Little Train, Cosmos & Steam Weekend
9th & 10th April 2005
The invitation we received
(Copyright Sandstone Heritage Trust)
| On
the weekend of the 9th and 10th of April I was fortunate enough to be
able
to attend this event. Cosmos are the white pink and deep red flowers (see picture above) that grow wild alongside the roads and fields in South Africa and bloom in autumn making a spectacular display. Sandstone Estate grows these to harvest the seed for export. To see masses of these flowers covering many acres is a sight so beautiful that it is difficult to describe. The flowers are only at their best for a few days and this weekend was perfectly timed to see them in full bloom. Sandstone Estates is a very progressive and modern commercial farming operation set in the beautiful scenery of the Eastern Free State of South Africa just a short drive from Ficksburg and on the Lesotho border. Click here to read more about Sandstone Estates It is also home to the Sandstone Heritage Trust dedicated to the preservation of vintage equipment from a bygone era. This includes farming equipment and machinery of all descriptions, vintage cars and other vehicles, stationary engines, traction engines, vintage tractors, steam engines and 2' narrow gauge rail and equipment. The farm boasts almost 20 kilometres of narrow gauge track and a large assortment of rolling stock. Locomotives, coaches and trucks are restored in large workshops on the estate as well as in other centres around the country. The Sandstone steam railroad is also put to use transporting produce on the farm and as a link to the national rail infrastructure. Click here to read more about Sandstone Heritage Trust. The weekend consisted of displays of vintage tractors, stationary engines, steam engines and of course the Sandstone railway. A number of trains were running and took visitors on sightseeing and photographic excursions through the fields of cosmos. Saturday evening saw a meal of "potjiekos" and dancing to a group called "The Vaaljapies". (For the benefit of non South Africans - "potjiekos" is a traditional South African dish - the word translates as "Pot food" - it is similar to a stew (but don't dare call it stew) and is prepared over a small open fire in a very large cast iron cooking pot and takes hours to cook. "Vaaljapie" is the South African nickname for the Grey Fergusson tractor which was so popular in bygone days - "Vaal" = Grey and "japie" is a slang word for "chap" or "chappie" therefore "Grey Chap".) A good time was had by all and I extend a big thank you to Sandstone and it's people who made us all so welcome. Click on the links below to see the pictures but whatever you do DON'T miss the scenery - this is a very beautiful part of our country. (All photographs by Jerry Evans) |
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