This locomotive was built by Beyer, Peacock and Company at Gorton, Manchester for the Rhodesia Railways (later Zambia Railways and National Railways of Zimbabwe) in 1957/8 and entered service as number 742 as a class 20A locomotive.
The class 20 engines were the first and only class of Rhodesia Railways locomotives to be fitted with mechanical stokers. Other technical features included bar frames and thermic syphons.
he locomotives were plagued with teething troubles including cracks in the locomotives’ frames and fireboxes. Unlike the South African Railways’ GMA, which had cast steel frames, the 20th had conventional fabricated bar frames.
The sixty one class 20 locomotives were by far the most powerful locomotives on the Rhodesia Railways, and were rated to pull 1,250 long tons (1,270 t) up a 1.55% (1 in 64) incline.
The later locomotives were classified as class 20Awith the the main difference being that the’ inside and outside trailing wheels were of the same size, on the 20A, the inside trailing wheels diameter had been increased in size. The 20As were also heavier.
It is said to be plinthed at the station in Kitwe in Zambia.
Kitwe lies at the end of Zambia Railways’ passenger services from Livingstone, Lusaka and Ndola.
Back to Preserved Outside Britain – By Country
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 