| This information is published as a service to the Round Table and Rotary clubs of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. Geoff's Trains is not otherwise involved with the project and all of the information is published in good faith |
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The 10,25 inch miniature railway in Bulawayo's Centenary Park was opened on 18 August 1960 by Sir Humphrey Gibbs. It was run by
the Bulawayo Round Table # 3 club. The first locomotive was a maroon painted 4-6-2 named King Arthur. In 1963 King Arthur was
joined by Queen Guinivere, a 4-6-0 British 'Royal Scott' look-alike. Appropriately much lighter than the King, the Queen was never very
successful at the task of hauling Bulawayo's kids of all ages around the demanding track.
Through the 1990's the railway fell into disrepair, and about 6 years ago, stopped running when the last locomotive, Lady Morag,
popped her thyristor once to often.
the Bulawayo Round Table # 3 club. The first locomotive was a maroon painted 4-6-2 named King Arthur. In 1963 King Arthur was
joined by Queen Guinivere, a 4-6-0 British 'Royal Scott' look-alike. Appropriately much lighter than the King, the Queen was never very
successful at the task of hauling Bulawayo's kids of all ages around the demanding track.
Through the 1990's the railway fell into disrepair, and about 6 years ago, stopped running when the last locomotive, Lady Morag,
popped her thyristor once to often.
In October 2004 Bulawayo Round Table # 49 decided to take on and rejuvenate the railway. Their first
mission was to bring Rotary and Lions and any other service clubs they could find in the area to assist
with the project and turn it back into a community service. Unfortunately Lions declined but a few
individuals from the Rotary Club of Bulawayo South assisted.
This project also included the restoration of an 18 hole putt putt (crazy golf) course and a trampoline.
The project started in November 2004 with the help of the Bulawayo Community in the form of cash
and kind.
The putt putt course was covered with rubber which was kindly donated by Dunlop Zimbabwe. The
whole area was repainted with paint donated by Dulux and Astra Paints. There was quite a bit of other
refurbishment on both the trains and the surrounding areas carried out with materials and labour
which were donated by other companies.
mission was to bring Rotary and Lions and any other service clubs they could find in the area to assist
with the project and turn it back into a community service. Unfortunately Lions declined but a few
individuals from the Rotary Club of Bulawayo South assisted.
This project also included the restoration of an 18 hole putt putt (crazy golf) course and a trampoline.
The project started in November 2004 with the help of the Bulawayo Community in the form of cash
and kind.
The putt putt course was covered with rubber which was kindly donated by Dunlop Zimbabwe. The
whole area was repainted with paint donated by Dulux and Astra Paints. There was quite a bit of other
refurbishment on both the trains and the surrounding areas carried out with materials and labour
which were donated by other companies.
| King Arthurs Cross station, turntable and engine shed. Photo: Geoff Cooke. April 2005 |
Lady Morag
She is a battery operated 'diesel' based on the Alshom DE8 outline. Built in the NRZ Bulawayo workshops in
the 1970's, she weighs about 2 tons. Her power comes from a bank of batteries yielding 72 volts. She is 14ft 6
inches in length.
Lady Morag has now been repainted in the original blue colours, and resplendent in her fine new dress is
running trains for the public.
She is a battery operated 'diesel' based on the Alshom DE8 outline. Built in the NRZ Bulawayo workshops in
the 1970's, she weighs about 2 tons. Her power comes from a bank of batteries yielding 72 volts. She is 14ft 6
inches in length.
Lady Morag has now been repainted in the original blue colours, and resplendent in her fine new dress is
running trains for the public.
| Lady Morag ran for a while in yellow colours Photo: Round Table |
King Arthur
King Arthur measures 16 feet and weighs 1½ tons. He has a working pressure of 150 psi and has the
ability to draw 30 passengers plus rolling stock. He was built, we believe, between 1959 and 1960.
The King together with the Queen were found disassembled with many of the parts, particularly the
brass components, missing. Unfortunately we have been unable to find the drawings for these
locomotives and none of us in the Bulawayo 49 Round Table Club know how they work and neither do
we know what the missing components look like. The King's boiler is in the process of being tested
and passed by Factory & Works and until this happens, there is nothing that we can do on this
locomotive except to search for knowledgeable people, drawings and components.
King Arthur measures 16 feet and weighs 1½ tons. He has a working pressure of 150 psi and has the
ability to draw 30 passengers plus rolling stock. He was built, we believe, between 1959 and 1960.
The King together with the Queen were found disassembled with many of the parts, particularly the
brass components, missing. Unfortunately we have been unable to find the drawings for these
locomotives and none of us in the Bulawayo 49 Round Table Club know how they work and neither do
we know what the missing components look like. The King's boiler is in the process of being tested
and passed by Factory & Works and until this happens, there is nothing that we can do on this
locomotive except to search for knowledgeable people, drawings and components.
| King Arthur in the 1980's Photo: Chris Butcher. NRZ |
Queen Guinevere
We have our suspicions that the Queen's boiler was condemned so we are not looking at this locomotive until
such time that the King is functional.
The Queen was built by railway apprentices in the Polytech in Bulawayo in 1963. Drawings for the Queen
should be available.
We have our suspicions that the Queen's boiler was condemned so we are not looking at this locomotive until
such time that the King is functional.
The Queen was built by railway apprentices in the Polytech in Bulawayo in 1963. Drawings for the Queen
should be available.
| Queen Guinevere Photo: Geoff Cooke. March 1975 |
| The Bulawayo Park Railway |
| News and information |
Carols by Candlelight special
The miniature railway ran over the 2005 festive season, including the night of 6th December when
the annual Carols by Candlelight was held in the adjacent municipal amphitheatre. The boy scouts
and their leader Norman took a break from the festivities to rode the train.
the annual Carols by Candlelight was held in the adjacent municipal amphitheatre. The boy scouts
and their leader Norman took a break from the festivities to rode the train.
Lady Morag - New pictures
A few pictures taken in November 2005 by a happy passenger showing Lady Morag in her new blue livery.
Click the images to enlarge.
A few pictures taken in November 2005 by a happy passenger showing Lady Morag in her new blue livery.
Click the images to enlarge.
King Arthur & Sisters - New Information
It is probable that King Arthur (the 4-6-2) was built by RH Baxter of Pietermaritsburg in South Africa as one
of three locomotives, all of which were gauged 9.5" when built.
One of the three is now in the UK on a private line, and is still running on the original 9.5" gauge.
Deon Taljaard found one in SA after 20 years in storage and partly restored.(Still in the original 9.5"
gauge). This loco is being rebuilt and will be re-gauged to 10.25".
The third loco, King Arthur, is now with Round Table Bulawayo.(Also re-gauged to 10.25")
The dates of construction tie in with information in an article from Model Engineer dated Jan 20 1955 (Vol
112).
Information supplied by D Taljaard
It is probable that King Arthur (the 4-6-2) was built by RH Baxter of Pietermaritsburg in South Africa as one
of three locomotives, all of which were gauged 9.5" when built.
One of the three is now in the UK on a private line, and is still running on the original 9.5" gauge.
Deon Taljaard found one in SA after 20 years in storage and partly restored.(Still in the original 9.5"
gauge). This loco is being rebuilt and will be re-gauged to 10.25".
The third loco, King Arthur, is now with Round Table Bulawayo.(Also re-gauged to 10.25")
The dates of construction tie in with information in an article from Model Engineer dated Jan 20 1955 (Vol
112).
Information supplied by D Taljaard
| King Arthur's sister in the UK Photo: Simon Townsend |