519, a class 14a Garratt, sits at a location known as cement in Zimbabwe. After having numerous problems keeping the fire going during the day, the crew waits to increase boiler pressure. In the end, it was not to be and the engine had to be towed back to the shops in Bulawayo.
A crew member works to clear a clinker on #519, a class 14a Garratt, while stopped at a location known as "Cement" in Zimbabwe.
Devil bush. I'm not sure what the actual name is, but from my experience, this is what Hell must be full of!!!
Morning glint in Plumtree. A diesel engine pulls the Garratt steam locomotive and consist into the depot at Plumtree.
613, a Garratt class 16A, prepares to get underway with a mixed in Plumtree, Zimbabwe.
Where else in the world do you see a "switchman" wearing dress clothes and a white scarf?
Nasty customer on the way to the photo line. Getting off the train we encountered a puff adder. At first we thought he was dead, but he moved off slowly after posing for the photo. The best part of this encounter was discovering that they do not have the anti-venom facilities, if you get bit you need to get treatment outside the country: good luck.
Waiting for water. This shot really puts into perspective the width of the water tender on this Garratt.
Garratt 395 steams towards Sawmills.
Looking down from Baobab Hill our Garratt does a run past with coal hoppers. We had disembarked at the grade crossing seen in the photo and scrambled up the slick slopes to this amazing vantage point.
Garratt 519 gets a tow back to the shops at Bulawayo.
With an ancient Baobab tree in the background, engine 395 exits the only tunnel in Zimbabwe.
A resettlement village, known as Deli, welcomes rail fans into their midst as our Garratt waits in the background.
A static display of a former South African 16DA (Thanks to Peter for the correction - I thought it was a 19d) that sits in a small park in Zimbabwe. These engines may work in some locations, but in the mines of Botswana, they were not overly successful.
Arriving at Matetsi.
Simply numbered "11", a lone class 15A Garratt works tirelessly at the Hwange Colliery in Zimbabwe. In desperate need of some down time for repairs/maintenance, the engine has no backup to allow for some time off. The flanges grinding on the rails is a real ear-sore.
Abandoned at Hwange colliery, this locomotive has become part of the garden.
2 Garratts sit in the shed at the Hwange colliery. Although they looked like parts engines, the goal is to get one of these (or both?) working again. Given the condition of #11, having another operating engine is a necessity if the mine wants to keep cars moving.
A night photo in the Hwange colliery.
