Safari Steam North

The 2-6-2 + 2-6-2 Garratts in Sierra Leone were the mainstay of heavier traffic through the inter-world war years until the arrival of the larger 4-8-2 + 2-8-4 Garratts and diesels from the 1950s. No. 59 was built by Beyer Peacock in 1942 and the photograph dates from c1945-6. Many were modified to 2-8-0 + 0-8-2s to improve adhesion, albeit at the expense of tyre and rail wear. The location is probably the Cline Town Works in Freetown. (CW1 Collection)