Sandstone Heritage Trust – Rail News
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GMAM ex SAR no: 4079 Beyer Peacock, Manchester 7677/1956 – Information and Galleries

Updated – 15th May 2006

This locomotive, the first rail acquisition of the Sandstone Heritage Trust, was acquired from Randfontein Estates Gold Mine in 1997 where it was numbered R1. Originally it was numbered R15 and called “Wendy” but was involved in a serious accident on the mine where there was a fatality and after rebuilding at the REGM workshops was renumbered R1. It was one of the first Garratt locomotives acquired by REGM directly from the then SAR at Waterval Boven.

The locomotive is now painted blue and carries “Sandstone Steam Railroad” lettering together with the number 4079 and is named “Lyndie Lou” after the wife of SHT trustee, Wilfred Mole.

4079 was used on a number of trips between Ficksburg and Fouriesburg in the late 90s and was then put into storage in the Sandstone facility at Ficksburg station. In June 2005 it was placed on loan to and moved to Rovos Rail in Pretoria for use on their prestigious tourist trains. At present it is undergoing a full inspection and is expected to enter service with Rovos Rail early in 2006. Initially it will be in the Sandstone blue livery but will be repainted in Rovos green at some stage. It will continue to carry the name “Lyndie Lou” as part of the loan agreement.