Zimbabwe Train Book.

Locomotives of Zimbabwe & Botswana

by Edward D Hamer, published by Stenvalls of Sweden, ISBN 91 7266 152 6, 224 pages hardback 220mm x 305mm, now out of stock.

Here we have the recently published definitive work covering all the known railway locomotives which have ever worked in Zimbabwe and Botswana. To set the scene the book begins with interesting contributions from Terence Cuneo, David Shepherd and Sir Roy Welensky.

The story proper starts with the pioneer lines - the 2ft 0in gauge Beira Railway begun in 1892, then the 3ft 6in Vryburg-Bulawayo route opened in 1897. Thereafter the survey covers the gradual development of the system up to today’s situation. The story of the railway is inevitably tied in with the story of its locomotives, and the book covers both aspects, includes hitherto unpublished material concerning what went on during the years of Rhodesian sanctions.

Best known of the locomotives are the various types of Beyer Garratt, but the book also includes details of the other steam types, diesels and the electric locomotive stock. Industrial locomotives, steam as well as diesel, are by no means forgotten, and included in the coverage is “David’s Exotic Engine” (O & K 0-6-0 ‘Elsa’ pictured elsewhere on this website). Detailed data and a multitude of photographs, monochrome as well as colour, supplement the comprehensive text to make this an exhaustive survey.

Zimbabwe Train Book.

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