Bulawayo news

[John Ashworth]

BULAWAYO NEWS

Railways Africa On November 29, 2011 In Zimbabwe

Chas Rickwood on zimrail:
“Managed to get to the main workshops yesterday [22 November] in company of the passenger services manager and museum custodian Gordon Murray….we went to check on museum assets currently in the workshops, ie

• Dining car 644 Vumba in a very dilapidated state after coming off the Beit Bridge run a year or so ago.
• DE2 1200………..returned from Mutare where it had been taken a few years back with the idea of putting it back in service as a works shunter…after a struggle we managed to get it back to Byo and it now needs a repaint and new windows before it returns to the museum for static display.
• 20th Class 740…still in use as a stationary boiler….a very ancient steam crane was being used to load coal to the bunker of 740.

“Lots of personnel around the workshops but little sign of any work being done…everyone very friendly but the usual story of no funds for materials..

“The thrice-weekly cross-border trip to Francistown has now been reduced to twice-weekly through lack of patronage. If anyone wants to sample this train, better hurry before it comes off altogether… it now runs out from Byo on Mondays and Fridays.

“Managed to get to the steam shed today [24 November].
613 had returned to shed after a stint on the West End Shunt.
395 also in steam and due to do a test trip to Sawmills on 24 November. This is a trial in relation to a Valentines Sashay special that NRZ RailLeisure are planning for February.

“On the way back from the shed I noted DE10 no 1027 on the Emgwanini commuter working…rather an overkill with a load of three coaches and two guards vans!”