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In line with President Ramaphosa’s announcement on the prohibition of gatherings of over 100 people due to the Covid-19 virus situation, the event scheduled to be held at Sandstone from 10th to 13th April has been cancelled. If you have made any pre bookings for accommodation please contact Leigh Sanders on 051 933 2235.

We think you will enjoy this short gallery of the farm in recent days.

The Management of Sandstone Estates recently decided to invest in the restoration of the Class NGG 16 A Number 155.
The locomotive will be restored to the original condition called the Little Red Devil with the kind assistance of Shaun McMahon especially with regard to the modifications on this locomotive.
The locomotive was shunted out and the boiler was lifted from the engine units. The boiler was taken to Wonder Steam who will do the boiler work needed while the Sandstone Steam team will do the rest of the restoration. Click here to Read the full Steam Report

Further news on the boiler repairs. The firebox tube plate has been polished ready for the magnetic particle and wall thickness inspection on the 19^th February. The inspection will include both tube plates and all the welded seams inside the firebox, around the hollow stays (for the GPCS) and the wash out plug holes. Our gallery also shows the new tubes being annealed and the condition of the stays in the water space between the inner and outer firebox.

On Sunday, 16^th February 2020, Sandstone hosted a group of 20 from the Western Cape of South Africa.  This was a research team and soil management advisors, led by Dr Johann Strauss, who are passionate about Conservation Agriculture.  The team consisted of grain and animal farmers focussing on no-till, cover crops and crop rotation.

The group stopped over at Sandstone on their way to a farm visit in Reitz to view our Heritage Site and the collection.  A team of 12 oxen were in-spanned to the delight of the group.  This was the highlight of their visit and all were in awe!  The collection was also a big hit as they could not believe the variety of vintage equipment on display. 

“What an experience!”, one comment in the Visitors Book, which summoned up their visit!

Held one week later than usual in November 2019, the annual Cherry Festival in Ficksburg was a great success. Sandstone joined the event by running a train service on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd for visitors. Two private charters were also run on Thursday 21^st for two school groups and a Senior Citizens Tour group. Visitor numbers over the three days totalled almost 1000 boosted by groups from JB Tours and Savannah Tours.

NGG16 Garratts numbers 88 and 153 provided the motive power for the duration with visiting driver Andries Keyser from the Winelands Light Railway joining Sandstone’s Gert Jubileus at the regulator. Trains ran between Hoekfontein, Grootdraai and Mooihoek for a 50 minute round trip between 10h00 and 16h00 on each day. Sandstone also displayed some of its heritage collection and the famous Sandstone oxen were on hand to give Ox Wagon rides. Our photo gallery shows a good time was had by all our visitors!

This well-known photographic location for the Sandstone Steam Railway has benefited from recent heavy runs and is now full and overflowing for the first time in around three years. For our photographers, don’t stress! The foliage will be cut back for the Stars 2019 event so that this magnificent photo spot will be restored to its former glory. Our pictures show the Dam on the 10^th December and our feature shot is  by Aidan McCarthy with NGG16 number 153 crossing the dam some years ago with a mixed train.

Our drone camera has been very active after the recent rains and we thought you would enjoy some stunning images of Sandstone Estates as we move forward to 2019 and the Stars of Sandstone event in April.