Sandstone’s latest restored steam locomotive will be hauling trains over the weekend. The 1968 Johannesburg built NGG16A number 155 will haul trains for the first time in 21 years!

Sandstone open at Cherry Festival Time! 19 to 20 November 2021 plus the launch of their latest steam locomotive, NGG16A number 155.

The Cherry Festival has not been confirmed for  Ficksburg in 2021 due to the Covid 19 pandemic but a number of local establishments will be open over the weekend of Friday19^th November and Saturday 20^th November together with Sandstone who will be holding a steam festival over the two days. From the 19^th November until 20th November Sandstone will be offering train rides together with opportunities to view the Sandstone Heritage collection.

Entrance is R250 for adults and R140 for children under 12.
Trains will run from 10h00 on Friday 19^th  and from 10h00 on Saturday 21^st November.

Please note that strict Covid 19 protocols will be followed and no one will be admitted if not wearing a mask. A screened temperature over 37 degrees will also result in non-admittance together with other members of the party.Click here to Read more

At time when tourism is under threat from the pandemic it is good to see positive publicity for attractions in South Africa. Rove SA online edition for September 2021, recently covered a visit to Sandstone, enjoy the read!

The last Sandstone locomotive has now left Transnet’s  Bloemfontein Depot and has arrived at Sandstone Estates near Ficksburg. This is 11^th Class number 929.

Designed by P.A. Hyde for the Central South African Railways (CSAR), these engines of the “Mikado” wheel arrangement were the only such type to run on the Cape gauge in South Africa apart from two experimental engines on the Cape Government Railways. The last examples were withdrawn by 1975. Nevertheless many were sold to mining operations both in the Transvaal and Orange Free State. Sandstone’s No. 929 became Freegold’s President Steyn Mine No. 6. In 1991, records show it “out of use” so it is possible it saw little if any service during that period. No. 929 was acquired from the President Steyn Mine by the Transnet Foundation in the early ‘90s and was subsequently sold to the UK-based North British Locomotive Preservation Group. Plans to export the loco to the UK fell through and Sandstone acquired the locomotive in 2013.

Our photo gallery shows number 929 being loaded together with its tender and arriving at Sandstone.

We received this excellent video of GMAM 4114 arriving at Sandstone which shows the sheer size of the multi axle trailer. Those who know the area will recognise that the truck is coming from the Bethlehem direction! Purely a navigation error as the convoy missed the turn into Sandstone Estates from Ficksburg and had to proceed as far as Fouriesburg where the road widens at a major intersection in order to turn around for Sandstone. Enjoy the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEtVgBxRCgU