More SAR narrow gauge steam in danger

Just glanced at Barrie's WHR web page and noticed this, don't think it has been mentioned here. Is it true? If so, and with the precarious state of Sandstone at the moment, does anyone in the uk with millions (Graham Lee?) fancy rescuing a quartet of 16s?? They are probably in fairly bad condition by now I would expect:

NG 16s update

Trevor Heath reports: The four NGG16 locos that are at Port Shepstone (KwaZulu-Natal) need to be removed from the premises by the end of November.

No.127 - complete needs boiler ticket.
No.139 - 80% complete needs overhaul.
No.151 - complete needs boiler ticket.
No.156 - stripped. (The last built NGG16).
The owner wants R1.3 million each but if not sold by end of month will be cut up where they stand. Scrap value R100,000.00 each!

Karl

 

For those of you interested, R1.3million is approx. £98,000 and R100,000 is approx. £7,500


Keith

 

There are a fair few of these engines now in the UK, so from a UK point of view perhaps not so important. Are there any other designs of NG engines in SA?

 

WHR already 4 NGG16s, 2 NG15s, one largely useless K1, plus Pete Waterman is supposedly restoring another NGG16 for the line. Considering the railway only has 2 train sets I think there probably better things to spend money on.

Don't let the fact it says they only need a boiler ticket fool you. If they are anything like 138 and 143 they will need a complete overhaul to make them fit for a line like the WHR.

Tim

 

http://www.sandstone-estates.com/im... gauge world - sad tidings from sandstone.pdf

Sums it up unfortunately.

 

Any money would be much better spent importing one of those Lawleys.

 

A pity about Sandstone, it seems to be in the wrong place or at least the wrong part of SA. But, as 'SillyBilly' says it might be an opportunity for UK ng lines.

Regards

 

A Lawley wouldn't be much use on the WHR, though, would it? Would look good at somewhere like the N. Tynedale though, but should we even be thinking of profiting from Sadstones misfortunes. Imagine if the Tallylyn was in trouble and the S. Africans were eying it up to take over there!

 

Very sad news regarding Sandstone. I'd heard rumours and this thread confirms them. Only went there the once and whilst I didn't see the best of it, it was still a cracking place to visit. It's important that these SA n.g. examples are saved but not so sure bringing them back to the UK is the right answer. On the other hand if it's the only option.................

 

Whilst the news from Sandstone is not exactly what you'd call "rosy", I think it would be a wee bit premature to be compiling a potential shopping list !

A glance at their website includes an advert for their proposed Steam Gala Event early next year, at which there is the potential for 20+ steam locomotives to be operating over an 8 day period. Not too shabby for a "precarious" organisation.

As the article posted suggests, what they really need however is sufficient support to justify such an event both next year and in the future.
From personal experience I'd say it is well worth the effort to visit. If you have the right skill sets there are opportunities during these events to get directly involved from an operational point of view, or you can simply spectate.

They also still continue to dedicate time and money to locomotive restoration with good progress being made on the oldest surviving NGG11 at present, with a second example also being moved to their care recently from Port Elizabeth.

In addition, before anybody rushes out to Sandstone with their chequebooks, it is probably worth pointing out that the Sandstone Heritage Trust doesn't actually own all of the fleet based there. Several loco's, including a number of the larger operational ones are on loan on a "lend-lease" basis from the Transet Foundation.


Going back to the fate of the 4 garratts at Port Shepstone, I visited the line in September 2005 when 151 and 127 were the serviceable locomotives (although with the mixture of mismatching plates and components found on both examples, its anybody's guess what the "real" identities of the locos were!) We used 151 on our train and "well worn" would be the most charitable description of its mechanical condition then. The Banana Express ceased operation in April 2006 which would suggest that was the last time the locos operated, although I seem to recall a posting on one of the SA forums suggesting that one locomotive was steamed (in 2008?) to remove itself and its sisters from Port Shepstone engine shed due to fears of its iminent collapse!
Being stored out in the open since with the degradations of weather in a coastal environment (and at the mercy of certain members of the local population with regard to the fate of anything non ferrous or easily removable) my guess would be that they may not have fared well over the last few years. Probably still a better prospect than a Barry wreck however.

As well as the locos, the current status of the ex Banana Express coaching stock would be interesting to establish.
That used to be stored securely under cover, but again, if its been moved/stored outside for any length of time, it must be questionable as to whats left that is salvageable. A couple of genuine SAR coaches on the WHR mixed trains would be a nice idea.

Of course if anybody's Lottery win becomes a reality this weekend, and they fancy seeing a Lawley running in the UK, don't forget Mr Rampton has a couple of examples tucked away somewhere. You could always make him an offer...........

Chris Webster

 

In terms of the situation at Sandstone detailed in our feature available on their website, I can tell you that we will have an update in the next issue of Narrow Gauge World, out just before Christmas. Can't say much about it (haven't received yet!) but I believe it is more positive.

Regards

Andrew Charman
Editor, Narrow Gauge World
Narrow Gauge World | Atlantic Publishing

 

Acording rumour No. 127 has been bought by Puffing Billy Railway in Australia, along with a quantity of parts.

 

They'vealready got an NG16 under cionversion to 2'6" gauge so I guess a second one would make sense. Does anyone know how far the first one is from entering service?

 

PB have been slowly working on 129 for a few years but have ramped up recently as they need more motive power capacity. 129, though, is missing a good number of things that were going to have to be cast and fabricated so buying 127 an "a large quantity of spares" will hopefully allow them to forgo most of that and have enough left for a second engine should they ever need a third Garratt. The plan is to have 129 ready for when G42 needs its next major downtime which I estimate to be in about 3-4 years.

 

129's restoration can hardly be described as being ramped up, all that has happened recently is the Wheel sets have been removed from the frames to enable the wheels and crank's to be removed from the Axle's (New ones needed for 2'6"), and this is the first physical work done sincde it was largely dismantled in the late 1990's. Oher than that all that is hapening is design work for all the Modifications needed to convert the Loco to 2'6" and Westinghouse Brake, It has also been determined that 129 (& 127 aswell) will need new Boilers. So when you take into account G42 consumed approx AUD$1.7 Million and about 20+ Years, and that was only a restoration and as such not a major redesign to enable running on 2'6". So it is hard to expect unless some serious cash and manpower is thrown at it 3-4 Years (estimate) would seen wildly optimistic.

 

K1 largely useless? Apart from being a major historical artefact it will be very useful when the restoration is finally complete. You are talking about a loco which was largely experimental when built and hadn't been steamed in what, 70 years? It didn't come with a Haynes manual, you know.