[DSY011]

You are right Alan, the railways were very different. Only the Bulawayo/Salisbury line was double track. We ran on cape gauge but our rolling stock were 10' 6" wide. We had coal trains of 14,000 ton on 144 axles which a 20th class loco would pull up gradients of 1 in 64. Goods trains never went much over 35 mph and passenger trains of 16 coaches would run at about 55 mph. A lot depended on the area one worked. Umtali to Vila de Manica was only about 20 miles, but there are 365 curves and a climb of almost 1,000 feet. Trains went down at 20 mph and up the hill at about 15 mph. Two trips to an 8 hour shift. All main line drivers and firemen worked both goods and passenger trains. We had CTC signalling on all the main lines apart from the line through Botswana, which was ticket working. I never worked that line. branch lines were ticket or staff (token) working. We worked as a set team, Driver Fireman & Guard but we did not have our own locos. We just used that which had been rostered for the train. A working rota of 14 days with 2 red and 2 blue rest days. We were not allowed to work a red rest day and blue was voluntary only. We had 47 days A/leave which we could save up to a max of 6 months and 12 days when we could just take a days casual leave. The 12 days were not abused by most, in fact I never used any. In a land where we have to pay for health, the railways gave free medical service and as young firemen, we were the 2nd best paid in the world. At that time only the US army were better paid. Life on the Rhodesian Railways was great.
Syd