Timeline of Victoria Steam Train

About Us / Timeline

1000 - The Shona people begin their rule and build the city known as Zimbabwe
   
1855 - The first European, David Livingstone, reaches Victoria Falls and names it in honour of Queen Victoria
   
1893 - The British South African Company occupies the region and calls it Rhodesia
   
1900 - Cecil John Rhodes initiates his plan to create a railway from Cape Town, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt
   
1904 - The construction of the Victoria Falls Bridge begins in England, lasting 14 months
   
1904 - Opening of Victoria Falls Railway Station in June
   
1905 - The bridge is shipped to the Mozambique port of Beira and then transported by railway to Victoria Falls and opened by George Darwin. 12 September: Official opening of the Victoria Falls Bridge
   
1923 - Southern Rhodesia becomes a self-governing British Colony
   
1953 - Britain sets up the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which includes the territories of Southern and Northern Rhodesia
   
1963 - - The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland are dissolved
- Northern Rhodesia becomes known as Zambia
- Southern Rhodesia becomes known as Rhodesia
- Nyasaland becomes known as Malawi
   
1970-1974 - Civil War ensues between government troops and black guerrillas
   
1975 - The Victoria Falls Bridge is the site of unsuccessful peace talks between the Rhodesian Government and the African National Congress (ANC). Ailed peace talks between the presidents of South Africa and Zambia, the Rhodesian Government and the African National Congress (ANC) held on the bridge.
   
1980 - Rhodesia is granted independence by the United Kingdom and renamed Zimbabwe
   
1997 - The Victoria Falls Steam Train Company is established
   
2008 - The Victoria Falls Steam Train Company's Bridge Run is voted by British Airways' Horizons Magazine as the 6th Most Spectacular Sundowners Spot in the world
   
2011 - The Victoria Falls Steam Train Company undergoes a complete refurbishment and relaunch