Small Class 7   MR 7 Jack Tar       0-6-0T      Mashonaland Railway, Rhodesia Railways, Zambia Railways & National Railways of Zimbabwe      Gauge 3ft 6in  

Weight19t 1cwt
Driving Wheels2ft 9ins
CylindersOutside – 11½in x 17in

This locomotive (works no 1159) was built by Manning Wardle in Leeds in 1889 as a 3ft gauge locomotive.

It was first purchased by J.P. Edwards at Chapel-en-le-Frith in England for use on the construction of the Midland route between Dore and Chinley in Derbyshire. It is believed to have acquired the name Jack Tar at this time.

Around 1896 it was purchased by Pauling & Co Ltd, converted to 3ft 6in gauge and sent to Beira in Mozambique. It is reputed to be the first locomotive to have steamed there.

It was then used on the construction of the Mashonaland Railway between Umtali and Salisbury (now called Harare) in 1897/98.

In 1900 the locomotive was used to assist with the widening (2ft 0in to 3ft 6in) of the Beira Railway (Mocambique) from Umtali to Beira from 2ft to 3ft 6in in line with the Cape gauge used elsewhere.

The locomotive was then sold to the Mashonaland Railway where it became MR No 7. It was employed on shunting duties on the wharves at Beira.

During 1904/05 the locomotive was employed on the construction of the Victoria Falls bridge.

It first crossed the Zambezi on the Blondin Cable in parts. It was then reassembled to famously become the first locomotive to work over Victoria Falls Bridge with a train of two ballast wagons.

When working trucks over the bridge one night its side rods killed a leopard crouching on the beside the rail track across the girders of the incomplete bridge.

In 1927 the locomotive became the workshop shunting locomotive at Bulawayo before being employed on similar duties at Umtali Workshops in 1942.

In 1953 it was withdrawn from service and set aside for preservation and display.

The locomotive is now on display at the Bulawayo Railway Museum.

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