Two foot gauge railways in South Africa

At the beginning of the twentieth century, two foot (610 mm

Millimetre

The millimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a metre, which is the SI base unit of length....

) narrow gauge railway lines started playing a significant role in transport

Transport

Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...

ing various agricultural

Agriculture

Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...

and mineral

Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...

produce from locations hardly accessible by road

Road

A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...

. It 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

Rolling stock

Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...

and locomotive

Locomotive

A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...

s.

The larger railway lines operated their own workshop

Workshop

A workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods...

s performing minor to major maintenance

Maintenance

Maintenance may refer to:* Biological science** Maintenance respiration** Maintenance of an organism* Non-technical maintenance:** High-maintenance, slang expression** Child support or alimony, also called spousal support...

and/or repairs. For the purpose of major overhauls and intercheability, rolling stock could be transported on Cape gauge rolling stock by means of a special access ramp on the break of gauge at Cape gauge

Cape gauge

Cape gauge is a track gauge of between the inside of the rail heads and is classified as narrow gauge. It has installations of around .The gauge was first used by Norwegian engineer Carl Abraham Pihl and the first line was opened in 1862.- Nomenclature :...

junctions available on most of the two foot lines.

Their decline started in the eighties, the last commercial line ceased operations in the nineties. Only a few tourist, agricultural and/or heritage railways survive. Many defunct locomotives are plinthed at various former railway station sites or performing their duties on the Welsh Highland Railway

Welsh Highland Railway

The Welsh Highland Railway is a long restored narrow gauge heritage railway in North Wales, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway...

and other heritage railway

Heritage railway

thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...

s in and outside South Africa.

It is common for South Africans to consider anything less then 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in, Cape gauge

Cape gauge

) as a narrow gauge railway and are accustomed referring to "standard gauge

Standard gauge

The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...

" when they actually mean "Cape 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.

Avontuur Railway

Port Elizabeth – Avontuur / Patensie

The Avontuur Railway was built from 1890 to 1905 and is 285 kilometres (177 mi) long. Extension to Patensie completed in 1914.

The Apple Express, a tourist train, ceased operations in 2011.

Locomotives used: NG3

South African Class NG3 4-6-2T

In 1907 the Natal Government Railways placed six 4-6-2T narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they retained their running numbers, but with an "NG" prefix added...

, NG5

South African Class NG5 2-8-2

In 1922 the South African Railways placed six narrow gauge steam locomotives with a 2-8-2 Mikado wheel arrangement in service on the Otavi branch in South West Africa...

, NG6

South African Class NG6 4-4-0

Between 1895 and 1898 Pauling and Company placed forty-two Falcon F2 and F4 tender steam locomotives with a 4-4-0 American wheel arrangement in service on the narrow gauge line that was being constructed for the Beira Railway in Mozambique...

, NG8

South African Class NG8 4-6-0

In 1903 the Cape Government Railways placed six "Type B" 4-6-0 steam locomotives in service on the Avontuur narrow gauge line in the Langkloof. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered with an "NG" prefix to their numbers.A further three...

, NG9

South African Class NG9 4-6-0

During 1915 and 1916 the South African Railways placed six steam locomotives with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement in service on the Langkloof narrow gauge line...

, NG10

South African Class NG10 4-6-2

In 1916 the South African Railways placed six steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific wheel arrangement in service on the Langkloof narrow gauge line. When a system of grouping narrow gauge locomotives into classes was eventually introduced somewhere between 1928 and 1930, they were classified as...

, NG G11

South African Class NG G11 2-6-0+0-6-2

Between 1919 and 1925 the South African Railways placed five Class NG G11 Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-0+0-6-2 wheel arrangement in service on the Avontuur narrow gauge line through the Langkloof and also in Natal...

, NG G12

South African Class NG G12 2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1927 the South African Railways placed two Class NG G12 Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service...

, NG G13, NG G14

South African Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1931 the South African Railways placed a single light Class NG G14 Garratt articulated steam locomotive with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...

,
NG15, NG G16

South African Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2

Between 1937 and 1968 the South African Railways placed thirty-four Class NG G16 Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service on the Avontuur Railway and on the Natal narrow gauge lines.-Manufacturers:...

, 91-000.

Port Shepstone – Harding

The Port Shepstone – Harding line was operated from 1911 to 2006 and is 122 kilometres (76 mi) long. Closed by South African Railways in 1986 and then leased to the Alfred County Railway which went bankrupt in 2004. The banana express continued under Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway

Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway

The Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway is a two foot narrow gauge heritage railway in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa .In the year 2000 the PCNGR was reconstructed from Ixopo to Umzinkulu, a former branch of the Umzintu - Donnybrook railway, closed around 1985.As the line was partially lifted after...

operations having a temporary permit from Transnet

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 April 1, 1990. A majority of the company's stock is owned by the Department of Public Enterprises, or DPE, of the South African...

and ceased operations in 2005. On June 18, 2008 a storm ruined the railway in the coastal area.

Locomotives used: NG4

South African Class NG4 4-6-2T

In 1911, shortly before being amalgamated into the South African Railways, the Natal Government Railways placed the first two of seven 4-6-2T Pacific narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service...

, NG G12

South African Class NG G12 2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1927 the South African Railways placed two Class NG G12 Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service...

, NG G13, NG G14

South African Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1931 the South African Railways placed a single light Class NG G14 Garratt articulated steam locomotive with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...

, NG G16

South African Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2

, NG G16A

South African Class NG G16A 2-6-2+2-6-2

Between 1937 and 1968 the South African Railways placed thirty-four Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratt articulated steam locomotives in service. In 1989 and 1990 two of these locomotives were rebuilt to Class NG G16A by the Alfred County Railway.-Manufacturers:...

, 91-000.

Closed or converted railway lines

The following railways were closed or converted to Cape gauge

Cape gauge

Kearsney - Stanger Light Railway

1901 - 1944, 8 miles (12,8 km) from Kearsney

Kearsney

Kearsney is a village in Kent, although at one time it would have been called hamlet due to there being no church in the village.-Geography:Nowadays the village falls within the Dover urban area and sits northwest and a little over 2 miles from Dover town centre. Much like the adjoining villages of...

to Stanger.

Otavi Mining and Railway Company

The Otavi Mining and Railway Company was a railway and mining company in German South-West Africa...

1903 - 1961, 567 kilometres (352 mi) in German South-West Africa

German South-West Africa

German South West Africa was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990...

(today's Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

). Built at the gauge of 600 mm, which did not prevent exchanging locomotives with the two foot (610 mm

Millimetre

The millimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousandth of a metre, which is the SI base unit of length....

) lines in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

when it was taken over by South Africa (as part of the British Empire) in 1915. Regauged to cape gauge

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

Metric system

The metric system is an international decimalised system of measurement. France was first to adopt a metric system, in 1799, and a metric system is now the official system of measurement, used in almost every country in the world...

used by the Germans

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

who built the Otavi Line contrary to the South Africans who used imperial units.

Kalbaskraal – Hopefield – Saldanha

1903 - 1926, regauged to cape gauge. 46 miles long. Originally built from Kalbaskraal to Hopefield

Hopefield, Western Cape

Hopefield is a settlement in West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa....

, in 1913 the line was extended to to Saldanha

Saldanha, Western Cape

Saldanha, also known as Saldanha Bay, is a town of 22,000 people, located north of Cape Town on the northern shore of Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its situation as a natural sheltered harbour has led to development as a port for the export of iron ore from Sishen in...

, with a branch to Vredenburg

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 center of the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality...

.

Locomotives used: NG6

South African Class NG6 4-4-0

, NG7

South African Class NG7 2-6-0

In 1902 the Cape Government Railways placed three steam locomotives with a 2-6-0 Mogul wheel arrangement in service on the Hopefield narrow gauge branch line that was being constructed from Kalbaskraal. A fourth locomotive was ordered in 1911....

, NG8

South African Class NG8 4-6-0

, NG9

South African Class NG9 4-6-0

During 1915 and 1916 the South African Railways placed six steam locomotives with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement in service on the Langkloof narrow gauge line...

.

Stations: Kalbaskraal - Darling

Darling, Western Cape

Darling is a small town in a farming area on the west coast region of the Western Cape, about 75 km from Cape Town.By the beginning of the 18th century about 29 farmers lived in an area called Groenkloof and on one of these farms, Langfontein, Darling was founded in 1853...

- Hopefield

Hopefield, Western Cape

Hopefield is a settlement in West Coast District Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa....

- Vredenburg

Vredenburg

(branch) - Saldanha

Saldanha, Western Cape

(Hoetjies Bay) .

Pienaarsrivier – Pankop

1906 - 1923, 15 kilometres (9.3 miles), later extended. It was built by a farmer named Bezuidenhout who bought the locomotives and rolling stock from army surplus stock. The line was used to haul firewood . Converted to cape gauge.

Locomotives used: NG1

South African Class NG1 0-4-0T

In 1900 the British War Office placed two Sirdar class 0-4-0T narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service near Germiston. At the end of the Second Freedom War the locomotives were sold to a farmer, who used it on a firewood line out of Pienaarsrivier until the line and locomotives were taken...

, NG6

South African Class NG6 4-4-0

Knysna forest railway

1907 - 1949, 22 miles, now closed. Operated between Knysna

Knysna

Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...

and Diepwalle in the Southern Cape by The South Western Railway Co. Ltd.

Estcourt - Weenen

Between 1907 and 1983 a narrow gauge railway connected Weenen with Estcourt, 47 kilometres 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

South African Class NG G11 2-6-0+0-6-2

remained plinthed at Weenen and was later refurbished and used on the Paton's County Railway.

Locomotives used: NG3

South African Class NG3 4-6-2T

, NG G11

South African Class NG G11 2-6-0+0-6-2

, NG G13.

Stations: Estcourt - Scheepersfontein - Peniston - Haviland - Wondergeluk - Stanley - Mielietuin - Mona - New Furrow - Weenen.

Umzinto - Donnybrook

The Umzinto to Donnybrook narrow gauge railway

Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway

The Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway is a closed two-foot railway line in South Africa. It runs from Kelso to Donnybrook, passing through Umzinto, Highflats and Ixopo, with a branch from Ixopo to Madonela...

was in existence from 1908 to 1987 and was 93 miles long. It is now closed and its tracks were lifted.

Locomotives used:
NG3

South African Class NG3 4-6-2T

, NG G11

South African Class NG G11 2-6-0+0-6-2

, NG G16

South African Class NG G16 2-6-2+2-6-2

.

Stations:
Kelso

Kelso

-Places:Australia* Kelso, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst* Kelso, Tasmania, a small village in the north of Tasmania* Kelso, Queensland, a suburb of Townsville, QueenslandCanada...

- Esperanza - Umzinto - Nkwifa - Inverugie - Braemar - Glenrosa - Sawoti - Mbulula - Dumisa - Kenterton - Njane - Jolivet - Hlutankungu‎ - Knockagh - Kunatha - Highflats - Rydal - Glen Beulah - Etterby - La Trappe - Ixopo with Branch to Madonela - Vause - Loch Buidhe - Crystal Manor - Lufafa Road - Mabedlana - Maxwell - Eastwolds - Carthill - Donnybrook

Donnybrook

Donnybrook may refer to:Placenames* Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland** site of the original Donnybrook Fair***donnybrook is a brawl - named for the fair** Donnybrook Stadium, Ireland, a rugby union stadium...

Stations Madonela Branch: Ixopo - 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

South African Class NG6 4-4-0

, NG G13.

Stations: Umlaas Road - Killamy Road - Edinglassie - Tala - Eston - Ripley - Ntimbankulu - Milford - Mid Illovo.

Elandshoek – Mount Carmel

1925 - 1931.

Locomotives used: NG1

South African Class NG1 0-4-0T

Upington – Kakamas

1926 - 1949, 55 miles, regauged to cape gauge.

Locomotives used: NG9

South African Class NG9 4-6-0

During 1915 and 1916 the South African Railways placed six steam locomotives with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement in service on the Langkloof narrow gauge line...

, NG G12

South African Class NG G12 2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1927 the South African Railways placed two Class NG G12 Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service...

, NG G14

South African Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1931 the South African Railways placed a single light Class NG G14 Garratt articulated steam locomotive with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...

.

Stations: Upington - Keimoes

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....

- Kakamas

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

Fort Beaufort is a town in the Amatole District of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and has a population of 78,300. The town was established in 1837 and became a municipality in 1883. The town lies at the confluence of the Kat and Brak rivers between the Keiskamma and Great Fish rivers...

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

South African Class NG6 4-4-0

, NG G12

South African Class NG G12 2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1927 the South African Railways placed two Class NG G12 Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service...

, NG G14

South African Class NG G14 2-6-2+2-6-2

In 1931 the South African Railways placed a single light Class NG G14 Garratt articulated steam locomotive with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...

.

Stations: Fort Beaufort

Fort Beaufort

- Balfour - Seymour

Sandstone heritage trust

At Sandstone Estates

Sandstone Estates

Sandstone Estates are an extensive farming complex located in Free State, South Africa, close to Bloemfontein. Owned by entrepreneur Wilf Mole, they are also a global-scale hub of transport preservation.-Farm:...

a 26 km line runs from Grootdraai in the south, northwards to the main farm at Hoekfontein, onwards via Mooihoek to a large loop at Vailima sidings/Ficksburg and the farm's main depot at Vailima. It first opened in 1998.

It's collection consists of narrow gauge stock collected from other closed 2 ft narrow gauge lines in Kwazulu Natal.

Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway

The Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway

Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway

runs from Ixopo to Umzinkulu. It was opened in 2000 on a branch of the former Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway

Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway

line.

Zebediela Sugar Estates

At Zebediela

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....

. Closed 1959.

Locomotives used: NG2

South African Class NG2 0-4-2T

Between 1897 and 1901 Arthur Koppel, acting as agents, imported a number of Dickson built 0-4-2ST narrow gauge saddle tank steam locomotives to mines on the Witwatersrand. In 1915, when an urgent need arose for additional locomotives in German South West Africa during World War I, two of the...

, NG6

South African Class NG6 4-4-0

Sezela, Sugar railway system

At Sezela. A 125 mile cane sugar rail network. Built in 1914 and closed in the 1970s.

Umtwalumi Valley Estate

A sugar plantation in Natal.

Locomotives:Hunslet 0-4-2

0-4-2

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...

tank locomotive.

Eastern Province Cement Company (EPCC)

Ran a private Branch from Chelsea junction at the Avontuur Railway to it's cement factory at at New Brighton in Port Elizabeth. Locomotives included a 33-ton 4-6-2

4-6-2

4-6-2, in 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 .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...

built by Baldwin Locomotive Works

Baldwin Locomotive Works

The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

with a separate 23-ton tender carrying 5 tons of coal and 2040 gal of water. This locomotive, numbered 2, had a 43-inch (1.1 m) diameter boiler producing 160 psi (1,103.2 kPa) 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 , and after years of idleness it was shipped to the Brecon Mountain Railway

Brecon Mountain Railway

The Brecon Mountain Railway is a narrow gauge preserved railway that runs through the Brecon Beacons along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir...

in Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

. 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

South African Class NG8 4-6-0

and two 300 HP funkey diesel-mechanical B-B locomotives which were also shipped to Wales

Wales

to be used on the Welsh Highland Railway

Welsh Highland Railway

(unaltered) and the Ffestiniog Railway

Ffestiniog Railway

The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....

, the latter implying the construction of a new body to be able to negotiate the strict loading gauge of that railway.

Rustenburg Platinum Mines

???? - 1981. Approximately 10 miles. Platinum ore railway. Converted to Cape gauge.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Avontuur Railway

Port Shepstone – Harding

Closed or converted railway lines

Kearsney - Stanger Light Railway

Otavi Mining and Railway Company

Kalbaskraal – Hopefield – Saldanha

Pienaarsrivier – Pankop

Knysna forest railway

Estcourt - Weenen

Umzinto - Donnybrook

Umlaas Road - Mid Illovo

Elandshoek – Mount Carmel

Upington – Kakamas

Fort Beaufort – Balfour - Seymour

Sandstone heritage trust

Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway

Zebediela Sugar Estates

Sezela, Sugar railway system

Umtwalumi Valley Estate

Eastern Province Cement Company (EPCC)

Rustenburg Platinum Mines

See also

External links