Steam in Africa 2008

Angola Index

The Benguela Railway was a wonderful institution but was a victim of the civil war in the country. A CFB site - http://www.cpires.com/angola_comboios_en.html - states that the still be railway (still under reconstruction) has two operational steam locomotives reserved for an eventual museum (215 and 216). These are described as 'Garratts' but the numbers were actually carried by two Balwin 4-8-0s! Further information would be very welcome (29th June 2007). It seems that the number of surviving Cape Gauge steam locomotives is quite considerable, Trevor Heath has sent me a note he has had from Scott Jesser (8th November 2007) detailing locations and their contents, a video of the locos at Huambo has now been posted http://youtube.com/watch?v=lY8wlFHJpj8 (26th December 2007) and for a further video see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6yTFBbKHzQ (22nd June 2008)  For a huge set of images by Jamie Grieve, check out http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb241/jamie_grieve/interesting%20iron/?start=all (thanks to Trevor Heath and John Raby for this, 9th April 2008). An account is also on Gavin Hamilton's site - http://users.powernet.co.uk/hamilton/survivors.html (9th April 2008).

Henry Posner III (added 8th July 1999) was told by the railway management at AfricaRail '99 Conference that "Benguela Railway: 12 steam locos are 'operational'. and the Porto Amboim system is closed, scrapping pending." Few visitors get here these days but George Buta (24th September 2001) located a report from David M. Brown earlier this year that indicates that the narrow gauge locomotives in the 'museum' at Catumbela were still present albeit somewhat overgrown..... Since when I believe the preservationists from Sandstone in South Africa http://www.sandstone-estates.com/ have recovered and now steamed this delightful little Decauville (317/1901) - added 24th April 2005:

A recent visitor (22nd April 2003) to the narrow gauge railway at Porto Amboin reports: "The rail infrastructure has disappeared, with the exception of odd lengths of rail hidden under very derelict locos, some of which even have wheels missing, in addition to any non ferrous fittings which have of course disappeared. There is considerable corrosion, not surprising really given their proximity to the coast. Even if they were worth rescuing, which is extremely doubtful, there is no loading dock or jetty capable of taking the weight, no cranes nearer than Luanda, no heavy transport and precious little else. There are mines, snakes and various nasty diseases awaiting the foreign traveller."

Benin Index

Several years ago two Indian metre gauge YPs found their way to Togo (see that section for the full story). It is now not impossible that they will find use in neighbouring Benin which shares a common railway heritage and most importantly a common gauge check out www.livesteaming.com/benin-togo.htm.Thomas Kautzor visited Benin in December 2007 and reports on the state of the steamless  railway(s) here along with some history, alas now typical of many former colonial railways in Africa (9th June 2008). 

Botswana Index

Trevor Staats was in Botswana in August 2000, steam is still hard at work (report 4th September 2000). Jonathan Duvel was here in July 1999 (13th September 1999) and steam still works here - read his report. The previous visitor I know of was Peter-H. Patt in May 1997, read his brief report on BCL, Selebi Phikwe with their Garratts from Zimbabwe ...... Trevor Heath was here in July 2001, quite steamy too (27th September 2001) and Trevor Staats was back shortly afterwards (1st November 2001) and again in July 2002 (pictures added 4th September 2002). Chas Rickwood was here in May 2003 (added 22nd May 2003) "I had a 2-day visit to Selebi Phikwe where both the active steam locos were ex RR/NRZ, ie a 19th class and a 14A."

The most recent (brief) reports I have seen from July 2007 (15th August 2007) suggest that there is at least one diesel here which shares the line work with one or more of the 19th class steam locomotives. The ex-RR 14A is serviceable but not used regularly. Although coal is expensive and of variable quality, the limited life of the mine decreases the chances of steam's total replacement.. Now ens Ingemann has sent an illustrated report of an August 2007 visit (12th September 2007). The Rovos Railtour was here on 18th April and Colin Young sent me this picture of Class 19 LO 804 in action - the only locomotive seen in steam (1st June 2008):

 

Burkina Faso Index

Thomas Kautzor was in the country at the beginning of 2006. The railway runs from Abidjan (Ivory Coast) to the capital, Ouagadougou; conditions appear a little better than average for a West African railway... The only 'steam' relic is a preserved 1944 Ransomes and Rapier steam crane - click here for some pictures (29th May 2007).

Cameroon Index

Roland Beier passed on this delightful snippet (3rd May 2005). "Recently a German TV station ran a report on Cameroon which had once been a German protectorate. The report also showed a working steam loco. This had been found on a plantation railway at Tiko. The tiny 0-8-0 O&K 7720/1914 is named GOUVERNEUR EBERMEIER and carries number 203. After two days of repairs a retired driver could steam the loco which had been out of use for a long time and moved it up and down around the shed. Track length is less than 100m as the rest of the system had been lifted years ago. Another O&K loco is said to be inside the shed as well. The report also stated that there are now plans to restore part of the line to attract tourists. A report in German and two photos can be found at the following link, which may disappear, however: http://www.daserste.de/weltreisen/beitrag.asp?uid=lfn43y918y3bfnkf." Thomas Kautzor has helped by preparing a page of background information, see http://www.gouverneur-ebermaier.de/english/index.htm (added 9th March 2006).

All of which gives me a chance to plug our Safari Steam CD-ROMs on which pictures of this system (albeit non-active) appear. 

Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) Index

Thomas Kautzor tells me that there is still a preserved Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST at Lubumbashi station (Katanga) (29th June 2007), similar to Jack Tar preserved in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. This is Peter Bagshawe's 1972 picture of it inside the works:

Eritrea Index  

This did threaten to become the steam story of the 90's with long stored Mallets being put back into service on the rehabilitated 950mm gauge railway between the port of Massawa and the mountain top capital of Asmara, with its spectacular operation, it just took a little longer than originally hoped. Ralph Reinhold provided a little more information (October 1997). Click here for more details. Roland Beier has provided a loco list and Renato Gaudio 2 classic old pictures. Click here for background information on what was for a long time a railway backwater. Much later (27th February 2008) I posted Tom Sherriff's pictures of the railway in its reconstruction phase in 1993 including the short lived (diesel!!) local service in Massawa.

Click here for the Enthusiast Holidays 2008 Eritrea Tour

Click here for the Locomotive Club of Great Britain 2008 Eritrea Tour (itinerary added 10th January 2008)

To help tidy up this page, I have moved the reports of the various trips here to another page (latest update 27th February 2008), if you need convincing of the photographic rewards of joining one of the regular tours here, then you can check my own report on the 'Darjeeling of Africa' dating from late 2002 (1st December 2002). Good news for the many upcoming tour groups (no less than six scheduled up till November 2009 including two at the same time with different itineraries according to their website which should challenge the railway) is the return to service of 440.008 seen here at Asmara in January 2008 (pictures by Thomas Kautzor, added 10th June 2008):

So many tour groups have continued to visit Eritrea that operation is considered routine and does not merit reporting. However, Mark Carter (27th April 2005) has alerted me to news of a significant development carried on RailPage Australia (http://www.railpage.com.au), which in turn relates to a report in the Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable : "Since 20th March 2005 there has been the first regular service on Eritrean Railways since 1975 (table 2714). Every Sunday there is a regular steam train from Asmara down to Nefasit on km 25. Asmara depature: 8:00 Arriving Nefasit (km 25): 9:00 Depature Nefasit: 10:00 Arriving Asmara 12:00. Price: foreigners 50 USD Asmara-Nefasit-Asmara, locals 100 Nakfa Asmara-Nefasit-Asmara. It is still possible to travel Asmara-Massawa (km 117) on charter service."

Jennie Street is prepared to give talks to railway societies in the UK about the Eritrean Railway (26th January 2004). With stories extraordinary, horrific, apocryphal or amusing she covers the history of the Eritrean Railway built by the Italians, and of its predecessor, the military railway built by the British in 1867/68. For travelling expenses and a fee of £1 per head attending any meeting, she will give you an entertaining and informative presentation supported by Nick Lera's slides and video. Contact: jennie@hadish.f9.co.uk She also reminded me (15th March 2003) that she is still preparing a History of the Eritrean Railways with Amanuel Gebreselassie (Head of the Eritrean Railway Authority), which will be published by Red Sea Press. She would be delighted to hear from anyone who can help in the project.

Ethiopia Index

Graham Roberts' African Steam Survivors reports on relics in Addis Adaba. (21st December 2002). Neil Berry tells me (25th July 2005) that the steam locomotive pieces at Addis Adaba seem to have been scrapped. 

A website dedicated to the Franco-Ethiopean railway (http://www.train-franco-ethiopien.com/) has been established by Jean-Pierre Crozet (cztjpma@neuf.fr) who would welcome more information and photographs, particularly post 1980 (added 29th February 2008). 

Ghana Index

Continental Railway Journal 132 reports that all main line steam locomotives were scrapped in the 1990s but narrow gauge steam locomotives are preserved at Nsuta (Ghana Manganese Co. Ltd.) and Obuasi (Ashanti Goldfields Co. Ltd.), (21st December 2002). Thomas Kautzor was here in April 2007 and sent a full report on the current state of Ghana's railways (25th May 2007). Included were  pictures of the above locomotive (added 24th May 2007). This is the 0-6-0WT locomotive at Nsuta - most likely Orenstein and Koppel 10609/1923.

This is the 0-6-0WT locomotive at Obuasi - Hudswell-Clarke 1238/1916 - since this picture was taken, the locomotive has been donated to the Moseley Railway Trust and repatriated to the UK (25th May 2008). 

Thomas sent me a non-steam update from his visit later in 2007 (29th February 2008).

Ivory Coast Index

There has been no live steam here for very many years, but a single 0-6-0T survives in Abidjan outside a railwayman's club (numbered 15.001). It was certainly here in 1963 and was still there in July 2001 according to Graham Roberts (25th November 2001) . It was well worn when it was retired. Thomas Kautzor reports it was still here in February 2008 (29th February 2008, new pictures added 15th June 2008).

Kenya Index  

The Railway Museum in Nairobi was established many years ago, its principal exhibits have always been a selection of steam locomotives from the (former) Kenya Uganda Railway, latterly East African Railways which became Kenya Railways on the break up of the federation. It was not included in the privatisation of the railways and seems to exist as part of the rump of the original Kenya Railways. 

From 2001 to 2006 steam progressively returned to the mainline in Kenya which now has an active fleet of 3 - 2409, 3020 Nyaturu and 5918 Mount Gelai. However, with the privatisation of railway operation in 2006, there are no current plans to operate them again until the railway is running in the kind of sound manner evident to those of us who were lucky enough to have seen it working in steam days. If you are interested in developments here consider joining the East African Newsgroup - East_African_Steam-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

These pages followed the restoration story and in view of the current break in developments, I have moved that material to a separate page. Trevor Heath spent a week or so in Kenya with 3020 and 5918 at work and put a gloriously illustrated report on his own web site (20th December 2004). 

Graham Roberts' picture below says it all, 2409 on a revenue freight at Ruiru on the Thika branch in July 2006. There are so many heroes (and a few villains who mostly seem to have lost their jobs on KR) it would be invidious to name any. 

 

Liberia Index

Not a country which has seen steam for a long time, if ever, let alone many gricers considering its recent history, but my friend Peter Nettleship was here in February 2007 and visited the Bong Mine Railway and the account of an out of the way railway (27th April 2007) makes fascinating reading. 

I believe all the main line steam locomotives were scrapped a long, long time ago, but it seems that a steam locomotive (picture by Mr. Poussnik - if you read this please get in touch) is preserved outside the sugar mill at Dzamanzary. The status of the railway which served it on Nosy Be, an island off the north coast (30th June 2007) is unknown, it was in use with diesels at least very recently. If anyone plans to visit this tourist resort, please get in touch!

It seems there is also a wreck of an 0-4-0T on Diego Suarez too, it may be the Decauville 0-4-0T reported in Steam in Africa to be there in 1954(!) with the remains of a 600mm gauge railway serving a French naval base.

Malawi Index

A note from Trevor Heath informs me (9th January 2008) that Robin Taylor has reported that the two preserved steam locomotives D Class 4-8-0 (8) and G Class 2-8-2 (49), formerly at Lilongwe have been moved to somewhere in Kanengo (not far away on the line to Salima). As far as is known the small saddle tanks remain as before, Thistle at Limbe station and Shamrock at the Museum of Malawi in Blantyre.

Mali Index

A few years back, Continental Railway Journal carried a piece about an old metre gauge 0-6-0T in the workshops at Korofina (Bamako). Now (2nd January 2003) Thomas Kautzor  identifies it as Pinguely 143/1903 built for C.F. du Morbihan in France as their 14 (there are a couple more on one of the Safari Steam CD-ROMs). Thomas Kautzor sent this picture of it there in December 2007 (picture changed 10th June 2008)

See Thomas Kautzor's report on his December 2007 visit for information on the railways here and in Senegal (29th February 2008).

Mauritius Index

James Waite was here on holiday and sent me a report of preserved steam and other gems (14th September 2005). Torsten Schneider has since sent a further report which adds significantly to it (24th January 2007). No steam but Dean Sullivan was here in 2008 and found some relics of the Mauritius Railway including two coaches under restoration (10th May 2008).

Mocambique Index

To my mind Mocambique was long been a 'destination-in-waiting' for an enterprising tour operator, but somehow it never quite happened. Finally Henry Posner III told me (25th May 2005), "I recently spoke with one of the top people at CFM concerning their plans for rail preservation, and their plans are quite specific:

• A national rail museum is being put together in the former passenger coach workshop in Maputo. 
• Most surviving steam locomotives in Mozambique will be relocated to this location. This includes the Atlantic from Nampula; the two 2-10-2s and two Mallets from Moatize; the two Garratts from Beira; two wood burners from Quelimane; and 2 from Xai-Xai. 
• CFM is conscious of the impact that this will have on steam tourism - namely, that they are foreclosing the opportunity to develop steam tourism - but does not believe that steam tourism has sufficient economic potential to justify the effort. The main focus of the museum will be to preserve history as opposed to promoting tourism.
• There may be a few locos kept operable at Maputo for rail tours if circumstances warrant.

The above is obviously bad news for the railway tourism business, but at least represents stabilization of Mocambique's rail history and preserves the option of, for example, steam tourism in the future." 

This site has carried a number of reports on the steam survivors and even their occasional operation, but in practice with the exception of the Nampula Atlantic none has turned a wheel in anger for some time. These reports have now been summarised (latest addition 21st January 2008, with a link to a collection of 1975 Sena pictures), covering each area of the country in turn including the survival and export of many steam locomotives from the former Sena sugar estates.

Many of the reports on this site over the years have been contributed by Paul Ash (he is a self confessed Mocambique junkie) and it may help to read his historical perspective covering a number of trips which predate most of the other material below (March 1999). Later he went back to Mocambique the hard way... (9th February 2004). There's no steam at all but you'll be enthralled like I was of his account of a trip from Malawi to Nampula in northern Mocambique and back. With steam on the way out everywhere this kind of trip sounds the next best thing to me.... 

The book Railways of Southern Africa includes coverage of surviving steam locomotives - if you are not familiar with steam here, read the Mozambique and Malawi section (added 10th June 2002).

Not working steam and not even indigenous steam, but is worthy of note that the Railway Touring Company trip in August 2002 saw SAR Class 19D 2685 and Garratt GF 2380 hauling what must have been the first steam-hauled train for a long time into (and out of) Maputo (6th September 2002). 

One of the casualties of the civil war was the TZR from Beira towards Moatize and Malawi. Now it is reported (22nd August 2002) that this line is to be reopened see http://allafrica.com/stories/200207290946.html.

Morocco

One of the most fascinating items on our Safari Steam CD Roms was the narrow gauge steam in the Spanish enclave of Melilla, although the lines concerned mainly ran in Morocco. Richard Bowen visited the Eastern Rif in October 2002 and his report on the survival (albeit near derelict) of a number of the locomotives makes fascinating reading. (11th March 2003)

Nigeria Index

Graham Roberts' African Steam Survivors reported on two River 2-8-2s in Lagos. There is at least one more there and this one is a runner... (updated 2nd November 2004). And then there were four (12th November 2004), there is another River in the old shed yard, albeit in less good condition than the others. James Hefner tells me (22nd May 2003) that two of the 0-8-0T shunters (86 and 94) were extant until at least 1999 - see http://www.topforge.co.uk/Photographs/NRC.htm (the website states incorrectly that they are 0-6-0T). Trevor Heath has posted a January 2005 update (12th February 2005).

Thomas Kautzor made a far-ranging tour of the country in November 2007. His report necessarily includes much information on surviving diesels abut also lists quiet a few surviving steam locomotives (29th February 2008). Don't rush to visit, no steam is serviceable, but I have now added some very interesting pictures (15th June 2008).

Senegal Index

See Thomas Kautzor's report on his December 2007 visit for information on the railways here and in Mali (29th February 2008).

Sierra Leone Index

This country represents one of the great disasters of post-colonial Africa. Its 2ft 6in narrow gauge railway closed long ago, but most of the locomotives and rolling stock survived more or less intact. Although it seemed (2nd August 2004) that a significant portion of it would eventually be relocated to the Sandstone Railway in South Africa, I have since heard that the latest plans call for a local museum to be established and that the first steps towards this have already been taken (18th March 2005). Click here for a copy of a local report on the new railway museum in Freetown (added 23rd May 2005).

South Africa Index

I have never attempted to give full coverage to steam operation in South Africa because it is certainly very different in nature from anything on the rest of the continent. There are quite a few preservation sites which are readily found with your favourite search engine and over the years many tour groups have been here for special charter steam. 

However, the Sappi Saiccor paper mill operation is the last 100% working steam in the country although arguably at harvest time the Sandstone operation is 'real' too. Reports of these and some other sites have now been moved to a separate page. This is the latest picture (added 10th June 2008) I have from Thomas Kautzor of Sappi Saicco 19D 4-8-2 No. 1 (ex SAR 2697, Borsig 14748/38) at uMkomaas on May 18th 2008:

Trevor Heath has sent me a report on the future of steam (tourist) operations in South Africa (22nd April 2000). Much more optimistic than much that has been written recently. You can also check out the (unofficial) South Africa Railways Page which has current information, and appears to be in much better shape than when I looked a while back (link changed 16th May 2001).  It was also carrying information on the Red Devil (15th May 1999). I have some updated information from John Ashworth of Friends of the Rail, they now have their own web page . Perhaps of more interest is that they now have their own railfan forum - http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ - check it out (link updated 9th August 2007).

Reef Steamers, Friends of the Rail and Sandstones Estates have come together to create Steam in Action which seeks to organise the conservation (and operation) of steam traction and railway heritage in general in South Africa (31st October 2007).

For many years, there has been a store of steam locomotives (or dump according to your point of view) at Millsite (cape gauge) and Humewood (narrow gauge) which contained inter alia many historical items. The recent scrapping of a number of these provoked a storm in local enthusiast circles which led to much vitriol being exchanged between individuals and HRASA on the Yahoo sar-L group. Ultimately, some peace was restored and a statement issued by Transnet on the future of those remaining - http://railwaysafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2750&Itemid=0 - the scrapping has stopped, temporarily, but the fact remains that many treasures are vulnerable. (3rd June 2008) 

Peter Rogers maintains the Cape Railway Enthusiasts Association web page http://www.capesteam.za.net which includes steam information (link added 1st December 2001)

Sudan Index

A long shot, but no-one had been there for a long time.... However John Athersuch visited and told me (16th May 2002) "No live steam, but I found the 1885 Hunslet 4-4-0T in Khartoum. This is destined for a museum I was told. I also found seventeen North British Class 500 from 1954/55 and a single Class ?200 at Zalad (10km East of Atbara) awaiting scrapping. There were reports of Class 300 and 200 similarly dumped at Sennar." A sad end when so much time and money were spent on these locomotives in a blaze of publicity  in the 1980s. I have now added some of John's pictures (10th June 2002). Martin Dronkers reports that the graveyard at Atbara still contains at least one of the Hunslet tanks (3rd March 2004):

There are a fair number of very interesting Sudan pictures available on the Friends of The Rail Forum http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=147 (added 23rd April 2008). From pictures taken by Robert Hayward in 2007, it seems that Atbara Museum is up and running including at least one Hunslet tank (the above or another member of the class). Thanks to Thomas Kautzor and Trevor Heath for tipping me off on this. There is a list of Sudan Railways steam locomotives on http://orion.math.iastate.edu/jdhsmith/term/slsdsgr.htm (added 23rd April 2008). 

Tanzania Index  

Tanzanian Railways is up for privatisation report the BBC (2nd December 2002), thanks to David Thornhill for this, needless to say 2927 is included in the offer and is pictured in the story. A new appearance on the scene is an East African Newsgroup - East_African_Steam-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (29th October 2002). Latest privatisation news (15th January 2007), yes 5 years on, it is still incomplete..

Around 1996/7 2-8-2 2927 was restored to working order and it has since worked quite a number of excursion and charter trains, often being found shunting at Dar. The slow moving privatisation has stymied its operation of 2927 and since there are no longer passenger services out of Dar, there is no stock for it to use. Consequently it was last reported (15th January 2007) just in use locally in Dar or Ilala as required, however Geoff Warren reported that in early 2008 "2927 is currently resting and rusting in the Carriage and Wagon workshops. It was last used for shunting 'about 4 months ago', and five more YDM4 from India are imminent...." (21st January 2008).

Click here for reports on its adventures. This picture is by Tanjiv Kapur.  

Togo Index

Graham Roberts has sent a picture of 2257 in store in Togo (21st December 2002). A visitor in April 2004 found the two YPs still in store and still in good condition (5th May 2004). Mike Clendining has provided an update on the YPs and the indigenous steam locomotive, a bit delayed, from his October 2006 visit (21st May 2007). For an update on their possible use in West Africa, check out www.livesteaming.com/benin-togo.htm. For the latest report on railways in Togo and the YPs in particular, I have Thomas Kautzor's report of a December 2007 visit (29th February 08).

Thanks to Nick Lera and friends in India for this one (22nd September 2000). The two Indian YPs bought by RDC will be sent here! Henry Posner III confirms "Our company bought them through RITES in the interest of preservation and possible operation, and they were overhauled last year at Ajmer. Shipment was delayed due to the complications involved in arranging ocean transportation, but they are now under way to Togo, West Africa, on the MV "Le Yi", scheduled to load on 12 September. Togo was selected because it is a metre gauge, vacuum brake country, and because of our good relationship with the railway there. Guatemala was the backup destination but was considered less desirable, despite our ownership of the railway concession there, as conversion of gauge, braking systems and fuel would have been required. At this point there are no specific plans for operation of the locos in Togo, but in the long run there may the potential for a modest tourist operation. Again, the main objective at this stage is preservation. We hope that by example other groups would consider similar efforts; RITES advises that there are a few locos still available. Realistically, however, scrapping is inevitable in the absence of buyers in the next several months. At this moment I would like to thank RITES for the patience and good faith they have demonstrated through this project, which has turned out to be more complicated than any of us had contemplated. Additionally, I would like to thank the various IRFCA members who have assisted us in with port information, contacts, etc. helpful to the cause." RDC's website may be relevant. A later report (3rd October 2000) states "In the week to 28th September, the Chinese cargo ship 'Le Yi' arrived in Durban, South Africa, and was discharging and loading cargo at berth L on Durban's T-Jetty. Standing as deck cargo on it were two YP-class pacific steam locomotives, numbers 2257 and 2684, complete with tenders of the same numbers. " 

Zambia Index

The old Zambezi Sawmills Railway out of Livingstone - featured on our Safari Steam CD-ROMs - now boasts a tourist service reports Thomas Kautzor (27th October 2007). Click here for more information. 

A visitor in early 2008 reported (25th February 2008) - "The train commenced operation on Dec 26th 2007 and runs Wed-Sat inclusive, leaving Livingstone at 1745hrs. the train is run principally for guests at the two Southern Sun hotels located in Livingstone adjacent to Victoria Falls. The consist of the train which left on time was:- 
10th class # 156
4933/4101 - former NRZ Economy coaches
211 - Diner - ex SAR "Wembley'
4821/6049 - ex Spoornet
All coaches had been lavishly renovated by Rovos Rail in Pretoria and are in a dark green livery, very similar to Rovos. A five course meal is served and was of a high standard with catering done by the Sun group. Due to the state of the track on the Mulobezi line, speeds were very low and we did not go in to Simonga siding as the track there is not considered good enough as yet for the loco to run around. Instead we were propelled back to Livingstone by 156, arriving back at 2120hrs. Water was taken on the outward journey from the Sindi river...this is a temporary arrangement and it is intended to take out a road bowser in future. 12th class # 204 is on site at the Bushtracks siding (adjacent to the main road from Livingstone to the Falls) and it is hoped to have this loco serviceable within 3 months as a back-up to 156. At present, Bushtracks (the train operator) do not have rights to run on the main line so are not able to operate down to Victoria Falls." Chas Rickwood and Mike Taylor report (17th April 2008) that 12th # 204 is expected to be back in service by the end of May. Potential visitors from the Victoria Falls side should note that day visas are no longer available and expensive full visas are now needed. 

Zimbabwe Index

Zimbabwe has more 'working steam' than the whole of the rest of Africa put together. However, it is no longer the kind of country which most tourists would want to visit. Updates on the current situation are available on the Zimrail group - zimrail-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Regular steam consists of shunting and trip workings in the Bulawayo area (see below) and also some shunting at Hwangie (formerly Wankie) colliery on the line to Victoria Falls and Zambia. Since independent travellers stopped visiting the country, reports on the latter tend only to come from visiting tour groups. For the latest example from July 2007, see http://www.geoffs-trains.com/reportzimbabwe07.html - I can't read it myself here in China though (15th August 2007). And, to be even handed, you can read about the FarRail tour which followed (31st August 2007). Robert Hall had a friend travelling independently in teh country in August 2007 he reports (25th September 2007) "For the visitor, various shortages – annoying at times, but not life-ruining; and life goes on, and people in the main were found friendly and cordial, and not afraid to talk to and fraternise with foreign visitors. The picture got, is that the news media – with the axes to grind, which they tend to have – depict Zimbabwe nowadays as an utter nightmare in all possible respects, and in so doing, overstate the case. Things may not be very good there; but the independent traveller can go there, and enjoy the experience, and not feel threatened." In other words, something which has been said many times about other destinations including Indonesia..

One of the best railway museums in Africa is in Bulawayo, now Geoff Cooke has created an unofficial website to support it (19th March 2005). Tour groups come here from time to time to charter steam and pictures of two 2005 tours are available on Geoff Cooke's website (17th October 2005). Historic tour group activity (1999 - 2001) is covered in another page.

I have moved the main Bulawayo blow-by-blow reports for the last few years to a separate page (more news moved 26th January 2007) but the most recent news I have is posted below:

By early 2006, it seemed that there were 6 (potentially) active steam locomotives in Bulawayo (11th February 2006) and later additions are in brackets:

14A 519; 525
15 386; 416; 424 (395)
16A 612 (611)

The amount of work they actually do varies enormously and unpredictably. If you happen to be in the area and are patient then seeing working Garratts in 2006 has got to be rather special. For instance John Curtis reports: "I was in Bulawayo from 7th to 11th January 2006, all the above locomotives were operable. On the 9th 386 was in steam in reserve on shed, 525 was on New Grain, quite a spectacle pushing 6 or 700 tons of bogie trucks up a curving grade on badly misaligned track with plenty of wheel slip and sparks flying from the rails; 416 was shunting freight in the station siding, 424 was station pilot shunting coaches, then Belmont after 612 replaced it at about 4p.m.. On 11th things were much the same except that 525 had gone for boiler washout and been replaced by 519." 

Through March, April and into early May 2006, daily steam operation at Bulawayo was hampered by a coal shortage apparently owing to flooding problem at the special shaft at Hwange which provides the loco coal, Mike Taylor reported (9th May 2006). In a further update at the end of the month Mike reported (2nd June 2006) that the coal shortage was continuing and steam activity was at a low ebb, a situation that continued into mid-July 2006 (20th July 2006). A further report from early October showed just one steam locomotive out and about with an average of wagon load of coal a week being available (11th October 2006). By early November 2006, the situation was slightly improved with more coal and two steam locomotives in action, by mid-November management plans were to try to use four steam locomotives a day (17th November 2006) although events still sometimes conspired to make that difficult. By late November and early December 2006, shed visits showed that at least three steam locomotives a day were out and about (13th December 2006), but by mid January 2007 it was back to two again - 395 and 416 as it happens (26th January 2007). At the end of January, 395, 416 and 424 were rostered and about two weeks later Chas Rickwood found 416, 519 and 611 at work, coal stocks being better but not at the kind of level they should be (4th March 2007), while on 5th March, he found 424, 519 and 525 at work (7th March 2007). By late April, Mike Taylor reported 395, 519 and 611 at work, 416, 424 and 525 in P15 and 613 newly outshopped and being tested (25th April 2007). On 9th October 2007, Mike Taylor reported that, on 9th October 2007,  395, 424 and 611 on shunts although coal supplies were almost exhausted. 416 and 613 were in P15 (1st November 2007). On 19th November 2007, three locomotives were scheduled for the shunts but only two made it owing to a crewman going absent. 15A 424 was sent to Hwange Colliery to solve a motive power crisis on August 26th 2007 (and worked a real train en route) - it has subsequently been returned totally 'Christmas crackered' as might have been predicted (25th November 2007), by mid December 2007 the situation was similar. Click here for Chas Rickwood's October 2007 steam roster (26th December 2007). By mid-February Hwange colliery was operating at around 20% of capacity and there was no available coal... (25th February 2008). By mid-April 2008 two or three Garratts were in use most days and coal supplies seemed to be available 'just in time' (17th April 2008).

Rovos Rail very sensibly brought two of their own 25NC steam locomotives from down south for their April 2008 tour as the local locos did not always perform as they should have. The pictures from Colin Young show the international mix on Bulawayo shed (1st June 2008). Their experience with the Garratts does not bode well for the three tours here booked for July 2008.

 

 

 

See Graham Roberts' African Steam Survivors report (21st December 2002). I understand that the two steam locomotives (stored) at Cement, 14A 509 and ex-SAR 19D 2695 have been sold (28th January 2003). They have undergone overhaul in Bulawayo and by mid 2007 were on there way out of the country, presumably en route to New Zealand.

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