The two Lawley locomotives (BR7 & NG97) at Sandstone are perhaps the most popular engines with visitors and are the only two operating in the world. Two more exist in Zimbabwe at Centenary Park and the NRZ museum in Bulawayo. Neither is positively identified, particularly the example in the NRZ museum which may be made up of a number of locos that worked in Rhodesia after being set aside by the Beira Railway. The Vale of Rheidol Railway in Wales has now listed two Lawleys in their stock list as Falcon Works number 265 (BR27) and 266 (BR28) built 1897 originally at the Busi Sugar Estate near Beira in Mozambique. These were repatriated to to the UK in 2000 by the Rampton Trust after lying unused for 30 years. These are of the F4 type as is Sandstone’s NG97 (Falcon 263 of 1897) The Rampton Trust being the owners of the Vale of Rheidol Railway. You can check details of the locomotives at http://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/museum.htm

Our picture by David Benn shows the two Sandstone Lawleys double heading a short mixed train. Dave Richardson’s picture shows the Lawley in the NRZ museum incorrectly marked as 27 which is the Beira Railway number of Vale of Rheidol’s number 265.The locomotive also has the flat running board of the F2 type similar to Sandstone’s BR7 which belies its identity as 27 which is of the F4 type with a stepped running board under the cab.

Sandstone Estates commenced in its present form in 1996 and started with a fleet of modern equipment, mostly John Deere tractors and combine harvesters. Many of these are nearly 20-years old with our venerable 9400 tractor heading the list. However, many of our other fleet items are just as old. Our 7710 tractor which was purchased new on an auction in Holland after that particular model was discontinued has soldiered on through thick and thin for many years. Here it pulls a massive 20-ton Chaser Bin working alongside our combine harvesters. This process significantly speeds up the harvest turnaround time.

The bissel components have been returned from machining and the bissel reassembled. Work now continues on the frames and other components. As we have mentioned before this is probably the most difficult restoration done by Sandstone and so our updates tend to be about seemingly small items but which are key to the locomotive’ reconstruction, and yes in reality, given the deterioration of the NG10, the restoration probably will be classified as a reconstruction.

Our pictures show the bissel components and the bissel completed plus the brake shaft which needs further work.

Members of the MG Car Club from Johannesburg recently visited Sandstone while on a weekend tour to the Eastern Free State. You can read a report on their visit and thoughts on Sandstone by clicking on the link below to take you to their latest “Thumbs Up” magazine: Click here to view PDF
 
You can also visit the MG Car Club website on : WWW.MGCC.co.za.