Two-foot-gauge railways in South Africa


At the beginning of the 20th century, narrow-gauge railway lines started playing a significant role in South Africa. They facilitated the transport of various agricultural and mineral produce from locations hardly accessible by road. They therefore 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 and locomotives.
The larger railway lines operated their own workshops performing minor to major and/or repairs. For the purpose of major overhauls and interchangeability, rolling stock could be transported piggyback on Cape gauge rolling stock by means of a special access ramp on the break of gauge at Cape gauge junctions available on most of the two-foot lines.
Their decline started in the 1980s, the last commercial line ceased operations in the 1990s. Only a few tourist, agricultural and/or heritage railways survive. Many defunct locomotives are plinthed at various former railway station sites or work on the Welsh Highland Railway and other heritage railways in and outside South Africa.

Nomenclature

It is common for South Africans to consider anything less than 1,067 mm as a narrow-gauge railway and are accustomed referring to "standard gauge" when they actually mean "Cape gauge".
Overview

Avontuur Railway

–Avontuur / Patensie
The Avontuur Railway was built from 1890 to 1905 and is long. Extension to Patensie completed in 1914.
The Apple Express, a tourist train, ceased operations in December 2010.
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Port Shepstone–Harding

The Port Shepstone–Harding line was operated from 1911 to 2006 and is 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 has also operated between Paddock and Plains stations more recently.
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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 away along the Bezuidenhout Valley.
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Kearsney–Stanger Light Railway

January 1901 – 1944, from Kearsney to Stanger, built and put into service at a total cost of. 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, in German South-West Africa. Built at the gauge of 600 mm, which did not prevent exchanging locomotives with the two foot lines in South Africa when it was taken over by South Africa 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.
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Pienaarsrivier–Pankop

1906–1923,, 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.
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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.
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Estcourt–Weenen

Between 1907 and 1983 a narrow gauge railway connected Weenen with Estcourt, 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.
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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
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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 minimum radius curves.
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Elandshoek–Mount Carmel

1925–1931, 12 miles, closed.
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Upington–Kakamas

1926–1949, 55 miles, regauged to cape gauge.
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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.
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Heritage Railways

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 and onwards via Mooihoek to a large loop at Vailima sidings/Ficksburg and the village at Vailima. There is also a short line, known as Seb's Railway, branching to the west at Hoekfontein and running to a balloon loop around a farm dam and suitable only for small locomotives.
The Sandstone Steam Railway first opened in 1998.
Its collection consists of narrow gauge stock collected from other closed 2 ft narrow gauge lines in Kwazulu Natal, elsewhere in South Africa, and from neighboring countries..

Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway

The Patons Country Narrow Gauge Railway runs from Allwoodburn station Ixopo to Umzinkulu. It was opened in 2000 on a branch of the former Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway line.
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Agricultural Railways

Zebediela Sugar Estates

At Zebediela. Closed 1959.
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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.
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Renishaw Estates

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Chaka's Kraal Estate

A sugar plantation.

Tongaat Sugar Estates, Natal.

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Darnall and Felixton sugar estates

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Industrial

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 of water. This locomotive, numbered 2, had a 43-inch diameter boiler producing steam to 13.5-inch diameter cylinders through an 18-inch stroke powering 36-inch 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 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.