Driving Wheels	4ft 0ins
Boiler Pressure	170psi  Superheated
Cylinders	Outside – 20in x 24in

As built as class 9

The class 9 locomotives were the first superheated engines to operate on the system.

Thirty locomotives were built for the Rhodesia Railways as class 9 locomotives.

• 1912 – 12 built by the North British Locomotive Company   numbered 80-91
• 1912 – 6 built by the North British Locomotive Company numbered 92-97
• 1915 – 6 built by Beyer, Peacock & Company numbered 105-110
• 1917 – 6 built by the North British Locomotive Company numbered 111-116

In 1916 six locomotives (117-122) were built by the American Locomotive Company and were classified as class 9B. These engines had increased boiler pressures of 180psi. 

At some time twenty-six of the class 9 locomotives were rebuilt and reclassified as class 9B. These also had boiler pressures of 180psi.

These were said to be popular locomotives but also struggled with the gradients on the Umtali Line in Mozambique.

Preservation

Two class 9 locomotives have been preserved including one class 9A engine built in America – 122.

North British Locomotive Company Works No 21478 – RR 115

This locomotive was built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in 1917 for a price of £5020 16s 8d.

It was originally owned by the Mashonaland Railway Company under the title of the title Beira and Mashonaland and Rhodesian Railways. This operated on the system, in what was then Rhodesia, until 1927 when the Rhodesia Railways Company became the working company.

It is one of the locomotives rebuilt as a class 9B engine.

The locomotive is based at the Railway Museum at Bulawayo but has been used in the past to haul special trains.

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