Railway Heritage

Sandstone Heritage Puts Vintage Tractors on Auction

24 March 2010

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.

Harvest Time at Sandstone

24 March 2010

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.
Names such as Fowler, Farmall, Lanz and Minneapolis Moline graced a specially retained wheat field for some old time action.	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!	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.
	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.


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).

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

24 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

David Payling visits Sandstone

HTN 15 - Repair points at triangle

24 March 2010

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.

Repair points at triangle - Fitting the point blade

Repair points at triangle - Fitting the point blade

Repair points at triangle - The points close up

Repair points at triangle - The points removed

HTN 18 - Overseas visitors to Little Train Cosmos Weekend

24 March 2010

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.

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

24 March 2010

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.

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

24 March 2010

HTN 31 - Mountain View Country Retreat

24 March 2010

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.

HTN 36 - A question to our readers:

23 March 2010

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.
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. ************* 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. ****************

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

23 March 2010

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

23 March 2010

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.

HTN 47 - The Blacksmiths Workshop is offering in two training courses next year

23 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 47 - The Blacksmiths Workshop is offering in two training courses next year

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

Conrad Hicks, a Blacksmiths Forge, has started a non-profit training

organisation for blacksmiths, called the Blacksmith’s Workshop Trust.

They will be running a number of different training courses in 2006; these will vary in length from two-week intensive tool making course to a full-time yearlong Learner ship recognised by the Mappp Seta. At this stage they are trying to assess the interest from people in their network for blacksmith training.

The courses will be held in Cape Town at the Blacksmith’s Forge in Observatory. They are planning to offer their first short course from 20 February - 3 March. Brent Bailey, a Master Artist Blacksmith and toolmaker will be there from the States and will be running a two week tool making course. Brent is a very experienced trainer and has run numerous courses in the States, Peru and Zimbabwe.

The organisationare also hoping to get Alfred Habermann from the Czech Republic there in March - still to be confirmed.

The long course will be in line with the Blacksmithing Standards developed by the Appalachian Blacksmiths Association, an ABANA (Artist Blacksmiths Association of North America) Affiliate."

The Details

BLACKSMITHS WORKSHOP
The Bijou, 178 Lower Main Road
Observatory
7925
Cape Town
Tel: 021 447 5066
Email: 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.
Artist Blacksmithing 1 year course
Course content: Basic Blacksmithing, you will be taught and will make, use and equip yourself with all the hand tools and skills needed to work as an artist blacksmith. Design and business skills electives will also be offered. The Course will be overseen and some modules taught by Conrad Hicks.
Fee: R25 000 (payment plans are available)
Limited Bursaries are available - please contact us for more information.
Includes: materials, equipment, safety gear and textbooks
Dates: 30 January - 30 November 2005
What to bring: tool box, strong clothing no synthetic fabrics, good attitude, be prepared for hard work, healthy and fit, people with physical disadvantages should consult first. The course is open to people of ages16 onwards. We can accommodate all levels of experience.
At the end of the first year students will have an option to continue into a second year of more advanced training.
Space is limited - please book early

Short courses will be advertised during the course of the year.

Two Week Tool Making Course
Brent Bailey is a Master Artist Blacksmith and tool maker based in California. He is very experienced and teachers tool making all over the states and Peru. Brent has been given a grant by the Artist Blackmith Association of North America to come to the Blacksmiths Workshop for two months. He will run a two week tool making course while he is here.
Dates 20 February - 3 March 2006
Fee: R2000
No previous experience required.
Space is limited - please book earlyShort courses will be offered by visiting Blacksmiths through out the year - we will keep you posted
For registration forms or more information and course details please contact Dammon Rice at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 447 5066 or
082 717 0993
Dammon Rice and Conrad Hicks
The Blacksmiths Workshop s a non-profit Trust.

VISION
The vision is of a renaissance in the ancient craft of the African Blacksmith to stimulate jobs in a niche market in the South African economy.
MISSION
The Blacksmiths Workshop will train , men and women as blacksmiths, enabling them to become self-sustaining entrepreneurs.
VALUES
Non-racialism, employment equity, empowerment, non-sexism, productivity, innovation, excellence, self-respect, dignity.

HTN 48 - High Ranking Kelsey Publishing deputation visits the SWAT Team in the Cape, report from Andy Selfe

23 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 48 - High Ranking Kelsey Publishing deputation visits the SWAT Team in the Cape, report from Andy Selfe

High Ranking Kelsey Publishing deputation visits the SWAT Team in the Cape

Gordon Wright and his wife Suzanne of Kelsey Publishing UK had, I think, a wonderful day down here with us last Tuesday. They had had every second planned for them by their family while they were up North, but they did manage a visit to Deon Bouwer, and were shown the Arthur Prescott Hall at RSME. (Arthur had been invested in the Stationary Engine Hall of Fame many years ago.... he used to visit shows in UK and tell people he'd just quickly popped in to the show from Jo'burg!).

Philip Gray-Taylor and Arthur Wilding picked them up from their hotel in Cape Town, took them to Philip's house and collection in Milnerton.

From there they went up to Blaauberg, to show the visitors an unforgettable sight:

I met up with them at Boschendal Manor House, where we were able to show them a Stately Cape Dutch farmhouse.

Our next call was Arthur Wilding's amazing collection of old iron at Groot Drakenstein. Gordon's camera was snapping away at all the amazing engines, tractors, steam engines, windmills.... well something of everything!

Here Gordon hands us a hard bound copy of Patrick Knight's A-Z of British Stationary Engines, signed by Gordon and Patrick himself.

Next stop was at an HMG (Hanseatische Motoren Werke) two stroke Hot Bulb engine still in its place of work, very complete, and eminently restorable.

FLTR: Arthur Wilding, Andy Selfe, Philip Gray-Taylor, and Gordon Wright. (SWAT stands for Selfe, Wilding and Taylor).

After climbing over the spectacular Franschhoek Pass we were entertained at the new Villiersdorp Tractor & Engine Museum, with a great meal at the Kelkiewyn Restaurant, which is part of the complex, all under the wing of Villiersdorp Co-op. Between courses, we were able to view the exhibits in this already full-to-bursting museum.

Then over the Viljoens Pass to the Elgin Valley, where we were able to show them one of the five Clayton & Shuttleworth Trusty engines known to exist, at my workshop. This one is the largest, we are all involved with the project of its restoration. Also a Fairbanks Morse YH engine, a project which has appeared in the pages of Gordon's Stationary Engine Magazine.

On to my farm, and more old iron, and more engines and driven machines which have appeared in the pages of Kelsey Magazines. A look around the farm at the high density apple plantings brought us to a time when we had to head back to Cape Town, an hour away. This time over Sir Lowry's Pass, to be able to see the twinkling lights of False Bay suburbs and Cape Town itself, with the form of Table Mountain from a different angle, just fading into darkness.

For us it will be unforgettable, I hope it will be the same for them!

Andy Selfe

HTN 78 - ING. LIVIO DANTE PORTA 1922 - 2003

23 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 78 - ING. LIVIO DANTE PORTA 1922 - 2003

17th March 2005

ING. LIVIO DANTE PORTA 1922 - 2003
Ingeniero Livio Dante Porta dedicated his life to the advancement of the steam railway locomotive. His love of steam was, as with many, seeded at an early age. During World War II Porta worked on the railways of Argentina as an enginemen, gaining much of the first hand knowledge and experience which was to guide his future path.

Click here to go to the Trainweb site for a complete list of Bibliographies of Porta's papers >>

HTN 85 - Unique synergy is achieved by classic military vehicles owned by the SA Armour Museum in Bloemfontein (SADF)

23 March 2010

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

HTN 85 - Unique synergy is achieved by classic military vehicles owned by the SA Armour Museum in Bloemfontein (SADF)

21st April 2005

Unique synergy is achieved by classic military vehicles owned by the SA Armour Museum in Bloemfontein (SADF), the Sandstone Heritage Trust's collection of military vehicles, and the 2-ft Narrow Gauge railway at Sandstone Estates. All of these combined together to provide a photographic experience for photographers in the Eastern Free State.

Below: NGG16 No. 113 coming up to Grootdraai

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