Post by pondok on Jan 3, 2013 12:21:08 GMT
Hi all,
In the spirit of Mark's posting about his newly purchased SAR 16E, I thought I'd post some pics of another South African model for general interest, one that I've recently acquired.
It was 13 years in the building, all the work done by Jan Visagie in Cape Town.
Like Mark with his engine, I'd also love to hear from anyone even remotely connected with this engine. It's much newer than Mark's 16E, having been completed around 2002, but I don't even have any footage of it running - that will soon change of course, as it will be in steam again soon.
The builder made very few compromises on the realistic detail of the engine, and these engines tend to sport plenty of copper pipework and sundry fittings, all conspicuous and designed for easy access - no pipes under the cladding here!
A hydraulic test shows the boiler to be very good, but it will get a ball valve regulator soon, as well as new piston valves, along the lines of Doug Hewson's PTFE ringed ones, as posted here once by JJ. That assumes I can get the front running boards off however - some 7BA bolts are proving very hard to turn and might need waiting for a Dremel drill to grind the heads off. I might also have to import the brass or bronze from a UK supplier - even the big local metal supplier doesn't have any non-ferrous bar in 1.5" dia.
I am also trying to get together suitable bulbs and their casings for cab ceiling lights to go with the headlight, and also a good battery pack like the ones you can get so easily in Maplins - not so easy to source hobby stuff over here! Being winter here, this is a good time to enjoy workshop jobs, and "make the engine mine", clean, polish etc, as one always does with a new toy.
I look at the handmade castings and parts and they seem so far beyond what I'd be capable of now, but hopefully one day I'll scratch build something, as I too enjoy that more than simply running.
The pics don't really do justice to the size though - much like Mark's 16E looks very big for 3.5"in gauge, this 5" gauge engine is comparable to 7.25" standard gauge prototypes, much the same size (and weight!) as a 9F or Britannia in 7.25", with 9 foot including tender.
Cylinder bore is 2.75" so some good sized passenger trains will be needed to challenge it.
The prototypes were very popular engines, and the most numerous of any class on the African continent (according to the experts). There are several of the full size ones preserved, but only one is in active service with the Reefsteamers based at the old Germiston sheds in Johannesburg.
Some pics of it running in its native habitat:
cheers
andy
In the spirit of Mark's posting about his newly purchased SAR 16E, I thought I'd post some pics of another South African model for general interest, one that I've recently acquired.
It was 13 years in the building, all the work done by Jan Visagie in Cape Town.
Like Mark with his engine, I'd also love to hear from anyone even remotely connected with this engine. It's much newer than Mark's 16E, having been completed around 2002, but I don't even have any footage of it running - that will soon change of course, as it will be in steam again soon.
The builder made very few compromises on the realistic detail of the engine, and these engines tend to sport plenty of copper pipework and sundry fittings, all conspicuous and designed for easy access - no pipes under the cladding here!
A hydraulic test shows the boiler to be very good, but it will get a ball valve regulator soon, as well as new piston valves, along the lines of Doug Hewson's PTFE ringed ones, as posted here once by JJ. That assumes I can get the front running boards off however - some 7BA bolts are proving very hard to turn and might need waiting for a Dremel drill to grind the heads off. I might also have to import the brass or bronze from a UK supplier - even the big local metal supplier doesn't have any non-ferrous bar in 1.5" dia.
I am also trying to get together suitable bulbs and their casings for cab ceiling lights to go with the headlight, and also a good battery pack like the ones you can get so easily in Maplins - not so easy to source hobby stuff over here! Being winter here, this is a good time to enjoy workshop jobs, and "make the engine mine", clean, polish etc, as one always does with a new toy.
I look at the handmade castings and parts and they seem so far beyond what I'd be capable of now, but hopefully one day I'll scratch build something, as I too enjoy that more than simply running.
The pics don't really do justice to the size though - much like Mark's 16E looks very big for 3.5"in gauge, this 5" gauge engine is comparable to 7.25" standard gauge prototypes, much the same size (and weight!) as a 9F or Britannia in 7.25", with 9 foot including tender.
Cylinder bore is 2.75" so some good sized passenger trains will be needed to challenge it.
The prototypes were very popular engines, and the most numerous of any class on the African continent (according to the experts). There are several of the full size ones preserved, but only one is in active service with the Reefsteamers based at the old Germiston sheds in Johannesburg.
Some pics of it running in its native habitat:
cheers
andy
Attachments:
to polish all that copper pipe work. ;D
