The First Public Railway in South Africa: the Point to Durban Railway of 1860

The first public railway in South Africa: The Point to Durban railway of 1860

ailways are very much the by the rapid development of this mode product of 19th century of transport in Britain, Europe and all Rinnovation, with the harnessing the continents. Egypt built Africa’s of steam-power for a more efficient first railway, which opened in 1856 form of transportation with improved between Alexandria and Cairo. This speed and carrying capacity for the was followed by the Point to Durban movement of people, raw materials railway, which opened on 26 June and processed goods. They served to 1860, and that between Cape Town facilitate the industrial revolution, and Wellington on 4 November 1863. accelerate development and extend The first railway in South Africa, frontiers (Cottrell, 1957). Fawcett albeit not with steel rails and a steam (1953) highlights this in two locomotive, was also in Durban – the sentences: ‘The railway revolutionised 1856-57 Bluff wooden railway. It was land transport. It became possible linked to harbour development and is to organise the human and natural described in an article in Natalia 26 resources of far larger geographical (Hutson, 1997). bases.’ It is remarkable that, in 1860, The world’s first public steam a small town like Durban had the railway in Britain between Stockton distinction of operating the first public and Darlington in 1825 was followed steam railway in South Africa. The

20 Natalia 40 (2010), Michael Cottrell pp. 20 – 31 Natalia 40 (2010) Copyright © Natal Society Foundation 2010 The first public railway in South Africa: The Point to Durban railway of 1860 population of Durban in 1863 was with bull head rails mounted on 4 313, which included 1 593 Africans ‘potlid’ sleepers. Russell (1899) and 153 Indians (Goetzsche, 1966). mistakenly records that the gauge was Few Africans were urbanised and the 3ft 6in. From Point Road it followed first indentured Indian labourers for what is now Kearsney Road, across the sugar farms were only to arrive on Smith and West Streets and along the 17 November 1860. While there were northern side of Pine Terrace. The primary schools in Natal, there was Point Station was on the wharf built not yet a secondary school, the first at a deeper part of the harbour where opening in Pietermaritzburg in 1863 the present B and C Sheds are located. and in Durban in 1866. This is not to be confused with the later The economy was somewhat Natal Government Railways station, limited to service industries such in Point Road, which opened in 1891 as blacksmithing, carpentry, wagon as a single storey building and with building, transport riding and inn- a second added by 1911. Passenger keeping. The sugar industry was still in services to it from the central Durban its infancy, but it was expanding, with Station ceased in 1927. It is currently about 8 000 tons produced in 1860. By used by the harbour authority. 1862 sugar became Natal’s principal Russell (1899) gives details of the export (Brookes and Webb, 1967). rolling stock, which included, apart Transport by ox-wagon was from two jib cranes, six four-wheeled expensive and slow, taking some freight trucks and one four-wheeled three or more days from the port to passenger carriage. This had one Pietermaritzburg. Heydenrych and carpeted First Class compartment Martin (1992) mention that the cost which seated up to 10 on cane seats of haulage per ton from Durban to and two Second Class compartments Pietermaritzburg was higher than the in varnished oak, which together freightage from England to Durban. seated 20 passengers. Roads were exceptionally poor and the Robert Legg of London is credited streets of Durban sandy tracks, making as being the builder of the ‘Natal’ the railway an extremely desirable locomotive, but MacDonald (2010) option for development. has evidence that it was manufactured by Carrett Marshall in Leeds. The 24 The Natal Railway Company horse-powered locomotive with a In January 1859 the Natal Railway 0-4-0 wheel arrangement was brought Company was formed to build a by the brig Cadiz on 13 May 1860 three-kilometre railway from the in broken-down form and assembled harbour at the Point to the north of the by Henry Jacobs, the Locomotive Durban Market Square where the old Superintendent, fitter and driver, in Durban Station is located. The Natal the engine shed at the Market Square Legislative Council passed a private Station. It was somewhat rustic, with law which granted the Company the no covered cab for the protection sole right to provide railway transport of the driver, who particularly felt for 14 years. the weather on the windy day of Early in 1860 work started on the the opening ceremony. However, building the 4ft 8½in gauge railway locomotives of this type were common

The first public railway in South Africa: The Point to Durban railway of 1860 E Cato's Pier

S Harbour Board

Pier B. Martin, 11/2009.

N W

Custom House & Pier

Cato's Pier Ordnance Boundary Ordnance

Harbour Board Pier 300 ft. 300 May 1859 B.O. Beacon Plan and section of the O R D N A C E S V Proposed Railway Pier NATAL RAILWAY

Proposed line as drawn to accompany Boundary of Harbour Reserve Harbour of Boundary 50 Bill of Legislation to Executive and Legislative Councils R E S V H A R B O U

SURFACE OF RAILS 40

LENGTH OF LINE ABOUT 2 MILES

30 Boundary of Town Lands Town of Boundary Chains 20 S E C T I O N 10 Cut, stream through swamp Zeederberg Line crosses road Bridge

Cato's 0 T O W N L A D S Cut, stream & bridge Erven Cato's

Flag Staff

SMITH ST. SMITH

WEST ST. WEST 100 FEET 100

Utmost gradient 1 in 186

Road & bridge Bridge & road B A Y O F N T L T O W N F D' U R B A

English Church RIGHT OF WAY RESERVED FOR PUBLIC FOR RESERVED WAY OF RIGHT

4 acres English Chuch

B.O. Beacon Proposed terminus Datum line High water mark Adapted from a tracing of the original plan (M2460, S.A. Archives, Cape Town) by Theo J. Espitalier, 10/2/1943.

Natalia 40 (2010) Copyright © Natal Society Foundation 2010 The first public railway in South Africa: The Point to Durban railway of 1860 in Europe and Britain at this time, for (1899) stated that it was assembled example those built for the London with its head to the Point and, as there to Chatham and Dover Railway from was no turntable or turning triangle, 1862 until 1899 and which lasted until it would have pulled this official train 1906 (Salmon, 1972). running forwards to the Point. Tatham’s The plaque on the ‘Natal’ painting shows the locomotive facing locomotive displayed on the concourse the other way, which meant that it of the present Durban Railway Station would have hauled it backwards. states: ‘The first train in South Africa Russell, as the Station Agent at Market operated between the Point and Durban Square Station, would surely have on 23 June 1860. This locomotive is a known. Likewise, one would expect reconstruction of the original chassis Tatham as the Manager of the Natal and wheels which were recovered in Railway Company to paint it correctly. the Umzimvubu River near Port St Who was correct? Copies of all the Johns.’ images in my possession indicate that This first journey, as opposed to the the locomotive ran backwards towards Official Opening on 26 June, was a test the Point. run which took place on Saturday, 23 In the background of the painting June 1860. Russell (1899) mentions is the original St Paul’s Anglican that the train had five freight trucks Church with only one other building containing 40 tons of sugar mill visible, for this was the vast Market machinery, carried a few passengers Square. There was no station building and on the footplate were William apart from a platform on which stood Smerdon and Edmund Tatham, the official guests including the chairman and secretary respectively of acting Lieutenant-Governor, Major the Natal Railway Company. Williamson, members of the Natal Legislative Council, the Mayor of The first official steam train Durban, Cllr W. Hartley, the Mayor journey on 26 June 1860 of Pietermaritzburg, Cllr J. Ackerman, A watercolour painting by Robert Bishop Colenso and clergy, the Tatham, Manager of the Natal Railway Railway Directors and the Royal Company, of the official opening Durban Rangers. In the foreground gives an interesting glimpse of this of the painting on the left is the 85th important occasion at the Market Regiment and on the right is a group of Square Station. On the left is the ‘Natal’ onlookers, including intrigued African locomotive, described by Russell people. One is carrying firewood on (1899) as ‘blowing off steam in fretful her or his head. impatience’, waiting for driver Jacobs George Russell was an avid to connect to the only passenger coach commentator on life and happenings for the important guests and, pictured in Durban from 1850 to 1860 (Russell, on the right, a freight truck that Russell 1899). He gave an account of the converted temporarily to provide opening, extracts of which follow: additional passenger accommodation. The inauguration took place at There is an interesting discrepancy 11 o’clock by His Excellency, Major in the way in which the ‘Natal’ Williamson after the Rangers and the locomotive was orientated. Russell 85th Regiment presented arms, while

the band played the national anthem. The detail of A.H. Barrett’s painting Bishop Colenso invoked the Divine vividly captures the excitement of the blessing on the enterprise while the event at the Point with the train arriving wind snapped flag poles and damaged at the station. In the foreground are decorations, blew off hats and the all interested guests and spectators and pervading sand made the scene both memorable and unpleasant. Everyone an ox-wagon, while in the harbour are was thankful for the Chairman’s bow the Waldensian and the steam tug, the to His Excellency who headed for Pioneer. the First Class Compartment in the The guests all returned to town coach and the rest of the guests seated without accident though with eyes themselves in the other compartments. smarting from the wind-blown sand. They good-humouredly made the best The extemporised carriage awning, of the circumstances. With a prolonged flags and decorations and one or two wailing shriek Jacobs turned on the of the triumphal arches across the line steam, and the first train moved off amid the deafening and prolonged were blown away. cheers of the assembled spectators. Russell notes the comments made, Gathering speed as he cleared the in Zulu, by the African spectators: Engine House, he ran smartly down to ‘Wow! (sic) but it is a strange beast. the Point, which he reached in about Its belly is full of fire and vapour; they five minutes. feed it with water and wood logs. It is Some 800 people were conveyed to like a rhinoceros, but it blows smoke the breezy Point on this memorable and sparks through its horn. Truly it is occasion. The trippers disported stronger than the elephant, for it pulls themselves on the nearby sand dunes, many wagon loads.’ And ‘Beyond visiting the rudimentary structure doubt it is made by the witchcraft of called the Harbour Works and admiring the Waldensian which contributed a the white men.’ Royal Salute of 21 minute guns from The day was concluded with a ball her anchorage in the Bluff Channel. in the Masonic Hotel. The locomotive The state of the weather prevented needed servicing after all the sand and a visit to the harbour tug Pioneer grit blown by the strong wind that day. and the abandonment of the planned The Natal Mercury editorial (Wilks, cruise. Others preferred lingering in 1977) after the opening, prophetically the vicinity of the Railway Station stated: ‘The march of the locomotive listening to the occasional merry is the march of progress. Before tunes of the band and the usual congratulatory and complimentary the approach of the steam horse toasts which were offered following all retrogressive influences vanish inaudible speeches amongst the and give way. Wherever the mighty rattling of the iron structure, the engine secures a footing civilisation flapping of tarpaulins, the noise of invariably follows and spreads.’ the wind and waves and the arrival and departure of trains. A goodly South Africa’s first Royal Train number sought the friendly shelter of In September 1860 HRH Prince Barker’s Anchor Tavern which was Alfred, the 16-year-old second son close to the beach near the present of Queen Victoria, and Sir George Natal Government Railways Point Station building. Grey, Governor of the Cape Colony, arrived in Durban from the Free State

Natalia 40 (2010) Copyright © Natal Society Foundation 2010 The first public railway in South Africa: The Point to Durban railway of 1860 A watercolour painting by Robert Tatham, Manager of the Natal Railway Company, of the official opening gives an interesting glimpse of this important occasion at the Market Square Station. The painting now hangs in the Local History Museum, Durban.

Natalia 40 (2010) Copyright © Natal Society Foundation 2010 The first public railway in South Africa: The Point to Durban railway of 1860 The 1889 painting by A.H. Barrett shows the Point Station on official opening of first A.H. Barrett The 1889 painting by railway in South Africa from the Point to Durban. Source: Railway Society of Southern Africa. Railway Society of Southern the Point to Durban. Source: Africa from railway in South

Natalia 40 (2010) Copyright © Natal Society Foundation 2010 The first public railway in South Africa: The Point to Durban railway of 1860 and Pietermaritzburg. Russell (1899) few parts of the world where traffic is highlights this visit in his memoirs. dependent on such primitive methods Early on 6 September the Prince, as the South African colonies.’ Farmers Governor Grey, Mayor A. McArthur needed to get products to Durban and and other dignitaries departed on South the port and there was also a need to Africa’s first Royal Train, which was connect to new coal mines in Northern no more than the Railway Company’s Natal. The travelling public demanded passenger coach. It achieved the faster, safer and a more comfortable distinction of travelling, in Russell’s means of travel. words, ‘at a racing pace that became On 1 January 1877 the Natal truly alarming’. It reached the Point in Government Railways took over the two minutes and 40 seconds, a speed of assets of the Natal Railway Company. 64 km an hour, the fastest journey that Thus the 17-year operation of South South African soil had yet seen. The Africa’s first public steam railway by Natal Mercury (Wilks, 1977) boasted private enterprise became history. that whatever festivities the ‘Prince might get in Cape Town he wouldn’t From a small beginning to a large get another railway trip. This is a State enterprise feature of his visit strictly Natalian.’ The year 2010 also marks the centenary of the unified railway system in The extension to Umgeni South Africa with the creation of the Although the service ran steadily for the Union of South Africa on 31 May next few years, by 1863 the Company 1910. The main line from Durban to was in financial difficulties, despite Johannesburg is an important sector of conveying 20 000 tons of imports this network. and 5 000 tons of exports. In 1865 the The Natal Legislative Council passed Colonial Government decided to build the Natal Government Railways Act and pay for a line to the Umgeni River on 2 November 1875. This authorised quarry for the conveyance of stone for the building of railways, initially harbour works. The Natal Railway from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, Company had a lease to operate this Verulam and Isipingo. Because of line which also included transporting the rugged nature of the interior, the general freight and passengers. The Natal and Cape authorities opted for seven-kilometre extension to Umgeni the 3ft 6in gauge, which is generally opened on 25 January 1867, which known as the Cape gauge. This made brought the total length to the Point the three Natal Railway Company to 10 km. In 1869 the Company was locomotives redundant. The newest, beginning to show a profit, with the ‘Perseverance’, became a stationary increased exports, including sugar, and engine working machinery at the in 1872 it declared the first dividend. Durban Railway Workshop and the By 1874 there was much lobbying ‘Natal’ locomotive was shipped to Port for railways to Pietermaritzburg and St Johns to work a sawmill upstream on along the coast as the Colony’s roads the Umzimvubu River. Dennison (2009) were poor. As early as 1861 The Natal reveals how this sawmill prepared Mercury (Heydenrych and Martin, timber for shipping to Durban for 1992) stated, ‘There are probably harbour construction. The locomotive

Queen's Bridge Umgeni River Umgeni Stone Quarries

INDIAN

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T O W N L A N D S

O F D U R B A N

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Adopted route Proposed alternative routes LANDS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT 0 50

Durban Eastern Chains Station Vlei (about 1000 metres) Western ST ST Vlei WEST SMITH ADDINGTON Colonial Government Lands

LANDS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT Annabella Bank BAY OF NATAL Vetch'sVetch's Pier Sandspit Based on: Point Station GENERAL PLAN OF THE TOWN LANDS OF DURBAN Milne's Pier and of the Colonial Government and War Department Lands adjoining THE showing the several routes proposed for the Railway about to be constructed from POINT Colonial THE Umgeni Stone Quarries to the Harbour Works to accompany BLUFF The Report of the Colonial Engineer dated 8th July 1865. Government (Map E115 Natal Archives Depot, Pietermaritzburg) Lands BB.. Martin,04/2010.Martin,04/2010. UMGENI EXTENSION 1867

Natalia 40 (2010) Copyright © Natal Society Foundation 2010 The first public railway in South Africa: The Point to Durban railway of 1860 was recovered from the Umzimvubu a large amount of the trade with the River, restored and plinthed on the old interior. The revenue and prosperity Durban Station on 26 June 1944, 84 of Natal became dependent upon the years after it had drawn the first public dues from and railage of imported train in South Africa. goods heading for Johannesburg. But Construction started in January it did little to improve the economic 1877, converting the Point to Umgeni ills of the Colony or the growth of railway to 3ft 6in gauge. This line towns along its route. Of the freight was continued up the North Coast to conveyed by the Natal Government Verulam. The 4ft 8½in track was used Railways in 1896, less than one tenth for the last time on 11 May 1878. The included Natal products. However, route to the interior and South Coast the Natal Government Railways was was located between Pine Street and the largest employer of Africans and Commercial Road and along what is Indians in the Colony. now Davis Lane and Alexandra Street Heydenrych concludes by stating that to the present line at Dalbridge. as Natal’s economy at this time depended The main line inland reached very much on traffic generated by the Pietermaritzburg in 1880 and Witwatersrand, it is understandable Ladysmith in 1886, the year when gold that it was called ‘possibly the most was discovered in the Witwatersrand parasitic in the Empire’ by the historian and Johannesburg founded. This factor C.W. de Kiewiet in his A History of inspired the resolve to continue the South Africa. line to this destination. By 1890 it had In 1893 the railway route to the linked to the coalfields in Northern interior and the South Coast located Natal, from which date much coal was between Pine Street and Commercial railed to Durban for use and export. Road, was replaced with a deviation In 1891 the railway reached around the central city between Charlestown on the border and, once Leopold and Alice Streets into the then consent from the South African new station complex at the old Market Republic was given, the Natal Square Station site. Government Railways built the railway After the Second Anglo-Boer War, as far as Heidelberg. The Nederlandsche the Central South African Railways Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorwegmaat operated, from 1902, the railways of schappij constructed the remain the former South African and Free State ing section, with the opening in republics but the Natal Government Johannesburg on 14 December 1895. Railways continued to operate trains The increased traffic generated from Durban to Johannesburg. resulted in the Natal Government Railways beginning to show a profit. The Centenary of the railways in Heydenrych (1985), in assessing the South Africa value of the Durban-to-Johannesburg The establishment of the Union of railway, states that its completion was South Africa in 1910 resulted in the a major achievement for the Colony amalgamation of former colonial of Natal, despite the fact that 76% of Natal Government Railways, Cape the total colonial debt was for railway Government Railways and Central construction loans. The Colony secured South African Railways into the South

African Railways, presently known as busiest port in the country and in Africa Transnet Freight Rail. with the largest container terminal in From 1914 new deviations with the Southern Hemisphere. improved gradients, tunnels and double track were constructed. The proposed historical railway Electric traction from Ladysmith to route in Durban Chieveley was first introduced in The Ethekwini Municipality, through 1924 and by 1964 the entire Durban the Architectural and Heritage to Johannesburg line was electrified. It Departments and iTRUMP, intends also has double track, except for the 23 to mark the original route from the km stretch between Glenroy and Union old Point Station to the West Street Junction, and is fully computerised crossing and the old Durban Railway with central traffic control and bi- Station and also include the former directional signalling. It has a daily route of the 1877 Natal Government capacity of 130 000 tonnes. Railways to the interior and the South The first railway in South Africa Coast (Gammage, 2010). It is planned from the Point to Durban lasted until to demarcate the route with plaques 1936, when road traffic pressures at and appropriate railway artefacts such street crossings forced its closure. as old locomotives and semaphore The last train ran on 2 May 1936. It signals. was replaced with a new double-track A plaque commemorating the electric railway into the harbour along opening, on 26 June 1860, of the the Esplanade. Point to Durban railway will be placed The role and extent of the railway at the old Point Railway Station, network at 24 000 km, before the hopefully with a model of the ‘Natal’ closure of some lines, over the past locomotive. The centenary plaque of 150 years has been impressive. This the unified railways in South Africa is confirmed by the building of the will be placed on the concourse of the modern freight lines to Richards Bay, Durban Station. opening in 1975, for the export of coal and, in 1976, to Saldanha for the MICHAEL COTTRELL export of iron ore. The latest evidence NOTES is the new rapid transit urban passenger Brookes, E.H. & Webb, C. de B., 1967 A Gautrain to link Johannesburg, Pretoria History of Natal, University of Natal Press, and the O.R. Tambo Airport, which Pietermaritzburg. Chapter 8, esp. pp. 78 – 84. has reverted to the 4ft 8½in gauge. The The first railway of 1860 is mentioned on pp. 78 – 79. first section opened between Sandton Cottrell, M.J., 1957 ‘A Geographical Study and the airport on 8 June 2010. of the Development of the Rail System in In conclusion, it is significant that the Union of South Africa’, Geography South Africa’s first three-kilometre III dissertation, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Point-to-Durban railway was the Cottrell, M.J., 2010 ‘Three Important Railway beginning of the most important Milestones’ in the Natal Newsletter, No.159, freight rail link of over 750 km to June 2010, of the Railway Society of the country’s economic heart in Southern Africa, Natal Branch, Durban, pp. 14 – 19. Johannesburg and Gauteng. Likewise, Dennison, C., 2009 ‘The Steam Engine that built Durban has benefited to become the a harbour – South Africa’s first locomotive

was used to help cut wood for construction MacDonald, H. 2010 Personal commuication. in Durban’ in The Witness, 4 December email on 18/01/2010 2009, Pietermaritzburg. Russell, G. 1899 History of Old Durban, P. Fawcett, C.B., 1953 ‘Geography and Empire’ Davis & Sons, Durban, reprinted in 1971 by in Taylor, G., Geography in the Twentieth T.W. Griggs, Durban. pp. 115 – 124 Durban Century, Methuen, London, p 428. in 1850, pp. 393 – 400, 462 – 476, 486, 488, Gammage, A., 2010 ‘The proposed historical 506 – 507 refer to the 1860 railway. railway, in the Natal Newsletter, No.159, Salmon, J., 1972 Steam Engines, J. Salmon Ltd, June 2010, of the Railway Society of Sevenoaks, England, p. 5. Southern Africa, Natal Branch, Durban, p. Wilks, T., 1977 For the Love of Natal – the Life 20. and times of the Natal Mercury 1852–1977, Goetzsche, E. 1966 Father of a City – the life Robinson & Co., Durban, p.31. and work of George Christopher Cato, first Mayor of Durban, Shuter and Shooter, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Pietermaritzburg. This gives a good idea of The text is inspired by my Geography III early Durban. Chapter 13 covers the Point to dissertation (Cottrell,1957) and modified, with Durban Railway in 1860. additions, from my article in the Natal Newsletter Heydenrych, H., 1985 ‘Railway Development in (Cottrell, 2010). I am indebted to the late Ralph Natal to 1895’ in Enterprise and Exploitation Sharp for an illustrated talk given to the KZN in a Victorian Colony – Aspects of the Railway History Society in February 2001, Economic and Social History of Colonial entitled ‘The Natal Railway Company 1859 to Natal. Ed. by Bill Guest and J.M. Sellers, 1877’. This was a review of the development University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg. of South Africa’s first commercial steam hauled Heydenrych, H. & Martin, B., 1992 The Natal passenger carrying railway. The text has been Main Line Story, HSRC Publishers, Pretoria. checked by members of the Railway History Chapters 1 & 2, pp. 1 – 3 cover the first Society, including Charles Parry and Bruno journey on 26/06/1860 and pp. 3 – 7 the Martin overseas. I am grateful to my wife, Stella, building of the line and economy of the for proof reading and creative suggestions. Colony. Hutson, T., 1997 ‘Wooden Railway on Durban’s Bluff’, in Natalia, Journal of the Natal Society, Vol.26, May 1997, Pietermaritzburg, pp. 74 – 78.