A full update on the Dodge Hunting Van!
After a successful engine rebuild the Dodge moved under its own power for the first time in over 20 years. Enjoy the read and video of the Dodge on the move.
Commercial Transport
Sandstone’s Unimog 406. Researching its history.
When the current owners of Sandstone purchased the farm a Unimog 406 was part of the sale. This has been used as a Fire Engine for a number of years. In late 2023 it was time to give the Unimog a refresh and the Modern Workshop at Sandstone, under the guidance of Janki Palmer, took on the job together with a respray.
A new Fire Engine for Sandstone.
Sandstone has acquired a Ford/FMC fire engine which was built in the USA but spent its working life in South Africa.
Read the full story and enjoy the picture gallery here.
Brill Buses in days gone by.
Brill Buses in days gone by.
Sandstone’s ex SAR Road Transport Services Brill bus has been in the restoration queue for some time and we hope that it will be restored to its former glory in the not too distant future. In the meantime Stewart Curry who is assisting with the digitalisation of the Transnet library send us a wonderful selection of photographs of the Brill bus in days gone by in South Africa. The pictures are courtesy of the Transnet Library.
Sandstone’s Brill
The Sentinel Steam Waggon
Our Sentinel Steam Waggon had some issues recently with its injector which is of the high pressure due to the high boiler pressure of vehicle. The water feed pump has been rebuilt by Keith Stevens in Howick and he has also fabricated a new high pressure injector from scratch as nothing was available. We did manage to purchase a set of cones from the UK for Keith to complete the injector. The pump and the injector will be fitted in the New Year and thoroughly tested prior to Stars of Sandstone 2019. Our images show the new parts and the Sentinel in action.
A fascinating history of fire engines.
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
Our old Leyland Bus
Our wonderful old Leyland bus operated by the African Star Bus Company which has done hundreds of thousands of kilometres traversing the dusty back roads of Africa is the mainstay of our transportation for early morning run pasts.
Sandstone’s AEC bus returns home
Sandstone’s AEC bus returns home
The AEC amongst the Cosmos at Stars 2014. Photo by Alex Reichle
Pakwa the "Package Wagon"
This very interesting road container vehicle, which was obtained from the railway authorities direct, is currently being restored by the Steam Workshops. It is in remarkably good condition and the upgrades are purely cosmetic.
Manufactured by Henred, probably back in the 1950's, it would have been designed to haul freight from Kazuni Siding in Johannesburg to addresses in and around Johannesburg's industrial areas. We are not sure what would have pulled it but we will find out in due course and try and source one.
It has the lovely name Pakwa. Translated in Afrikaans it means simply package wagon.
Unfortunately the date in service item isn’t always on the vehicle nameplate.
