The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), formerly Rhodesia Railways, is a state-owned company in Zimbabwe that operates the country's national railway system. It is headquartered in the city of Bulawayo. In addition to the headquarters, it has a commercial-administrative center in Harare and a supply center in Gweru. The Zimbabwean railway system was largely constructed during the 20th century. History NRZ's history begins with the creation of the Bechuanaland Railway Company on May 24, 1893. It was renamed Rhodesia Railways Ltd (RR) on July 1, 1899. At the same time, on April 13, 1897, the Mashonaland Railway Company (MRC) was founded. On March 1, 1905 the small Ayrshire Gold Mine & Lomangundi Railway Company — which had been founded in 1900 — merged with MRC. A similar event would occur with the Beira & Mashonaland Railway (also founded in 1900), which merged on October 1, 1927 with the MRC. Finally, MRC itself would be absorbed by Rhodesia Railways Ltd on March 31, 1937. Nationalization and founding of NRZ On April 1, 1947 Rhodesia Railways Ltd (RR) becomes state-owned, retaining the name Rhodesia Railways. The route from Plumtree (Zimbabwe) to Mafikeng (South Africa), crossing Botswana (which was under concession to the RR), was sold to South African Railways in December 1959. The Zambia Railway Board (now Zambia Railways-ZR) was founded and the route network in Zambia was disbanded on 1 July 1967. On the same date, the Harare-Mutare section of the Beira-Bulawayo railway was handed over to the Mozambique Ports and Railways administration. Rhodesia Railways was a heavy user of the Garratt locomotive. In June 1976, 100 of its 109 steam locomotives were Garratts. For operational purposes, Rhodesia Railways was divided into two areas: those lines north-east of Gwelo (now Gweru) fell into the Eastern Area, with all other lines in the Southern Area. On July 1, 1979, the RR became the Zimbabwe Rhodesian Railways, and the following year (May 1), it gained its current name, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). In 1983, the electrification of a 305 km section between Harare and Dabuka began. The first electric convoy circulated on October 22, 1983, with the completion of works taking place two years later. In 1987, the NRZ renounced ownership of Botswana's interior lines (an act left over from the colonial period), giving rise to that country's state-owned railway, the Botswana Railways. In 1996, the government of Zimbabwe established a privatized