ah yes, The George Automatic Sander is an amazing invention. It does have some very oddly manufactured parts, that need constant attention and effective lubrication - if I recall Guiness or Fat Tire is the ideal lubricant, applied liberally at the end of the run.
Another effective sanding mechanism is the "large hammer applied to the sand pipe just below the dome". Works in all kinds of weather conditions (especially driving rain and hail storms). Having the engine working at full capacity, slipping massively, shooting vast quanities of hot cinders out the stack and down the operators collar make the sanding mechanism work faster.