The loading area at Sandstone was very busy the other day with the loading of 1000 tons of yellow maize for our customer, Nu Pro, of Bethlehem.
Our picture shows the trucks lining up for loading. Around 30 truck loads were required to fill the order.
Sandstone is always on the lookout for items under threat and it was with great delight that we received a letter from Sean Brown of Singisi Forest Products donating two old portable steam engines that stood outside their sawmill gates in Weza, Kwa Zulu Natal, some 50kms east of Kokstad, and were to be scrapped. The initiative is thanks to a good friend of Sandstone, Brian Collinge, who discovered their pending fate and negotiated the donation.
At this moment in time the details of the type and age of the two portables is unknown as records are not available however we shall be examining them in great detail when they arrive at Sandstone.
The boiler cladding has now been completed and fabrication of the cab floor and running plates is underway. The new cab frame has also been placed in position. Production of number 61’s number plates has also been set in motion together with the Baldwin works plates and the unique smokebox number plate originally fitted to this class in true American fashion. Our thanks go to Leith Paxton who provided the drawings for the works plates and smokebox plates.
The Lake Goldsmith Preservation Association in Victoria, Australia has sent us their latest Goldsmith Gazette with a very well reserached and illustrated article on the history of the fire engine, from the earliest steam powered version to a Boeing 747 Supertanker. Sandstone has a small collection of these type of vehicles and we think we should be looking for a few more after reading this excellent article. Even if you have little interest in fire engines you will find this enthralling.
Click the below image to read PDF
Good progress has been made on the cosmetic restoration of the ZASM “B” 0-6-04T number 230, “Jan Wintervogel”. The stripping of the locomotive has been completed together with the cleaning of the main components. Our pictures show the boiler and frames now completed and painted in red oxide together with the side tanks and the cab roof and cab coal bunker.
Work will now continue on a number of smaller parts from the locomotive that will be cleaned and stored for safekeeping.
Our last picture for interest shows number 230 at Waterval Boven station in 1998 while operating a tourist train down the line to Waterval Onder. Luckily 15F number 3094 was on hand to tackle the heavy gradients to bring the train back to Waterval Boven!
