We thought you would enjoy this picture of the smallest locomotive in the Sandstone fleet and the largest. The 1919 built 0-4-0ST “Little Bess” and the 1968 built (and modified in 1990) NGG16A Garratt locomotive number 155. Truly the largest and smallest!
The AY hoppers and SM flat wagons recently supplied by Sandstone to the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway and the Edaville Railway in Maine, USA have now arrived on site in Edaville. Our picture gallery shows the stock being unloaded and a first train lashed together for a short trip down the line. The two railways are planning a “South African” day when the stock has been fully commissioned and we look forward to seeing pictures of that.
If you are visiting the Eastern Free State, you may like to choose Sandstone Estates for your accommodation needs.
Sandstone offers accommodation on a working farm which also houses the internationally renowned Sandstone
Heritage Trust collection. Various attractions are available to visitors to the farm.
Our affordable accommodation offers self-catering accommodation in our Victorian Cottages for up to 24 people.
The six Victorian Cottages can sleep four in two twin bedded rooms and have a fully fitted self-catering kitchen and
bathroom with shower. Braai facilities can also be arranged.
ACCOMMODATION AT SANDSTONE - CLICK TO VIEW
Sandstone has excellent but limited accommodation on site for our visitors. Accommodation in the surrounding areas has changed over the last few years so we have drawn up a current list of establishments available in the Ficksburg, Fouriesburg and Clarens area that our visitors may wish to use. Please note that publication of the establishments listed does not imply any endorsement of the establishments by Sandstone Estates.
ACCOMMODATION IN SURROUNDING AREAS - CLICK TO VIEW
Sandstone has just concluded the sale of two AY ballast hoppers to the Wiscasset,Waterville and Farmington Railway in Maine, USA, to assist them with maintaining their line and a possible extension in the future. You can read the article on this link. https://railfan.com/wwf-to-purchase-narrow-gauge-south-african-ballast-hoppers/
Another Fowler from Mount Edgecombe Sugar Estate, Kwa Zulu-Natal, South Africa. Sandstone’s “Sandy” has a sister!
Sandstone Estates has been the chosen location for numerous film shoots over the years. These have ranged from Feature Films, including a number of “Bollywood” productions, Corporate and launch video productions, Music Videos, International News features and over 130 productions, on our world famous 2ft narrow gauge railway, featured on the YouTube channel.
Railway Historian, John Middleton, is well known to South African railway enthusiasts for his numerous books on South African Railways main line and Industrial locomotives over the last 30 years or so. His latest book, Industrial Locomotives of South Africa (Volume 1) has been published. This covers the three Cape provinces, Free State (including a Sandstone entry), Kwa-Zulu Natal and North West provinces. It is available as a hardback book (B5 size) has 496 pages, almost 300 photographs (158 in colour) and 40 maps. Volume 2 which should be ready in 2024 (its already in draft form) will cover the rest of the former Transvaal plus Swaziland and Lesotho.The book is a magnificent work of reference and has obviously been part of the author’s life for some time.
The jewel of the Sandstone 2ft Narrow gauge collection is, without doubt, the small Decauville 0-4-0T locomotive, works number 302, built in 1899 in France. Since its discovery at the Dombe Grande sugar estate in Benguela Province, Angola, in 2003 we have believed the name to be “BATHALA”. Some research by railway historian, John Middleton has unearthed the attached picture of the locomotive at the Dombe Grande Museum in 1970 where Sandstone ultimately found it some 33 years later.
The cosmetic restoration has begun of NGG16A 141, which donated it’s power bogies to NGG16A 155 in 2021 so that 155 could be finally restored to working order. Our pictures show the engine units and part of the wheelsets after cleaning and painting.
Working the train at our Easter Steam and Cosmos Festival.
Mark Ruddy together with his brother Gary are two of our most dedicated footplate volunteers and worked a number of trains at the recent Easter event. Here is a short video shot by Gary and Mark’s daughter, Ta-Nika, of the preparation and working of NGG11 number 52. Enjoy the experience!
Click on the link to view: https://youtu.be/6Lz84s0UZRM
With our Easter steam event just a few weeks away, NGG16, number 113, is having its front pony wheels replaced on each engine unit as they have developed sharp flanges, which are out of official specification.
We are often asked for information on the locomotives and rolling stock at Sandstone. We have published regular stock lists for the last few years and now that we have moved all our 3’6” gauge locomotives to Sandstone we have put together a picture gallery of all our locomotives and rolling stock. 3’6” gauge wagons and coaches is still in production and will be posted soon.
10CR number 771 is one of the main 3’6” gauge displays next to Hoekfontein Station. Built in 1910, by North British of Glasgow, the loco spent its early life working commuter passenger trains between Johannesburg and Springs before being transferred to main line work at Kimberley. The locomotive ended its days at Lorraine Gold Mine before being purchased by Sandstone in the late 90s. Having spent some its life at Sandstone in a non-original red livery the locomotive is now receiving a coat of black paint while its accompanying caboose is repainted in red.
Leon Hugo is a professional photographer based in Gqeberha. You will remember his excellent pictures from the rather wet 2022 Easter Festival but Leon had visited us before. Here is a small selection of some quite different images of the Sandstone Steam Railway and its locomotives to enjoy.
You can contact Leon on 
