Safari Steam North

A pre-1914 scene with an early Hunslet 0-6-0T at Cotton Tree Station in the suburbs of the capital Freetown. These small 2ft 6in gauge locos were built 1898-1902 about the time construction commenced, and were clearly unsuited to long hauls on a system which eventually reached 500km with steep grades. They were all scrapped by 1920, where this remote system with a distinctive gauge for West Africa tended to buy new locomotives rather than extensively rebuild. (CW1 Collection)