Two foot gauge railways in 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 and are accustomed referring to "standard 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 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 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 operations having a temporary permit from Transnet and ceased operations in 2005. On 18 June 2008 a storm ruined the railway in the coastal area. A limited diesel locomotive hauled service is being operated between Paddock and Plains stations.

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 in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek to a siege camp 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) away along the Bezuidenhout Valley.

Locomotives used

NG1.

Kearsney–Stanger Light Railway

January 1901–1944, eight miles (12,8 km) from Kearsney to Stanger, built and put into service at a total cost of £18,500. 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, 567 kilometres (352 mi) in German South-West Africa (today's Namibia). 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 used by the Germans 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, in 1913 the line was extended to Saldanha passing Vredenburg.

Locomotives used

NG6, NG7, NG8, NG9.

Stations

Kalbaskraal–Darling–Hopefield–Vredenburg (branch)–Saldanha (Hoetjies Bay).

Pienaarsrivier–Pankop

1906–1923, 15 kilometres (9.3 miles), 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 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 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 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–Scheepersfontein–Peniston–Haviland–Wondergeluk–Stanley–Mielietuin–Mona–New Furrow–Weenen.

Umzinto–Donnybrook

The Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway 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–Esperanza–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

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, 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–Keimoes–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 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–Balfour–Seymour

Sandstone heritage trust

At Sandstone Estates a 26 km line runs from Grootdraai in the south, northwards to the main farm, loco depot and marshalling and storage sidings at Hoekfontein, onwards via Mooihoek to a large loop at Vailima sidings/Ficksburg. and the village at Vailima. It first opened in 1998.

Its 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 runs from Ixopo 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,.

Zebediela Sugar Estates

At Zebediela. Closed 1959.

Locomotives used

NG2, NG6.

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 used

Hunslet 0-4-2 tank locomotive.

Renishaw Estates

Locomotives used

Hunslet 0-4-2 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.

Belville quarry

SAR’s Bellville quarry in the Tygerberg 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 built by Baldwin Locomotive Works with a separate 23-ton tender carrying 5 tons of coal and 2,040 US gal (7,700 l) of water. This locomotive, numbered 2, had a 43-inch (1.1 m) diameter boiler producing 160 psi (1,100 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 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 to be used on the Welsh Highland Railway (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.

West Rand Consolidated Mines

In Krugersdorp, using a CGR Type C 0-4-0T.