It has been some years since Richard (our ‘Adventure Scot’) has run all his South African locomotives together since his gathering at Newliston…..
That time it had snowed…..
Richard takes up the story……
‘Over the last month or so I have been very very busy working on my steam loco collection at my works. In total I have 6 SAR locos (Classes 10, 15F, 16DA x2, 16E & 23) and had to get them all up and running for my big loco parade at Almondell on 13th Feb 2022.
Some of these engines had not been in steam for over 7 years and getting them up and running was a nightmare. Piston and valve rings stuck in pistons, pipes and injectors corroded internally, regulators sticking and so on. The list of repairs was endless. Thankfully after spending virtually everyday in my works I managed to get them all going and passed by the club’s boiler inspectors.
On the 13th Feb all locos were taken to our newly built track at Almondell and with lots of help from others I got the engines into steam. For some reason the injectors on the engines just did not want to work too well but we got by.’
Richard has put up a video of the event