In the early 1900s,
narrow-gauge railway lines started playing a significant role in South Africa. They facilitated the transport of various agricultural and mineral produce from locations hardly accessible by road. They therefore enabled many communities to become prosperous.
These lines featured the largest and most powerful locomotives ever in existence on two-foot-gauge railways worldwide.
All two-foot railways were operated isolated from each other. However, this did not prevent standardization and interchangeability of
rolling stock
The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives, freight and passenger cars (or coaches), and non-revenue cars. Passenger vehicles can ...
and
locomotives.
The larger railway lines operated their own
workshop
Beginning with the Industrial Revolution era, a workshop may be a room, rooms or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods. Workshops were the on ...
s performing minor to major
maintenance
Maintenance may refer to:
Biological science
* Maintenance of an organism
* Maintenance respiration
Non-technical maintenance
* Alimony, also called ''maintenance'' in British English
* Champerty and maintenance, two related legal doct ...
and/or repairs. For the purpose of major overhauls and interchangeability, rolling stock could be transported
piggyback
Piggyback, piggy-back, or piggybacking may mean:
Transport
* Piggyback (transportation), something that is riding on the back of something else
Art, entertainment, and media
* Splash cymbal piggybacking, mounting a cymbal on top of an already ...
on Cape gauge rolling stock by means of a special access ramp on the
break of gauge
With railways, a break of gauge occurs where a line of one track gauge (the distance between the rails, or between the wheels of trains designed to run on those rails) meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock generally cannot ...
at
Cape gauge junctions available on most of the two-foot lines.
Their decline started in the 1980s, the last commercial line ceased operations in the 1990s. Only a few tourist, agricultural and/or heritage railways survive. Many defunct locomotives are plinthed at various former railway station sites or work on the
Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) or Rheilffordd Eryri is a long, restored narrow gauge heritage railway in the Welsh county of Gwynedd, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations ...
and other
heritage railways in and outside South Africa.
Nomenclature
It is common for South Africans to consider anything less than 1,067 mm (
3 ft 6 in, Cape gauge) as a narrow-gauge railway. They are accustomed referring to "Cape gauge" as "
standard gauge".
Overview
* Cape Province: 580 km government, 60 km private lines.
* Natal: 393 km government plus approx. 500 km sugar lines.
* Transvaal: 100 km, all gone.
* Orange Free State: 26 km private.
Railway lines with rails (partially) intact, operationally closed
Avontuur Railway
Port Elizabeth–Avontuur / Patensie
The Avontuur Railway was built from 1890 to 1905 and is long.
Extension to Patensie completed in 1914.
The Apple Express, a tourist train, ceased operations in December 2010.
;Locomotives used:
:
CGR Type A 2-6-4T,
CGR Type C 0-4-0T,
CGR NG 0-6-0T,
CGR NG 4-6-2T,
NG3,
NG6,
NG8,
NG9,
NG10,
NG G11,
NG G12,
NG G13,
NG G14,
NG15,
NG G16,
91-000.
Port Shepstone–Harding
The Port Shepstone–Harding line was operated from 1911 to 2006 and is long. Closed by
South African Railways
Transnet Freight Rail is a South African rail transport company, formerly known as Spoornet. It was part of the South African Railways and Harbours Administration, a state-controlled organisation that employed hundreds of thousands of people ...
in 1986 and then leased to the
Alfred County Railway
Alfred County Railway is an abandoned narrow gauge railway in South Africa, which runs from the southern transport hub of Port Shepstone on the Indian Ocean, via Izotsha and Paddock for to Harding, KwaZulu-Natal.
Background
South Africa, ri ...
which went bankrupt in 2004. The Banana Express continued under
Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway
The Paton's Country Narrow Gauge Railway (PCNGR) is a narrow-gauge heritage railway in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
In 2000, the PCNGR was reconstructed from Allwoodburn Siding at Ixopo to Umzimkhulu, along the former branch of the Umzinto– ...
operations having a temporary permit from
Transnet
Transnet SOC Ltd is a large South African rail, port and pipeline company, headquartered in the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg. It was formed as a limited company on 1 April 1990. A majority of the company's stock is owned by the Departmen ...
and ceased operations in 2005. On 18 June 2008 a storm ruined the railway in the coastal area. A limited diesel locomotive hauled service has also operated between Paddock and Plains stations more recently.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG4,
NG G12,
NG G13,
NG G14,
NG G16,
NG G16A,
91-000.
Closed or converted railway lines
The following railways were closed or converted to
Cape gauge.
Bezuidenhout Light Railway
During 1900 these two
0-4-0T locomotives were used by the 47th Field Company
Royal Engineers during the construction of the Bezuidenhout Light Railway, a light narrow gauge railway line from
Simmer and Jack's siding near
Germiston
Germiston, also known as kwaDukathole, is a small city in the East Rand region of Gauteng, South Africa, administratively forming part of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since the latter's establishment in 2000. It functions a ...
in the ''
Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
The South African Republic ( nl, Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, abbreviated ZAR; af, Suid-Afrikaanse Republiek), also known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer Republic in Southern Africa which existed from 1852 to 1902, when it ...
'' to a siege camp away along the
Bezuidenhout Valley
Bezuidenhout Valley is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. The area lies to the east of the Johannesburg CBD and is surrounded by the suburbs of Kensington to the south and Observatory to the north. It is located in Region E of the City of Jo ...
.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG1.
Kearsney–Stanger Light Railway
January 1901 – 1944, from
Kearsney to
Stanger, built and put into service at a total cost of .
The track was laid with 30 lb rails and had a ruling gradient of 1 in 30. The line carried sugar and tea, passenger trains were operated until about 1930.
Otavi Mining and Railway Company
1903–1961, in
German South-West Africa
German South West Africa (german: Deutsch-Südwestafrika) was a colony of the German Empire from 1884 until 1915, though Germany did not officially recognise its loss of this territory until the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. With a total area of ...
(today's
Namibia
Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
). Built at the gauge of 600 mm, which did not prevent exchanging locomotives with the two foot (610 mm) lines in South Africa when it was taken over by South Africa (as part of the British Empire) in 1915. Regauged to
cape gauge.
Before the gauge conversion many locomotives were interchanged with the South African two foot railway systems depending on various operational considerations. After the gauge conversion the remaining stock was transferred to the two-foot lines.
The gauge difference is explained by the
metric system
The metric system is a system of measurement that succeeded the decimalised system based on the metre that had been introduced in France in the 1790s. The historical development of these systems culminated in the definition of the Interna ...
used by the
Germans
, native_name_lang = de
, region1 =
, pop1 = 72,650,269
, region2 =
, pop2 = 534,000
, region3 =
, pop3 = 157,000
3,322,405
, region4 =
, pop4 = ...
who built the Otavi Line contrary to the South Africans who used
imperial units
The imperial system of units, imperial system or imperial units (also known as British Imperial or Exchequer Standards of 1826) is the system of units first defined in the British Weights and Measures Act 1824 and continued to be developed th ...
.
Kalbaskraal–Hopefield–Saldanha
1903–1926, regauged to cape gauge. 46 miles long.
Originally built from
Kalbaskraal
Kalbaskraal is a settlement in the Swartland Local Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south b ...
to
Hopefield, in 1913 the line was extended to
Saldanha Saldanha may refer to:
Places South Africa
* Saldanha Bay, a bay in Western Cape
* Saldanha, Western Cape, a town on the bay
* Saldanha Bay Local Municipality, the unit of government that administers the Saldanha Bay region
Other countries
* Sal ...
passing
Vredenburg
Vredenburg is a town of the Cape West Coast in the Western Cape province of South Africa. "Vrede" is Afrikaans for peace. It is the transportation and commercial hub of the West Coast area and administrative centre of the Saldanha Bay Local Mun ...
.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG6,
NG7,
NG8,
NG9.
;Stations:
:
Kalbaskraal
Kalbaskraal is a settlement in the Swartland Local Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south b ...
–
Darling–
Hopefield–
Vredenburg
Vredenburg is a town of the Cape West Coast in the Western Cape province of South Africa. "Vrede" is Afrikaans for peace. It is the transportation and commercial hub of the West Coast area and administrative centre of the Saldanha Bay Local Mun ...
(branch)–
Saldanha Saldanha may refer to:
Places South Africa
* Saldanha Bay, a bay in Western Cape
* Saldanha, Western Cape, a town on the bay
* Saldanha Bay Local Municipality, the unit of government that administers the Saldanha Bay region
Other countries
* Sal ...
(Hoetjies Bay).
Pienaarsrivier–Pankop
1906–1923, , later extended. It was built by a farmer who bought the locomotives and rolling stock from army surplus stock of the
Bezuidenhout Light Railway. The line was used to haul firewood.
Converted to cape gauge.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG1,
NG6.
;Stations:
:Pienaarsrivier – Bourke – Pankop
South Western Railway
Also known as Knysna forest railway. 1907–1949, 22 miles, now closed. Operated between
Knysna
Knysna () is a town with 76,150 inhabitants (2019 mid-year estimates) in the Western Cape province of South Africa. and is one of the destinations on the loosely defined Garden Route tourist route. It lies at 34° 2' 6.3168'' S and 23° 2' 47 ...
and Diepwalle in the Southern Cape by The South Western Railway Co. Ltd.
;Stations:
:Knysna – Bracken Hill – Parkes – Diepwalle
Estcourt–Weenen
Between 1907 and 1983 a narrow gauge railway connected
Weenen
Weenen (Dutch for "wept") is the second oldest European settlement in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated on the banks of the Bushman River. The farms around the town grow vegetables, lucerne, groundnuts, and citrus fruit.
History
The ...
with
Estcourt
Estcourt () is a town in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The main economic activity is farming with large bacon and processed food factories situated around the town. The N3 freeway passes close to the town, link ...
, to the west, and provided an outlet for its agricultural produce and was thus called the "Cabbage Express". This line was the Natal Government Railway's first venture into narrow gauge operation. Its rails were lifted. The
NG G11 number 55 remained plinthed at Weenen and was later refurbished and is now used on the Paton's County Railway.
;Locomotives used:
:
NGR Class N 4-6-2T 1906,
NG3,
NG G11,
NG G13.
;Stations:
:
Estcourt
Estcourt () is a town in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The main economic activity is farming with large bacon and processed food factories situated around the town. The N3 freeway passes close to the town, link ...
–Scheepersfontein–Peniston–Haviland–Wondergeluk–Stanley–Mielietuin–Mona–New Furrow–
Weenen
Weenen (Dutch for "wept") is the second oldest European settlement in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated on the banks of the Bushman River. The farms around the town grow vegetables, lucerne, groundnuts, and citrus fruit.
History
The ...
.
[Stations are still displayed on Google maps]
Umzinto–Donnybrook
The
Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway
The Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway is a closed narrow-gauge railway line in South Africa. It runs from Umzinto to Donnybrook, passing through Highflats and Ixopo, with a branch from Ixopo to Madonela (Union Bridge). The line was built ...
was in existence from 1908 to 1987 and was 93 miles long. It is now closed and its tracks were lifted however the Ixopo to Madonela branch has been rebuilt from Allwoodburn to Madonela and is use by Patons Country Railway
;Locomotives used:
:
NG3,
NG G11,
NG G16.
;Stations:
:
Umzinto
Umzinto is a town, located in the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and falls under the uMdoni Local Municipality. It was a sugarcane growing area and the town was set up as the centre for a sugar mill.
Etymology
"Umzinto" is said to ...
–Esperanza–Nkwifa–Inverugie–Braemar–Glenrosa–Sawoti–Mbulula–Dumisa–Kenterton–Njane–Jolivet–Hlutankungu–Knockagh–Kunatha–Highflats–Rydal–Glen Beulah–Etterby–La Trappe–
Ixopo
Ixopo is a town situated on a tributary of the Mkhomazi River along the R56 highway in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Background
Ixopo was formerly known as Stuartstown, was laid out in 1878 and named after M Stuart, Resident Mag ...
with Branch to Madonela–Vause–Loch Buidhe–Crystal Manor–Lufafa Road–Mabedlana–Maxwell–Eastwolds–Carthill–
Donnybrook
;Stations Madonela Branch:
:
Ixopo
Ixopo is a town situated on a tributary of the Mkhomazi River along the R56 highway in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Background
Ixopo was formerly known as Stuartstown, was laid out in 1878 and named after M Stuart, Resident Mag ...
–Allwoodburn–Stainton–Carisbrooke–Ncalu–Madonela (Umzinkulu)
Umlaas Road–Mid Illovo
Umlaas Road to Mid Illovo, 27 miles opened in 1911 and was closed 1985 and its rails were lifted. Ruling gradient 1-in-30 compensated for 45,7 m (150 ft) minimum radius curves.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG6,
NG G13.
;Stations:
:Umlaas Road–Killamy Road–Edinglassie–Tala–Eston–Ripley–Ntimbankulu–Milford–Mid Illovo.
Elandshoek–Mount Carmel
1925–1931, 12 miles, closed.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG1.
;Stations:
:Elandshoek–Two Falls–Solarvale East–Solarvale–Indiemiddel–Mount Carmel
Upington–Kakamas
1926–1949, 55 miles,
regauged to cape gauge.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG9,
NG G12,
NG G14.
;Stations:
:
Upington
Upington ( Nama: //Khara hais) is a town founded in 1873 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. The town was originally called Olijvenhoutsdrift ('Olive wood drift'), due to the abundance of ...
–
Keimoes
Keimoes is a town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It lies on the Orange River and is about halfway between Upington and Kakamas.
History
It attained municipal status in 1949. The name of the town translates in both the Khoekhoe and ...
–
Kakamas
Kakamas is a town founded in 1898 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River.
Originated as at a place where the Orange River could be relatively easily crossed. The spot was first known as Basso ...
Fort Beaufort–Balfour–Seymour
1926–1940, 35 miles. First, a 25-mile stretch of narrow-gauge line was authorised at a cost of R130,000 between
Fort Beaufort
Fort Beaufort ( Xhosa: iBhofolo) is a town in the Amatole District of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and had a population of 25,668 in 2011. The town was established in 1837 and became a municipality in 1883. The town lies at the conflu ...
and
Seymour. This line was later extended from
Balfour 12 miles to Seymour.
The line was regauged to cape gauge during 1939 and 1940.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG6,
NG G12,
NG G14.
;Stations:
:
Fort Beaufort
Fort Beaufort ( Xhosa: iBhofolo) is a town in the Amatole District of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and had a population of 25,668 in 2011. The town was established in 1837 and became a municipality in 1883. The town lies at the conflu ...
–
Balfour–
Seymour
Heritage Railways
Sandstone heritage trust
At
Sandstone Estates
Sandstone Estates (Pty) Ltd is a large commercial agricultural enterprise covering over , located on the border with Lesotho in South Africa's Eastern Free State province, close to the Maluti Mountains. The nearest town is Ficksburg, away on th ...
a 26 km line runs from Grootdraai in the south, northwards to the main farm, loco depot and marshalling and storage sidings at Hoekfontein and onwards via Mooihoek to a large loop at Vailima sidings/Ficksburg and the village at Vailima. There is also a short line, known as Seb's Railway, branching to the west at Hoekfontein and running to a balloon loop around a farm dam and suitable only for small locomotives.
The Sandstone Steam Railway first opened in 1998.
Its collection consists of narrow gauge stock collected from other closed 2 ft narrow gauge lines in Kwazulu Natal, elsewhere in South Africa, and from neighboring countries..
Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway
The
Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway
The Paton's Country Narrow Gauge Railway (PCNGR) is a narrow-gauge heritage railway in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
In 2000, the PCNGR was reconstructed from Allwoodburn Siding at Ixopo to Umzimkhulu, along the former branch of the Umzinto– ...
runs from
Allwoodburn station
Ixopo
Ixopo is a town situated on a tributary of the Mkhomazi River along the R56 highway in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Background
Ixopo was formerly known as Stuartstown, was laid out in 1878 and named after M Stuart, Resident Mag ...
to Umzinkulu (Madonela). It was opened in 2000 on a branch of the former
Umzinto – Donnybrook narrow gauge railway line.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG G11, two Avonside sugar cane loco's and Two 4 Cylinder Diesel Hunslet shunter,.
Agricultural Railways
Zebediela Sugar Estates
At
Zebediela
Zebediela is a group of villages in Capricorn District Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is situated south-east of Polokwane next to Lebowakgomo. It is well known for the production of citrus fruits (mainly oranges).
The prope ...
. Closed 1959.
;Locomotives used:
:
NG2,
NG6.
Sezela, Sugar railway system
At
Sezela
Sezela is a small town on the mouth of iSezela River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The town is 78.7 km south of Durban. It is notable for its large sugar mill.
Etymology
The river and the town are named after a crocodile. In 1828, the ...
. A 125-mile cane sugar rail network. Built in 1914 and closed in the 1970s.
Umtwalumi Valley Estate
A sugar plantation in Natal.
[Old steam locomotives in South Africa: Umzinto, Indian Quran Study School, Hunslet 3385/1946](_blank)
/ref>
;Locomotives used:
:Hunslet 0-4-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles and two trailing wheels on one axle. While the first locom ...
tank locomotive.
Renishaw Estates
;Locomotives used:
:Hunslet 0-4-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles and two trailing wheels on one axle. While the first locom ...
tank locomotive.
Chaka's Kraal Estate
A sugar plantation.
Tongaat Sugar Estates, Natal.
;Locomotives used:
: Bagnall 4-4-0T
Darnall and Felixton sugar estates
;Locomotives used:
: Various Bagnall.
Industrial
Belville quarry
SAR's Bellville quarry in the Tygerberg
Tygerberg is a district in the northern suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa. It is also the name of the range of hills in the area. The main Tygerberg farms were Pampoenkraal (became Durbanville), Stellenburgh (became part of Bellville), Ev ...
hill, employing Zwillinge locomotives.
Eastern Province Cement Company (EPCC)
Ran a private Branch from Chelsea junction at the Avontuur Railway to its cement factory at New Brighton in Port Elizabeth. Locomotives included a 33-ton 4-6-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and two trailing wheels on one axle. The locomo ...
built by Baldwin Locomotive Works with a separate 23-ton tender carrying 5 tons of coal and of water. This locomotive, numbered ''2'', had a 43-inch (1.1 m) diameter boiler producing steam to 13.5-inch (34.4 cm) diameter cylinders through an 18-inch (46 cm) stroke powering 36-inch (92 cm) diameter drivers.
In 1973, it was wrecked after a runaway accident,[Narrow gauge World Magazine – No. 49 jan-feb 2007 Limestone to Port Elizabeth – by David Payling – Page 12, second column](_blank)
/ref> and after years of idleness it was shipped to the Brecon Mountain Railway
The Brecon Mountain Railway (Welsh: ''Rheilffordd Mynydd Brycheiniog'') is a narrow gauge tourist railway on the south side of the Brecon Beacons. It climbs northwards from Pant along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir (also called ...
in Wales. The rebuild started in 1990 and the locomotive went back to service in 1997.
The EPCC also operated a South African Class NG8 4-6-0 and two 300 HP funkey diesel-mechanical B-B locomotives which were also shipped to Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
to be used on the Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) or Rheilffordd Eryri is a long, restored narrow gauge heritage railway in the Welsh county of Gwynedd, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations ...
(unaltered) and the Ffestiniog Railway, the latter implying the construction of a new body to be able to negotiate the strict loading gauge of that railway.
A third diesel, a three axle hunslet, survived in South Africa
Rustenburg Platinum Mines
????–1981. Approximately 10 miles. Platinum ore railway. Converted to Cape gauge.
Vogelspruit Gold Mining Areas Ltd
Converted to Cape gauge.Ex West Rand Consolidated Mines 0-4-0WT Orenstein & Koppel 4102/1910
/ref>
West Rand Consolidated Mines
In Krugersdorp
Krugersdorp (Afrikaans for ''Kruger's Town'') is a mining city in the West Rand, Gauteng Province, South Africa founded in 1887 by Marthinus Pretorius. Following the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand, a need arose for a major town in the west ...
, using a CGR Type C 0-4-0T.
See also
* Rail transport in South Africa
Rail transport in South Africa is an important element of the country's transport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail, and South Africa's railway system is the most highly developed in Africa. The South African rail industry is ...
* List of South African locomotive classes
This list shows past and current rail transport locomotive classes used in South Africa. It includes locomotives from all original operators:
*Cape Government Railways (CGR)
*Cape Town Railway and Dock (CTR&D)
*Central South African Railways (CS ...
* List of abandoned railway lines in South Africa
* Sandstone Estates
Sandstone Estates (Pty) Ltd is a large commercial agricultural enterprise covering over , located on the border with Lesotho in South Africa's Eastern Free State province, close to the Maluti Mountains. The nearest town is Ficksburg, away on th ...
References
Notes
Bibliography
*
External links
{{Commons category multi, Narrow gauge railways in South Africa, Narrow gauge steam locomotives of South Africa
General map of narrow gauge railways in South Africa, initial source for this article.
From th
Two Foot Preservation Trust
website.
South African two foot gauge railways – RMWeb
South African narrow gauge rolling stock – RMWeb
* Page2
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South Africa transport-related lists