Sadly Covid 19 prevented us from holding our Easter Steam Festival which coincided with the arrival of the Cosmos display at Sandstone. Nevertheless we steamed NG10 number 61 for a train trip for our staff on Easter Monday which enabled us to put together a photo gallery of Cosmos 2021. As always our Oxen were keen to join in! The photographs are by Toni Barratt.
Recently a goods train on its way from Bloemfontein to Maseru de-railed due to the collapse of sections of the rail close to the junction of the line to Lesotho at Marseilles. As one can see from the pictures these trucks were badly damaged and scattered along the railway line. Fortunately most of them were full of maize and a few of them contained wheat which was unceremoniously dumped in the veld. Nu-Pro, a well-respected local grain trading organisation, contacted Sandstone on an emergency basis and asked if we could somehow pick up these commodities and put them into trailers for removal to a nearby grain silo. Fortunately Sandstone has in its mechanisation division a number of Agrivac machines built in Canada. These are custom built machines which operate like giant vacuum cleaners and they can suck up material off of the ground and distribute it through pipes to wherever you want to store it. Within a few hours a team under Josef Mokoroane, our experienced silo manager, assisted by another Sandstone stalwart Poni Ramohloki was on site together with Raymond Hohls from Sandstone. This team completed the entire job in 4 days which resulted in the recovery of some 230 tons of grain.
The latest edition for 2021 of the Heritage News is now available, click here to read the latest news from Sandstone. Click here to read
The current COVID 19 legislation published after our February and Easter events were advertised prohibits all indoor and outdoor events as of 28th December 2020 and was subsequently extended on January 15th 2021. This legislation has been reviewed on February 13th 2021 and published in the Government Gazette and the restrictions on gatherings have been extended and therefore remain in force until March 15th 2021 and now extend over a period that covers the end of February and the proposed event. The event scheduled for February 26 to 28 has been cancelled.
Depending on whether such legislation is changed at the next review on March 15th 2021, prior to Easter, will determine as to whether the scheduled Easter weekend event (April 2-5) will be able to take place.
Businesses have to make tough decisions during this pandemic era. At Sandstone Estates we have tried to maintain a level of normality. None of our African staff have been retrenched and we are in fact working hard to create a positive job environment for as many people as possible. Obviously this is always subject to financial constraints. One of the initiatives that we have taken is to equip all of our staff with proper work wear which includes full overalls and work boots. We have colour differentiated the different divisions which includes livestock, arable, workshops and security. Our staff asked if they could have a group photograph which they have proudly sent to us this week.
January has seen good rainfall at Sandstone and the mealies are growing. At the same time the 1915 built NG10 locomotive stretched its legs for a private charter. The muddy road is indicative of the rainfall.
The rain had another positive in that staff were generally confined inside and were able to do a huge tidy up of the exhibits in the Heritage sheds. Also trapped by the rain our 60 year old Fordson Major was repaired and was soon out cutting the newly grown grass! Sandstone is looking good!
The Covid 19 Pandemic has changed the way we work and we have extended our report from the pure Steam Report to include all heritage activities at Sandstone.
Enjoy the first edition for 2021 - Click here to read
There is no doubt that the Covid 19 pandemic reduced the number of visitors compared with previous years but given that there was no Cherry Festival in 2020 we were very happy at Sandstone with our event. Covid 19 seems to have closed down many things but not Sandstone! Watch this space for our next event in January 2021!
Here are some statistics from the weekend:
James Atwell attended our Spring Festival and produced a wonderful album of the event. Click on the link:
With the festival over on Sunday 22nd November, it was time to put NGG16 number 153 to bed. Not many people realise the hard work required in preparing a steam locomotive for storage after a hard day’s work. Driver Mark Ruddy sent us this video and two still photographs of the effort required to dispose of the fire and ash in NGG16 number 153 by himself and fireman Shawn Spaan so that she may rest until her next assignment.
Watch Short Video Here