Preserved Steam in Gabon, 2012

Thomas Kautzor (and Torsten Schneider) continue their voyage of discovery through the backwaters of Africa. The reports on this site concentrate on the extant steam side rather than the modern' scene.

Decauville 8 tonnes 0-6-0T 1774/1920 ex-Consotium Forestier is plinthed at the entrance of the Société d’Exploitation du Transgabonais (SETRAG) headquarters in Owendo, south of Libreville. It still carries one of its builders' plates.

A Kerr Stuart “Joffre” type 0-6-0T (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerr,_Stuart_and_Company) is plinthed at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné (237 km inland from Libreville), on the riverbanks of the Ogooué river, 6 km from the center of town. It was built in 1915 and formerly used at the Attadie logging camp (owned by Mr. Foing) next to the old hospital site. In 1966 the camp site was donated to the hospital and the new hospital buildings built on it between 1976 and 81. Kerr Stuart built a total of 70 “Joffre” type locos for the French Army in 1915/16 (N°. 2402-16/15, 2428-57/15 and 2995-3019/16). There is a plate on the boiler, but it has been painted over so much that the number on it cannot be read. Some rails are used as poles around the hospital. The old hospital building now houses a small Dr. Albert Schweitzer museum (open daily 08.30-17.30, entrance CFA 500).