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STEAM IN ACTION

Steam in Action was formed by the Sandstone Heritage Trust, Reefsteamers and Friends of the Rail. If you really want to know what is happening with regard to Rail Preservation in Southern Africa you need to join Steam in Action. We send out detailed and informative newsletters on a regular basis and handle individual queries from people wishing to participate in the turnaround of South Africa 's steam tourism and steam preservation programme. Not a day goes by that another locomotive is not saved, moved or worked on.

Updated with September 2008 Newsletter - Visit the Steam in Action web site

CLASSIC MILITARY VEHICLES
	ADDED 22nd July 2008, last updated 23rd September 2008 For some years now the Sandstone Heritage Trust has worked closely with the Armour Museum in Bloemfontein to identify historically significant Classic Military vehicles to rescue them and to restore them to working order. From time to time special events are held which showcase these vehicles to the general public. This is in line with the Defence Force’s desire to be seen as a valuable contributor to society in many different ways. We are currently working on an expansion of our relationship with the museum and this will be reflected in more news on Classic Military Vehicles on our web site....
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE MILITARY PAGES >>>

NEW FEATURE - LOCO OF THE MONTH - No 2 - October 2008

ADDED 5th September 2008

Ex SAR Class NGG16 No: 153

In this new feature we shall be showcasing one of the Sandstone loco fleet each month. Our second feature locomotive is an Ex SAR Class NGG16 No: 153. Click here to view the details.

Our first feature locomotive last month was a 3’6” gauge Barclay 976, built in 1903 in Kilmarnock, Scotland which can still be seen here.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE INFORMATION PAGE FOR THIS FEATURED LOCO >>>

19D PROJECT

Bloem Class 19D 2654 Tender
Following on from our last report, another reverser has been obtained which has now been re-bored and overhauled. Sadly the steam brake cylinder seems to be in the same condition as the reverser so Lukas and the team will have to go through the same drill to find a replacement...

View the report...

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE INFORMATION PAGE FOR THIS LOCO >>>

Content Moved: Click here for Modern Farming : Click here for Sherman Mk IV : Click here for COSMOS 2008
Click here for the Lawley

LATEST ARTICLES
Don't forget to click here to look at our Reefsteamers newsletters archive ...and here for the RSSA Reef Branch Newsletters
	MOST RECENT STEAM SHED REPORT 26th September to 2nd October 2008 Steam Shed Report by Henk de Bruin The 3rd weekly report from Henk. View the report...
	PREVIOUS STEAM SHED REPORT Steam Shed Report by Henk de Bruin Henk de Bruin, a stalwart of our running shed has come forward with his 2nd weekly report. Well done Henk. View the report...
	ADDED 8th October 2008 Some rare photographs discovered Some rare photographs from 1937, depicting Class NGG16 No: 86 at the Cockerill works in Belgium have recently been discovered by Sandstone. Click here to view article and pictures...
	UPDATED 8th October 2008 \| 29th September 2008 with map \| ADDED 23rd September 2008 Sandstone’s new perimeter security fence about to come on line... View the report...
awaiting picture	Sandstone Video Well-known South African band Eden recorded a music video on Sandstone Estates a while back. The theme of the song, called *Point of No Return, required a train... Click here to view the video clip...*
	ADDED 8th October 2008 Sandstone Classic Tractors appear in UK calendar David Mouland Haulage Ltd., a company that transported our tractors to Ireland for the 2007 Irish World Tractor event which was such a huge event, have featured the load of machines in this year’s calendar. The picture shows Gerhard Wille, a great friend of Sandstone’s, standing next to the tractor prior to offloading. Click here to view the picture... (opens in a new window)
	ADDED 8th October 2008 An excellent article in the latest Ffestiniog Magazine Click here to view the article...
	ADDED 8th October 2008 Jerry's Old Engines South Africa Jerry Evans is a good friend of Sandstone... here is his report on his clubs dynamic stationery engine activities.. Click here to visit the web site... (opens in a new window)
	UPDATED 6th October 2008 Test your knowledge and see if you can tell us what's in the photo... Updated October 6th... more guesses needed.... ! Click here to see if you can work it out...
	ADDED 6th October 2008 Classic Car group discovers the Sandstone Heritage Trust Of late, we have seen a dramatic rise in interest in classic military machinery and the classic car enthusiasts are also showing huge amounts of interest in our establishment. The MG Car Club, the Jaguar Club, amongst others have recently visited, this time it's collectors of Italian cars. Click to view article
	ADDED 4th October 2008 Sandstone attends MG Car Club Indaba in Port Elizabeth in September 2008 The MG Car Club of South Africa recently invited Sandstone to do a presentation at their Indaba in Port Elizabeth to share the history and experiences of Sandstone Estates and the Sandstone Heritage Trust... Click to view article
	ADDED 4th October 2008 10CR - pics and ticket of a ride behind the 10CR in 1993 Click to view article
	UPDATED 4th October 2008 \| ADDED: 5th September 2008 Lawley NG97 Sandstone’s launch of Lawley NG97 has been featured by both Steam Railway and Heritage Railway magazines of the UK. Peter Love, well known as a visitor to Sandstone, wrote the articles for these prestigious publications. Click here to view the PDF new window (1.4Mb PDF)
	ADDED 3rd October 2008 Our slumbering giants Perhaps the category of preservation that we are least well known for is our classic earth moving plant... Read the article...
	ADDED 3rd October 2008 A word from the Model Makers who form an important part of Railway Preservation We are in constant dialogue with model makers throughout the world and in fact often supply drawings and assistance where we can. We applaud them for their enthusiasm for what we are doing. Read the article...
	ADDED 3rd October 2008 A great preservation effort with a great showcase. Dennis Mitchell from Australia, but an ex South African, is an active Sandstone supporter. As Sandstone is very much in the restoration and preservation arena, he sent us details of this website/ blog for the restoration of Class AD60 Garratt 4-8-4+4-8-4 No: 6029. These were the most powerful of all Australian steam locomotives and were built by Beyer Peacock in 1952. Not dissimilar to 4079, Sandstone’s ex SAR GMAM of the same era, they operated without an auxiliary water tanker and weighed in at 264 tons. Thanks Dennis, this is really worth a look! Click here to visit the blog: http://project6029.blogspot.com
	UPDATED 5th September 2008 \| 29th July 2008 \| 25th Jun 20 \| 20th May 08 \| 16th May 2008 \| 11th Apr 08 \| 18th March 2008 \| 3rd Mar 08 \| 18th Feb 08 \| 20th Jan 08 \| 1st Sep 07 The McLaren Traction Engine article in The Witness and additional info from Keith Stevens. Read the article...
	UPDATED 29th September 2008 \| 23rd September 2008 \| 19th August 2008 \| 12th August 2008 \| 22nd July 2008 \| ADDED January 2007 Station Clock Recently, the Sandstone Heritage Trust purchased an old SAR / SAS Station Clock. It was not working, and the pendulum was loose inside the case, not doing it any good as it fell around.... Click here to view the article...
	UPDATED 29th September 2008 \| 23rd September 2008 \| 19th August 2008 \| 12th August 2008 \| 22nd July 2008 \| ADDED January 2007 Compagnes Drift Mill Update... More launder work, and some nature... Click here to view the article...
	ADDED 29th September 2008 International Steam Tours in 2009 Sandstone is proud to announce that it will be hosting a section of each of the only two international steam tours to South Africa in 2009... Click here to view the article...
	ADDED 26th September 2008 Well known local tractor artist features Sandstone Estates. Mike Norris, a well known artist in South Africa who specialises in Agricultural themes has produced two paintings... Click here to view the article...
	ADDED 26th September 2008 Lyndie Lou Sandstone's GMAM 4079 "Lyndie Lou" made a foray to Magaliesburg on South Africa's Heritage Day, 24th September. Click here to view the article...
	ADDED 23rd September 2008 RSR Operators Licence Sandstone receives new Railway Safety Regulator operating certificate... View the certificate... (opens in a new window)
	ADDED 22nd September 2008 Pretoria Regiment Publication Military Vehicles of Sandstone featured in Pretoria Regiment publication. Read the article
	ADDED 22nd September 2008 Narrow Gauge News - The First Ten Years “Narrow Gauge News”, the official journal of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society has reviewed the Sandstone publication, “Sandstone, The First Ten Years View the report...
	STEAM SHED REPORT 12th - 18th September 2008 Steam Shed Report by Henk de Bruin Henk de Bruin, a stalwart of our running shed has come forward with a weekly report. Well done Henk. Railway Bridge at Kommandonek View the report...
	UPDATED 16th September 2008 \| 2nd September 2008 \| 19th August 2008 \| 29th July 2008 \| 25th July 2008 \| 21st Jul 08 \| ADDED 19th Jul 08 Bloem Class 19D 2654 Tender As you can see from the pictures, 2654 is slowly beginning to look like a locomotive... View the report...
	ADDED 5th September 2008 Sandstone Stock List September 2008 Click here to view the PDF in a new window... (340kb PDF)
	ADDED 5th September 2008 NBL Preservation Group Newsletter Click here to view the PDF in a new window... (220kb PDF) You can also visit www.nbloco.net
	ADDED 5th September 2008 NBL Preservation Group Update on the New-Build Sandringham locomotives... Click here to view the PDF in a new window... (160kb PDF) You can also visit www.sandringham-loco.com
	STEAM SHED REPORT 2nd September 2008 Steam Shed Report Changing Africa View the report...
	ADDED 1st September 2008 Annual Show of the West Cape Tractor Club Heidelberg The Annual Show of the West Cape Tractor & Engine Club was held at Heidelberg (Cape) on 22nd and 23rd August. The decision was taken to go in Sandstone Heritage Trust’s International R110 Bakkie... Read the article...
	SANDSTONE ON TELEVISION - VIDEO CLIP ! Following on from the visit by the Pasella TV programme to Sandstone recently (click here to see the report) the completed programme was broadcast on Wednesday 30th July at 19h30 on SABC 2, and here is a local video clip. Click here to view the video clip...

MODERN FARMING

We have separated our Modern Farming pages into a separate section...

Click here to view the Modern Farming pages...

Latest update: 26th September 2008: Update on our wheat planting

SPECIAL UPDATE - SHERMAN MK IV

Mk IV Sherman Tank has now settled in to its new home at the Sandstone Heritage Trust..

Click here for the Sherman Mark IV mini site

COSMOS FESTIVAL APRIL 2008 REVIEW
	Cosmos Festival 2008 - A great success.... Click here for the COSMOS 2008 mini site

Some previous
Steam Shed Reports

CLICK HERE TO SEE EARLIER STEAM SHED REPORTS

News from Andy Selfe in the Western Cape...
Last updated 23rd September 2008 with Mill update...

Click here to view Andy's pages...

Here we bring you selected editions of the Reefsteamers newsletters

View the list...

CONTRIBUTE > > >

There are some very clever people in the world and as far as Narrow Gauge is concerned or in fact South African steam in general. We are amazed at the number of people around the world who have access to top class archives, who have visited the country, who have made a study of our railways and the locomotives and rolling stock that used to traverse the length and breadth of the country. If you are one of those people and there is a subject that interests you, why not send us details, because we would be happy to assist you to share it with our very large body of internet visitors. Simply send the information to

LAWLEY

The Lawley is complete in steam and at work.

New photos added 25th July 2008 - click here to view the Lawley pages

These are Archive items from previous months
UPDATED 19th August 2008 \| 12th August 2008 \| 22nd July 2008 \| ADDED January 2007	ADDED 19th August 2008	ADDED 18th August 2008

Steam Passion Book Reviews New publications on South African steam are becoming rare these days as everyday steam is no longer with us. The difficulties of publishing such books are also quite daunting with their slightly limited appeal. Paul Hloben, well known to SA rail enthusiasts, as a still and video photographer, and a strong supporter of Sandstone’s activities, is a magazine publisher and has taken the plunge into book publishing with "Steam Passion". John Batwell reviewed the book. Click here to read the review... There is also a separate and comprehensive review by Lee Gates of Reefsteamers - click here to read this review....	Preserving the best of the past for the future – An historical flashback The Hoekfontein farm where the Sandstone Heritage Trust complex is located has had only two owners in a period of not much less than 200 years. Read the article...	Crusader Tank Crusader Tank donated to the Sandstone Heritage Trust. Read the article

ADDED 18th August 2008	UPDATED 18th August 2008 and 4th August \| 21st July 2008 \| 8th Jul 08 \| 17th Jun 08 \| 27th May 2008 \| 12th May 2008 \| ADDED 22nd Apr 08	ADDED 12th August 2008

Afrikaner oxen One of the great achievements of the Sandstone Heritage Trust has been to build its team of traditional long horned Afrikaner oxen. Read the article...	Progress on IH Bakkie... The whole project has been exciting, lots of different skills used, and everything done and sourced here in Grabouw in the Elgin Valley! Read the article...	Train Chasers... Sandstone has hosted many rail tour groups over the last few years and a multitude of photographers have lined up for the best shot. John Batwell wrote this piece for “The Weekender” of August 9th illustrated with a familiar shot of Sandstone. The article is reproduced courtesy of The Weekender, published by Business Day... Click here to view the article... (220kb PDF opens in a new window)

	The Sandstone Steam Railroad on Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State was established in the late 1990’s. It became apparent that we would be unable to reach an agreement with the National Rail Authorities concerning our direct and active participation in the Eastern Free State railway line between Bloemfontein and Bethlehem. Many millions of Rands was spent on legal fees, perusing draft concession documents etc. In all we dealt with over 70 individuals, executives and office bearers of the National Rail Authority – in those days Spoornet. Due to high levels of attrition and inconsistencies in the position taken by the different individuals we were never able to come even close to reaching an agreement to operate tourist and passenger trains, not to mention freight on this world renowned 301Kms railway line. learn more...

ADDED 12th August 2008	UPDATED 11th August 2008 \| ADDED 1st August 2008	UPDATED 11th August 2008 \| ADDED 11th July 2008

Boiler Inspections. All hands on deck! Read the article...	A sad end. The Wickham Railcars of Rhodesia Railways. Peter Bagshawe sent us these recent pics from Kabwe.... Additional text and photo added... Read the article...	DE2 LOCO Read the article...

ADDED 7th August 2008	ADDED 1st August 2008	ADDED 1st August 2008

Sandstone Estates features this week, week 32 of 2008 on the best known and most widely circulated South African desk calendar – "Unforgettable Sunny South Africa" – The excellent picture by Karl Beath shows a magnificent display of Cosmos flowers against a backdrop of sandstone cliffs... Click the image to view the full size picture in a new window.	Industrial Railway Record of 1971 Nos 5 & 6 After his research into Kerr Stuart locomotives (here), Gary Barnes discovered this article on the “Wren” Class locos of which Sandstone has one example, namely "Little Bess" (KS 4031/1919) which has just returned from a trip to Europe and is currently being refurbished by Lukas Nel and his team at Bloemfontein... Read the article...	Peckett 0-4-0T "Klein Ben" One of a number of 3’6” gauge Peckett locomotives at Sandstone... includes Peckett W6 No:1687 General Arrangement Drawing... Read the article...
ADDED 1st August 2008	ADDED 1st August 2008	ADDED 29th July 2008

Railways Africa Railways Africa has carried Sandstone's announcement of its withdrawal from HRASA on its website, click for the story... Read the article... (opens web site in a new window)	The next generation Lukas Nel and his team at Bloemfontein recently hosted a visit from a local primary school. Judging from these happy faces, steam may have a long future. View the pictures...	Industrial Railway Record of 1971 No 37 Gary Barnes sent us this very interesting article on Kerr Stuart locomotives in South Africa from the Industrial Railway Record of 1971. Fascinating reading! View the report...

...and to see archive articles from previous months, please click here...

Arial map of Sandstone Estates
View larger map

RETURN OF THE GIANTS DVD - £12.95GBP

The Eastern Free State was once one of the world's greatest theatres of steam. At the end of the 1990's, the Sandstone Steam Railroad Company began a new initiative to bring back the glory days of steam.

This DVD tracks the development of the Company, the restoration of its locomotives and rolling stock, and the challenges that faced steam preservation in South Africa at the time.

It will also take you back to the days when powerful locomotives working daily trains were a common sight, when drivers and firemen were men of grit and mettle, and when it seemed that the Golden Age of Railways would never end.

The Sandstone Steam Railroad Company was committed to bringing back this glorious past, reviving a great scenic railway and preserving a piece of South Africa's unique steam heritage. Although circumstances have changed, the dream is still alive and being carried forward by the Sandstone Heritage Trust and its partners in the Steam-in-Action initiative.

This DVD is a reminder of the very beginning of that renaissance.

Click here to order, or for more info

Special Offer on Sandstone Videos

We accept the fact that the number of people with video machines is declining but many preservationists, due to their desire to continue to watch videos which will never be available on DVD, have video machines. This is an outstanding chance for you to acquire videos at rock bottom prices as a result of our stock clearance programme.... click here for DVD's / videos

Intrigued... many people email our site with questions about our Narrow gauge railway and our Cape Gauge locomotives. Many of the answers are in our reference book. Read this review by John Batwell (click the image to view the PDF in a new window), and click here to buy the book.

	SANDSTONE Desktop Wallpapers Download these images to use as your desktop wallpaper on your PC. Click here to open the image download in a new window
Request for assistance One of our supporters has asked for our help in locating his father. This is the e-mail he sent us....Click here to view the article...

...and to see archive articles from previous months, please click here...