Open Days at The Cherry Festival. Friday 16th and Saturday 17th November 2018.
November is Cherry Festival time in Ficksburg . To celebrate The Cherry Festival Sandstone will be holding Open Days on Friday 16th November and Saturday 17th November coinciding with this classic event.
Train rides from Hoekfontein to Vailima Siding will operate at 10h00, 12h00, 14h00 and 16h00. Other attractions will be Ox Wagon rides and Military Vehicle rides while the famous Sandstone Heritage Collection will be open to view. Refreshments will be on sale with the Sandstone Shop open for memorabilia. Entrance is R200 for adults and R125 for under 12’s which includes one train trip. Booking is essential and it will be a day not to be missed. Contact Leigh Sanders or Alina Halafu on 051 933 2235 or e mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. We look forward to seeing you there.
Sandstone’s latest restored locomotive, NGG16A number 155 will be hauling Easter trains. Picture by James Attwell.
Our first event for 2022 will be our Easter Steam Festival from Friday 15th April until Monday 18th April. The full Sandstone Heritage collection will be on display together with rides on military vehicles and on a vintage Ox wagon hauled by our team of Oxen. Food and refreshments will be on sale. Steam Trains will run daily at 10h00, 12h00, 14h00 and 16h00.
Self-catering accommodation will be available in our Railway and Victorian Cottages as well as our fully equipped camp site. The entrance fee is R250 for adults and R140 for children under 12. Please note that this fee does apply to visitors accommodated on site on a daily basis. Covid protocols as applied at the time of the event must be adhered to.
The scenic railway line from Bloemfontein in the west, to Bethlehem in the east, has long been considered as one of the most spectacular railway lines for steam photography in South Africa and indeed, in the world. Steam haulage on the line ended in 1987 and since then the line has declined into a shadow of its former self with no through trains and limited traffic at each end. The busiest section these days is probably the line to Lesotho from Bloemfontein via Marseilles.
In 1999 Sandstone was well into negotiations to concession the line for freight operation and steam hauled tourism trains. Sadly this was not to be, as the trade unions quietly sank Sandstone’s efforts for the concession, as the hint of privatisation was too much for their left wing leanings. Nevertheless what could have been the Sandstone Steam Railroad developed into the, now world famous, Sandstone Steam Railway. A 2ft narrow gauge Centre of Excellence admired around the world. However even after the end of steam in 1987 many steam hauled tour trains used the line. The last one, however, being the disastrous UK tour in April 2019 when the train could not proceed beyond Ficksburg from Bethlehem due to unsafe and blocked track. A sad end to a great history of tour trains on the line. At Sandstone we thought we should celebrate the line though, but not in its heyday. This has been covered by numerous books and video productions over the years. We will celebrate the line, post 1987, and into the 90s’ as Sandstone began to make its presence felt with its concession plans. We have assembled a wonderful photo gallery by master photographer, Dennis Moore, who provided us with twenty images of the line. We have concentrated on the area of the line near to Sandstone, particularly Sekonyela, a major landmark. We have also featured two images, one by Robert Horlacher and one by David Richardson, from steam days, near Sekonyela, as they are just too good to leave out! We hope you enjoy the gallery and we thank Dennis Moore for the images. Dennis will be producing a book in the near future on “steam days” on the Bloemfontein to Bethlehem line, which will be something to look out for!
15E 2878 between Modderpoort & Kilmarnock 1996 Picture by Dennis Moore
15AR 1850 Fouriesburg 1997 Picture by Dennis Moore
15AR 1850, 16DA 876 Fouriesburg 1997
15F 3040 Kilmarnock 1998 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3410 Modderpoort 1998 Picture by Dennis Moore
15F 3040 Brandlaagte between Slabberts & Sheridan) 1999 Picture by Dennis Moore
16DA 876, 16E 857 Modderpoort 1999 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3410 Generaalsnek 1999 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3454 Generaalsnek 1999 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3472 Slabberts 2006 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3472 Slabberts 2006 Picture by Dennis Moore
15F 3016 Sekonyela 2006 Picture by Dennis Moore
15F 3016 Sekonyela 2006 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3484 Vailima 2006 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3472 Slabberts 2007 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3472 Sekonyela 2007 Picture by Dennis Moore
25NC 3472 Sekonyela 2007 Picture by Dennis Moore
15F 3016 Vailima 2007 Picture by Dennis Moore
15CA 2056 Ionia 2007 Picture by Dennis Moore
15F 3052 Kommandonek 2008 Picture by Dennis Moore
23 3300 at Sekonyela 1987 Picture by David Richardson
Horlacher 25NC 3401 and 3407 Sekonyela 1985 Picture by Robert Horlacher
The last item of 3’6” gauge rolling stock, which had been stored at the old Germiston Steam Depot, the ex SAR Cowans and Sheldon 80 ton steam crane number 578, has finally arrived at Sandstone after weather delays at the Depot and a change required of the multi axle trailer to transport this 125 ton piece of South African railway history. Safely now at Sandstone, it will join the display of locomotives and other rolling stock recently moved from Bloemfontein and Germiston.
James Attwell is a professional photographer who developed a love of steam from his father, Tony Attwell. James has produced a wonderful photo gallery from the recent steam festival at Sandstone as well as an excellent short video of the event. You can contact James on e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
After our story on 3 November, at the start of the locomotive moves from Germiston to Ficksburg, we have now completed this massive operation with the 3’6” gauge locomotives and rolling stock in position at Sandstone’s new display area. Click here to see the full story.
