Beyer Garratt working at Hwange mine, Zimbabwe

[psycotria]

It looks like it has been over-fired. Is that the term? So much steam going to waste through the safety valve.

Is there anybody with knowledge of how many steamers are still surviving in Zimbabwe? I would think that labor to maintain and operate them would be plentiful, while modern locomotives, parts and knowhow would be very hard to come by.

[haisano]

This is cape gauge, 3 feet 6 inches. Big engines for such a small gauge :)

[duxberry1958]

the gauge should be 3 foot .. i lived in wankie in the 1960,s i once walked to the station i was only 7 i think at the time it was quite a walk ...

[Bignadim]

that is standard gauge aint it? dose`nt look like 4ft 81/2"

[wheelsdown1]

I came across four of these monsters dumped on a siding in SA outside Krugersdorp. Amazing, seeing all that decaying power.

[Isochest]

I think the Garratts helped keep electrification back as long as they could in South Africa. In the long run, electrification is the key for all railways and will prevail after Peak Oil. Africa has an exciting time of growth and hopefully improvement for all especially it's most vulnerable citizens low on the food chain

[TrevorHeath]

Folks....the Garratt at the Manchester Museum of Technology is a South African GL class. Yes really. Check their web page or that of Wikipedia for the Beyer Garratt

TH

[06blueGTOGUYinwv]

What an awesome train!

[kevinjohnmorris]

Thank you for this fascinating video. I find it astonishing that such monsters could operate on a 3ft 6inch gauge. Manchester Inductrial Museum has a Zimbabwean Garratt that returned to its birthplace.

[GMCobh]

@kevinjohnmorris I agree. It seems loading gauge does indeed matter, at least up to a certain point, and this never ceases to surprise me. (Like Brunel, my instincts are that broad gauge is more stable).

Those Garretts seem - to me - to be even more of a special design than the Mallets.

[oldsyphilitic]

@GMCobh Beyer Garratts were remarkable locomotives and it is gratifying to know that a few still operate. I have fond memories of Beyer Peacock's factory on the other side of the line to Gorton shed in Manchester. Even then, the Garratts were a thing of the past but at least that is where they were made. The 3'6" Garratt from Zimbabwe at the Manchester Museum of Technology is truly a monster. I believe the most powerful Garratt was produced for the Soviet Union back in the 30s.

[SIPHNEY]

tht was zimbabwe back in the day

[1Davisher]

These trains are really cool. The engineer and workers were kind enough to wave & smile.