Sandstone has just concluded the sale of two AY ballast hoppers to the Wiscasset,Waterville and Farmington Railway in Maine, USA, to assist them with maintaining their line and a possible extension in the future. You can read the article on this link. https://railfan.com/wwf-to-purchase-narrow-gauge-south-african-ballast-hoppers/
Another Fowler from Mount Edgecombe Sugar Estate, Kwa Zulu-Natal, South Africa. Sandstone’s “Sandy” has a sister!
The jewel of the Sandstone 2ft Narrow gauge collection is, without doubt, the small Decauville 0-4-0T locomotive, works number 302, built in 1899 in France. Since its discovery at the Dombe Grande sugar estate in Benguela Province, Angola, in 2003 we have believed the name to be “BATHALA”. Some research by railway historian, John Middleton has unearthed the attached picture of the locomotive at the Dombe Grande Museum in 1970 where Sandstone ultimately found it some 33 years later.
Working the train at our Easter Steam and Cosmos Festival.
Mark Ruddy together with his brother Gary are two of our most dedicated footplate volunteers and worked a number of trains at the recent Easter event. Here is a short video shot by Gary and Mark’s daughter, Ta-Nika, of the preparation and working of NGG11 number 52. Enjoy the experience!
Click on the link to view: https://youtu.be/6Lz84s0UZRM
Leon Hugo is a professional photographer based in Gqeberha. You will remember his excellent pictures from the rather wet 2022 Easter Festival but Leon had visited us before. Here is a small selection of some quite different images of the Sandstone Steam Railway and its locomotives to enjoy.
You can contact Leon on 
Some changes at Sandstone Steam Railway
The very heavy rains experienced during the latter part of 2021 and into 2022 severely damaged the Mountain Section of the railway. This is the section from Vailima Siding which looped around the area of the Farm School below the Sandstone mountain and re-joined the line at Pandora Junction. As this section sees very limited use and suffered damage on a regular basis from inclement weather, it was decided to lift the section from Vailima Siding around to Pandora Junction. As much as we regret having to do doing this the constant repairs required from weather damage were excessive.
As the Cherry Steam Festival approaches in November our Oxen span have been out in training with NGG16A number 155! Click here for a short video.
Maintaining the permanent way is one of the key elements in running a railway and Sandstone is no exception. It is an ongoing task that sometimes seems to be never ending. It also falls under the scrutiny of the South African Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) and is one of the major elements in their regular inspections. Of course as we are 2ft Narrow Gauge which does not really feature on the South African railway system any more, apart from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), although there no trains have run for a very long time. This often raises questions of specifications for track standards. We have had much debate with the RSR to explain that we do not run at normal Transnet speeds but at a much lower speed! We have established, after much discussion, that we maintain our track to Transnet branch line standards.
Leon Hugo is a professional photographer from Gqeberha in South Africa and sent us a photo essay from our Easter event. As you will see from the gallery Leon braved all the conditions that the weather could throw at us to capture some magnificent images. Enjoy the show! You can contact Leon on,
Staging events at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State is becoming more difficult. This is due to the state of the roads which make the coach tour operators reluctant to visit us. People with ordinary cars have to also drive very carefully due to the serious potholes. However certainly as far as our South African market is concerned people are robust and if they want to come they certainly turn up.
Gert Jubileus, the Sandstone Railway Manager, has been hard at work with his track gang preparing the railway for the Easter event. A major task was the replacement of the sleepers on the points at the exit of Hoekfontein Station towards Grootdraai. Our gallery shows the new points in position and the Funkey diesel in action as the track gang spreads the ballast which has been delivered in our vintage rake of cocopans.
As part of our preparations for our Easter event, the track gang has been hard at work preparing our railway for a busy show. Persistent inclement weather has made quite a mess of various area of track which are being methodically cleaned and checked to bring up to our working standard. Sadly the rain continues and has slowed down our efforts but we will be ready for the expected large number of visitors over the Easter weekend. Our pictures show the extent of the work required and the results being achieved. See you all at Easter!
Mark Ruddy is a regular visiting driver to Sandstone and at the Stars of Sandstone event, in 2019, he was rostered for the first run of the newly restored NG10, number 61. Here is his story and, as you will read, it did not go exactly to plan! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9fWQeZx44g
English enthusiast, David Bott, visited South Africa in 1977 and captured this picture of number 155 at Izingolweni on the 1st April 1997. David also sent us a short story to accompany the picture.
Here is the picture of 155 hauling a train from Harding to Port Shepstone,
taken near Izingolweni on 1st April 1977. I remember that day very well indeed; we waited in the pub
at Harding until the shed master arrived for his lunch, then bunked the shed! Such happy days in
your beautiful country - 6 visits in all, travelling mostly by camper mobile. I was last there in 1999 & 2000
for the festivals of steam at George. It's so sad that the Knysna line has not been repaired; I'm now 75,
and my best days are now on film. I wish you well with your ongoing restorations, for the enjoyment of the next generation.
Thank you David for the picture and the kind wishes! Number 155 will be one of the featured locos at the upcoming Easter Steam event at Sandstone.
