A freight train on the Ficksburg-Bethlehem line

Many visitors to Sandstone have seen our railway and most of them have noticed the 3’6” railway line running through the Eastern Free State. We seldom see freight on this line but during the harvest season they start to appear.

Wheat Planting

We are currently planting wheat. It is a very dusty business this time of the year.

Maize harvesting has started - 28 May 2013

Our maize harvesting has commenced. The yields are high and therefore weare only using
one combine because it is capable of keeping all our trailersfilled and on the move.
We will publish a full report on our maize harvest when it is completedclearly
showing the yields for both White and Yellow Maize.

Field Kitchen

As a result of our cooperative arrangement with the School of Armour and Armour Museum in Bloemfontein we have received a Field Kitchen.  The 2-tonne Field Kitchen trailer is designed to cater for 250 troops in field conditions. The sides of the steel body hinge upwards for access to the cookers and gas compartment and give some weather protection to the cooks. A tent can be erected to enclose the whole unit.

Security

The SANDF continues to do a good job of moinitoring and patrolling the border.

Here is a newly established camp at Grootdraai right on the border opposite Leribe in Lesotho.

New Bunker silo installation receives editorial coverage in Afgriland publication

Click Here to Read more - (646mb - opens in new window)

Soya harvesting is progressing well.

As can be seen from the photographs which appear below our Soya Bean harvest is progressing well.

Our new Vodacom Base Station is installed.

The base station has 2G voice with edge capabilities as well as 3G voice with HSDPA and HSUPA
capabilities - this means surfing the web to stay in touch with family and friends back home will also
be possible.

As data usage and the number of connected devices continues to skyrocket, Vodacom is investing more than R6 billion per year in South Africa. Part of this investment includes adding extensively to its network of 3G base stations. At current rates, the number of 3G base stations is growing at around 25% per year and is the reason that Vodacom has 50% more 3G Internet coverage than any other operator. The new base station at Sandstone Estate is just one of the many sites we’re busy putting up to ensure local and international visitors can stay connected wherever they choose to explore in South Africa.

Sandstone continues to rely heavily on its fleet of Richard Western products.

This trailer company based in the UK makes very high quality equipment designed to optimise payloads for a wide variety of items including grain, bales, liquids etc. Here is a load of hay coming in for winter.