70th Anniversary of Opening of the Beira-Salisbury Railway Issued 22nd May 1969

“It soon became apparent to Rhodes that his scheme for settling Rhodesia would never flourish unless he

was able to procure an east coast port for the new territory. The route to the Cape was long and expensive,

and although the extension of the Vryburg-Mafeking railway to Bulawayo fitted in with his scheme of

linking the Cape with Cairo by rail and telegraph, it was nevertheless inadequate for the rapid expansion

he had in mind.

He interested his friend, Alfred Beit, in his plan to build a railway from the coast to Umtali, and in the year

1892, Beit sent for George Pauling, who had by then established his reputation as a builder of railways.

Pauling joined Lawley in partnership to build the first section from Fontesvilla, about 50 miles by river

from Beira, to a point about 70 miles from the Rhodesian border, known as Chimoio. The track laid was a

2-ft. gauge and traversed thick forest country. The area was also malaria ridden, and large stretches passed

through the tsetse fly belt and many were to die from fever and dysentery during the building operations.

The original track looked more like a toy railway with its light gauge rails, weighing only 20 lb. per yd.

The railway was able to carry, and did carry a large amount of traffic, particularly mining machinery which

was being sent out from Britain by the newly formed mining groups who were entertaining high hopes of

making a fortune in Mashonaland.

Game along the track was plentiful and the large gangs working on the line were kept supplied by a hunter

employed for this purpose, and since the African labourers were very fond of meat, they were kept

reasonably satisfied. But supplies of fresh vegetables were very scarce. During the construction period more

than 60 per cent of the European workers died.

The narrow gauge railway eventually

arrived at Umtali in 1898, and the section

between Fontesvilla and Beira had also been

extended by the Beira Railway Company

thus giving a direct link from Rhodesia to the

sea. In the meantime Rhodes had further

contracted to extend the line from Umtali to

Salisbury but with the standard 3 ft. 6 in.

gauge which was common throughout the

Southern African railway system.

This work progressed rapidly, and was

completed on 23rd May, 1899. The

following year the Umtali-Beira section was

converted to the standard gauge so that the

same trains could operate right through to

the coast.”

(above is an extract from the “Supplement to

– Rhodesia – A Postal History” by R. C.

Smith)1

Engine No. 1 “Cecil J. Rhodes”, in Umtali prior

to taking first train to Salisbury

(National Archives)

To commemorate the opening of the railway from Beira to Salisbury a set of four stamps depicting

railway locomotives was produced, these were:

3d. This stamp depicts a 2-ft. gauge locomotive, with

a wheel arrangement 4-4-0, of the type used on

the early Beira to Umtali railway in the 1890's.

This engine, the only complete example in

Rhodesia, was rediscovered at a sawmill north of

Bulawayo. It is now in the Mutare Museum.

9d. The subject of this stamp is a 7th class steam

locomotive. It has a wheel arrangement 4-8-0, a 3

ft. 6 in. gauge and the engine and tender weigh

83 tons in full working order. This class of

engine first entered service on Rhodesia

Railways in 1901 and formed the major part of

the main line fleet for many years. No. 43, the

last of this class to be employed on active service

was retired in August 1964 and is now housed in

the Umtali Museum.

ls6d. This stamp shows a 15A class Garratt articulated

locomotive. Despite their unusual wheel

arrangement, 4-6-4x4-6-4, they are probably

considered to be the most successful type of

Garratt articulated locomotive to work on

Rhodesia Railways. They are sometimes referred

to as "Greyhounds". Their weight in full working

order is 186.74 tons, and their overall length 92 ft.

4 in.

2s6d. The locomotive depicted on this stamp is a class

2 diesel electric. These engines develop 1,710

b.h.p. and have a 1-CO-CO-l wheel arrangement.

They weigh 113 long tons and have an overall

length of 59 ft. 3 in. Diesel electric locomotives

were originally introduced during the 1950's for

work on the Umtali-Salisbury section of the

Beira-Salisbury railway. They were used on all

the main lines of Rhodesia Railways with the

exception of the line running south from

Bulawayo.

(Stamp descriptions from card stiffener placed in Post Office first day covers. Photographs found on

rhodesianheritage.blogspot.co.uk )

“Museum Train”

To celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the first train from Beira, The Rhodesia Railways held a

special exhibition at Salisbury Station from 19th to 24th May, 1969.

“The 9d stamp ... features Locomotive No. 45 which will actually head the "Museum Train". A 7th Class

locomotive, it was withdrawn from active shunting duties in August, 1964 and is no longer capable of

sustained steaming. In August, 1963 it took part in the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the opening of

the Gwelo-Selukwe Branch Line and on 4th November, 1967 it was decorated in exact replica of the first

official train to enter Bulawayo in 1897, and drew a special "historic" train into Bulawayo to mark the

City's 75th birthday. It is now a permanent part of the "Museum Train” and has been on display at other

centres in Rhodesia and in Botswana. It is being preserved by the Rhodesia Railways Historical Committee

and will be one of the major items of attraction of the proposed Rhodesia Railways Museum to be set up

in Bulawayo.

Other units of the "Museum Train" are the Museum Coach, Rhodes' Coach and a vintage van. The Museum

Coach, originally a first and second class composite passenger saloon, has been converted to serve as a

mobile exhibit of Rhodesia Railways historical railwayana. Whilst on display at Salisbury it will show

historical photographs and items relating to the construction and early days of operation of the Beira-

Salisbury line.

Rhodes' Coach, "Shangani", was originally purchased by the De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., of

Kimberley in 1896 and was finally used as Rhodes funeral coach conveying his body from Cape Town to

Bulawayo for burial at the Matopos - a distance of 1,355 miles.

The vintage van will serve as the post office on the forthcoming Anniversary Celebrations in Salisbury.”

(The above is an extract from a press release issued by the Public Relations Office of Rhodesia Railways

on 21st May, 1969 – thanks to Rob Burnett for providing it)

What is more interesting from our view is that a

temporary post office was opened at the exhibition

which was a vintage van, normally attached to the back

of trains.

Opposite is a photograph of that van, together with a

picture of one of the two letter boxes attached to the van

for the posting of covers. (Thanks to Rob Burnett for

obtaining these)

As a temporary post office there was a need for a

handstamp for “Salisbury Station” to cancel the first day

covers posted in the van, in addition a registration label

was required for registered mail. The temporary post

office was open for the period 22nd to 24th May,

although the van was open for the sale of unstamped

covers from the 19th.

Within “South of the Zambezi”, this postmark is known

only on the 22nd May, The example shown opposite

shows that the TPO was still open on the 24th May. 7

The Salisbury Station postmark was only used once

more on 29th October, 1972 for the Mazoe Valley

Special train – see Related Material below.

THE ISSUED STAMPS

Catalogue Listings

SG2 RSC3 Value Description Print colours

431 C95 3d Locomotive 2ft. Gauge 1899 Black, magenta, cyan & yellow

432 C96 9d Locomotive 7th. Class 1904 Black, magenta, cyan & yellow

433 C97 1s6d Garratt Class 15A 1950 Black, magenta, cyan & yellow

434 C98 2s6d Diesel Electric Class 2 1955 Black, magenta, cyan & yellow

Technical details

Stamp size: 42 x 28 mm

Sheet Size: 60 stamps (6 rows of 10 stamps), two panes within printed sheet

Artist: Rose Martin: based on photographs supplied by Rhodesia Railways.

Paper: Type 10 - Chromo, creamy/brown gum

Print colours: Black, magenta, cyan & yellow

Perforations: Comb perf: SG 14½, RSC 14¼

Top margin: Perforated through

Side margins: Two perf holes

Bottom margin: Imperforate

Printer’s Imprint: Type 6a, bottom margin, below columns 5 & 6

Cylinder numbers: Cyl 1A bottom margin under R6/1, colours reading across from left – black,

magenta, cyan, yellow (all values)

Colour register: Type TL 4 – round boxed - left margin opposite R6/1, colours reading down

black, cyan, magenta, yellow (all values)

Sheet Value: Bottom margin, below R6/10, black printing

Sheet Number: Type SN 4, right margin opposite R6/10, reading down

Print numbers: 3d & 9d 390,000 (6,500 sheets)

1s6d & 2s6d 240,000 (4,000 sheets)

Issue date: 22nd May, 1969 (notice No 1 of 1969)

Withdrawal from sale: 30th August, 1969

Demonetarisation: 1st September, 1972 (post decimalisation)

Listed varieties

Below are varieties documented or seen for each of the values, starting with the listed varieties within the

Mashonaland Guide4, and those listed in the RSC3, shown in yellow shaded tables. The varieties listed in

bold are considered by the authors of the Guide to be more important. However having examined a

complete sheet, many of the varieties listed, including those in bold, are not present, and therefore should

be considered batch flaws.

3d - Locomotive 2ft. Gauge 189

Row Col

Multipositive

Tiny black dot just above projecting roof of cab. 1/2, 1/7, 4/2, 4/7 1/4,

Blue dot to left of funnel. 1 /4, 1/9, 4/4, 4/9

Red dot just above right edge of roof of cab. 2/1, 2/6, 5/1, 5/6

Red dot under overhang of cab. 2/2, 2/7, 5/2, 5/7

Small blue dot below ‘R’ of Rhodesia. 2/4, 2/9, 5/4, 5/9

Blue dot below ‘R’ of Rhodesia. 2/5, 2/10, 5/5, 5/10

Part

Multipositive Red dot in sky above and between Rhodesia and value. 3/5, 6/5 (NOT 3/10, 6/l0)

1 3 Large yellow dot between legs of ‘A’ of Salisbury.

Brown dash to left of funnel.

1 4 Blue dot to left of ‘1’ of 1899

1 5 Blue dot above ‘D’ of Rhodesia

1 7 White mark behind left toe of ‘A’ of Rhodesia.

1 9 Red dot above ‘I’ of Rhodesia

2 1 White line through piston cylinder.

White line above buffer on front of train

2 2 White line through ‘S’ of Rhodesia

2 4 Blue dot on top edge of ‘3’ of value

2 7 Red dot below ‘H’ of Rhodesia

2 8 White screen flaw to left of ‘3’ of value

3 5 Yellow dot below ‘A’ of Beira

4 2 Green dot on red front plate of chassis

4 6 Large screen flaw under ‘Y’ of Salisbury

4 8 Broken leg of ‘M’ of Locomotive

5 3 White dot on tender

5 6 Big black dot in sky 1/16" from left side midway between ‘R’ of Rhodesia and

tender

5 8 Black dot 11 o'clock to ‘3’ of value

6 1 Red dot similar to multipositive 2/1 but little higher above cab

6 4 Pink screen flaw behind ‘EL’ of Beira

6 6 Green dot to right of 1899

6 10 Black dot above ‘H’ of Rhodesia

NOTE A green dot below ‘Y’ of Salisbury on all stamps.

The second ‘9’ of 1899 has short tail on all stamps

Unlisted variety

Faint mauve

“rainbow” from top

of picture to window

of cab

9d - Locomotive 7th. Class 1904

Row Col

Multipositive

Black dot under first sleeper on left. 1/2, 1/7, 3/2, 3/7

Minute nick in top edge just to right of value. 2/2, 2/7, 5/2, 5/7

White dot below ‘OD’ of Rhodesia.. 2/3, 2/8, 5/3, 5/8

Tiny black dot below right end of tender. 3/1, 3/6, 6/1, 6/6

Top serif of ‘S’ of Rhodesia broken. 3/2, 3/7, 6/2,

6/7

Blue dot cutting top edge above value. 3/5, 3/10, 6/5, 6/10

1 1 Two small marks above hyphen between Beira and Salisbury

1 3 Red mark in middle of side panel of coal tender

1 5 Dot on side of mountain on right edge of stamp

1 6 Big dot under E of Rhodesia

1 9 Left edge of 9 of value damaged

2 4 Red dot in margin in right edge by mountain

3 5 Red dot between value and engine lamp

3 10 Blue dot in right selvedge opposite top of coal tender

4 1 Red dot in top selvedge above right upright of ‘H’ of Rhodesia.

4 4 Tiny red dot below right leg of ‘H’ of Rhodesia

5 3 Red dot below ‘A’ of Rhodesia

5 10 White line below D of Rhodesia at angle 45o to left.

6 1 Red dot in bottom selvedge below ‘B’ of Beira.

6 6 Tiny red dot in top selvedge approximately between value and Rhodesia

NOTE On every stamp two tiny black dots occur midway between ‘A’ of Rhodesia and

tender

1s6d - Garratt Class 15A 1950

Row Col

Multipositives

Black dot midway between ‘6’ of value and top of trees. 1/4, 1/9, 4/4, 4/9

Coal falling off tender at rear. 2/3, 2/8, 5/3, 5/8

Black dot above tender. 2/4, 2/9, 5/4, 5/9

Red dot between A of Rhodesia and value. 2/5, 2/10, 5/5, 5/10

Red dot on top edge of stamp above S of Rhodesia. 3/1, 3/6, 6/1, 6/6

Dot above ‘9’ of 1950. 3/3, 3/8, 6/3, 6/8

Red dot below 6 of value and blue dot between legs of ‘A’ of Salisbury. 3/5, 3/10,

6/5, 6/10

Part

Multipositive

Red dot below R of Salisbury. 6/2, 6/7, (NOT 3/2, 3/7)

1 1 Black dot on left of tail of second ‘9’ of 1899

1 2 Black dot on edge of stamp in line with kopje on left

1 6 Black dash above ‘RA’ of Garratt

1 7 Two minute black dots midway between ‘D’ of Rhodesia and engine

2 1 Two minute black dots midway between ‘H’ of Rhodesia and engine

2 2 Bottom of ‘I’ of Rhodesia nicked

2 3 Two separate minute dots below ‘H’ of Rhodesia

2 4 Several black dots, one under ‘D’, three under ‘E’ of Rhodesia and one in left

selvedge

2 5 Greenish white vertical dash above the red dot near top edge

2 9 Blue dot in right selvedge next to railway line

2 10 Serif of ‘A of Rhodesia broken

3 1 Blue dot under wheels of engine above RR of Garratt

3 3 Black dot above ‘E’ of Rhodesia

3 6 Black dot between ‘1’ and dash of value

3 8 Red dot to left of ‘1’ of value

3 9 Six minute black dots immediately to right of engine bumper

3 10 Top of ‘I’ of Rhodesia broken

4 3 Black dot below ‘H’ of Rhodesia

4 5 Black dots between ‘OD’ and another below ‘D’ of Rhodesia

4 6 Black dot midway between ‘S’ of Rhodesia and engine

4 9 Black dot to right of ‘6’ of value

5 1 Black dot on left upright of ‘A’ of Beira

5 2 Black dot above ‘S’ and blue dot on top selvedge above ‘S’ of Rhodesia

5 6 Black dot midway below cowcatcher and bottom of stamp

5 7 Black dot below ‘IR’ of Beira

5 9 Black dot in selvedge on right of value

5 10 Black dot below ‘A’ of Rhodesia

6 1 Red dot in rock, 7 o'clock from ‘1’ of value

6 3 Red dot in selvedge above ‘R’ of Rhodesia

6 4 Black dot above rocks on far left

6 6 Red and black dots in large rock below ‘1’ of value

6 8 Black dot above left foot of left leg of ‘H’ of Rhodesia

2s6d - Diesel Electric Class 2 1955

Row Col

Multipositives

Blue pennant on top of square building above rear

cab of diesel engine. 1/1, 1/6, 4/1, 4/6

Red dot to left of bumper plate of engine.

1 /4, 1/9, 4/4, 4/9

Black dot to right of large ventilator cutting bottom of orange band. 1/5, 1/10, 4/5, 4/10

Red dot above C of Class.

Black dot in white roof above door of front cab.

2/2, 2/7, 5/2, 5/7

Red dot behind horn. 2/4, 2/9, 5/4, 5/9

Black dot on orange band between ‘RR’ and red dot between ‘RA’ of Beira. 2/4, 2/9,

5/4, 5/9

Blue dot in exact middle of third building from left. (between value and horn). 3/1, 3/6,

6/1, 6/6

Part

Multipositive Two black dots separate on square building above rear cab

1 1 Black dot to right of ladder on front cab

1 7 White horizontal line above left horn of engine

1 8 Spur on top of ‘R’ of Rhodesia, black mark below ‘S’ of Rhodesia

1 9 Red and blue dots below engine under rear cab

2 2 Black dot on white roof of engine 10 o'clock above third circular window

2 4 Oblique black dash to left of second pair of windows on white roof

2 6 Black dot between ‘LA’ of Class

2 8 Black dot on white roof above first circular window

2 10 Black dot between vertical parallels on square building above rear cab

3 1 Red dot above ‘U’ of Salisbury

3 2 Blue and red dots under ‘U’ of Salisbury in bottom selvedge

3 3 Short serif to top of ‘H’ of Rhodesia on left

3 4 Extra bar inside ‘A’ of Rhodesia

3 5 Blue and red dots in selvedge on right in line with nose of engine

3 7 ‘B’ and ‘U’ of Salisbury joined by wavy line in middle

3 9 Red dot near right edge of stamp approximately opposite ‘2’ of Glass

3 10 Black spot above right front window of cab under ‘R’ of Rhodesia

4 1 Screen flaw on nose of engine to right of lamp

4 10 Blue dot in white roof to left of first window

5 3 Black dot in bottom margin in line with ‘A’ of Salisbury

6 4 Large dot to right of door below orange band in green panel

6 10 Red, blue and black dots in right selvedge opposite rear nose of engine

FIRST DAY COVERS

The cover numbering comes from the catalogue produced by Geoff Brakspear

Cover 42.1

Post Office Cover

194 x 126 mm

Cover 42.2

190 x 127 mm

Cover 42.3

Cover produced by Rhodesia Railways Historical Committee

193 x 127 mm

Related Material

First Day Cover signed by artist, Rose Martin

Rhodesia Railways Historical Committee cover

posted in vintage van on 24th May 1969, two days

after the issue’s release.

A Temporary Post Office was organised in the “Railway Museum coach”, on special train from

Salisbury to Glendale organised by the Mashonaland Branch of the Rhodesiana Society with the

Rhodesia Railways Historical Society commemorating the last steam-hauled service on the Salisbury-

Shamva line before being replaced by diesel-electric locomotives.

On this occasion the Salisbury Station datestamp was used again, even though this was on a Sunday,

and a special “Travelling Post Office/Mazoe Valley Special” handstamp in violet was used. It is

probable that the violet handstamp was not used for actual postage, but does appear on cover as a

cachet with the Salisbury station postmark.7

Postmarked “Salisbury Station” with

Mazoe Valey Special as cachet

Stamps struck with Mazoe Valley Special

violet handstamp

Stamp struck with Mazoe Valley Special

violet handstamp Postmarked “Salisbury Station” with

Mazoe Valey Special as cachet

Bibliography

1. “Supplement to Rhodesia – A Postal History” by R.C Smith, published 1970, pages 26 to 28

2. Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue, Southern & Central Africa, 2nd Edition, 2014

3. The Rhodesia Stamp Catalogue, 1983/84 (last edition), published by Salisbury Stamp Company. 4. “A Guide to the Postage Stamps of Rhodesia, No 4” 1st January, 1968 to 31st August 1972, published by the Mashonaland

Philatelic Study Group, 1968. 5. Press release from Public Relations Office, Rhodesia Railways, dated 21st May 1969 (thanks to Rob Butrnett) 6. Front page of “Sitima” a publication of Rhodesia Railways, June 1969, Vol 20 No 6 (thanks to Rob Burnett) 7. “South of the Zambezi- A Guide to the Postmarks and Post Offices of Zimbabwe from 1888 to 2001” Hal Hoyte and Jane

Lashbrook, published by the Rhodesian Study Circle