RN 130 - Restoration of Sandstone Heritage Trust 19D, No. 2654 is proceeding steadily

Lukas Nel and his team at the Sandstone Heritage Trust's main steam restoration facility in Bloemfontein are making steady progress with regard to the Company's 19D. These universally popular and successful locomotives are certainly likely to dominate steam traction on the Cape gauge lines of Southern Africa for the foreseeable future. Although the Trust is not focussed on 3'6" rail tourism it nonetheless believes that a locomotive of this versatility would be a great asset in the future.

Negotiations are currently underway with a number of specialised tourist operators who are interested in hiring a locomotive on a long-term basis.

The pictures tell the story.