Commercial Transport

HTN 149 - Sandstone has acquired a wonderful old 1955 AEC Lorry

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

27th October 2006

The Sandstone Heritage Trust has acquired from Colin Healey, a well known preservationist and master steam roller driver, restorer and collector, nothing less than a wonderful old 1955 AEC Lorry.
This solid old beast is in perfect working condition and will be (surprise, surprise) put to use for both Sandstone Estates and the Sandstone Heritage Trust in a haulage role.

Many of the loads that we collect are far too small for our big tri-axle low beds, and we have up to now had nothing which could be deployed to move smaller loads. Its first job will be to accompany the newly restored Sentinel S4 steam truck on a long road run where it will provide back-up in the form of fuel etc.
Strangely enough the Sentinel is quicker than the AEC so we will have to stop on the side of the road occasionally to let the old AEC catch up.

HTN 151 - Our magnificent Kenworth T900 prime mover up for a 15-year upgrade

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

1st November 2006

Our magnificent Kenworth T900 prime mover built by Paccar in Melbourne, Australia in 1990 has been a faithful servant to Sandstone Estates since its inception. The truck has now come into our main workshop for a 15-year upgrade. This means it will be gone through from end to end and all mechanical and cosmetic items will be checked and if necessary rehabilitated.

In addition, with the large wheat harvest to be combined in January, this hugely powerful truck, fitted with a 550 horsepower CAT 3406E engine, will see service in the wheat lands. In Australia this horse would have
typically pulled three tri-axle trailers with a an all-up weight of over 100-tons.

HTN 167 - New look for our Sentinel S4

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

14th December 2006

This is how the Sentinel will look in 2007!

Our "Sandstone seed & grain Company Ltd." Original artwork is going to look fabulous.
The decals will be made by Jerry Evans. Look out for the photos in January!

HTN 170 - Arrangement drawing of a Sentinel S4 flat platform waggon.

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

21st December 2006

Great thanks to Tony Thomas, the records officer - SDC for sending us this an arrangement drawing of a Sentinel S4 flat platform waggon.

HTN 187 - Work continues on International Harvester Collection

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

6th March 2007

The Sandstone Heritage Trust's longstanding relationship with the Cape continues. We presently have two interesting International Harvester products under restoration on a farm near Paarl. The project is being supervised by Jannie du Toit who made available the major collection of International Harvester products to Sandstone Estates.

The first project is an International Harvester Pick-Up truck dating back to 1953. It is a Model R110 with an International Harvester silver diamond engine (Straight Six). The truck was found in a scrap yard at Utrecht in Natal and was in fact an International Harvester farm service vehicle, as clearly shown by the decal on the door.

Oom Jannie must be one of the most experienced International Harvester people in the world. He has been a great friend of the Sandstone Heritage Trust for

many years. Thanks guys, you are doing a great job.

The International R110

HTN 192 - Sentinel Transport News - a letter from Wilfred Mole - News of the Sandstone Sentinel S4

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

16th March 2007

Our Sentinel S4 has been moved to Hogsville so that additional work can be done on it by Charles Viljoen. It is also getting a cosmetic makeover with new sign writing. Details to follow.

In the meantime the attached has appeared in the Sentinel Transport News in the UK. We greatly appreciate the support that we receive from so many people in the international preservation community, particularly the UK.

HTN 195 - The Sandstone Heritage Trust obtains an 8-ton Grove crane

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

23rd March 2007

The Sandstone Heritage Trust has acquired a second-hand 18-ton Grove off-road telescopic crane. The continuous process of recovery in which the Trust is involved requires better equipment than we have at present. This machine will make a big contribution to our efforts in this regard.

The disposal of large numbers of Narrow Gauge locomotives and wagons which is presently underway has created huge challenges for us.

HTN 210 - Sentinel S4 receives first post restoration upgrade

Sandstone Heritage Trust - News

23rd May 2007

Charles Viljoen and Henry Dearlove spent the weekend working on our S4 Sentinel. Charles had to make a number of adjustments which were needed to improve the performance. For every kilometre that the S4 travels more and more items which need attention reveal themselves.

The truck is almost at the stage where it can embark on some serious Road Runs. Our pictures tell the story.

Container side loader

Heritage - News

23rd August 2007

One of our crack technical team commissions container lifter.

In terms of a working relationship with the Statfold Barn Railway in the UK, the Sandstone Heritage Trust will be entering into a number of locomotive exchange programmes whereby locomotives from Statfold will come out to work a season or two in South Africa and vice-versa.

How do these old trucks find us?

Heritage - News

25th October 2007

You would think we ran a soup kitchen or sheltered accommodation for very elderly trucks because they keep turning up on our doorstep. Two recent arrivals include a Leyland Beaver and a Diamond T. We know quite a lot about the history of the Leyland Beaver but not this particular late model Diamond T.

Is there anyone out there who can give us further information on the history of these venerable old beasts of burden?