Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway

The Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway is a closed two-foot railway line 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...

. It runs from Kelso

Kelso, KwaZulu-Natal

Kelso, Kwazulu-Natal is located in the Umdoni Coast region of South Africa facing the Indian Ocean. Kelso is located 65 kilometers south of Durban, the largest city in Kwazulu-Natal.-History:...

to Donnybrook, passing through Umzinto, Highflats and Ixopo, with a branch from Ixopo to Madonela (Union Bridge). The line was built in 1908 and was 93 miles in length.

Construction

The main line was constructed using second-hand rails becoming available from track upgrades on Cape gauge railways. The total line was laid at a cost of £3,200 a mile. The construction and equipment of this railway barely exceeded £300,000 .

The rails were 30 kg per metre, in 18 metre lengths. The ruling gradient was 1 in 33 uncompensated for curvature.

The Madonela Branch was built for a maximum axle load of 5 tons and a speed of 12 miles per hour at a cost of about £ 50 000 and the first trains ran on 2nd February 1914 .

Operations

In the 1970s a typical crew operation roster consisted of three daily trains: The first train from Ixopo to Donnybrook and return to Ixopo, a full day's shift. The second train also departed from Ixopo but serviced the Madonela branch and then went back to Ixopo. The third train departed from Umzinto.

At Highflats daily trains crossed at one o'clock in the afternoon, exchanged the crew and the locomotives were serviced. A single run cost more then 5 hours.

Although there was no official passenger transport, incidental travellers could find a place to travel in the guards van.

Closure

Various sections of the railway closed between 1985 and 1987, but the Ixopo to Madonela branch was rebuilt in 2000 by the 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...

.

After closure the majority of the tracks was lifted to be used 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...

. Any leftovers were later recovered for the Patons Country Railway.

Locomotives used

NGG3

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...

, NG11

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...

, NG16

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:...

Stations

Kelso