The Sandstone Grafton Steam Crane, dating from 1950, has arrived at Sandstone after being delayed by blocked track at Bloemfontein Depot. In June 2009, this crane in Bloemfontein was in danger of being scrapped with a number of other redundant units. Sandstone secured its future and had it moved into the Sandstone security area at Bloemfontein Depot.
A very busy day for the second day of our festival with high visitor numbers who have missed their visits to Sandstone. Our photo gallery shows some of the highlights of the days activities.
Newly restored NGG16A number 155 made its debut today at Sandstone hauling the Cherry Festival train with her older sister, NGG16 number 88, “Joanne”. Our gallery shows number 155 posing for a beauty shot and then with 88 on her first train since the early 2000s.
Although we completed the moves of the Sandstone assets from Bloemfontein a few weeks ago, one item remained there, steam crane 187. This was blocked in by some scrap material on the tracks which was cleared and Mercor Transport brought through the crane on Monday 8 November. Our gallery shows Crane 187 on arrival and ready for unloading.
The press in the Germiston area, courtesy of the Caxton Group and their reporter Charmaine Slater, has given us good coverage of our locomotive moves from Germiston and will be following up with further stories of the locomotive arrivals at Sandstone.
Click here to view the Bedfordview and Edenvale News and the Germiston City News in PDF format or click on the links below for the on line editions.
https://kemptonexpress.co.za/321774/final-goodbye-to-the-ladies/
https://bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za/481385/locos-make-final-journey/
https://germistoncitynews.co.za/282126/all-aboard-one-final-time/