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The Sandstone Steam Railroad
- The First 10 Years -
Dave Richardson & Joanna Molyneux-Killik
ISBN 0-620-37441-1

The Sandstone Heritage Trust, 2006, £12.50

This book tells the story of how and why the Sandstone Estate railway line was built - the WHR's South African twin. It chronicles how Wilfred Mole, the estate’s owner and a steam enthusiast, decided to save the rolling stock of the failed Midmar Project in Kwa Zulu Natal from the scrap man.

The Midmar locomotives and carriages were transported to Sandstone’s estate in the Eastern Free State. This was initially for safe storage but, before long, a project was hatched whereby the estate would actually be served by a narrow-gauge railway. This would show how a cheaply-constructed railway could actually work for the model farm by transporting goods and harvests across a vast acreage. Before long, a transhipment siding to the ‘Cape-gauge’ mainline was in place and a depot built close to the main farm complex.

Once the line was up and running, historic 2-foot gauge locomotives and rolling stock from all over the sub-continent appeared in all kinds of condition and were quickly dealt with by Sandstone’s expert restoration team in Bloemfontein. The line now has one of the most diverse collections of narrow-gauge equipment and rolling stock in Africa and the aim is to preserve the past as a living, working entity under the umbrella of the Sandstone Heritage Trust.

To quote from SHT's excellent website: ‘Over the years the Sandstone Steam Railroad has simply pursued a policy of trying to accumulate on one site as diverse a cross-section as possible of 2ft narrow gauge items. There appeared to be no single preservation centre that was focused on this activity and as a result it seemed appropriate that Sandstone should take up the mantle and take full responsibility for flying the flag for South Africa... Many other countries around the world are blessed with a wonderful cross-section of small industrial locomotives, particularly in the Sugar Cane application, but very few countries can pride themselves on being the place that created the need for locomotives like (the) NGG13, NG15 and NGG16...’

Sandstone is not however, just 2-foot gauge… The estate also looks after an amazing quantity of 500mm, 750mm, 2’6” and 3’6” (Cape-gauge) equipment too. Indeed, Wilfred Mole’s wife, Lindie, has a mainline-certified GMAM Garratt named in her honour!

Your reviewer has been following Sandstone’s fortunes on the internet for several years now and, until he received the book, knew only a fraction of what they have achieved. The book, in A5 format, is neat and attractive. Most of the pictures are in colour and reproduce well. Unfortunately, the print is in a small font and might be difficult for someone with poor eyesight to read. It is obvious why this has been done – to pack as much information as possible into a small and relatively inexpensive book. However, for those with normal eyesight it is readable without too much difficulty.

The only real criticism is that the map of the line is from a satellite image and rather small and murky. A much clearer map would have been better so that pictures could be related to locations. Other than that, if you’re interested in overseas two-foot gauge railways - those that followed where the FR led - this book is to be recommended.

Copies are available from: The Sandstone Heritage Trust in South Africa, or In the UK c/o Joanne West, 33, Searing Way, Tadley, Hants RG26 4HT - email: joannewest@btinternet.com CB