[DSY011]

On the Rhodesian Railways, the Garratt loco's could travel in both directions at the same speed. As the coal tender was slightly narrower than the cab, the crew could see better in reverse than the view forward, but it was rear for a loco on the main line to travel in reverse. Facing forward, there was the fire box, the boiler, then the front water tank. Facing the rear of the loco, there was only the coal tender. The cab was wider than all the rest of the loco, so that both crewmen could see well ahead of the train. As with all railway crews, the fireman was required to alert the driver of the signal ahead if the signal was on a carve and not visible to the driver. We all knew where the signals were, and if I was firing, the driver would look out of my window to check the signal was set to clear.