t the beginning of the year 1893, which saw the occupation of Matabeleland, the track from Cape Town ran as far as Vryburg. By the end of 1894 the track had reached Mafeking and was pushing slowly northwards. Passenger travel north of Mafeking was made by mule-drawn coach which offered a daily service. The 525-mile journey took five to six days to complete provided the mules were in good condition, and each coach carried twelve passengers.

eavy traffic was carried by ox-wagon until the rinderpest killed off most of the cattle. This outbreak of rinderpest and the Rebellion in Rhodesia stressed the urgent necessity of hurrying on with the extension of the railway’ northwards. George Pauling, who was in charge of construction work, stated that he could bring the railway line over the last four hundred miles to Bulawayo in as many days and for £3500 a mile, and he kept his word.

he rails were at Palapye Road on 1 July 1897, Francistown was reached two months later and on 19 October the lines were laid to a temporary station in Bulawayo. A construction train pulled into Bulawayo three days later.

he formal ceremony to mark the arrival of the line was held on 4 November 1897, the fourth anniversary of Bulawayo s occupation. Four special trains carried four hundred distinguished personages to the town. Bulawayo gave itself up to celebrations for the next week. Electric light had been laid on to the town in time for the great occasion and on most nights it guided the Chartered Company’s guests to the Palace Hotel for sumptuous dinners. One thousand dozen eggs, a thousand fowls and two hundred geese were among the items ordered for their entertainment.

Promenade Concert proved a great success; the Matopo Hills were explored by coach; cricket matches, horse-racing and polo all drew large crowds and the Matabele indunas who had lately been in rebellion were deeply impressed by being taken for a railway ride, after which they visited the circus.

he arrival of the railway line was a tremendous factor in developing Rhodesia; the South African ports were brought to within a few days’ travelling time; commerce and industry were enormously stimulated and gold-mining now became economical.