Zimbabwe railways steam ahead

Zim Online ^ | 24 July 2004

[Clive]

BULAWAYO - Steam locomotives are usually synonymous with a bygone era of glory and journeying in style. But a far less glamorous development may resurrect the rattling of these iron engines on tracks across Zimbabwe.

Fast-depleting coffers have forced the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to seriously examine reintroducing steam engines, making the country one of the world's last bastions to still rely on this century-old technology. Assistance from the Chinese government may make it possible to turn coal-fired engines into the locomotive of choice for the NRZ.

A delegation visited Bulawayo in mid-July to tour railway facilities. When questioned, Minister of Transport and Communications Chris Mushowe confirmed government was looking east for technical partnerships in both the railway and aviation sectors. Air Zimbabwe, the ailing national airline, has already announced it will either lease, or buy, a long-haul passenger aircraft from China.

If ever the NRZ needed a lifeline it's now. Reports of accidents have increased, rail has lost traffic to road transporters, and passenger trains are running late, if at all. Additionally, Mushowe acknowledged that NRZ is deeply in the red. Its salary bill has ballooned to 120 percent of its revenue base.

Privatisation is not an option. Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals Rugare Gumbo has labelled public corporations, like NRZ, the country's 'last line of defence' against loss of sovereignty. The parastatal's turn-around plan, reportedly recommending an overhaul of infrastructure, will be presented to government at the end of July. Judging by the date of the Chinese delegation's visit, their interest in Zimbabwean rail seems most opportune.

The NRZ also needs wagons and locomotives, which it used to hire, at great cost, from neighboring countries like South Africa. This, however, is no longer done as government lacks the funds. Nor does it have friends who can provide long term support.

But China is an exception. Ranked among one of Harare's few remaining international allies, the waking tiger uses and manufactures both steam and diesel locomotives, some of which could end up at the NRZ.

"They say the Chinese are giving us engines; we don't know if it'll be diesel or steam," said a source at NRZ, who spoke on condition of anonymity..

But Robin Doust, who chairs the Friends of the Bulawayo Railway Museum, says if the concern is the bottom line then it would be 'much cheaper to repair the steam engines we have, but aren't operating.' Currently, the NRZ uses about 12 steam engines for shunting.

Four months ago the engines also began pulling commuter trains, introduced in Bulawayo and Harare in 2001. NRZ has a total number of 50 engines, in various stages of disrepair. Doust also warns against importing sub-standard engines and components from China. "Their steam engines have a good reputation,' he says, 'but their diesel locomotives do not."

Zimbabwe, he says, has the expertise and labour to refurbish its own engines. Two weeks ago a pair of steam engines, belonging to Portland Cement, was re-built at the railway workshops. They are about to be shipped to an operator in New Zealand.

Additionally about five of the NRZ's engines are undergoing major refurbishment. One of them is earmarked for the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls line that is among a few remaining routes equipped to handle steam engines. Since their debut in Bulawayo in 1896 steam engines have twice defied decommissioning, keeping rail traffic on course despite difficult - yet similar - odds.

In the late seventies, for example, war and sanctions made it prudent for oil-importing Rhodesia to reverse a planned dieselisation programme. The decision was all the more cost-effective given the availability of high-grade coal, skilled artisans and a fleet of well-kept steam locomotives.

These engines ran until the eighties when NRZ - following the advice of Canadian consultants - replaced most with diesel engines that had been bought with World Bank loans.

In an uncanny resemblance to those pre-independence circumstances, NRZ re-introduced steam engines in March this year, when fuel supplies were erratic and diesel locomotives scarce. Some steam engines were borrowed from the museum.

The iron giants are also the reason the country can lay claim to something akin to a world record. The yard in Bulawayo, the country's second largest city, is considered the last great steam shed outside China. Adds Doust: 'Zimbabwe is the last place in the world where steam engines are used to pull commuter trains."

Some representatives of the local tourism sector welcome the return of more steam engines, saying they hope it may attract international steam enthusiasts to the city. But that's still a way off, warns Doust, as the locomotives have only been re-introduced on a 'localised scale' thus far. 'We are only looking at four trains a day and they run at difficult times; early in the morning and late in the evening, when it's difficult to take photographs of them,' he says. The few trains currently operating are therefore not as attractive to tourists as the re-appearance of steam on main lines would be. That is something steam enthusiasts - and accountants at the NRZ - are equally eager to see.

[hoot2]

"Zimbabwe's NASA "

Bill Wood and the Truax/Evil Knievel Snake River Canyon Jump Vehicle (steam powered)

[hoot2]

"Zimbabwe has lots of coal. Necessity is the mother of invention. Last thing they need is getting involved with muslim dominated oil, when it appears the Chinese are moving in. "

whos gonna shovel the coal? chinese?

[cyborg]

Hmmmmm...you never know.

[razorback-bert]

First of the new models in production?

[GeronL]

Zim: The cutting edge of steam

[happygrl]

Sooooo......

Colonization by Europe = Bad.

Recolonization by China = Good.