Sandstone Estates commenced in its present form in 1996 and started with a fleet of modern equipment, mostly John Deere tractors and combine harvesters. Many of these are nearly 20-years old with our venerable 9400 tractor heading the list. However, many of our other fleet items are just as old. Our 7710 tractor which was purchased new on an auction in Holland after that particular model was discontinued has soldiered on through thick and thin for many years. Here it pulls a massive 20-ton Chaser Bin working alongside our combine harvesters. This process significantly speeds up the harvest turnaround time.
Welcome to the Sandstone Estates website! Click on “About Us” to learn more about Sandstone and the Heritage collection.
Please note we do not accept cash payments at Sandstone, only Debit Cards, Credit Cards, EFT payments & mobile application payments.
A LIMITED SPECIAL OFFER ON SEB’S HEART OF AFRICA RAILWAY!
For a limited period only, we can offer a steam hauled trip on Seb’s Heart of Africa Railway for 20 people for just R8500 including VAT! That is a huge saving, so book now while the offer lasts! As an added attraction we can offer a Walking Tour at a special price of just R275 including VAT per head if you take the Seb’s train offer! - Contact us for more information
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The bissel components have been returned from machining and the bissel reassembled. Work now continues on the frames and other components. As we have mentioned before this is probably the most difficult restoration done by Sandstone and so our updates tend to be about seemingly small items but which are key to the locomotive’ reconstruction, and yes in reality, given the deterioration of the NG10, the restoration probably will be classified as a reconstruction.
Our pictures show the bissel components and the bissel completed plus the brake shaft which needs further work.
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Members of the MG Car Club from Johannesburg recently visited Sandstone while on a weekend tour to the Eastern Free State. You can read a report on their visit and thoughts on Sandstone by clicking on the link below to take you to their latest “Thumbs Up” magazine: Click here to view PDF
You can also visit the MG Car Club website on : WWW.MGCC.co.za.
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Sandstone’s David Shepherd celebrity 15F, 3052, has been moved from the Friends of the Rail base at Hermanstad to Reefsteamers (RS) in Germiston. This follows its derailment on the Cullinan branch in March. The loco was towed dead with its rods off. The loco will be inspected for any damage at RS although an initial inspection seems to indicate minimal issues.
RS’s 15F 3046 was used for the movement with Driver Peter Odell and Fireman Clive Holliday on the outward journey. On the return trip Shaun Ackerman took over 3046 with Peter Odell as fireman. The train left RS at 09h35 on the 19th May arriving at Hermanstad at 12h57. Departure from Hermanstad was at 14h41 and arrival in Germiston at 17h39. The train was restricted to 30kph to Pretoria as 3046 ran tender first and to the same speed on its return due to a dead engine in the load as per the Transnet regulations.
Our pictures from Peter Odell show the train being marshalled at Hermanstad and ready for departure and the train approaching Pretoria Station on the return to Germiston with the inspection stop at Pinedene.
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A recently published booklet by the Railway History Society, an interest group of the RSSA Natal Branch and written by Bruno Martin, has revealed that three locos of the Sandstone collection worked on this branch. Click here to read PDF
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We have put together some fact sheets on our Military Vehicle collection.
Click the below links to view :
Casspir
Eland
Ratel
Rogers Tank
Samil 50
Samel 100
Saracen
Sherman Tank
Eland 90
Ferret
Field Kitchen
QF 3,7 AAG
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With the restoration of NGG11 number 52 now complete and the loco in service at Sandstone, the restoration of NG10 number 61 continues. Boiler work is being undertaken at Keith Steven’s mechanical workshop in Howick with the refurbishment of the frames moving ahead with Lukas Nel in Bloemfontein.
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Construction at Sandstone is moving ahead of the new line designed primarily for our younger visitors (although our adult visitors will love it too!) that runs from the grain silos and along by the loco workshop to a large loop around the dam in the south east of the Sandstone complex. After last year’s drought, Sandstone has been experiencing exceptionally heavy rain which has slowed progress but the line is till on target for a grand opening at the Stars of Sandstone 2017 event at the end of March. The line is to be named Seb’s Railway after the grandson of one of Sandstone’s directors. The map below shows the layout of the new line and ongoing progress can be followed in the weekly steam reports via the regular links published on this page