Join the discussion on the following article:
South African Garratt arrives at Menzies Creek
When I visited the National Railway Museum (UK) in York about a decade ago, one thing was noticeably missing from its wonderful, world-class collection, and that was a Beyer-Garratt. While those were made for export, and not domestic use in the British Isles, they all came from the UK. I still wonder why that museum had not repatriated one from Kenya or South Africa to put on display.
Top marks to ‘Trains’ even a Puffing Billy Member in Australia can’t find out about News Worthy events such as this until he reads them in the overseas press from USA!
Yes the Garratt is/was an amazing sight to behold as they hammered along the rails in Southern Africa back in the heyday of steam, still being used I believe in the movement of coal from the mines to the mainline rail head’s in Mugababwe and possibly South Africa as well…The narrow gauge as shown here were mighty little work horses on the Port Shepstone sugar cane trafic lines…replaced by diesel electric locomotives…but that’s progress isn’t it…
Not being a Puffing BIlly member in Australia I am the same as Frank Mitchell . Glad i subscribe to TRAINS MAGAZINE for the same reason . Keep up the great work as it is truly a global magazine at keeping us informed