Railway Heritage

INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

International Museum Day

18 May 2004

International Museum Day is celebrated annually on 18 May. This year the International Council of Museums decided on the theme of ‘Museums and intangible heritage’


While Sandstone Heritage Trust does not claim to be a Museum, it certainly contributes to the preservation of ‘intangible heritage, mainly through the vehicle restoration programme. The Trust has two steam workshops, one in Bloemfontein and the other at Sandstone Estates near Ficksburg in the Eastern Free State. Here young apprentices are trained to become steam fitters, to care for the locomotives in the collection and to drive them as and when required.

Wickham Type 28 Flying Gang Trolley. One of three, nos. 8066-68 despatched to Durban in December 1958. A development of the Type 27 trolley it was powered by a Ford 591E petrol engine developing 30hp and was fitted with a three speed gearbox to which was attached a Wickham totally enclosed bevel geared direction box. Drive from this box was by a duplex roller chain to the rear driving axle. A cooling fan and radiator were fitted at the front of the trolley. 01

Since Spoornet phased out steam and left it in the hands of Transnet Heritage Preservation, Sandstone is making a major contribution in keeping this skill alive. Sandstone also sends out many other types of vehicles for restoration to experts in their fields eg wheelwrights, thus ensuring that these crafts are still practised.


Museums have great collections but most of the exhibits are static. What a thrill to see a veteran motor car being driven or a boiler being fired up. The ability to achieve this must not be lost!

King Letsie III of Lesotho 21-May 2004 - At Sandstone Estates

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

King Letsie III of Lesotho 21-May 2004 - At Sandstone Estates

Photography courtesy of Tessa Joughin email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HTN 8 - Oz review of latest Sandstone video

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 8 - Oz review of latest Sandstone video

Steam Locomotive

Usually we see our steam locomotives from the lineside hauling loads of freight or passengers through the beautiful Eastern Free State countryside, but this shot shows a driver's eye view from the footplate of the Lawley approaching the loco shed with a Garratt on the other track.

Sandstone Heritage Puts Vintage Tractors on Auction

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

Sandstone Heritage Puts Vintage Tractors on Auction

Sandstone Estates recently held an auction to dispose of some surplus modern equipment, including tractors large & small, trailers, balers & an assortment of tillage equipment, not to mention various trucks.

It was decided to place a small selection of vintage tractors on the auction as well. These were all duplicates of restored or complete runners already in the collection.
All 9 tractors were runners, some restored, and the reserves reflected going international prices.

The tractors on offer were:

1) Farmall M, FKB95275, restored condition with good paint & decals, in nice running condition, virtually new back tyres. This unit attracted a top bid of R9500.

2) Fordson Major E27N, GR45, Restored, good paint, not running well due to excesive dirt in the fuel tanks.
It has one original front light, the other missing.

3) McCormick W6 27792W3 - Excellent restored condition with new tyres, easy starter & good runner. This too attracted good bids.

4) Farmall Super C - 107963 - Restored, original, excellent condition with good tyres. Also attracted good bids.

5) Ferguson TED - complete & running, unusual with magneto ignition, professionally built fan belt idler to replace generator & no starter. This unusual configuration attracted a lot of interest and a top bid of R8500 was realised, exceptional for a Vaaljapie.

6) Farmall H - 279595 - "rough but full of character" very off farm condition, engine running sweetly.
The block had been patched to cover a hole presumably from a thrown con-rod. But the patch was riveted and beaten into the original metal in a way that could hardly be duplicated today, and survives as a monument to skills & dedication that have not survived.

7) Case D -0 5406376 Restored condition, originally an orchard version according to the serial number.
New back tyres, fully re-wired. sweet runner.

8) John Deere 730D - 73210200 - Running but unrestored, missing a starter motor. Although in rough ex- farm condition, this tractor is basically mechanically sound - a very important consideration as 2 cyl diesels can be wery expensive to re-build.
Although none of the tractors reached their reserves, the serious interest and bids offered indicate the vintage movement in SA is coming of age.


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Harvest Time at Sandstone

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

Harvest Time at Sandstone

The sound of steam welcomed in the New Year at Sandstone Estates as “Kalahari” Class NG15 No: 17 hauled a celebratory train from Hoekfontein to Grootdraai just before midnight, returning some two hours later in the early hours of 2005. This was certainly the first steam hauled train in South Africa for 2005 as night time running is not allowed on Spoornet metals for other operators. There was to be more steam action as the next few days progressed but this time not just on rail as Sandstone Heritage Trust ran its second Harvest Festival. Following on from a successful event in late 2003, the Harvest Festival took place on the 2nd and 3rd of January 2005. With a vast collection of veteran and vintage agricultural machinery Sandstone Heritage Trust fired up a number of steam traction engines and stationary engines to bring in the harvest, recreating days gone by. The vintage tractor collection was also brought into play with a great variety of these venerable machines hauling equally old ploughs and harvesting machines.
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Names such as Fowler, Farmall, Lanz and Minneapolis Moline graced a specially retained wheat field for some old time action.
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1907 Marshall Colonial traction engine

Guests were invited to participate in operating the vintage machinery under supervision, recreating scenes of many years ago.

This year the programme was a more formal one.
Day one started with a walking tour of the Sandstone Heritage Trust collection of agricultural machinery hosted by Chris Wilson, who gave a brief description of the items. It gave many enthusiasts an opportunity to see what was contained in some of the buildings that are normally not open to the public.
After the tour it was the turn of the old agricultural harvesting machines to show their capabilities. Demonstrations were given by a McCormick Deering Reaper dating back to pre-1900. This was followed by a tractor drawn Minneapolis Moline Combine Harvester which produces a bagged output. An Australian made Sunshine Harvester of similar vintage followed and then the venerable old John Deere 55 Self-Propelled Combine Harvester was put through its paces. All worked admirably.

While this was happening Jan Fouche and his assistants worked with tradition and concentrated on tracked agricultural Crawler tractors. Two Fowler VF Crawlers were put into the lands with offset disc harrows, together with the Trust’s ever reliable and powerful Fordson County Crawler, which is the tracked version of a Fordson Major tractor – a legend in its own right.

It must be said though that some of the “new” farmers battled to keep a straight furrow!
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A Ransomes Sims & Jefferies Threshing machine

After lunch it was time to do some steam threshing. A Ransomes Sims & Jefferies Threshing machine, which has been overhauled by the Sandstone Heritage Trust, was put to work threshing wheat which had been collected during the course of the day and which of course came from the output of the McCormick Reaper.

Anybody who happened to be lingering in the area of the steam threshing operation was volunteered to feed the machine. As the trailers were emptied so the magnificent 1907 Marshall Colonial traction engine would pull into sight hauling another load of wheat sheaves for the threshing machine.  In the main field experienced vintage tractor specialists were showing aspirant farmers the art of ploughing with a number of vintage implements.
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As the old time harvesting machines brought in the wheat, the field was ploughed in grand style for next year’s planting.
The day ended with a train trip to the end of the line behind NGG 16, No. 153, one of the company’s three 2-ft narrow gauge Garratts. The train was comprehensively equipped with carriages, freight wagons and a Guards Van that had been temporarily converted into a mobile bar so drinks were available at the end of the line. Of course if you happened to be travelling in the Guards Van then the drinks were permanently on tap.
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The following day saw a similar programme but it was decided to use all the harvesting machines simultaneously under the theme “100 Years of Harvesting”. The Reaper set out first followed by the Minneapolis, the Sunshine and the old John Deere Self-Propelled combine, but just to show how far mechanisation had developed a late model John Deere STS 96 combine harvester came along to tidy up the land.
The late afternoon train ride on the second day saw the company’s three Garratts triple headed in spectacular fashion as far as Vailima and back. NGG 16, No. 153, No. 113 and NGG 13, No. 49 worked magnificently and were skilfully driven by Shaun Ackerman, Gert Jubileus and Pat Ackerman. (Shown above and below).
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This event was very much in line with Sandstone’s philosophy, i.e. it is not worth having these machines if they are not made to work. Public events inevitably focus on utilizing them in the most realistic way possible. The photographs clearly show that this was achieved. For anyone out in the wheat lands with the old McCormick Deering Reaper being pulled by a steel-wheeled McCormick 12-20 tractor, they would not know that this was even taking place in 2005.

A special thanks to Chris Wilson, Hannes Weilbach, Whitty Boast, John Usher, Sagrys Cellier, Rob Stockl, Gavin Orr, Nick Smallwood, Terry Reilly, Karel Senekal and many, many others who dived in to whatever was happening in order to get as grubby as possible. At the end of the day collapsing exhausted with a cold beer after tying bags of wheat on a platform of a machine that has no concept of fatigue is what it is all about.

While Sandstone Estates is a very progressive and modern commercial farming operation entrenched in the 21st century it was exciting to see all our visitors stepping back into a time when everything took that little bit longer.

David Payling visits Sandstone

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

David Payling visits Sandstone

HTN 15 - Repair points at triangle

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 15 - Repair points at triangle

Here is some photos taken while some repair work was being done, also the finished result.

The points were fitted with new blades, the old one were bent and caused the blades to jump as a train moved over it.

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Repair points at triangle - Fitting the point blade

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Repair points at triangle - Fitting the point blade

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Repair points at triangle - The points close up

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Repair points at triangle - The points removed

HTN 18 - Overseas visitors to Little Train Cosmos Weekend

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 18 - Overseas visitors to Little Train Cosmos Weekend

The Little Train Cosmos Weekend saw two well known overseas visitors enjoying the proceedings.

Geoff Cooke arrived on the Friday morning and drove down to Sandstone spent the weekend with us before venturing north to Zimbabwe on business during the following week.

Mike ke Hart, of Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway fame was in South Africa on business during the preceding week and came down to the Eastern Free State on Friday afternoon, took in a Lawley hauled train that evening and had most of the day on Saturday at Sandstone before returning to Johannesburg. Picture shows Mike Hart and Lukas Nel catching up on happenings in Wales since the visit of Lukas last year. The Lawley and O&K locomotives form the backdrop.

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HTN 20 - Return of the Giants a big hit in New Zealand

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

On another subject, remember I arranged for a copy of Return of the Giants to be sent to Kerry Young in NZ? Well, I've been waiting on tenterhooks for him to watch it, knowing what the response would be.

Firstly, this came:
I'm here to lay on record that the video is without doubt, the best of its type I have ever seen. 'Return Of the Giants' should be seen nationwide.

My greatest testament to the quality of the production is to say that my wife, a sworn non believer in things rail, saw the entire show from one end to the other. Quite to my amazement. As a documentary of its type, it has no peer. What a wonderful insight into your country’s natural attractions.

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HTN 28 - Verve section in The Star Newspaper. Article by Winnie Graham

HTN 31 - Mountain View Country Retreat

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 31 - Mountain View Country Retreat

If you are visiting Sandstone soon or just visiting the beautiful Eastern Free State, why not spend a few days at Mountain View Country Retreat on the farm, Mooiplaas, close to Sandstone.

Set against the hillside with commanding views of the Maluti Mountains, this bed & breakfast establishment is attractively priced. The accommodation is set in turn of the century buildings with self catering facilities available. Rates are R150 p/p bed & breakfast but special rates do apply for the annual Cherry Festival.

You can contact Piet Koen for a reservation on 051 933 5800 or 082 953 5429.

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HTN 36 - A question to our readers:

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 36 - A question to our readers:

 

"An old container that was used for storage at the Sandstone Heritage Trust
contains this logo. We are keen to identify it. Do any of our web site
viewers recognise it?"

Please post any comments or suggestions to:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Current feedback:
From Andy Selfe: "A word on the Veritas question, there is are a firm / firms dealing with sea safety like Lloyds of London called Veritas, one certainly called Det Norske Veritas. I see there is a sailing ship in the background....

What sort of storage container is it?"


The logo belongs to the following company:
http://www.bureauveritas.com
They appear to be a massive company (established 1828) and amongst other things are involved in shipping. Strange that they used "Lorelei" as their logo as legend has it that she lured sailors to their death.
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http://www.pantheon.org/articles/l/lorelei.html
According to German legend, there was once a beautiful young maiden, named Lorelei, who threw herself headlong into the river in despair over a faithless lover. Upon her death she was transformed into a siren and could from that time on be heard singing on a rock along the Rhine River, near St. Goar. Her hypnotic music lured sailors to their death. The legend is based on an echoing rock with that name near Sankt Goarshausen, Germany.
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Attached is the modern version of their Logo (which I have on computer). Be careful with the old one on the container - don't let it get damaged and I'll photograph it and redraw it when I go down to Sandstone.
I spent time on your website tonight and can see that it has been re-organised. One problem is that on the stationary engine page the thumbnail pics are there but when you click on them for the bigger picture you get a page not found" error. I think that the larger pics have been moved to a different folder. - Jerry Evans

Subject: Veritas Logo on the website
Date: 10 October 2005 2:13:08 PM

Hi all,

So I wasn't far off when I wrote in to Joanna a while back suggesting the Veritas Logo had a shipping insurance background. The website mentioned 'container' but not what kind of container, I realise only now it was a shipping container!

Regards
Andy Selfe

HTN 40 - SANDSTONE HERITAGE TRUST ATTENDS IMPORTANT VILLIERSDORP VINTAGE TRACTOR EVENT

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 40 - Come and join us at Sandstone Estates for our annual Harvest Festival!

The National SAVTEK Vintage Tractor and Engine Show for 2005 was held in the beautiful Western Cape hamlet of Villiersdorp.
The Sandstone team were warmly received by the community and had thoroughly good time during the three day show.
With nearly 300 tractors and stationary engines on display there was a feast of well restored machinery for everyone to enjoy and become involved with.
On behalf of the Sandstone Heritage Trust thanks to the people of the Western Cape, to the organisers of this great show, to the office bearers of the various clubs involved and specifically to Eniel Viljoen, Hennie Richter, Koos Strydom and Andy Selfe who went out of their way to make sure that we were made very welcome.
A Vintage Tractor and Engine Museum has now opened in Villiersdorp which we urge people to visit when they are in the area.
For further details please contact Nikki Garnett, Tel: 011 799 7400, Fax: 011 463 3890,
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HTN 44 - Big Landscapes... We say goodbye to winter

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 44 - Big Landscapes... We say goodbye to winter

We say goodbye to winter with its many hues of brown and grey. These pictures were taken from the side of a mountain overlooking Sandstone and place both the countryside and the railway in perspective.
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