Consolidation continues
The well known steel shed at Kommandonek Farm next to the tar road has been dismantled and is being moved to the main complex at Sandstone Estates. The structure will be used for classic and vintage machinery storage.
During this week we built 70 meter of 3’6” track panels to extend the storage line at the Coal stage as well as to lay track into the new shed from Town that was moved recently. Before we lay them we needed the panels to load the smaller locomotives in Town that was moved to the Farm this week. The large locomotives will be moved to Kommandonek siding during the Cherry Festival with the use of the Reefsteamers locomotives.
Gert Jubileus has submitted his latest weekly report.
Click here to view - 1MB PDF (opens in a new window)
Under the auspices of Steam in Action and the Heritage Rail Association of South Africa an event designed to cater specifically for the needs and interests of Steam in Action and HRASA members will take place in South Africa in 2011.
Special notice for foreign visitors: If overseas visitors wish to avoid making all their own travel and accommodation arrangements they should seriously consider joining a special Geoff’s Trains tour which is being planned to coincide with this event. For full details contact Tel: +44 (0)5600925220 or visit web site http://www.geoffs-trains.com.
Click here for further information and Administrative Guidelines - 488KB PDF (opens in new window)
STEAM SIDINGS!!!
This week we continued with the construction of the new Hoekfontein shunting yard. Petrus and Victor are building 2" panels every day and as the panels are completed it is moved by train to the yard where Derrick, Wouter and Henk connected the panels.
Gert Jubileus has submitted his latest weekly report.
Click here to view - 2MB PDF (opens in new window)
29 July 2011 Update
The ex SANRASM NGG11, No. 52, was a sad and seriously neglected locomotive. This has resulted in the need to fabricate many missing parts and to replace those that have become of no use due to the vagaries of time.
Two return cranks
Sandstone Estates Steam Trains
We steamed our Peckett last week Thursday for a train ride to Grootdraai. 50 people of Huis Ougoud joined us for a special trip down memory lane as the little Peckett puffed her way through the beautiful landscape of the Eastern Free State.
Gert Jubileus has submitted his latest weekly report.
Click here to view - 2MB PDF document (opens in new window)
Sandstone's GMAM, No. 4079, will be showing smaller locos how it is done by hauling a full 600 passenger train for Reefsteamers on 6th November from Johannesburg to Magaliesburg.
Should anyone wish to see this magnificent machine in operation please contact Les Smith whose details appear below. Better still, why not book on a forthcoming Reefsteamers trip to Magaliesburg.
For further details contact Les Smith at
Andrew King – Reefsteamers (left), and Wilfred Mole – Sandstone Heritage Trust
EASTERN FREE STATE TRAINS!
Another perfect day in the Eastern Free State...
Gert Jubileus has submitted his latest weekly report.
Click here to view - 3MB PDF (opens in new window)
By Andrew Giffen
This loco has a long history. Back in 1968 I think, Ron Etter visited the legendary Jimmy Scott in Rondebosch and spotted a 15F chassis and tender under the workbench. The 15F was a running chassis and completed tender and had been exhibited - Derek Heydenrych knows more about this period. Jimmy said it was just too big for him to finish and after some haggling over the price, Ron ended up with the loco on the back seat of the car with the tender in the boot and took it back to Jo'burg, to join with his other already running 15F 3088, doing sterling service at the Rand track and attracting a lot of interest.
Orenstein & Koppel locomotives, Nos. 12140 and 11112
We still have a residual stock of O&K locomotives ex Angola. Nos. 121450 and 11112 are partly rebuilt but currently need new boilers.
St. Helena Days
The SANRASM tragedy has rocked the Preservation community in South Africa more than any other event that has probably ever taken place. Although it was admirable that locomotives were collected and for some inexplicable trucked into the middle of nowhere to be abandoned in Blue Gum plantations or alongside informal settlements, the fact is that the perception exists that the items were safe, i.e. that at least SANRASM had at least one or two or more of each type of Mine locomotive etc. and that they were therefore safe. Overnight that was no longer the case.
The Sandstone Heritage Trust has gone head to head with SANRASM on many occasions and because of Sandstone's relative lack of credibility were not able to negotiate the acquisition of locomotives. However, there were exceptions, as in the case of St. Helena Gold Mine.
This report, which was prepared by Gert Jubileus at Sandstone, is an interesting one because it highlights the fact that just because a locomotive or locomotives go into Preservation it doesn't mean to say they are any safer than they were at their point of origin. Undoubtedly this report will be followed by many more which will deal individually with each class of locomotive that exists in South Africa.
We invite comment and contributions from visitors to our web site.
Click here to view the full report - 720KB PDF (opens in a new window)
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
Sandstone Heritage Trust - Rail News
RESCUE TO SAFETY - MASSIVE SHED IN TOWN
After years of continued high security costs to guard the trains in the Ficksburg Shed, it was decided to withdraw security from the shed. This however turned out to be a bad decision and one break-in resulted in a R600,000 loss in spares.
The management of the Sandstone Steam Railroad recently decided to move this shed to the yard in Hoekfontein Farm where it will be used for the storage of all unrestored Narrow Gauge wagons and locomotives.
Click here to view Gert Jubileus' report on the move - 1MB PDF (opens in a new window)
SHOCKING SANRASM CHAMDOR REPORT
Last week a team visited the Chamdor site in Krugersdorp and provided us with a report on their visit.
Click here to view the report - 4MB PDF (opens in a new window)
Gert Jubileus has also submitted a follow-up report on his initial visit.
Click here to view the report - 915KB PDF (opens in a new window)