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.

At a time when such tours have been in serious doubt for the future, we are extremely proud that the Sandstone 2ft narrow gauge railway will feature on both itineraries.

The tours are being facilitated by well known UK operators, Geoff Cooke of Geoff’s Trains and David Rodgers of Steam Loco Safari Tours.

Geoff’s tour is primarily a narrow gauge experience and the guests will visit Sandstone from the 3^rd to 5^th May in 2009 followed by two days on the Paton Country Railway in Natal as well as a trip on the Eshamoya Express at Creighton. The itinerary is rounded off by a three day trip up the Avontuur line featuring the Patensie Branch and the line to Assegaaibos.

Whilst at Sandstone guests will spend two full days from dawn to dusk and a half day from dawn before their departure. On Day 1 the action will be provided by two NGG13/16 Garratts and “Kalahari” NG 17 followed on Day 2 by double headed “Lawley” 4-4-0’s and NG 4 No: 16. The final morning will be an “industrial” photo event using two of Sandstone’s smaller locos which are often ignored by such tours.

Later in the month Steam Loco Safaris in conjunction with Reefsteamers and Friends of the Rail will visit the Gauteng area and then experience a full tour of the Bloemfontein-Bethlehem line and a section of the Bloemfontein-Kimberley line. During this section of the tour they will spend a full day at Sandstone with the two “Lawley’s”, BR7 & NG97 as well as NG15 No; 17. On the Cape gauge section, Sandstone’s GMAM Garratt No: 4079, on loan to Reefsteamers, will be one of a number of locomotives used.

There has been much speculation on tours to South Africa and whether they would ever happen again after some disastrous events in 2007. Luckily the efforts of Steam in Action via its constiutuent members, Sandstone Heritage Trust, Reefsteamers and Friends of the Rail and their willingness to facilitate and provide resources for such events has meant that South Africa remains on the steam tourism world stage.

For further details please contact:

Geoff Cooke at Geoff’s Trains on e-mail or have a look at Geoff’s website on http://www.geoffs-trains.com/SANGtour.html

David Rodgers at Steam Loco Safari Tours on e-mail

Bookings are limited so make your enquiries now.

As a taster for the future here are some pics from previous tours hosted at Sandstone.