Kalahari Sunrise Programme
The programme for the event has been updated as at 27th March 2012.
Please click here to view the programme - 181KB Excel Worksheet (opens in new window)
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Exhibit Gallery
Depending on when our visitors stop by during our 8-day Kalahari event, they may stumble across something interesting.
We have published an exhibit gallery below which is by no means comprehensive but which will be updated daily to give our Internet visitors an idea of what is happening on the ground at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State.
Our 1901 ex De Beers Kimberley Fowler B5 Road Locomotive being steamed ready for some heavy haulage work. Sunlight and steam combine to provide a wonderful mood in one of Sandstone Estates’ machinery sheds.
A team of trained Afrikaner oxen will be out every day.
Our big Bagnall Diesel locomotive (Works No. 3204, 1961, ex Rustenburg Platinum Mine) with its wonderful 8LW Gardner engine will be on standby at all times to provide extra traction as needed.
Our 1951 Series I Land Rover is the oldest item that has been in the collection. It was built in 1951, purchased in 1961, and has been in the ownership of the shareholders of Sandstone Estates ever since. This Land Rover, having spent 10-years working for the Wankie Coal Mines in Zimbabwe from 1951 to 1961 then spent the next 10-years of its life on a farm in Swaziland, then in Johannesburg, and then in the Eastern Free State. It is now over 60-years old and has never had a day off in all that time.
1991 Kenworth T900 manufactured in Australia which provides the bedrock of Sandstone’s heavy haulage programme. On the low bed is a 1955 W-Series Kenworth that spent its entire working life in South Africa, mostly hauling freight between Cape Town and Johannesburg and back.
Our 1940 Marshall Roller which was out on day one consolidating the roads. See link: http://www.sandstone-estates.com/index.php/railway-heritage/39-railway-heritage/2705-the-next-generation-steam-and-heritage-enthusiasts.
Emerson Brantingham Big 4-30 from 1913.
1951 Ford F100 Pick-Up. This vehicle was purchased from a family in Natal who had purchased it new. It originally belonged to the owner’s father and he was already in his 70’s when it was purchased. It is completely unrestored and totally original and is typical of the sorts of vehicles that would have travelled the farm roads 40-50 years ago. The Sandstone Heritage Trust entered this truck in a rally which took it from Johannesburg to Nairobi a few years ago. It travelled a distance of 7,700 kms with only minor technical issues to deal with along the way.
Kerr Stuart No. 4063 opened the proceedings at the Sandstone Heritage Trust Kalahari Sunrise event this year. Our brake man is Barry White, a professional railwayman and now retired from Western Australia and currently working at the Bennett Brook Railway at Whiteman Park in Perth.
Thanks Barry, you not only know what you are doing but you look the part as well.
One of our favourite tractors – a rare 1939 John Deere Model H driven by one of our loyal supporters, Chris Wilson. Chris has enormous experience in John Deere machinery.
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An Amateur photographer’s observations
Old and new meet at the level crossing at Hoekfontein.
New tractors on their way to customers – 1957?
Our Peckett Saddle Tank Engine No. 2161.
A hard working survivor from Sena Sugar Estates, Mozambique.
Our Kerr Stuart locomotive, No. 4063, Tamara, taking water at Hoekfontein.
Freight in the marshalling yard.
A view from the train window.
Through the maize lands under dynamic skies.
Our 1927 Chev
A timeless scene
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Throughout the week there has been an interesting selection of locomotives operating daily with completely new consists compared to previous years.
Here are some of the configurations that visitors to Kalahari Sunrise were able to experience.
Photo credits: Gary Barnes
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Countdown to the event
Tuesday, 20th March
The first group of visitors have arrived and they are now enjoying the magnificent Autumnal weather in the Eastern Free State.
Steam shunting starts tomorrow but a diesel hauled works train was out today carrying out line maintenance.
The Works train returns in the late evening light...
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Wednesday, 21st March
Today the consists were assembled - there will be 4 sets as follows:
1) Passenger - open and closed coaches.
2) Military - various vehicles.
3) Industrial Tyres, cable drums , and crates.
4) Agricultural - tractors, implements, spares, and tanks.
The pictures show the assembly and loading of the Narrow Gauge wagons.
