A RTC tour on The Union Limited Zambezi from Cape Town to Victoria Falls and return mainly behind steam from 07 to 21-07-2001. An ambitious trip including the first steam haulage from Beitbridge to Rutenga and the first time a Class 25NC had operated in Zimbabwe. Also in Zimabwe at the same time was Zimfest organised by Geoff Cooke and that train features in later parts.
Part 11 includes the trip from Mopane to Dal Josafat 1997km (1241 miles) on 18 to 21-07-2001.
The Union Limited was a wonderful rake of vintage coaches where you ate, drank and slept on the train and were looked after by a great crew.
It was the last Union Limited tour presided over by Jenny & Ian Pretorius and I believe the train did not last too much longer under new management. Most of the coaches have either been scrapped or are derelict and vandalised after being dumped in a siding.
This was my first time using a video camera so not perfect but not bad for a first effort I think, it does improve as the trip progresses!
Featured are
Onboard and runpast footage plus passing trains.
Locos and EMU's seen are
SAR North British Class 25NC 4-8-4 3410 'City of Bloemfontein'
SAR, Neilson & Co Class 7 4-8-0 980
SAR, General Electric Class 36-000 Bo-Bo's
SAR, Union Carriage & Wagon Class 6E1 Series 5 Bo-Bo E1612
SAR North British Class 25NC 4-8-4 3411
SAR General Electric U26C Class 34-900 Co-Co's
SAR Beyer Peacock Class 15A 4-8-2 1970 'Milly'
SAR Baldwin Class 16D 4-6-2 860 'Big Bertha' (1925)
SAR Metrorail Union Carriage & Wagon Class 5M2A EMU's