Railway Heritage

“Where to private rail use in SA”

While Sandstone is world renowned for its 2ft narrow gauge railway, many supporters may not be aware that the first ambitions at Sandstone were on the 3’6’ gauge system. Sandstone first rail acquisitions were ex SAR GMAM Garratt locomotives from Randfontein Estates Gold Mines and much planning was undertaken to concession the Bethlehem to Bloemfontein line for operation by Sandstone for freight operation and rail tourism. 

Sadly this failed with objections from the South African trade unions who could not bear to see privatisation and economic use of the railway meaning they would have to work harder and earn their wages instead of overstaffing the national system. This unnerved the national operator, Spoornet, and all negotiations with Sandstone just fizzled out. In fact the privatisation Department, of the then named SPOORNET which handled concession negotiations, was closed overnight.

One of the prime movers within Sandstone for the 3’6” project was well known Railway and Preservation specialist , Geoff Pethick. While the loss of the 3’6” project was hard to bear at the time, it was 2ft gauge that ultimately was to benefit with the magnificent railway that exists to this day.

Throughout the 3’6” project Geoff Pethick worked tirelessly to take it to success and wrote a very telling article in October 1997 in conjunction with Wilfred Mole, “Where to private rail use in SA”. We are proud to publish this article 22 years later as an example of what could have been and is still relevant to what could be achieved today. In fact after the destruction of many parts of the national railway system during the recent Covid19 lockdown, it is interesting to see the first moves towards allowing some form of private access and operation on the rail system, primarily for freight but with hints for a revival of rail tourism of a more affordable nature than that presented by the current premium operators. 

No wisdom was evident when it mattered. Click here to read more

NGG16A number 155 under restoration. Update number 10. October 2020.

Work has continued on NGG16A since our last report with the cab fittings installed and the water tank fitted to the front engine unit. The chimney has also been fitted as number 155 begins to look like a full locomotive. Our photo gallery shows the work to date. No definite date has been set for the completion of 155 but early in 2021 is looking likely.

IMG 20201009 WA0006

The Sandstone Spring Steam Festival 19-22 November 2020

Sandstone Spring Festival

Sadly the Cherry Festival will not be held in Ficksburg in 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic but a number of local establishments will be open over the weekend of Thursday 19th November to Sunday 22nd November together with Sandstone who will be holding a steam festival over the four days. Sandstone has been closed since the pandemic began but will re-open  for visitors from November 1st 2020.

From the 19th November until 21st November Sandstone will be offering train rides together with walking tours of the Sandstone Heritage collection.

Entrance is R200 for adults and R125 for children under 12.
Trains will run from 11h00 on Thursday 19th and Friday 20thth and from 10h00 on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd.


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

Latest Stock List

Screen Shot 2021 05 21 at 10.46.33

The Sandstone stock list has been updated to correct some changes in the location of some items - Click here to read

A new book on the Port Elizabeth to Avontuur 2ft Narrow Gauge

New Book

A new book on the Port Elizabeth to Avontuur 2ft narrow gauge line will be published in October. The book is the first to be taken from the material published on the excellent Soul Of A Railway website hosted by Charlie Lewis and Les Pivnic. The book is co-authored by the late David Payling who visited Sandstone many times over the last few years.

Click here to read more

NGG16A number 155 under restoration. Update number 9. July 2020

After the return of the boiler from Wonder Steam in Pretoria the locomotive has been re assembled with the boiler unit placed on to the  modified engine units, originally from NGG16A number 141. Work has begun on the boiler cladding and making up patterns for the numerous pipes and fitting required for the locomotive. Our pictures show the initial cladding in place as well as the backhead of the boiler and the steam generator.

IMG 20200713 WA0004

NGG13 number 50 in Texas.

Garratt Bucher and his father, Robert, are good friends of Sandstone sharing a South African 2ft narrow gauge interest with NGG13 number 50 based at the Hempstead and Northern railroad in Texas along with NG15 number 18. Recently the front tank has been replaced on number 50 which brought to life a number of parts from other numbers in the NGG13/16 family. It is common knowledge that South African Railways swapped parts between locos but we did not expect Garratt to discover a piece of our own number 49 in the USA! Our picture shows this part which is from the sanding system as well a large axle nut from our NGG16 number 113. The part marked TC10 is from Tsumeb Corporation NGG16 number 10 which became SAR 141. Now modified to NGG16A configuration, number 141 is stored at Sandstone for a private collector.

Our pictures show the wandering parts as well as number 50 resplendent with her new front tank.

IMG 20200710 WA0004

Updated Steam Railway Stock List

SAR NGG13 No. 49 HANOMAG 10598 psh kl

The Sandstone Steam Railway Stock List has been updated. The new version amends the incorrect Hanomag works number for NGG13 number 49 from 10599 to 10598. Information via Andreas Giller at the Hanomag Museum in Germany and Garratt Bucher in the USA confirms that 10598 is the correct works number for number 49. The attached pic courtesy of Hanomag confirms the information.

Our documentation extending back some 20 years has always detailed number 49 as Hanomag 10599 but after all these years the correct information has emerged.

Click here to see the Latest Stock List

 

NGG16A number 155 under restoration. Update number 8. June 2020

155’s boiler returns to Sandstone.

The rebuilt boiler of NGG16A 155 has now arrived at Sandstone following its rebuild at Wonder Steam in Pretoria. This was done  with an official permit as railway maintenance departments were declared as essential services by the Minister on the 4th of May 2020 meaning we could collect the boiler as it is part of maintenance. This also means that we can now continue with the restoration at Sandstone.

The photo of the boiler plate show that the boiler of 155 is its original from its construction at Hunslet-Taylor in Johannesburg in 1968 although the boiler itself was actually constructed at Leeds in the UK.

Our other photos shows 155 off loaded and stabled in the loco depot prior to work beginning on uniting the boiler with the rebuilt engine units.

Boiler plate

NGG16A number 155 under restoration. Update number 7. May 2020

 NGG16A 155

Stop Press! 

155’s boiler is completed at Wonder Steam and loaded for the return to Sandstone.

The rebuilt boiler of NGG16A 155 has now been loaded at Wonder Steam in Pretoria for return to Sandstone. This was done  with an official permit as railway maintenance departments were declared as essential services by the Minister on the 4th of May 2020 meaning we could obtain a permit to collect the boiler as it is part of maintenance. This also means that we can now continue with the restoration at Sandstone.

The attached photo shows 155 being loaded and the PDF, a copy of the Government Gazette relating to Railway Maintenance. - Read more here

The Sandstone Steam Railway Stock List

Screen Shot 2021 05 21 at 10.46.33

Sandstone Steam Railway has updated its stock list. The update corrects the build date of 15F 3052 and the disposal of four mainline coaches. - Click here to view

Sandstone Steam Railway News

Sandstone Steam Railway News

Click here to read

Sandstone Freight Workings

Since its inception the Sandstone Steam Railway has collected numerous freight wagons from various locations, mainly from the Port Shepstone to Harding line and the Port Elizabeth to Avontuur railway. All of these wagons were simply abandoned and slowly being reduced to kits of parts but many have been restored at Sandstone’s Hoekfontein facility and used at many events over the years. Our gallery by photographer Rod Hering shows the variety of freight consists that Sandstone can run. Enjoy the nostalgia!

Sandstone 2 Copy

NGG16A number 155 under restoration. Update number 6 April 2020

IMG 20200327 WA0000
NGG16A number 155 to use the modified engine units from number 141!

The original NGG16A number 141, modified at the Alfred County Railway (ACR) in 1989 and privately owned by Phil Mortimer and his son Phil, has been in storage at Sandstone since they purchased the locomotive from the ACR after the demise of the railway in 2004. The locomotive has its original engine units modified to the LD Porta principles unlike number 155 where unmodified units from 142 were fitted to the loco for a proposed overhaul of the modified ones. As ACR ran into difficulties this overhaul did not happen and 155 retained the unmodified units until purchased by Sandstone. As is well known 142 was scrapped at Paddock with 155’s engine units in 2017 after repeated attempts by Sandstone to purchase the locomotive from its owners were refused. See the sad story as featured in Narrow Gauge World magazine: https://www.sandstone-estates.com/images/pdf/nov2017/Narrow_Gauge_World_Nov2017.pdf