A friend of a friend spotted this old squeaky at the old Inhambane airport last year. Anybody got any info on her?
Photo courtsey of Janine Wessels.
Steam loco at the old Inhambane airport
- Derek Walker
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Steam loco at the old Inhambane airport
Not quite on the rails.
Check out my train vids. http://www.youtube.com/user/nixops
Check out my train vids. http://www.youtube.com/user/nixops
Re: Steam loco at the old Inhambane airport
Derek – this is an ex CFM loco.
The loco is actually an interesting engine. She was built in 1922 by St Leonard in Liege, and was one of only 9 engines built there…..and one of only 15 engines in total built by St Leonard’s. Of these other 14, one was a tram and the others various engines that went to France, Spain, Belgium, Greece and Estonia.
This loco had 2 identical sisters and the 3 engines went into service with CFM (Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique ) in at the end of 1922.
All three went to Inhambane and operated in this area for the next 50 years +. All locos were reported operational in the 1970’s and one, still up to the 1980’s and maybe beyond.
Surprisingly all three, the only ones ever in their Class, still exist!
The loco in the photo, a 2-8-0, is number CFM6.
CFM7 and CFM8 are identical – CFM7 remains in Inhambane, but is a wreck. CFM8 is the loco reported working into the 80’s and this loco is stored in a godown in Inhambane and was last reported as being in very good nick and potentially still operational!
I am planning a trip later in the year actually to look at this loco and several others.
As an aside, CFM are making a big effort with their heritage items, even though they have little funds and are to be commended for this. There will be interesting developments in Maputo soon!
Lastly, it is nice to see CFM6 still in such good nick!
The loco is actually an interesting engine. She was built in 1922 by St Leonard in Liege, and was one of only 9 engines built there…..and one of only 15 engines in total built by St Leonard’s. Of these other 14, one was a tram and the others various engines that went to France, Spain, Belgium, Greece and Estonia.
This loco had 2 identical sisters and the 3 engines went into service with CFM (Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique ) in at the end of 1922.
All three went to Inhambane and operated in this area for the next 50 years +. All locos were reported operational in the 1970’s and one, still up to the 1980’s and maybe beyond.
Surprisingly all three, the only ones ever in their Class, still exist!
The loco in the photo, a 2-8-0, is number CFM6.
CFM7 and CFM8 are identical – CFM7 remains in Inhambane, but is a wreck. CFM8 is the loco reported working into the 80’s and this loco is stored in a godown in Inhambane and was last reported as being in very good nick and potentially still operational!
I am planning a trip later in the year actually to look at this loco and several others.
As an aside, CFM are making a big effort with their heritage items, even though they have little funds and are to be commended for this. There will be interesting developments in Maputo soon!
Lastly, it is nice to see CFM6 still in such good nick!