2ft Narrow Gauge

Track Maintenance

Maintaining the permanent way is one of the key elements in running a railway and Sandstone is no exception. It is an ongoing task that sometimes seems to be never ending. It also falls under the scrutiny of the South African Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) and is one of the major elements in their regular inspections. Of course as we are 2ft Narrow Gauge which does not really feature on the South African railway system any more, apart from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), although there no trains have run for a very long time. This often raises questions of specifications for track standards. We have had much debate with the RSR to explain that we do not run at normal Transnet speeds but at a much lower speed! We have established, after much discussion, that we maintain our track to Transnet branch line standards.

A photo gallery of the Easter Steam Festival at Sandstone, 15 to 18 April 2022 by Leon Hugo.

Leon Hugo is a professional photographer from Gqeberha in South Africa and sent us a photo essay from our Easter event. As you will see from the gallery Leon braved all the conditions that the weather could throw at us to capture some magnificent images. Enjoy the show! You can contact Leon on,  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

IMG 7783web

Steam Fun at Easter despite the weather!

220416 091343
Staging events at Sandstone Estates in the Eastern Free State is becoming more difficult.  This is due to the state of the roads which make the coach tour operators reluctant to visit us.  People with ordinary cars have to also drive very carefully due to the serious potholes.  However certainly as far as our South African market is concerned people are robust and if they want to come they certainly turn up. 

Getting Ready for Easter!

Gert Jubileus, the Sandstone Railway Manager, has been hard at work with his track gang preparing the railway for the Easter event. A major task was the replacement of the sleepers on the points at the exit of Hoekfontein Station towards Grootdraai. Our gallery shows the new points in position and the Funkey diesel in action as the track gang spreads the ballast which has been delivered in our vintage rake of cocopans.

PHOTO 2022 03 30 15 40 57

Easter Preparations

As part of our preparations for our Easter event, the track gang has been hard at work preparing our railway for a busy show. Persistent inclement weather has made quite a mess of various area of track which are being methodically cleaned and checked to bring up to our working standard. Sadly the rain continues and has slowed down our efforts but we will be ready for the expected large number of visitors over the Easter weekend. Our pictures show the extent of the work required and the results being achieved. See you all at Easter!

IMG 20220302 WA0026

The NG10’s first run at Stars of Sandstone 2019


Mark Ruddy is a regular visiting driver to Sandstone and at the Stars of Sandstone event, in 2019, he was rostered for the first run of the newly restored NG10, number 61. Here is his story and, as you will read, it did not go exactly to plan! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9fWQeZx44g

NGG16A number 155 before its modifications.

English enthusiast, David Bott, visited South Africa in 1977 and captured this picture of number 155 at Izingolweni on the 1st April 1997. David also sent us a short story to accompany the picture.

Here is the picture of 155 hauling a train from Harding to Port Shepstone,

taken near Izingolweni on 1st April 1977. I remember that day very well indeed; we waited in the pub

at Harding until the shed master arrived for his lunch, then bunked the shed!  Such happy days in

your beautiful country - 6 visits in all,  travelling mostly by camper mobile. I was last there in 1999 & 2000

for the festivals of steam at George. It's so sad that the Knysna line has not been repaired; I'm now 75,

and my best days are now on film. I wish you well with your ongoing restorations, for the enjoyment of the next generation.

Thank you David for the picture and the kind wishes! Number 155 will be one of the featured locos at the upcoming Easter Steam event at Sandstone.

2M36A

Sandstone Steam Railway mountain section to be lifted.

Screenshot 2022 02 13 at 10.22.52

 

Sadly we must announce that Sandstone’s world famous mountain section from Vailima to Vailima Siding and back to Pandora Junction is being lifted for safety and security reasons.
Click here to read the full story.

The Cherry Steam Festival. James Attwell’s photo gallery.

James Attwell is a professional photographer who developed a love of steam from his father, Tony Attwell. James has produced a wonderful photo gallery from the recent steam festival at Sandstone as well as an excellent short video of the event. You can contact James on e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cherry Festival Nov 2021 J.Attwell 2

NGG16A, the Star of the show at the Cherry Train Steam Festival.

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.

20211119 140336 Copy 2

Sandstone’s Lawley to be modelled in 1:19 scale.

100526367 Sandstone 97 FE 263 1897 BR7 FE 232 1895 Hoekfontein

Sandstone’s two Lawleys, BR7 and NG97, are the inspirations for the new Accucraft models.

Accucraft are famous for their live steam models and David Fletcher visited us some time ago to measure up our Decauville for a model. Now they are proposing a 1:19 scale model of the Lawley locomotive with drawings by David Fletcher and information from Andries Keyser, a good friend of Sandstone. You can see full details of the project at the following link:

https://www.accucraft.uk.com/products/lawley-beira-sar-falcon-4-4-0/

For a view of the Decauville model please click on the following link:

Sandstone’s Decauville 0-4-0T live steam model in 7/8ths scale. (sandstone-estates.com)

The Funkey Diesel takes on a Springbok livery!

To celebrate the Springbok’s victory over the British & Irish Lions on their recent tour of South Africa, our Funkey Diesel has been given a makeover in green and gold!

IMG 20210806 WA0004 2

NGG16A Second Steam Test

Newly restored NGG16A No. 155 was given a second static steam test this week to check some various issues with leaks and piping issues highlighted in the first test. It is expected to conduct a light load trial soon.

20210706 101110

NGG16A number 155 steams for the first time since 2000.

NGG16A number 155 has undergone its first steam test at Sandstone after an 18 month restoration process that began in January 2020 with the boiler being sent to Wonder Steam in Pretoria. On the return of the boiler in June 2020, Gert Jubileus and his team at Sandstone began the restoration. Using the modified engine units donated by the owners of the other NGG16A, number 141, Phil Mortimer senior and Phil Mortimer junior the locomotive has been assembled over the last twelve months. Most parts were sourced from the spares that Sandstone has acquired over the years but with the special nature of 155, many pieces had to be made up. This was particularly difficult with the very different copper piping required for the modified 155 but on 11th June 2021, number 155 steamed for the first time in 21 years. This was a test for the integrity of the boiler tubes and stays which all passed inspection. Now the brick arch will be assembled and fitted into the firebox ready for a road test on the Sandstone Steam Railway. This is the first locomotive rebuilt at Sandstone since the closure of the Bloemfontein Works facility in 2019 and only the third locomotive rebuilt at Sandstone’s Hoekfontein Workshop since Lawley BR7 and Fowler number 14316 in April 2002 and the 30th steam locomotive restored by Sandstone. A major milestone for the Sandstone Steam Railway!

Our gallery shows the test with the locomotive now fitted with its number plates.

20210611 101052

NG4 SAR number NG16

This small tank locomotive is a favourite at Sandstone having been acquired from Port Shepstone in 2003 where it had been abandoned in the bush. It started its life at Port Shepstone in 1916 and then worked on the Estcourt to Weenen Branch. It ended its SAR days as yard shunter at Port Shepstone and was sold to Rustenburg Platinum Mines (RPM) It was bought back from the Mine for preservation by South African Railways when the two foot gauge sytem at RPM was closed around 1967. From then on the locomotive did an extensive tour of South Africa. It was first stored at De Aar depot and then moved to Milner Park in Johannesburg and subsequently to the District Engineers Office in Langlaagte. With the opening of the Humewood Road Narrow Gauge Museum in Port Elizabeth, number 16 was moved there as an exhibit before finally returning to its original operating line at the privately owned Alfred County Railway in Port Shepstone where it was abandoned.

Mark Ruddy, a steam driver, from Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha ) sent us this picture of the NG4 arriving at Humewood Road Depot on a 3’6”gauge DZ wagon for display at the recently opened museum in the mid-80s. Two other pictures show it in the display shed at Humewood Road and hard at work at Sandstone. Our thanks to Mark for permission to use this rare photograph of the NG4.

NG 16 M Whitehouse