frame was restored last week and a overhauled vacuum cylinder was fitted this week. All corroded handles on the sides of the wagon were removed.
We plan to have this wagon fully restored and stenciled by the end of next week.
Below : Poney cutting cross channels for replacement.
Below : Menasse and his team fitting the overhauled vacuum cylinder.
This week we shunted number 3317 to the inspection pit. All the braking gears were removed before we lifted the frame from the bogeys.
Below: Number 3317’s under frame, not a place to spend a day under. So as quickly as possible the braking gears are stripped before wakening sleeping spiders!
The wagon was then lifted from the wheels and stored aside.
The fourth and the fifth Ratanga wagons were also lifted from the bogeys. The bogeys then were moved to the sandblaster.
Below : Ratanga number four lifted from its bogeys.
Below : All the bogeys were sandblasted.
All the bogeys were spray-painted and the wheels were painted black before we lifted the wagons back onto the bogeys. We tackled a few wagons at a time because the sandblaster is a huge machine to set up for only two bogeys.
Below: One of the bogeys almost ready to be fitted in under the wagons
Below : The effectiveness of the Sandblaster.
Below : Number 3317 at the sandblaster. This wagon is in exceptional good condition and barely needs any attention to the steelwork.
After 3317 was sandblasted, we lifted it back onto its bogeys. We immediately sprayed it a first coat of paint to prevent it from getting a rust layer overnight.
Number 3317 was shunted to the inspection pit early the next morning and received a complete under frame restoration. New brake blocks were fitted and a overhauled vacuum cylinder. The boxes were packed with oil soaked axle box wool. The wagon was vacuum tested
and the restoration is almost finished. In next week we shall spray it another two coats of paint before we stencil it.
We fitted a set of bogeys under this wagon and shunted it to the inspection pit. New brake blocks were fitted. Both couplers had to be fitted into the drag boxes of this wagon. In next week this wagon will receive a complete under frame restoration and Menasse and his team will start with the woodwork needed to complete this wagon.
Below: Derrick fitted couplers to this wagon.
Below: The skeleton on the inspection pit.
Petrus had to overhaul vacuum cylinders and started with the one we taken off number 248.
Below: Menasse spray painted one of our existing flat wagons. This wagon will be stenciled in next week and will come to the inspection pit for a under frame inspection and brake adjustment.
All the wagons from Natal were shunted into our storage line on the west side of Hoekfontein. Henry lifted wagons on top of each other to free up more space. A total of 68 wagons are stored on this line.
Below : The Hunslet on shunting duties.
SANDSTONE LOCOMOTIVES
Number 17 was due for Boiler washout this week. She was shunted out to the washout area.
All plugs were removed and were washed out with a nozzle and two inch pipe feeding more than 27000 L an hour. With the chemicals we using now, washouts are very easy. The chemical breaks up the hard scale into a sludge that easily washes out. This makes it possible to have a scale free boiler and also means that there are none of the boiler plates that get warmer than the other parts. This minimizes the stress on the plates and is perfect for a boiler.
Below: The fire box was washed down after it was wire brushed.
The lead plugs were removed and will be re lead in next week.
The smoke box was cleaned as well as all the tubes. The boiler is now left open to dry till we need to steam her again.
New windows were fitted this week, handmade by Derrick. Henk is working on all the detail inside the cab and made gauge column corks and test corks this week. The regulator handle is also complete.
Below : A steam cork, made by Henk.
Below : The completed left and right gauge columns with protector glasses.
Derrick started with the construction of the right side mudguards and running board while Henry works on the mechanical side of the BSA.
Henry assembled the gearbox with clutch and pressure plate this week. He fitted the gearbox and now has to manage to align the prop shaft to the chain driven sprocket.
He fitted a temporary diesel tank to start the engine standing for years. He had to bleed the fuel system for almost an hour to get all the air out, but eventually got the engine running perfect. The BSA will be running on her own by the end of next week. The brake system that are going to be fitted, will work with a cylinder on the rear wheel of the BSA, giving it a proper braking effectiveness.
Below: Henry made a new exhaust system with silencer and fitted it to the manifold of the BSA engine. Once the mechanical side is done, we can plan the floor and sides inside the BSA.
OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK
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BSA mechanical work
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BSA right side body work
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ST 248 restoration
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ST 3317 restoration
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Ratanga wagon number 4 restoration
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Class NGG 16 number 112 restoration
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Boiler washout
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Wagon maintenance
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At the end a hard week on the Sandstone Farm, the sun sets over the Vailima Mountain. Let’s call this Heaven!
STEAM GREETINGS!
THE STEAM TEAM!
