Walking the Dumps..... Memories!

Bob Molloy · June 21, 2009, 01:08:42 AM

Spot on, Alfred. Your pics definitely show the old South Works, though sadly changed since I was last there. They have obviously been either heavily cannibalised for building material or else just vandalised, though it would take quite some effort to effect that degree of damage.
Regards,
Bob.

Alfred Boehme · June 21, 2009, 03:02:34 PM

Hi Bob

Thanks I've often sat there wondering what all this was, when it was used and big steel wheels on the southern side of the big building explains the cable system you talking about the nicely build terraces with boulders. In the last 4 yrs the building roof fell in and most of the structeral strenth that was keeping most of it in good nick has failed due to age and as you say became a scrap yard. I will see if I can get more detailed pics of equipment and post it later

Alfred

Bob Molloy · June 21, 2009, 10:43:17 PM

Hi Alfred,
Wouldn't it be fun if you could find the U-Boat engine, though I fear you'd have to dig into one of those inspection pits to uncover it.
Regards,
Bob.

Alfred Boehme · July 16, 2009, 07:27:25 PM

Hi Bob check these photo's add coments if you can thanks

Alfred

Alfred Boehme · July 16, 2009, 07:29:19 PM

more

26 and 27 check the dates and initials on the window frame

Alfred Boehme · July 16, 2009, 07:31:23 PM

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Alfred Boehme · July 16, 2009, 07:32:27 PM

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SandyB · July 16, 2009, 07:42:41 PM

Interesting pics Alf .. where exactly is south works ... ???

Alfred Boehme · July 16, 2009, 07:50:11 PM

Sandy read the story by Bob on the first page, as Bob explains south of the tank farm

SandyB · July 16, 2009, 07:53:37 PM

Alf .. the reason why .. I have vague memory of seeing some of this as a pikkie .. my Dad was then foreman at the old central fields workshop .. and I would on many weekends when he went to check on work being done .. go with him .. while he was busy I would wander a lot ..

Alfred Boehme · July 16, 2009, 08:00:35 PM

Central fields and the tank farm are very close so I would say south works as Bob spoke about would no be very far maybe a km or 2 to the south?

SandyB · July 16, 2009, 08:02:32 PM

Ok so that explains the vague memory ...

Michael Alexander · July 16, 2009, 11:02:30 PM

Nice historical stuff..... Nice Alfie...... 1947..... wonder who's initials.....

Alfred Boehme · July 17, 2009, 03:30:13 PM

Maybe Bob can help lets see

Bob Molloy · July 21, 2009, 02:35:40 AM

Hi Alfred,
Re the initials: these were a bit before my time. The South Works had been completely abandoned by the time I arrived though still kept for the odd cannabilisation of parts. Judging by what Fritz Heiser told me the works were gone by '48. Most of those employed there would have been SuidWes Duits i.e. German speaking operators and artisans largely from Luderitz, among whom would have been the likely owners of the initials.
As for the pics: most of the sites have been so wrecked and generally stripped that it is hard to recognise anything, however I can identify pic 14, showing the rusted old cocopan bogey with a slab of concrete, as the counter-balance for the gravity tramway.
Pic 24 shows the large Siemens Schukert electrical motor that was the motive power for most of the works which operated off belts (note the belt pulley and the fact that the motor drive shaft has been cut through by a gas torch for removal).
Pic 30 shows the overhead gantry used to move the machines and do general maintenance. At one stage it would have had a sliding block and tackle to lift heavy bearings etc.
Pic 37 is of an old German era tracked stacker, used for transferring sand overburden from the bucket wheel scoop to a dumping area. If you look closely you can still see the Siemens motor on the rusted frame. After W11 these stackers were scrapped and replaced by the revamped Sherman tanks.
Pic 44 is a view of two of the old tramway headgear wheels. These carried a long cable which towed the cocopans up a slope from the mine to be then released for a gravity ride down to the gravel bins.
Pics 46 and 47 show the third wheel, now almost completely rusted away.
Pic 64 shows the gravel boxes used to collect the diamondiferous gravel for onward transport to the sorting screens.
Pic 73 is an interesting one. It shows how the Germans used terracing to create different levels for the various tracks to facilitate the gravity dumping of gravel.
Overall, the South Works has changed utterly from the early Fifties when I was often sent there to scavenge for Siemens parts, mostly white metal bearings. Maintenance was on a wheel and a prayer in those days as postwar stringencies made it difficult to get parts.
Thanks for those pics, Alfred, and a question: did you get a sense of loneliness at the old South Works? I felt it strongly each time I went there, something to do with the abandoned aspect of the place I suppose.
Regards,
Bob.