Zambia Railways 12th Class #204 at Victoria Falls Station prior to departure f our first attempt to reach Mulobezi. 12 July 1994.

Crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge from Zimbabwe into Zambia. 12 July 1994.

Having arrived at Ngwezi Siding overnight, #204 had travelled about 70 km down the Mulobezi Branch from Livingstone overnight. 13 July 1994.

#204 standing at the Ngwezi water tank. A garden hose slowly filled the tank, but so slowly that the locomotive used it faster. We were slowly running out of water. 13 July 1994.

Slowly running out of water at Ngwezi, a decision had to be made. 13 July 1994.

Still waiting. 13 July 1994.

Decision made. We cross the Ngwezi River over the new bridge, the old bridge visible on the left. 13 July 1994.

#204 bumped and ground down the track. Maximum speed 15 km per hour, with numerous cautions below that. Laid in the 1920's using second hand rail from the Bechuanaland Railway, I was told that the line was still 'under construction'. 13 July 1994.

The rail was milled in 1895 and 1896. Most fishplate holes had cracked through, most sleeper keys were missing. The track was so loose that you could move most of the joints with your foot. 13 July 1994.

#204 finally gave up 96,5 kilometres from Livingstone. With no water left, the fire was knocked out. 13 July 1994.

Abandoned in the bush. The Locomotive Inspector went for help - it took a while. 13 July 1994.

The telephone line was faulty - not surprising! The Inspector walked to the next ganger's cottage, borrowed a push trolley, rode to the next station where a phone worked. He called the clerk at Mulobezi, who walked over to the Sawmill, who radioed the Sawmill at Livingstone, who phoned Livingstone signal cabin, who rounded up a crew and diesel locomotive to come to our rescue, 96,5 km away, at a maximum of 15 km per hour. We were there for a while! 13 July 1994.

A U15C diesel arrived during the night. We were pulled back towards Livingstone, but only went a few kilometres before #204 derailed, unable to run backwards on the bad track. With #204 abandoned, the rest of the train returned safey to Livingstone. 14 July 1994.

We crossed back into Zimbabwe. Another Rail Safaris train was expected from Bulawayo, they were to be welcomed by a dixie band. We arrrived from the wrong direction with the wrong passengers, but the band played anyway - just in case. 14 July 1994.

We head south towards Bulawayo, crossing the Bella Vista Ball charter train at Mubiya Siding. 14 July 1994.

Two weeks after the first attempt, we had planned to run a second tour to Mulobezi. 12th Class #204 wad been erailed and abandoned en-route during the first attempt, and was still trapped on the line. Unable to run or even be towed backwards, a diesel had to push it all of the way to Mulobezi where it could be turned on the triangle prior to being towed back to Livingstone. For this second trip we used 10th Class #156. We could only go as far as the Railway Museum on the outskirts of Livingstone and so, on a much shorter trip, we once more left Victoria Falls. 26 July 1994.

10th Class #156 rolls past the Victoria Falls name board, bracketed by Baobab trees. 26 July 1994.

#156 crosses the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia. 26 July 1994.

#156 at the Livingstone Railway Museum, located at the former Zambezi Sawmills locomotive depot. 26 July 1994.

The museum curator, finding out if the train was near. 26 July 1994.

A third attempt was made to reach Mulobezi. 12th Class #204 had been recovered, and was once more in charge as we headed back into the unknown. 21 August 1994.

Crossing the bridge again on 21 August 1994. I had supplied a wagon of coal, replacing the substandard Zambian product. Zambia Railways had found a second water tank car, it had a hole in the bottom of the tank, but it was better than nothing.. 21 August 1994.

Livingstone Station. Ready for our branch line adventure. 21 August 1994.

Leaving the bright lights behind. #204 steps out at 15 km per hour. 21 August 1994.