I remember these “lorry-buses” as a common feature in Zimbabwe in the 90´s. A heavy-duty tractor unit (horse) pulling a large passenger coach as a trailer.

I always found them an interesting vehicle and I managed to get a bad picture of one the other day, before they disappear forever!

Checking on their origin and history, these buses were born in the 1920´s in Europe and North America to economize on the cost of moving people based on the principle that it was cheaper to pull rather than carry a weight! They became very popular during WWII as factories were making military vehicles and truck “horses” (tractors) were available. To this, passenger “boxes” were attached. Below is an example of a similar vehicle used by the Royal Air Force at the time (Royal Air Force official photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons).

Before being adopted in Zimbabwe, the idea was widely used in South Africa as early as the 1950´s and then it came to Zimbabwe in the 1980´s. They were used to transport migrants to major cities and the state-run Zimbabwe Omnibus Company (ZUPCO) moved thousands of workers daily from townships to industrial areas.

Three main features secured their long-term use: (i) the possibility of replacing only the truck (horse) in case of breakdown by unhitching the passenger trailer and attaching it to another one or even a commercial truck; (ii) their resisteance to some of the rough roads and; (iii) being a practical and low cost answer to vehicle shortages.

Note after publication: I have just learnt from WordPress that this post unlocked an achievement as being a Palindrome Post!!!

I did not know what this was but it applies also to text such as Was it a car or a cat I saw? that can be read forward or backward. I give you a reference as it is interesting. https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/fun-palindromes-list