Even with Covid-19 still raging, Sandstone Estates was able to host a spring event from 19-22 November 2020, attended by hundreds of rail and transport enthusiasts, all wearing facemasks and practicing social distancing. This was a smaller event than the Stars of Sandstone event held in 2019, and which attracted visitors and specialists from all over the world. The Sandstone Heritage Trust, based near Ficksburg, has a large collection of working railway heritage (engines and coaches from different eras), working heritage farming vehicles, stationary engines, military vehicles, ox wagons, classic cars, traction engines and other less familiar items. Click here for more on the history of the Sandstone Estates collection.
'Grunter' on loan at the Stars of Sandstone event in April 2019. From the ‘FS’ number plate, this big boy works the roads of the Free State province, South Africa.
The romance of steam
Steam is the main attraction at the Sandstone festivals, and visitors come from as far afield as the UK and USA to look at, photograph or even drive the various exhibits. For some reason, steam trains have a stirring effect on people. To be honest, it is really exciting when a steam train gives a vigorous blast of steam and begins to exert massive force to turn those huge iron wheels, with...
