The Natal Government Railways (NGR) was formed in January 1877 in the Colony of Natal

Colony of Natal

The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...

.

In 1877 the Natal Government Railways acquired the Natal Railway Company

Natal Railway Company

The Natal Railway Company was formed in January 1859 for the construction of a railway in Durban.Unlike later railways in South Africa, the Natal Railway Company made use of Standard gauge of rather than Cape gauge of ....

 for the sum of £40,000, gaining the line from the Point to Durban

Durban

Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...

 and from Durban to Umgeni.

In 1910 the Union of South Africa

Union of South Africa

The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...

 was formed and in 1912 the NGR combined with the other colonies' railway companies to form the South African Railways and Harbours (SAR & H).

See also

• South African "Natal" 0-4-0WT
  South African "Natal" 0-4-0WT
  The first locomotive to run in South Africa, the Natal Railway Company’s “Natal”, was landed at Durban on 13 May 1860 and made its inaugural run during the official opening of the first operating railway in South Africa on Tuesday, 26 June 1860...
  
  
• South African Class A 4-8-2T
  South African Class A 4-8-2T
  In 1888 the Natal Government Railways placed the first five of its eventual one hundred Class Dübs A 4-8-2T tank steam locomotives in service. The last of the one hundred was delivered in 1899. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered...
  
  
• South African Class H 4-10-2T
  South African Class H 4-10-2T
  Between 1899 and 1903 the Natal Government Railways placed one hundred and one tank steam locomotives with a 4-10-2T wheel arrangement in service. In 1912, with the establishment of the South African Railways, the ninety-three "Reid Tenwheelers" that survived unmodified were designated Class...
  
  
• South African Class H2 4-8-2T
  South African Class H2 4-8-2T
  Between 1899 and 1903 the Natal Government Railways placed one hundred and one 4-10-2T tank steam locomotives in service. By 1910 five of them had been converted to a 4-8-2T wheel arrangement and in 1912, with the establishment of the South African Railways, these five were designated Class...
  
  
• Rail transport in South Africa
  Rail transport in South Africa
  Rail transport in South Africa is the most 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...