Railway Reaches Bulawayo

On July 2, 1897, the first train arrived in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, completing the 400-mile extension from Mafeking. Cecil Rhodes' vision drove the project to link Cape Town northward for mining exports. Engineering feats included bridging the Limpopo River amid tsetse fly zones. The 3 ft 6 in gauge line used 4-6-0 locomotives. It boosted trade in gold and cattle, integrating with the Cape Government Railways. Lasting impact includes forming the backbone of Zimbabwe's rail network and enabling regional economic growth despite later political changes.