Last North British steam loco in use under threat as Botswanan business collapses

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IN early October Botswana’s main copper and nickel mining company Bamangwato Concession Limited (BCL) was put into liquidation, with depressed global prices for metals being blamed.

The last two North British-built steam locos in service anywhere in the world seen in January 2016 at the Selebi-Phikwe copper mine. BCL No. 6 (NB 26070/1948) on the left and BCL No. 7 (NB 26061/1948) on the right.
JAMES SHUTTLEWORTH

The Selebi-Phikwe copper mine was closed and more than 4,200 workers and several steam locomotives now have a very uncertain future.

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BCL has operated a variety of steam locos over the last few decades, including second-hand 14A Class ‘Garratts’ and 19D Class 2-8-2s from Zimbabwe (ex-Rhodesia Railways) and was still operating North British-built 19D Class locos and South Africa (ex-South African Railways, SAR) in October 2016.

Read more in January’s issue of The RM


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