0.0 Kingston 14.5 Grange Lane Station 18.9 Spanish Town Junction | 10.5 Gregory Park Station 18.9 Spanish Town Station 20.5 Horizon Park Halt | |
The Kingston to Montego Bay railway was the main railway in Jamaica, which from 1845 to 1992 linked the capital Kingston with the second city Montego Bay, passing en route most of the major towns.
Contents
Construction, operation and closure
The first 14.5 miles (23.3 km) of 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) track were laid from Kingston to Angels (just North of Spanish Town) in 1845 at a cost of £222,250, or £15,377 per mile against a budgeted cost £150,000.
An 11-mile (18 km) extension from Spanish Town to Old Harbour was added in 1869 at a cost of £60,000.
A further 24½ mile extension from Old Harbour to Porus was added in 1885 at a cost of around £187,000.
The final 62 miles (100 km) from Porus to Montego Bay was completed in 1895.
Much of the line closed in October 1992 when all passenger traffic on Jamaica's railways abruptly ceased. Some sections remain in use for bauxite and aluminium freight while the section from Montego Bay to the Appleton Estate remained open for a while as a tourist attraction.
Gradients and curvature
From Kingston the line ran west along the coastal plain, within 50 feet (15.2 m) of sea level, for about 40 miles (64 km) before starting a gentle climb over 5.25 miles (8.45 km) from Bodles to 250 feet (76.2 m) near Lancaster Halt. From here there was a plateau for about 24.25 miles (39.03 km) to the Milk River and the start of the 20 miles (32 km) climb through Scotts Pass and Porus to 1,500 feet (457.2 m) just north of Kendal.
Between Kendal and Mile Gully the line reaches its summit at around 1,700 feet (518.2 m); in this section the ruling curvature was 300 feet (91.4 m) and the ruling gradient was 1 in 30 (3.33%).
From Mile Gully there was a gentle descent over 17 miles (27 km) to 500 feet (152.4 m) near Raheen. From here the line ran on the level across the Appleton Plain to Maggotty and the start of a climb to 1,000 feet (304.8 m) near Stonehenge. From here to Catadupa the line ran on the level then descended to 500 feet (152.4 m) at Seven River. Another level section brought it to Long Hill Tunnel and the final descent into Montego Bay.
Stations and Halts
There were 22 stations and 17 halts:
Tunnels
There are 13 tunnels on the line:
Bridges
There were 51 significant bridges and one viaduct on the line
Junctions
There were 3 branch line junctions, 3 railway works junctions and 4 estate railway junctions on the line:
Branch lines
Railway works
Estate railways
Bauxite lines
Piers