As there is no official Cherry Festival in 2023 we have given our November 2023 event a new name-“The Sandstone Summer Steam Festival”. You can see full details in either English or Afrikaans by clicking on the link to the pdf below. We look forward to welcoming you at Sandstone, 17th to 19th November 2023!
Ox Power!
In 2018 we inspanned 36 Oxen at Sandstone, which we believe to be a world record. As regular readers of our web site we thought you would enjoy seeing this fascinating video again which gives an excellent insight into the Oxen, managing them and the people who manage them. Enjoy the show!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C3510ZcGJc
The concept of preservation is pretty straight forward. If it’s endangered save it, take it out of reach of people who might want to scrap it, modify it in an unacceptable way or possibly just abandon it for a long and steady decline to extinction.
Back from the brink
We recently brought a WW2 Canadian Military Pattern vehicle back from the brink as it was deemed unrepairable. However, we did not give up and it is now a runner as our story reveals.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
One of the joys of Sandstone is when young school children visit us and see what life was like in the past. Recently 51 pupils from the Maseru Preparatory School, under the Leadership of teacher Margaret Matlole and four other teachers, visited us for a morning. The children were shown the Steam Railway depot and Road Steam shed with its trucks and buses. The highlight was a ride on an Ox wagon and the Donkey cart after which all the children and teachers settled down for a picnic before their return to Maseru. Our picture gallery tells the story. Pictures taken with permission
The cosmetic restoration has begun of NGG16A 141, which donated it’s power bogies to NGG16A 155 in 2021 so that 155 could be finally restored to working order. Our pictures show the engine units and part of the wheelsets after cleaning and painting.
The John Deere 9400. A modern classic!
Our John Deere 9400 tractor is now 25 years old and has become part of the agricultural heritage at Sandstone,
Shortly after our Easter Steam event we were saddened to hear of the passing of Gavin Brown. Gavin was the driving force behind Classic Flying Collection who have partnered with Sandstone on many events since 2014. Their vintage aircraft collection of Tiger Moths, Stampe and Chipmunks have given many hours of flying pleasure to visitors to Sandstone. Gavin had been unwell for some time but did visit our Easter event. With his illness, his son Steve organised Classic Flying Collection to visit at Easter and also at last November’s Cherry Festival. Sadly the Cherry visit did not happen as the inclement weather made Sandstone unsuitable for flying over that event. We will remember Gavin with affection and his efforts in promoting classic flying and his enthusiasm for our Sandstone events. Our thoughts are with his sons Steve and Kyle and Gavin’s partner, Rose for their loss.