The Namaqualand Railway was a

narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structu ...

railway operating between Port Nolloth and O'okiep in the

Namaqualand Namaqualand (khoekhoe: "Nama-kwa" meaning Nama Khoe people's land) is an arid region of Namibia and South Africa, extending along the west coast over and covering a total area of . It is divided by the lower course of the Orange River into ...

region of the former Cape Colony in South Africa. It was originally a mule-drawn railway built to provide an outlet for the copper mines of the region. Constructed between 1869 and 1876, the railway was long, with an additional 8 miles purely associated with the copper mine workings. Although owned by the Cape Copper Company, the railway always operated as a public railway.Durrant, A.E., A.A. Jorgensen, C.P. Lewis. Steam in Africa, London, 1981, Hamlyn. The railway pre-dated the construction of railways in South Africa. Because of the success of the Namaqualand line, gauge was strongly promoted by civil engineer R. Thomas Hall, Superintendent of the narrow gauge Redruth and Chacewater Railway in

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

who was involved in the construction of the Namaqualand Railway, as the primary gauge for railway construction in South Africa. The final decision was a compromise between the two recommended gauges and the came into existence in Africa.''The South African Railways - Historical Survey''. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 9, 11-13. After copper mining ceased in 1928 the railway was temporarily closed until 1937 when mining activities resumed.IRSociety - Rails to the well
/ref> The Namaqualand Railway finally closed in 1944.

Locomotives

* Namaqualand 0-4-0WT Condenser * Namaqualand 0-4-2IST Caledonia * Namaqualand 0-4-2ST Pioneer * Namaqualand 0-4-2T Britannia * Namaqualand 0-6-0T 1871 *

Namaqualand 0-6-2 Clara Class The Namaqualand 0-6-2 Clara Class of 1890 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope. Between 1890 and 1898, four tender locomotives with a wheel arrangement were placed in service by the Cape Copper ...

Namaqualand 0-6-2 Scotia Class The Cape Copper Company 0-6-2 Scotia Class of 1900 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope. Between 1900 and 1905, six more Mountain type tender locomotives with a wheel arrangement were placed in ...

References

{{reflist 2 ft 6 in gauge railways in South Africa Transport in the Northern Cape