Type Narrow-gauge railway | Closed 1987 (1987) | |
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Status main line: closed, short branch: heritage railway Opened Umzinto–Donnybrook: 1908 (1908)
Madonela Branch: 14 February 1914 (1914-02-14) Reopened 2000 (2000) ( Madonela Branch as heritage railway) Owner original: SAR, heritage railway: PCNGR Terminis Donnybrook, KwaZulu-Natal, Umzinto | ||
The Umzinto–Donnybrook narrow-gauge railway is a closed 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway line in South Africa. It runs from Umzinto to Donnybrook, passing through Highflats and Ixopo, with a branch from Ixopo to Madonela (Union Bridge). The line was built in 1908 and was 93 miles (150 km) in length.
Contents
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 kilograms per metre (60.5 lb/yd), in 18-metre (59.1 ft) lengths. The ruling gradient was 1 in 33 (3.33%) uncompensated for curvature.
The 17.5-mile (28.2 km) Madonela Branch was built for a maximum axle load of 5 long tons (5.6 short tons; 5.1 t) and a speed of 12 miles per hour (19 km/h) at a cost of about £ 50 000 and the first trains ran on 2 February 1914.
Operations
In the 1970s a typical crew operation roster consisted of three daily trains: The first train ran 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 ran 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 than 5 hours.
Although there was no official passenger transport, incidental travellers could find a place to travel in the guards van.
There were transshipment facilities to Cape gauge railways at Umzinto and Donnybrook.
Closure
Various sections of the railway closed between 1985 and 1987 after washouts, but the Ixopo to Madonela branch was rebuilt in 2000 by the Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway.
After closure the majority of the tracks was lifted to be used on the Welsh Highland Railway. Any leftovers were later recovered for the Patons Country Railway.
Locomotives used
NGG3, NG11, NG16.