History of southern african railways series the heritage. Illustrations of south african steam locomotives, with details of each class on the facing page. An online textbook for a new generation of african students and teachers. Most of the main lines were completed by the 1920s. With its more than 165 year old history, ir is a stateowned public utility. In this installment of the series he looks at various aspects of building and running one of the largest state run railways in the world. South africa last stronghold of steam, south african railways, 1978, pp68. The book had been available from camden miniature steam services in the uk. Immortal steam locomotives unsterbliche dampflokomotiven.
History of southern african railways series heritage portal. With these 82 interesting facts about south africa, let us learn more about its people, culture, wildlife, geography, history, industries. Generally speaking too, its rich natural resources and. A wonderful historical photo circa 1920 of a westinghouse a2 lever. South african steam locomotives are up for auction today.
The transnet freight rail class 20e of 20 is a south african electric locomotive. South africa offers diverse geography, the big five, and fascinating history. In south africa and south west africa, where the south african railways operated, all early mainline railway construction took place working inland from harbours and ports. German colonial railways southwest africa ww1 sidetracked. Construction on these lines began in the years from 1859 to 1887 in south africa and from 1897 to 1908 in south west africa. On the 31st may 1910 the act of union created south africa as one country, formed by the coming together of the four colonies of the cape. South african railways shosholoza meyl home facebook. All railways in south africa finally became a unified stateowned railway system in 1916 when the central south african railways, the cape government railways and the natal government railways were all merged by an act of parliament. All major cities are connected by rail, and south africas railway system is the most highly developed in africa. This german south west african area is also briefly covered in railways and war before 1918 mechanised warfare in colour by w.
South african railways class 25nc 3421 leaving fouriesburg. We invite you to celebrate our 30th birthday with us through our special promotions on selected departures from may to december 2019. The resulting braamfontein explosion was one of the largest artificial nonnuclear explosions in history, resulting in more than 70. The discovery of the witwatersrand goldfields in 1886 was a turning point in south africas history. Aug 24, 2017 detailed history of the railways in the south african war, 18991902, volumes 12 paperback or softback by royal engineers institute great brita and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. An immensely readable book that is an impressive addition to south.
The netherlandssouth african railway company nederlandsche zuidafrikaansche. The demand for franchise rights for englishspeaking immigrants working on the new goldfields was the pretext britain used to go to war with the transvaal and orange free state in 1899. The colour green features strongly in the flag of independent south africa, but the ties are stronger than that. South african railways 19d class 482 2719 at sterkstroom. I find it fascinating as to how and why south africa attracted a man of this type. Titled camels and cadillacs a history of the south african railways 25 class condensers and 25 nc 484s. Frontispiece of the book published to commemorate the opening of the. Ten questions for south african railway stakeholders. A book writing project of les pivnic and charlie lewis that captures for future generations the essence of a once magnificent transport network in south africa the sar.
Africas largest and only rail exhibition africa rail. A new era dawns voice of south africas heritage community. Irish people have a vague knowledge of links between the two countries. Meet the south african railways paperback january 1, 1980 by editor author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. In this piece he looks at post war reconstruction, the completion of various lines and the contribution of the railways to political union in south africa. All major cities are connected by rail, and south africa s railway system is the most highly developed in africa. Johannesburg, city, gauteng province, south africa, that is the countrys chief industrial and financial metropolis. Tourist class economy sleeper, premier classe deluxe sleeper, blue train luxury sleeper, car transport by rail or one of our amazing train tour packages step 2. This list shows past and current rail transport locomotive classes used in south africa. The south african railways class ng15 282 is a class of narrowgauge steam locomotive in 1931, three narrowgauge class ng15 locomotives with a 282 mikado type wheel arrangement, similar in design to the existing class hd and class ng5 locomotives, were acquired by the south african railways for the otavi mining and railway company in south west africa. Handbook on the steam locomotive south african railway.
The brown and orange landscape that surrounds south africas northwestern borders is the kalahari desert, a vast sand basin marked by. South africas prehistory has been divided into two phases based on broad patterns of technology namely the stone age and iron age. Jul 11, 2016 picturesque morning cab ride through deep snow cab ride switzerland s25 linthal zurich duration. After reading the service details, check that the train you have chosen travels on your required travel date, by clicking on timesfares. Our voyage of discovery takes us through south africas most wellknown game parks and ends with 4 nights in the cosmopolitan city of cape town. During the angloboer war, as british forces moved into the territory of the orange free state and the south african republic, the orange free state government railways, the netherlandssouth african railway company and the. Central south african railways news newspapers books scholar jstor june 2017 learn how and when to remove this template message. The history of african development published by the african economic history network aehn aims to draw experts in the field of african history, economics and african development studies together around an open access textbook.
Detailed history of the railways in the south african war, 18991902, volumes 12. It includes locomotives from all original operators. Concentration camps existed long before auschwitz from cuba to south africa, the advent of barbed wire and automatic weapons allowed the few to imprison the many. South africas remotenessit lies thousands of miles distant from major african cities such as lagos and cairo and more than 6,000 miles 10,000 km away from most of europe, north america, and eastern asia, where its major trading partners are locatedhelped reinforce the official system of apartheid for a large part of the 20th century. Shosholoza meyl offers dedicated safe long distance passenger train travel services in south africa on economy sleeper class trains and deluxe sleeper class trains. Like many others, the history of the railways in south africa holds great interest. The first modern humans are believed to have inhabited south africa more than 100,000 years ago. Bespoke train safaris for charter, private functions, corporate tours, incentives, launches and events in the comfort of rovos rails topquality service.
Escom 482t avonside grootvlei power station, south africa. Railways africas network of railways was started in 1852 in alexandria, egypt and continued until the 1960s. With one of the largest foundries in the southern hemisphere, scaw. African history and fits into collections on cricket, the anglo boer war, cape political history and south african railway history. A well written book with good photographs of all steam and modern traction. Transnet freight rail is the largest division of transnet limited, a public company with south african government as its sole shareholder. Sadly, the days of mechanical signalling are now numbered in south africa and this wonderful, mostly reliable, system of railway traffic control is fast disappearing into the history books forever. South africa history, capital, flag, map, population. The steam kyalami the great steam racetrack thru the karoo by paul hloben 2017 product code. The south african state owns about 700 firms, including railways, ports and a whole range of companies operating in various industries which are called parastatals. Africa rail is about investment, development and technology for rail operators, governments, endusers, investors and all transport professionals. With the creation of the union of south africa in 1910, the csar was merged with the cape government railways and the natal government railways to form the south african railways, which is. Map of train routes in southern africa, including south africa, botswana, zimbabwe, mozambique, zambia, tanzania, kenya and namibia. The south african railways class 7d 480 of 1915 was a steam locomotive.
The following is a summary of how railways in south africa developed, by discussing the different persons, companies and events that were instrumental in the creation of the system that is known today as transnet. Wikimedia commons has media related to south african class 7d 480 last edited on 1 july 2017, at 01. Railway transport in south africa 2017 pr newswire. Online booking agents for shosholoza meyl railways south africa.
The central south african railways csar was from 1902 to 1910 the operator of public railways in the transvaal colony and orange river colony in what is now south africa. One of the youngest of the worlds major cities, johannesburg was founded in 1886, following the discovery of gold. The success of the five class ng g11 garratt narrowgauge locomotives which had been placed in service on the avontuur line in the langkloof and the stuartstown line in natal between 1919 and 1925 led to the decision by col f. Detailed history railways south african war 1899 1902 abebooks. Its about the big ideas, projects, market disruptions and keeping your finger on the pulse of trends that can meet africas growing freight and. Hollands corrections to the steam locomotives of the south african railwayspage 1. I have enjoyed looking at copies of the railway magazine from 1950 and found a complete copy of an article about the kenyauganda railway in the april 1950 edition of the magazine. Bespoke train safaris for charter, private functions, corporate tours, incentives, launches and events in the comfort of rovos rail s topquality service. Railway country 150 years of rail in south africa south. In south africa, the public transport industry comprises of three main modes of transport. Pay for civil servants has increased much faster than inflation, and perks for highranking government ministers have. Railway country although the south african interior is generally highlying, it is traversable, but it is largely separated from the coastline by a high, mountainous escarpment. Railway country 150 years of rail in south africa south africa. On 21 august 2017, conservation architect frances woodgate delivered an.
Rail transport in south africa is an important element of the countrys transport infrastructure. The central south african railways csar was from 1902 to 1910 the operator of public. The textbook is primarily intended for teacherslecturers and undergraduate students. The south african railway system transnet has put 38 steam locomotives up for sale to the highest bidder. Generally speaking too, its rich natural resources and extensive agricultural and pastoral areas. Physical relief map of the union of south africa download. History of the railways during the war in south africa 18991902. I finished an actual book for the first time in longer than i care to admit. South african railways shosholoza meyl, cape town, south africa. After the discovery of hominins at taung and australopithecine fossils in limestone caves at sterkfontein, swartkrans, and kromdraai these areas were collectively. A guide that is informative and would be helpful to a newcomer to south african railways as well as providing the long term enthusiast with a good record and some new facts.
Over the past few weeks peter ball has traced the history of southern african railways up until 1910. In the 1970s and 1980s, steam enthusiasts from all over the world flocked to south africa to experience the thrill of big time steam on the central part of the cape townjohannesburg main line, nicknamed steel kyalami after the grand prix circuit near johannesburg. Steam train travel is alive and well all across south africa thanks largely to groups of volunteers dedicated to preserving the history of the railways. Hollands corrections to the steam locomotives of the south african railways page 1. The rugged great karoo semidesert region makes up much of the central and western part of the country. Netherlandssouth african railway company wikipedia. Five steam train trips you can take across south africa. Historical development of public transport in south africa. South africas current rail network is the eleventhlargest in the world at 22,387 routekm or 30,400 trackkm. A new era dawns the first fifteen years of the south. The state of public transport in south africa understand. Zeitz museum of contemporary african art opening september 2017 will.
Detailed history railways south african war 1899 1902. They were the first garratt locomotives to enter service in south africa. A photographic history of the south african railways at the end of the steam era. Shosholoza meyl railways south africa south african railways.
A meditative train ride through south africa the new york times. For potential north american customers, the only difficulty is that all are cape gauge engines set for running at 42 inches between the rails. East african railways kenya and uganda history forum. I use the name south african railways illustrated very loosely in making it the title of this publication. The cartoon published in the south african railways and harbours magazine gained popularity, with some graphic variation in the ways it visually positioned the railway and the old man.
The history of african development african economic. Please choose the train service that best suits your needs. Championship held at johanesburg south africa from 15. South african industrial steam railways stored out of use in 1975, prior to its eventual renovation and proud display outside the mine offices, douglas colliery 060t no. Stakeholders of diverse persuasions have questioned the status quo, and have expressed their findings on many levels. The netherlandssouth african railway company nederlandsche zuid afrikaansche. Read our insiders guide to south africa, as recommended by. Shosholoza meyl trains travel on rail routes johannesburg, cape town, durban, port elizabeth, east london on a weekly timetable at affordable rates.
Apr 16, 2018 this german south west african area is also briefly covered in railways and war before 1918 mechanised warfare in colour by w. African railway operators and major end users are looking to streamline efficiencies and. The longest continuous wine route on earth is found in south africa. The first track for steampowered locomotives was a line of about 3. One of phils final efforts was the publication of a book on the design, development and history of the south african railways class 25nc and 25c 484 locomotives. List of south african locomotive classes wikipedia. A superbly illustrated book, full of information, out of print but well worth tracking down second hand. Fascinating wildlife is just waiting to be discovered on this south african rail adventure aboard the pride of africa one of the worlds great luxury trains. Over christmas 2018, i have taken some time to look through older railway magazines which have been waiting for my attention for months. Aropet 2017 argues that the provision of safe, accessible, and affordable public. After the war had ended, the imperial military railways became the central south african railways in july 1902, with thomas rees price as general manager.
This book provides a complete list of all sar stations which once had a post office or a postal agency. In the previous installment of the history of southern african railways series peter ball looked at the role of the railways during the south african war. South africa, the southernmost country on the african continent, renowned for its varied topography, great natural beauty, and cultural diversity, all of which have made the country a favored destination for travelers since the legal ending of apartheid afrikaans. A german feldbahn o8ot type loco developed in sw africa and widely used in. Collins dso, chief mechanical engineer of the south african railways sar, to acquire a smaller garratt type for two new lightrail narrowgauge branch. Up to 1986 a separate police force specifically for the purpose of protecting the distinctive interests of the s. South african railways 19d class 2682 with volksrust to.
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