The Rhodesia Railways 16A class, will later become Zambia Railways and National Railways of Zimbabwe 16A classes.
Design The 16A class were a modernised version of the older 16th class. The design was thoroughly revised throughout and externally was notable for the "streamlined" tanks and bunkers, while the cab was widened to maximum possible below waistrail, with inwardly sloping panels above. Internally they had long travel, long lap, valve gear, roller bearings on pony truck axles, separate boxes on most, and higher boiler pressure. This latter gave them a tractive effort equal to the former 18th class, to which they were mechanically vastly superior.
Service
Rebuilding In 1978 Rhodesia Railways began to rebuild its steam locomotive fleet. Between 1980 and 1983 the remaining Garratt locomotives were completely overhauled and had some modernisation, including the installation of roller bearings. The work was undertaken by private companies, especially the RESSCO works in Bulawayo.
First Number Beyer Peacock Builder Number Date Built ********* Date rebuilt Second Number Notes 620 7498 1952 621 7499 1952 622 7500 1952 623 7501 1952 624 7502 1952 625 7503 1953 07/1979 601 626 7504 1953 06/1980 602 627 7505 1953 628 7506 1953 04/1980 603 629 7507 1953 03/1980 604 630 7508 1953 631 7509 1953 03/1980 605 632 7510 1953 10/1979 606 633 7511 1953 02/1980 607 634 7512 1953 635 7513 1953 05/1980 608 636 7514 1953 06/1979 609 637 7515 1953 07/1980 610 638 7516 1953 07/1980 611 639 7517 1953 640 7518 1953 641 7519 1953 642 7520 1953 643 7521 1953 06/1979 612 644 7522 1953 645 7523 1953 11/1979 613 646 7524 1953 647 7525 1953 09/1980 614 648 7526 1953 10/1980 615 Sold to THF (awaiting scrap Voorbaai 2020) 649 7527 1953
References
"THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS"A.E. DURRANT and published edition APG, 1997 >
External links