Self-drive tour of the Knysna forests in the Garden Route National Park. https://www.sanparks.org/parks/garden_route/

1. The steam engine that was used in the early 1900’s for timber hauling and saw milling
For the provision of power for sawing, the steam
was conveyed from the Boiler to the sawbench
through connecting pipes. The primary breaking
down of the logs was by means of a circle saw ten
feet (3m) in diameter, through which the logs were
dragged by oxen. The Baulks and planks were
processed further by being pushed through the
same saw by hand. A Bandsaw was used to shape
wagon felloes and other articles.
Suzy broke down irreparably in 1920, and was
replaced by another steam engine, Queen Mary,
which was dragged on a sledge from Knysna to
Gouna by 40 oxen. It worked at Gouna until
about 1930.
Affectionately known as Suzie
THEPROVISION
OUTWITHTHEOLD
OFPOWER
This steam engine was used by
Woodcutters from about 1900
for the extraction and
conversion of indigenous
timber. Known affectionately
as “Suzie” the engine was used
for two days a week to supply
power for sawing the timber,
and for the rest of the time to
winch the logs from the forest.
The winch on the steam engine was used for
slipping logs from the forest to the sawmill
in conjunction with a cable working
through a complicated system of
pulleys controlled by
flag-waving
signalers.
SLIPPINGLOGS
THESTEAMBOILER