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Bulawayo-Gwelo_morning_mixed_train_15A_360. Steam in Southern Africa: Rhodesia 1973. Passenger services east from Bulawayo, to the capital Salisbury (today Harare), were run usually as part of mixed trains. Taking water at Lochard Siding on 27th October 1973, Class 15A No.360 (BP 7234.1947), was in charge of the morning mixed from Bulawayo to Salisbury. The train was composed of fifteen assorted freight wagons and six coaches, which will be hauled by the Garratt to Gwelo, for a diesel locomotive to take forward to Salisbury. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Bulawayo_shed_East_end_15A_367. Steam in Southern Africa: Rhodesia 1973. Class 15A 4-6-4+4-6-4 Beyer Garratt No.367(BP 7263/1948) takes water at the east end of Bulawayo engine shed. 26th October 1973. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Bulawayo_station_15A_358. Steam in Southern Africa: Rhodesia 1973. Class 15A Beyer Garratt No.358 (BP 7232/1947), propels carriage stock into Bulawayo station, from where it will later depart with the morning train to Victoria Falls. 27th October 1973. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Gwelo_station_15A_Garratt_sunset. The setting sun of 27th October 1973 silhouettes and unidentified Class 15A Beyer Garratt waiting to depart with it mixed train for Bulawayo. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Zimbabwe_12_Thompson_Jct_Trn_21_to_Bulawayo_15A_392 'Ithaka' _(BP 7334.1950)_1.10.81 Hammering around the horseshoe curve in the shadow of “Baobab Hill” near Thompson Junction, on 1st October 1981, Class 15A 392 “Ithaka” (“Roan Antelope”) heads Train No.21 to Bulawayo. The load consists of a pair of tank wagons and 18 hoppers of Wankie Colliery coal, a total weight of about 1500 tonnes. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Zimbabwe_2_Bulawayo_shed_15A_374_(BP 7270.1949)_not_ refurbished_27.9.1981 Class 15A Garratt No.374 (BP 7270/1949) leaves Bulawayo shed on 27th September 1981, to pick up its freight train for Thompson Junction. Of the 74 Class 15A built, 33 would be refurbished under a ZR scheme to help bring the railways back from the depredations of the civil war; No.374 would not be one of those updated. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Zimbabwe_3_Bulawayo_shed_15A_386 'Umyelane' _(BP 7328.1951)_rear_view_27.9.1981 Class 15A Garratt No.386 (BP 7328/1951) has just emerged from the RESSCO (Rhodesia Engineering and Steel Supply Company) works after refurbishment, which included the fitting of roller bearings. ZR chose to christen the updated Class 15A with names of African animals in local dialects. 386 carries the name “Umyelane” which translates to “Spring Hare”. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Zimbabwe_4_Bulawayo_shed_15A_387 'Imvubu' _(BP 7329.1951)_side_view_27.9.1981 A nicely lit close-up of refurbished 15A 387 (BP 7329/1951), highlights the name “Imvubu” which means “Hippopotamus”. Bulawayo shed 27th September 1981. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Bulawayo-Gwelo_morning_mixed_train_Class_DE8. Steam in Southern Africa: Rhodesia 1973. While Class 15A No.360 was taking water at Lochard Siding, a freight train from Gwelo to Bulawayo arrived, with visible proof that sanctions against Rhodesia were being breached. In the freight train was a brand-new Co-Co diesel of Class DE8, which was comprised of an amalgam of components from several countries. None of those components, from the largest to the smallest, bore any maker’s mark or serial number, but the whole machine was constructed by Soreframe of Portugal, a country supposedly a signatory to the United Nations resolutions. Fourteen DE8, and twenty each, of Classes DE8A and DE8B, were delivered by Soreframe between 1973 and 1977, all in defiance of the UN. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Zimbabwe_1_Bulawayo_shed_East_end_SAR_14R_ZR_15A_&_16A_27.9.81 The early morning sun illuminates the east end of Bulawayo engine shed on 27th September 1981. Locomotive classes being prepared for work are 14R 4-8-2, on hire from South African Railways (SAR) and Zimbabwe Railways (ZR) Beyer-Garratts 15A 4-6-4+4-6-4 and 16A 2-8-2+2-8-2. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com