[Peter Armond]

I note that under the Lima brand on the Hornby International web site they show a South African Trans Karoo Express train set plus an additional 2nd class coach.

Does anyone know if this is new product or something they inherited from Lima? This begs the question is it 4mm or 3.5mm scale? Whichever 16.5mm track is too wide!

 

[Peter Armond]

Thanks for the offer Doug.

It was more of a general interest than to buy anything of this nature. I need to finish my late 1950's BR railway first before I embark on anything else!

While on a recent trip to South Africa it was mentioned at the model railway shop I usually visit in Johannesburg that Hornby were making a Trans Karoo Express, which led me to search their International web site.

 

[Peter Armond]

QUOTE (10001 @ 9 Aug 2008, 03:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks for that Doug, I recall travelling through the Hex valley , Cape Province in a boat train of perhaps 18-20 bogies with 2 similar electric locos on. In those days these trains started a 3-day journey steam hauled by Rhodesia Railways garratt up in Northern Rhodesia . When we went on holiday to the U.K we joined the train at Livingstone, overnight to Bulawayo where we had a terrific railway mixed grill breakfast . Then change carriages but still steam hauled for two more days and nights until reaching the Cape . Great days !!!!
Regards and thanks for the nostalgia 'fix'
Tony

When was that 10001, early sixties I would guess?

We had a couple of Garratts rusting away just a few yards away from my office here in Lusaka until about 6 months ago. They had been there for about 40 years but have now been moved, presumably to a scrap metal dealer, to make way for an access road for the Milling Company.

Garratts were running between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls on a regular basis until at least 2001. Don't know if they still are as I have not been to Zimbabwe for a few years despite it's close proximity as British passport holders are seen as spies for the British Government!

Think I was hauled by the Blue Train version of the E9 when we did the Blue Train trip, from Cape Town to Johannesburg, about 20 years ago. Good value then and very luxurious, but now very expensive.

 

[Peter Armond]

QUOTE (10001 @ 12 Aug 2008, 04:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Peter,
Sadly the last journey was 1966, behind a 20th class garratt. I lived in Livingstone from 1957 'til 1966 . I used to enjoy walking across the Victoria Falls Bridge at the same as a Garratt was crossing . Quite an experiance to be so close to all that power.
Regards Tony
Hi Tony,

I was last in Livingstone about a year ago when they had just got a 10th class steam locomotive operating at the Livingstone Railway Museum. That and a 12th class now operate the Royal Livingstone Express most evenings. They do a 20km journey along the old Mulobezi line with refurbished luxury Pullmans, serving dinner on the way at a cost of about US$150. I hope to do the trip next month. See www.rainbowtours.co.uk

Click on Zambia, then Victoria Falls and follow the link to Royal Livingstone Express.

I have some close up video footage somewhere that I took of a Garratt at Victoria Falls around 1999 just before it departed for Bulawayo at sunset. Fantastic locos.

Livingstone has changed a lot in recent years and is now very much a tourist destination with many hotels and up market lodges. Fortunately it seems to have got the balance right and is not too commercialised.

Regards

Peter

 

[Peter Armond]

QUOTE (10001 @ 14 Aug 2008, 07:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Peter .
Many thanks for the info on Livingstone. Although a quiet little town it was a great place to live with plenty to do to and then it was a safe place to do it . I knew the Zambesi sawmills company secretary and the accountant and used to go down to their yard to look over the locos . I remember there being 8th and 9th class locos and a 4-8-0 ex Mashonaland Railways. The ZSM railway was the longest privately owned railway in the world. The track was terrible , no ballast to speak of and all the fishplates were cut in half -just one bolt at each end of the rail - obviously derailments were common. It did not matter much because of the slow speed . On their trains they added a coach at the end if there were passengers (there usualy were) but they were often called upon to walk beside the engine to throw sand under the driving wheels as the sanders very rarely worked . The Kalahari sand of course made up the track bed. I've got some slides somewhere and in the process of sorting and scanning to computer ( my Wifes job) .I hope they will be in good enough condition to post.
Nice to remember these days and of course you may know of them,- but perhaps some other forum members may be interested.
Best regards Tony
Hi Tony

Not much has changed with the Mulobezi line. Although I assume the first 20 km are OK for the new "Express". I do know that shortly after operations of the express commenced the line was flooded for 2 months so operations ceased.

I gather trains still occasionally travel at a snails place to Mulobezi. The Group that won the concession to operate the railways in Zambia about 4 years ago until 2015, had the Mulobezi concession thrown in (no one else tendered for it) but not surprisingly they have concentrated on the main line rather than this unwanted branch!

Regards

Peter