| GLOBE STEAM Zimbabwe. July 2005 In July 2005 Geoff Cooke helped to plan and host a tour to Zimbabwe for Globe Steam and Aviation. This brief report outlines a tour that, although affected by Africa's normal frustrations, was judged a great success by the participants. |
| Report and photographs are Copyright to Geoff Cooke If you wish to copy or use any of the contents of this website, please request permission first |
Friday. 1st July 2005
This afternoon we had planned to photograph
the Victoria Falls Safari Express running down to
Zambia to collect a group of tourists for
sundowners on the Bridge. Unfortunately, the
group made a last minute change and the tour
took place in the morning, before our arrival.
We took the opportunity to re-schedule a
sundowner cruise on the Zambezi above the
Falls for this evening, giving us more time to play
trains tomorrow.
This afternoon we had planned to photograph
the Victoria Falls Safari Express running down to
Zambia to collect a group of tourists for
sundowners on the Bridge. Unfortunately, the
group made a last minute change and the tour
took place in the morning, before our arrival.
We took the opportunity to re-schedule a
sundowner cruise on the Zambezi above the
Falls for this evening, giving us more time to play
trains tomorrow.
| Sunset on the Zambezi River |
Saturday. 2nd July
The congestion caused by the arrival of three trains from Thomson Junction resulted in our leaving
Victoria Falls Station about 1 hour late for our photographic run to the Bridge with the Victoria Falls
Safari Express Class 14A Garratt # 512.
A number of runpasts were staged between the station and the bridge, and the train trundled over
the bridge to permit three helicopter flights to at least try to photograph it.
The congestion caused by the arrival of three trains from Thomson Junction resulted in our leaving
Victoria Falls Station about 1 hour late for our photographic run to the Bridge with the Victoria Falls
Safari Express Class 14A Garratt # 512.
A number of runpasts were staged between the station and the bridge, and the train trundled over
the bridge to permit three helicopter flights to at least try to photograph it.
| Victoria Falls Station |
| En route to the Bridge |
The train was not permitted to strand on the bridge due to concerns about structural strength, and
so tying the flights up with the train movements was very hit and miss.
Mid afternoon saw our Class 14A heading out in the opposite direction towards Mubiya, two
sidings away on the line to Bulawayo. A few pleasing runpasts were staged before sunset, when
we stood the train on an embankment for silhouette shots as the sun went down.
so tying the flights up with the train movements was very hit and miss.
Mid afternoon saw our Class 14A heading out in the opposite direction towards Mubiya, two
sidings away on the line to Bulawayo. A few pleasing runpasts were staged before sunset, when
we stood the train on an embankment for silhouette shots as the sun went down.
| Victoria Falls Bridge |
| Sunset near Mubiya Siding |
Sunday. 3rd July
An early start from Victoria Falls saw us at Thomson Junction by 07h30. We had arranged for a
Colliery locomotive to run on the NRZ line from there through the tunnel to New Hwange Station,
from where it would run through Old Hwange and back to Thomson Junction over the old main
line.
The train was delayed by the Colliery attempting to extort about five times as much as they had
quoted for the hire of their locomotive (Class 15A #11) , but eventually we headed out for a very
successful run.
An early start from Victoria Falls saw us at Thomson Junction by 07h30. We had arranged for a
Colliery locomotive to run on the NRZ line from there through the tunnel to New Hwange Station,
from where it would run through Old Hwange and back to Thomson Junction over the old main
line.
The train was delayed by the Colliery attempting to extort about five times as much as they had
quoted for the hire of their locomotive (Class 15A #11) , but eventually we headed out for a very
successful run.
| Leaving the Tunnel |
| Near Old Hwange Station |
Lunch was a pleasant interlude at the Baobab Hotel, and then we paid a clandestine visit to the
Hwange Colliery before sundowners, again at the Baobab, and a ride to Bulawayo on the NRZ
mail train.
Monday. 4th July
We arrived on time in Bulawayo, to be met by three steam locomotives shunting. These included
Class 14A Garratt #525, which was scheduled to take us to Figtree that afternoon. #525 was
dispatched back to the shed for preparation, but it transpired that there was also a problem with
the crew. With the weather looking very gloomy, it was agreed that we would postpone the trip for a
few days.
This evening we enjoyed a fine Braai at the Railway Museum, hosted by the Friends of the
Bulawayo Railway Museum.
Hwange Colliery before sundowners, again at the Baobab, and a ride to Bulawayo on the NRZ
mail train.
Monday. 4th July
We arrived on time in Bulawayo, to be met by three steam locomotives shunting. These included
Class 14A Garratt #525, which was scheduled to take us to Figtree that afternoon. #525 was
dispatched back to the shed for preparation, but it transpired that there was also a problem with
the crew. With the weather looking very gloomy, it was agreed that we would postpone the trip for a
few days.
This evening we enjoyed a fine Braai at the Railway Museum, hosted by the Friends of the
Bulawayo Railway Museum.
| Class 14A # 525 near Mpopoma. |
| Class 16A 612 rescuing 14A # 525 near Mpopoma. |
Tuesday. 5th July
This morning the weather was greatly improved as we operated our charter to Cement. The
locomotive in charge was again #525. Excellent runpasts were staged on the way to Cement, but
just before reaching Mpopoma on the return run the locomotive ran out of water and had it's fire
drawn. The problem was that the valve and pipework connecting the auxiliary tank to the locomotive
was blocked.
The locomotive allocated to our afternoon run to Nyamandhlovu eventually rescued us, but by that
time it was too late to make the journey and so we enjoyed an earlier than expected arrival at Gef
Calvert's book launch.
This morning the weather was greatly improved as we operated our charter to Cement. The
locomotive in charge was again #525. Excellent runpasts were staged on the way to Cement, but
just before reaching Mpopoma on the return run the locomotive ran out of water and had it's fire
drawn. The problem was that the valve and pipework connecting the auxiliary tank to the locomotive
was blocked.
The locomotive allocated to our afternoon run to Nyamandhlovu eventually rescued us, but by that
time it was too late to make the journey and so we enjoyed an earlier than expected arrival at Gef
Calvert's book launch.
| Bulawayo steam motive power depot |
| Bulawayo steam motive power depot |
Wednesday. 6th July
This morning was our opportunity to photograph the special lineup of all available locomotive types in
the steam shed. The scene was reminiscent of some years ago, when every road of the shed was
full of locomotives awaiting their duty.
A dash to the station saw a right time departure for Sawmills behind Class 15A Garratt # 416. A
number of excellent runpasts were arranged, and we arrived at Sawmills reasonably on time, with no
problems.
This morning was our opportunity to photograph the special lineup of all available locomotive types in
the steam shed. The scene was reminiscent of some years ago, when every road of the shed was
full of locomotives awaiting their duty.
A dash to the station saw a right time departure for Sawmills behind Class 15A Garratt # 416. A
number of excellent runpasts were arranged, and we arrived at Sawmills reasonably on time, with no
problems.
| Morgans Siding |
| Tenela Bank |
The run back to Nyamandhlovu was a dash as there was no water at Sawmills. However, with an
ample supply at Nyamandhlovu, we were able to enjoy a sequence at sunset as the locomotive
was prepared for its run into Bulawayo.
ample supply at Nyamandhlovu, we were able to enjoy a sequence at sunset as the locomotive
was prepared for its run into Bulawayo.
Our arrival in Bulawayo was certainly in style,
we did not stop at all between Nyamandhlovu
and Bulawayo Platform, a particularly good
performance through the manually controlled
Mpopoma yard. Possibly this was because
the Area Manager was our guest at a Braai
arranged by the NRZ Catering Department,
and held at the steam shed.
we did not stop at all between Nyamandhlovu
and Bulawayo Platform, a particularly good
performance through the manually controlled
Mpopoma yard. Possibly this was because
the Area Manager was our guest at a Braai
arranged by the NRZ Catering Department,
and held at the steam shed.
| Sawmills Siding at sunset |
Thursday. 7th July
This morning saw the rescheduled Figtree run. The locomotive was again # 416, because Class
16A # 612 was considered too unreliable to sen out of town. We made an early start to get in front
of the commuter trains that block the line as far as Khami between 04h30 and 07h30. Arriving at
Figtree around sunrise, we found ourselves once more under a thick bank of cloud. However, with
a clear line and ample water we were able to wait until the weather improved. Good runpast were
enjoyed as we made our way back to Khami, followed by a run into Bulawayo.
This afternoon, we travelled by road to Selebe Phikwe.
This morning saw the rescheduled Figtree run. The locomotive was again # 416, because Class
16A # 612 was considered too unreliable to sen out of town. We made an early start to get in front
of the commuter trains that block the line as far as Khami between 04h30 and 07h30. Arriving at
Figtree around sunrise, we found ourselves once more under a thick bank of cloud. However, with
a clear line and ample water we were able to wait until the weather improved. Good runpast were
enjoyed as we made our way back to Khami, followed by a run into Bulawayo.
This afternoon, we travelled by road to Selebe Phikwe.
| Figtree |
| Khami Bridge |
Friday. 8th July
A good day was spent by the group at the BCL
mine. Two Class 19's were in steam, with a
Class 14A in cold standby. The visit to the
depot was followed by successful lineside
trips to both the shafts and the exchange
sidings.
A good day was spent by the group at the BCL
mine. Two Class 19's were in steam, with a
Class 14A in cold standby. The visit to the
depot was followed by successful lineside
trips to both the shafts and the exchange
sidings.
| Selebe Phikwe steam shed |
| Report and photographs are Copyright to Geoff Cooke If you wish to copy or use any of the contents of this website, please request permission first |
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