| Zimbabwe. August 2006 |
Thursday. 10 August 2006
A large part of the group had chosen to visit the BCL Mine at Selebe Phikwe in Botswana before
continuing to Bulawayo. They arrived this afternoon on the Francistown to Bulawayo passenger
train.
The rest of the group flew to Bulawayo from Johannesburg, arriving in time to be waiting at the
station for Peter Patt and the Botswana contingent.
A braai was held at the Bulawayo Railway Museum this evening.
A large part of the group had chosen to visit the BCL Mine at Selebe Phikwe in Botswana before
continuing to Bulawayo. They arrived this afternoon on the Francistown to Bulawayo passenger
train.
The rest of the group flew to Bulawayo from Johannesburg, arriving in time to be waiting at the
station for Peter Patt and the Botswana contingent.
A braai was held at the Bulawayo Railway Museum this evening.
| 69 Pitt Street, Kidderminster Worcestershire, DY10 2UN, England Phone: 44 (0)1562632000 |
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Friday. 11 August 2006
Our first charter train ran today. Class 15A # 424
took Train # 800 UP Passenger (Safari) from
Bulawayo to Figtree, and Train # 801 DOWN
back again.
Our first charter train ran today. Class 15A # 424
took Train # 800 UP Passenger (Safari) from
Bulawayo to Figtree, and Train # 801 DOWN
back again.
| Sunrise at Figtree |
| Leaving Figtree |
| Passing Umganin |
Plans to use Class 16A # 611 on our trip to
Heany Junction on Sunday were dealt a blow
when she derailed in the steam depot
following a test run to Cement. Not badly
damaged, she ran the FarRails trip on 25th
August instead.
Some participants visited the Matobo Hills
National Park this afternoon, others watched
the NRZ Steam Shed dealing with # 611.
Heany Junction on Sunday were dealt a blow
when she derailed in the steam depot
following a test run to Cement. Not badly
damaged, she ran the FarRails trip on 25th
August instead.
Some participants visited the Matobo Hills
National Park this afternoon, others watched
the NRZ Steam Shed dealing with # 611.
| Class 16A # 611. Bulawayo Steam shed. 11 August |
| 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 |
| Sunset in the Matobo Hills |
| Cecil Rhode's grave. Matobo Hills |
Saturday. 12 August
Today was spent photographing the locomotives around Bulawayo. A shortage of coal meant that
the shunt was limited, and a holiday on Monday and Tuesday resulted int he commuter trains
being cancelled. However, a number of interesting photographic opportunities presented
themselves, including action at the coal stage and some shunting at the station in the afternoon.
Today was spent photographing the locomotives around Bulawayo. A shortage of coal meant that
the shunt was limited, and a holiday on Monday and Tuesday resulted int he commuter trains
being cancelled. However, a number of interesting photographic opportunities presented
themselves, including action at the coal stage and some shunting at the station in the afternoon.
| # 525 and # 424. Bulawayo steam shed |
| # 424. Bulawayo steam shed |
| #416, making up the train for tomorrow. |
| Class 15A # 416 shunting in Bulawayo Station. |
Sunday. 13 August
Today we took Class 14A # 525 to Heany Junction. The locomotive performed well, particularly
considering that it was a last minute substitution for the derailed # 611.
Today we took Class 14A # 525 to Heany Junction. The locomotive performed well, particularly
considering that it was a last minute substitution for the derailed # 611.
| Class 14A # 525 passing Mpopoma |
| #525 at Imbizo Barracks level crossing. |
Monday. 14 August
We kicked off this morning with a lineup of all available steam locomotive classes at the steam
shed. Standing side by side were 14A, 16A, 9B, 12th, 15A, 20th and 14th Class.
Train # 900 UP, with Class 15A # 416, took us from Bulawayo to Sawmills this morning.
After a servicing stop at Sawmills we backed the train over the bridge for a runpast as the sun set.
The original plan was to run up the horseshoe to Igusi Siding and back, but this was scuppered by
late running.
We continued to Dete overnight.
We kicked off this morning with a lineup of all available steam locomotive classes at the steam
shed. Standing side by side were 14A, 16A, 9B, 12th, 15A, 20th and 14th Class.
Train # 900 UP, with Class 15A # 416, took us from Bulawayo to Sawmills this morning.
After a servicing stop at Sawmills we backed the train over the bridge for a runpast as the sun set.
The original plan was to run up the horseshoe to Igusi Siding and back, but this was scuppered by
late running.
We continued to Dete overnight.
| 20th Class # 730 with Class 14A # 525 |
| Steam shed lineup |
| Sunset near Sawmills |
| Tenela Bank |
Tuesday. 15 August
With coal bunker replenished, Train 900 UP took us from Dete to Thomson Junction today.
With coal bunker replenished, Train 900 UP took us from Dete to Thomson Junction today.
| Running past Mambanje Siding |
| Leaving Dete soon after sunrise |
Wednesday. 16 August
The NRZ had sent 15th Class # 424 to Thomson Junction in advance of our train to provide
backup. They kindly agreed to our using both locomotives this morning for a trip to New Hwange
on the new main line, and back to Thomson Junction past Old Hwange Station on the old main
line. This created an unusual, but authentic, double headed 15th class train.
The NRZ had sent 15th Class # 424 to Thomson Junction in advance of our train to provide
backup. They kindly agreed to our using both locomotives this morning for a trip to New Hwange
on the new main line, and back to Thomson Junction past Old Hwange Station on the old main
line. This created an unusual, but authentic, double headed 15th class train.
| 424 and 416 storm out of the Tunnel |
| Double headed Class 15A's roll uphill towards New Hwange |
| Between Old Hwange and Thomson Junction |
| 424 and 416 passing Baobab Hill |
Thisafternoon we ran as far as Zanguja with
# 416, capturing some sunset shots and
returning to Thomson Junction after dark.
# 416, capturing some sunset shots and
returning to Thomson Junction after dark.
Thursday. 17 August
This morning Train 900 UP Passenger took
us from Thomson Junction to Victoria Falls.
Runpasts were staged at Deka, Zanguja,
Matetsi and Dibangombie before we arrived
at Victoria Falls in time for the sunset cruise
on the Zambezi River.
This morning Train 900 UP Passenger took
us from Thomson Junction to Victoria Falls.
Runpasts were staged at Deka, Zanguja,
Matetsi and Dibangombie before we arrived
at Victoria Falls in time for the sunset cruise
on the Zambezi River.
| On the Zanguja horseshoe. |
| Crossing Deka River |
| Approaching Zanguja Siding |
| Storming Zanguja Bank |
| Crossing Dibangombie River |
| Running through Matetsi Siding |
Friday. 18 August
This morning Class 15A # 416 operated a mixed train from Victoria Falls station to the Bridge,
where we photographed the train crossing the bridge before returning to the station.
This morning Class 15A # 416 operated a mixed train from Victoria Falls station to the Bridge,
where we photographed the train crossing the bridge before returning to the station.
This afternoon the Victoria Falls Safari
Express, behind their Class 14A # 512, took
the group to Livingstone.
The following morning the group drove to
Livingstone Airport via the Livingstone
Railway Museum, catching mid-day flights to
Johannesburg.
Express, behind their Class 14A # 512, took
the group to Livingstone.
The following morning the group drove to
Livingstone Airport via the Livingstone
Railway Museum, catching mid-day flights to
Johannesburg.
| A Zambian General Electric U15 Dielsel Electric shunts Livingstone Station past out of use 12th Class # 204. |
| Geoff, Just a note to say many thanks for all the work you put into this years tour. For me it met all my expectations, and I would look forward to returning in the future. Kind Regards, |
| Click here for Geoff Cooke's Fotopic website |