NRZ Rauilway Museum - Armoured Trolleys

By 1976 all lines of communication in
Rhodesia, including the Rhodesian rail
network, were under threat by guerillas. The
lines were vulnerable to sabotage, and both
steam and diesel locomotive cabs were
protected with armour plate. The crew were
armed, and armoured wagons with guards
were attached to all trains.

There was also a need to patrol the lines in
advance of trains and to protect maintenance
personnel. To accomplish this the railway
workshops adapted mine protected vehicles
that were originally designed for road use.

The first such vehicles had their axles
shortened to suit the gauge and had flanged
wheels fitted. This arrangement damaged
the wheel bearings, which were not
designed to resist the effects of rigid
suspension on rail joints. Subsequent
vehicles were mounted on a standard
fabricated chassis, with the drive being
transmitted via V belts from the original rear
axle.

A turntable was fitted between the front and
rear wheels to allow the vehicle to be turned,
necessary as the original land rover
transmission allowed for fast travel in one
direction only.