Zimbabwe - Cab Ride in a Class 15A Garratt, July 2017

[@kensherwood4866]

Excellent record of the visit. Good of them to let you join the crew. Almost as good as being there. Thanks for sharing

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

My pleasure Ken. I have more stuff to come - watch out !

[@royreynolds108]

I am appreciative of the cab shots as I have a fascination of the Garretts.

[@rigidfinger]

Amazing that these things are still in operation. I hope that guy on top ducked when they got to the tunnel. Thanks for the ride.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

These are a few of the world's last gasp of genuine steam power ..... and not a hard hat to be seen !!

[@Paule2045]

The Front is the Water Tender,we used the Garrats (Oilburners) in 1953/54 in the South Australian Railways (Narrow gauge )The Back Tender was full of Oil instead of Coal

[@lockerphotographics]

I always Wondered about traction as the fuel and water is the drivers weight and is consumed.

[@kiwitrainguy]

Jay Locker - That's why tender locos are better as the weight on the drivers stays consistent throughout the journey. One problem with Garratts going uphill is that the water would drain from the front tank in to the back tank reducing the weight on the front set of drivers and making them slip while the rear drivers had all the grip.

[@lockerphotographics]

Thank you both for the replies. I always wondered about traction in these locos. You both told me what I suspected. Thanks again

[@joesprinter8202]

Super video, great upload....many thanks..

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

And thank you !

[@anb740]

I’ve never seen any other steam locomotive leak out as much steam as these things do!

[@infobrmuseum3763]

Great video, nice to see Mr Nyoni driving still!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

He's a nice guy. Thank you for your kind comment.

[@GrumpyTinashe]

info BRMuseum hi what are you guys doing to retain these brilliant beasts

[@jamaaluddinas1jamaaluddina28]

FANTASTIC VIDEO (I AM FROM SECUNDERABAD INDIA)

[@thefredtkt]

It's a great pleasure to see all that! this site is incroyable! steam locomotives working in mines are impressive!

[@Mercmad]

I served my Aprenticeship on the NZR (New Zealand) and some of the older blokes I worked with had been involved with NZ's Garrets, three of them . They were a disaster being too heavy and too complex with automatic coal feeders and so on . They would spread the rails if opened up too quickly with a train behind. When they were introduced, new Zealand still had carriages with wooden head stocks, the result being that a Garret pulled traqin could rip the draw gear out. ( I worked on some of the last wooden headstock cars in 1974) . The matter of complexity was compounded with the 6 cyliner layout and two different types of Valve gear. They were eventaully stripped and rebuilt as 6 G type locos ,which were also very troublesome.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

It's a shame for the Garratts that they have to be criticised for being too powerful ! In effect, it's like having every train double headed .... and, of course, you should expect twice the maintainence requirement. The automatic coal feeders were only necessary where long distances were being covered. These in Zimbabwe didn't have that problem .... water capacity is the issue here.

[@raymondleggs5508]

six cylinders and two different kinds of valve gear on one locomotive? No wonder they would be hard to operate!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

These Garratts have four cylinders ..... and as far as I know only one type of valve gear. But I'm sure you or someone else will prove me wrong!

[@kiwitrainguy]

The NZR Garratts had Walscheart valve gear to operate the outside valves and Gresley valve gear to operate the inside valves. Apparently the NZR wasn't the only railway to have problems with Gresley valve gear. Only the NZR and Britain's LNER had Garratts with 3 cylinder engine units (6 cylinders total). The New Zealand Garratts had the lowest adhesive factor of any Garratts anywhere. Good if you want to pull lighter trains at high speeds but our Garratts were for hauling heavy trains up steep grades at slow speeds so that's another major failing they had. The splitting up of the 3 NZR Garratts in to 6 conventional locos was the only time this ever happened to Garratt locos anywhere. The NZR Garratts had a Tractive Effort of 55,023 lbs @ 80% boiler pressure. When they were introduced the next most powerful steam locos in NZ were 26,615 lbs. The locos introduced a couple of years after our Garratts had 30,815 lbs and they won the day. So it just goes to show how out of place the NZR Garratts were at the time. Half the problem with the mechanical stokers was that the coal supplier in the area that the Garratts worked would leave in the coal supply metal bits like broken coal drills, railway spikes, etc and these would jam the stoker. These metal bits were still being found in the coal supply as late as the 1950s but hand-fired locos weren't affected.

[@graemejohnstone7370]

The Tasmanian railways M class garrat was an 8 cylinder machine..

[@saltleywsc]

another cracking video thanks for sharing!!!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

My pleasure - and thank you for your kind comment.

[@daviddowling9830]

A very casual crew unaware that they are sitting in a poorly maintained time BOMB.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

I personally witnessed the safety valve working !!! That should keep it reasonably safe (I hope).

[@daviddowling9830]

Andy and Dandan Fisher’”THE”,okay,time to relax,all is good.

[@raptorproductions1639]

Hey at least it wasn’t built by ALCo EEYYY

[@SpottingWithSam]

@@raptorproductions1639 Bahahahaha

[@4501trainman]

Thanks for sharing this great video of the African Garratt. And also letting us know that there are these two different Rail Gauges in this part of Africa,the Meter Gauge-39 3/8-inch gauge,and Cape Gauge-42-inch gauge. I think there was also the 600-millimeter gauge Apple Express,which was around 23-to 24-inch gauge.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

I'm not sure that I've said there's any metre gauge in southern Africa. There may be but I don't know of it. The standard gauge that I've seen is Cape Gauge.

[@4501trainman]

Thanks for clearing that Gauge issue up with me. I don't how I got off the track thinking there was Meter Gauge there.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

;-)

[@raymondleggs5508]

There is a narrow gauge Garret here in the US owned by a very reclusive man who has a very private railroad on his ranch, He's very elderly and very reclusive. I did find a couple of photos of the loco though.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

There are quite a few Garratts still surviving around the world - most of them narrow gauge. There are a few in Wales on the Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland Railways.

[@jamesshanks2614]

I've worked many a steam locomotive with hydrostatic lubricators, just never imagined the Garett's with them but on thinking about it I suspect the kiss principal applied when they were built.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

I bow to your superior knowledge here. This was one of the last to be built in 1952 and they had a fairly substantial rebuild in the 70's - so many late features.

[@tonylong147]

Remember these Garratts aty primary school in Marandellas in the late 50s - the line was at the end of the school. Once there was a problem - a teacher (Dave Patterson, I think) was an ex-driver, and he was asked to help out by driving the loco to Marandellas - instant heroism. Then at highschool in Gatooma, travelling to Salisbury for exeat weekends on the Gwelo mail, also pulled by Garratts.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

You're lucky to have these memories, Tony. I can just remember seeing a Garratt or two hauling long freights on the Midland main line around the Leicester area here in the UK, but they're very faint memories. Andy

[@GoogsMindbent]

so long as they keep these locomotives running.... Zimbabwe has the Worlds Greatest Railway!!!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Unfortunately Zimbabwe's railways are barely hanging on to survival ! Andy

[@GoogsMindbent]

@@AndyDandanFisherSteam that has simply GOT to change! i'm gonna try to spread the word and start the 'Keep Garrets Going' fund! the world cannot lose the last bastion! The Zimbabwe Railway MUST SURVIVE!!!

[@jangulherme2243]

When my dad drove these that cab would've been spotless and the piping and valves definitely wouldn't look like that

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

They receive maintenance on a shoestring these days if any at all - Andy

[@tonylong147]

And then I remember - must have been about my 9th birthday, the Old Man arranged for me to ride the footplate on a Garratt from Melfort to the farm turnoff (all of about 5km). The train stopped to drop me off on the dirt crossing - them ware the days, hey!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Fantastic memory Tony.

[@GrumpyTinashe]

Thanks Andy and Dadan. Just curious. Now that the nrz are doing some modernisation do you guys know if the Garratts will be kept. I think they could be used a marketing piece if cleaned and freshened up for tourists

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

The future of the Garratts is very uncertain. With the recent change of political control in Zimbabwe, I expect there'll be a drive to modernise and "improve" the economy. You're quite right, of course, that the Garratts could be a huge tourist attraction - but only if they're managed correctly and that's not likely to happen !

[@GrumpyTinashe]

Andy and Dandan Fisher I am a nobody in the political landscape in Zim but I feel we have to at least make our voices heard. And I'm starting today. No train locomotive excites me as much and I see the most modern trains in Europe as I live in Scotland. Save the Garratts please

[@kiwitrainguy]

There is one of these Class 15's now in New Zealand. Eventually it will be restored (I hope).

[@andrewallen9993]

Last time I was there if you crossed over into Zambia there were a whole herd of dead Garretts on the left as you went towards Livingstone.

[@johnhiggins8221]

What is that extra bit on the front for? is it just aerodynamics?

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

As Aiden (and one or two others) have pointed out, it's a water tank. The supply of water is always more of a problem for steam locos than the supply of coal - especially in a country where water is in short supply. The tender at the rear also has a water tank, as well as the coal bunker.

[@rolandofarrington7795]

Beyer and Peacock, and the Garrets, Englands chance to even up to the U.S. We weren't the only country with huge locomotives, ( Mallets )! Now that's a JOINTED Locomotives! WOW! CHOO CHOO Lover Farrington, cheers!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Well I'm so pleased that someone over there appreciates a British loco !!

[@rigidfinger]

Have to wonder about the wheel spin on only the middle(?) drivers. How are these different elements coordinated? The engineer must be at least part artist.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Of course, it's not just "middle" drivers that are slipping. Each set of drivers are connected by connecting rods. However, the Garratts are, in effect, two separate locomotives (each 4-6-4) supplied by just one large boiler. So either of the locomotives can get wheel slip. Presumably, as the train is setting off from Thomson Junction, the rear set of drivers has less downward weight on it than the front set - presumably because the water tank over the front set is full, whereas the coal and water tender over the rear set is half empty. It must be a tricky balance keeping the downward force on each set of drivers at a similar level - one of the basic problems with Garratts !!

[@williamscott9507]

What have you done with this comments column the old format was so good

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

I haven't changed anything, William. It all still looks the same on my You Tube, but it's possible that something has been changed by You Tube on your format. I'm afraid, I cannot offer any help. Andy

[@cwkleynhans]

I was a fireman on these old steam engines in the seventies

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Happy days !! Andy

[@andrewallen9993]

Its still being used because it still works! The crews will let you ride in the cab as long as you buy a first class ticket for the journey, ask nicely and buy the cokes :) No elfinsafety though!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Sadly, Andrew, no steam on the mainline now I'm afraid .... only charters, like the one featured here. There's one Garratt in daily use on the branch to Hwange Colliery - that's all !

[@andrewallen9993]

Andy and Dandan Fisher Thanks for the update. My last trip was 3 years ago. Bulawayo Vic Falls :)

[@bengone3349]

I also noticed the crimped copper tubing leading to some gauges...rough! They don't whistle at crossings or turn on the head lamp. Some what odd practice and dangerous.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

It's a different world out there! They knew there was nothing else on the line and nobody crosses the crossings !!

[@andrewallen9993]

Andy and Dandan Fisher And anything on the crossing is certainly going to lose a fight with a Garrett!

[@TRAINGUY-ey3hj]

82 mph for a Garratt locomotive is really fast! Almost 100 mph!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

That's atop speed, of course. The main limiting factor would be the lack of suitable track to perform such speeds. They could do that occasionally in South Africa in the past but not in Zimbabwe and not anywhere today! .... Andy

[@TRAINGUY-ey3hj]

@@AndyDandanFisherSteam oh. Thank you for letting me know!

[@mazda62632]

Do the Garratts' suffer from lack of weight; overloading; or impatience?

[@struck2soon]

Shame the loco wasn't working a bit harder....would have liked to see that fire with a proper glow in it!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Agreed. There was a queue to ride and I drew the short straw !!

[@amadoriannino716]

Crear upload, very good!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Thank you.

[@jamaaluddinas1jamaaluddina28]

IN ZIMBABWE, ARE ALL RAIL TRACKS IN CAPE GAUGE(METER GAUGE)?

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Cape Gauge (different from metre gauge) is standard throughout much of the former British Africa. It's also used in many other parts of the world, in particular Australia and New Zealand - and, surprisingly, in Japan.

[@royreynolds108]

@@AndyDandanFisherSteam The "standard" gauge of South Africa is 42" or Cape Gauge, there are/were several 2-foot gauge lines, and 2 or 3 collieries use 4' 8 1/2" gauge.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

@@royreynolds108 Correct. Thank you Roy ..... Andy

[@LukeLovesTrains-Mr.RailYard]

I love the cab of this beautiful Iron Horse of Africa

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

They're wonderful machines but the cab could be in slightly better condition !! ...... Andy

[@NathanielKempson]

Ive seen less leaks in the vegitable isle.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

It's a miracle the garratts are still working at all. Zimbabwe has almost no money to maintain them. A few leaks are the least of their worries! Andy

[@the_corndog_kid_1168]

Is that a former UK loco

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

No. It's the wrong gauge and size for the UK. It's a UK design but built in Belgium under contract. Andy

[@raymondleggs5508]

Zimbabwe railways and Union Pacific Both have the fastest Articulated locomotives ever built tith the garrat being 12mph faster than the Big boy and Challenger most articulateds max out at 50-60mph

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

I'm not sure there's any fixed maximum with a steam locomotive. You can push them and push them harder until, eventually, the bearings burn out (as they were just about doing with Mallard) or some other disaster happens! ...... Andy

[@raymondleggs5508]

@@AndyDandanFisherSteam I was expecting the challenger to have a higher top speed than the "big boy" due to the fact that it is primarily a mixed use/passenger engine while the big boy was designed with freight in mind.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

@@raymondleggs5508 One of the main deciding factors is driving wheel diameter .... Andy

[@corpsevoice]

I love the fireman rasta cap!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

They're not behind the times in Zim you know !!

[@BPJJohn]

we need more smoke mon 🚬

[@itsjustnopinionok]

soldier of love he has to be burning up in that cap. What was the outside temp that day?

[@gordonclark7632]

Looks like an easy steam burn is available to the unwary.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Not sure about the term "steam burn" but I'm guessing you're referring to the amount of steam leakage. The handful of steamable locos they have are maintained on an almost zero budget and (except the single one used at Hwange Colliery) are only steamed up for visitors who pay money! These Garratts do have lots of spare capacity though and a little steam wastage won't stop them performing with these lightweight demonstration trains !

[@raymondleggs5508]

Standard Gauge?

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

No Raymond. These are Cape Gauge (standard across southern Africa) .... it's 3ft 6in....... Andy

[@WAL_DC-6B]

Hmmm .... a "double Hudson." It should be pulling the African version of the "20th Century Limited."

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

When in regular service they were used on both passenger and freight. They have a good turn of speed when needed - Andy

[@soumyajitmukherjee1938]

Still in use? Steam locomotive?

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

They still have a handful of steam Garratts in operable condition. The one in this video was steam specially for us but there is one still in daily use at Hwange Colliery. There are also six locos still operating daily in north western China. Take a look at my play list - kzbin.info/aero/PLNKEdhmODMJxI2j-Vg4jtbeZqw2GfatEM Andy

[@soumyajitmukherjee1938]

Thanks sir.. surely I will check.

[@381singh]

A fantastic video!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Thank you. It's always interesting to ride in the cab.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Thank you AJ. It was a great experience.

[@somerandomdude1552]

Hwange colliery?

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

This is shot on the mainline. Please see Parts 1,2 & 3 of my Hwange sequences. Start here ..... kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4u7XoKqYtOcp5o

[@corpsevoice]

Bob Marley with us!!hihhihihi

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

He can make music with that shovel !

[@janvisser5850]

feeding the fire with dagga???

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

I heard these locomotives can burn up to 100 trillion Zim dollars per mile.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

I think that's about £35 or 50USD !!

[@jamaaluddinas1jamaaluddina28]

WICH GAUGE ??? BROD GAUGE ? STANDARD GAUGE ? MITER GAUGE ? NARROW GAUGE ?????

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

"Cape Gauge" - 3ft 6in. Thanks for your kind comment.

[@tomt43]

Pretty leaky!

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

These locos are barely maintained and at the minimal of cost. Really it's a miracle they're still working at all. Andy

[@angelaweedon3193]

I am not a leftie after reading this week about what Rhodes did, I feel sick. Greedy. But his company fell. Good.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

As I've said before to you - it was a different world in the 19th century (thank goodness) ..... Andy

[@gbrown4796]

Shame there seems to be no real engine fitters any more in that country,,pipe work in cab is a disgraceful mess, .ps,worked there many years.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Inevitably, the necessary skills will gradually disappear as the older generation retire.

[@via982]

Чувак в форменной рубашке и растаманской шапке убил))))))

[@angelaweedon3193]

Well, I have just finished reading about Rhodes. Who was disgusting.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

Sadly so but it was a different world in the 19th century ..... Andy

[@charlesdell2864]

strangest locomotive I ever saw.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

The Garratts were a great British invention and very powerful locos. I can just about remember seeing them hauling coal trains in the UK some years ago, although there weren't many in use here.

[@aussiekang8087]

are any of the white rhodesians left or have they all emigrated to the UK?

[@royreynolds108]

@@AndyDandanFisherSteam Garratt came up with the idea of suspending the boiler between the engine sets and went to Beyer-Peacock. The first one was a 0-4-+0-4-0 2-foot gauge compound for use in Tasmania in 1909. It is now on the Welsh Highland Ry along with 3 NNG 2-6-2 + 2-6-2 from SAR. WH is rebuilding a Chinese 2-foot gauge 0-8-0 from a lumber or mining railroad. WH now has the first and last narrow-gauge Garratt built; and they operate.

[@AndyDandanFisherSteam]

@@royreynolds108 Thanks for that Roy. Dandan and myself assisted the guys from the WHR in buying the Chinese C2 from Dahuichang in 2006. Take a look at my video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKXXhGabl9yBlck ...... Andy