Bulawayo to Gwanda and return, Zimbabwe.
After the tour train was re-provisioned in Bulawayo it headed off southwards down, what was then, the West Nicholson branch, to Gwanda where it was staged overnight.
The next day, 30th July 1992, the train travelled a little further down the branch to Antenior before turning round and heading back to Bulawayo. At Mbalabala the lead 14A class 2-6-2+2-6-2 'Garratt’ was replaced by a beafier 16th class 2-8-2+2-8-2 ‘Garratt’.
Subsequently the West Nicholson branch has been extended to Beit Bridge at the border with South Africa to form the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway which gives a very useful short through route between Bulawayo and South Africa.
29th July 1992
1-of-7) National Railways of Zimbabwe 14A class 2-6-2+2-6-2 'Garratt' nos. 515 & 517 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1953) perform a run-past in the outskirts of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, with the 'Union Limited Zambezi' train while heading to the West Nicholson branch, 29th July 1992.
2-of-7) National Railways of Zimbabwe 14A class 2-6-2+2-6-2 'Garratt' nos. 515 & 517 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1953) perform a run-past between Bulawayo and Mbalabala, Zimbabwe, with the 'Union Limited Zambezi' train while heading south on the West Nicholson branch, 29th July 1992.
3-of-7) National Railways of Zimbabwe 16A class 2-8-2+2-8-2 'Garratt' no. 608 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1938) departs from Mbalabala, Zimbabwe, with a freight train northwards towards Bulawayo, 29th July 1992. This train had been waiting for the ‘Union Limited Zambezi’ tour train to arrive in the passing loop here before departing on the single track of this undulating branch line. Note that the vehicle behind the locomotive, common on the freight trains, is for the train crew.
4-of-7) National Railways of Zimbabwe 14A class 2-6-2+2-6-2 'Garratt' nos. 515 & 517 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1953) perform a run-past between Mbalabala and Gwanda, Zimbabwe, with the 'Union Limited Zambezi' train while heading south on the West Nicholson branch, 29th July 1992. Behind is a granite kopje, a prominent landmark.
5-of-7) At Mbalabala, Zimbabwe, on the return northwards of the ‘Union Limited Zambezi’ train to Bulawayo, 30th July 1992. National Railways of Zimbabwe 'Garratt' steam locomotive 14A class 2-6-2+2-6-2 no. 517 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1953) has been removed from the front of the train and been parked in the siding to the right of 16A class 2-8-2+2-8-2 no. 612 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1938) to allow no. 612 to replace no. 517 on the train for the return journey.
30th July 1992
6-of-7) National Railways of Zimbabwe 'Garratt' steam locomotive 14A class 2-6-2+2-6-2 no. 517 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1953) heads north from Mbalabala towards Bulawayo with a freight train on the West Nicholson branch, 30th July 1992. No. 517 has been replaced on the front of the ‘Union Limited Zambezi’ tour train by 16A class 2-8-2+2-8-2 no. 612, which can be seen taking water in the distance.
7-of-7) National Railways of Zimbabwe 'Garratt' steam locomotives 16A class 2-8-2+2-8-2 no. 612 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1938) and 14A class 2-6-2+2-6-2 no. 515 (built by Beyer Peacock in 1953) perform a run-past between Mbalabala and Bulawayo with the 'Union Limited Zambezi' train, Zimbabwe, 30th July 1992.
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