I think Bob Yarger asked about Zimbabwe steam recently. I found this story on the SAR Yahoo Group tonight, and was able to find the original story at the link below.

Zimbabwe announced last week that steam has been permanently re-instated on commuter trains due to diesel shortages. Zimbabwe has quite a few Garratts that were rebuilt (including roller bearings on all axles) in the 1980's. Most of these had been moth-balled in the last few years, but I believe some have remained on switching duty the whole time.

Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) was almost 100% diesel in ~1980, went back to almost 100% steam, and has oscillated back and forth between these states several times since then. Canadian rail consultants did their damnedest to get rid of all the steamers in the 1990's, but despite all, steam is still hanging on.

This just may turn out to be the last "real" mainline steam in the world.

Regards,
Hugh Odom
The Ultimate Steam Page
http://www.trainweb.org/tusp



NRZ Re-Introduces Steam Locomotives
whodom2001@yahoo.com

> I think Bob Yarger asked about Zimbabwe
> steam recently. I found this story on the
> SAR Yahoo Group tonight, and was able to
> find the original story at the link below.

> Zimbabwe announced last week that steam has
> been permanently re-instated on commuter
> trains due to diesel shortages. Zimbabwe has
> quite a few Garratts that were rebuilt
> (including roller bearings on all axles) in
> the 1980's. Most of these had been
> moth-balled in the last few years, but I
> believe some have remained on switching duty
> the whole time.

> Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) was almost 100% diesel
> in ~1980, went back to almost 100% steam,
> and has oscillated back and forth between
> these states several times since then.
> Canadian rail consultants did their
> damnedest to get rid of all the steamers in
> the 1990's, but despite all, steam is still
> hanging on.

> This just may turn out to be the last
> "real" mainline steam in the
> world.

> Regards,
> Hugh Odom
> The Ultimate Steam Page
> http://www.trainweb.org/tusp
Thanks for the good news. I spent some time in zim. and remember 10 to 14 hour a day cab rides on garretts. The best was on a 15a on the line to fig tree or plum tree on a 15a 4-6-4--4-6-4 at speed. I have a super8mm sound film of that trip . regards bb

Here are few questions.

What type of locomotives? How long a ride? How many? How often? How safe is it there?

Thanks,

Tom Gears

Tom,

I found a few additional details over the weekend on Geoff Cooke's "Trains & Treasures" website (no affiliation):

"22 March 2004

Zimbabwe. Bulawayo Commuter Trains return to steam. Good news for anyone thinking of booking on the Garratt Safari to Zimbabwe in May. The National Railways of Zimbabwe last week started running the Bulawayo commuter service with Garratts. 15th and 16A Class locomotives have been regular performers and a 20th Class has been tried. With 8 departures each day Monday to Friday and 4 on Saturdays, this will be a significant bonus to the May tour. Book your place before it is too late!"

The 15th Class are 4-6-4+4-6-4's, the 16A's are 2-8-2+2-8-2's, and the 20th class are 4-8-2+2-8-4's (Rhodesia's last new steamers).

Read more at the link below. If you want to know about how safe it is there, this guy may be able to tell you.

Regards,
Hugh

> Here are few questions.

> What type of locomotives? How long a ride?
> How many? How often? How safe is it there?

> Thanks,

> Tom Gears


Geoff's Trains
whodom2001@yahoo.com