Compiled by Pieter (“Piet”) Nel, Leith Paxton and Bruno Martin
Please note: All photographs, maps and text in Soul of A Railway are protected by copyright and may not be copied or reproduced in any way for further use without prior permission in writing from the compilers of this series, Les Pivnic, Charlie Lewis and Bruno Martin.
INTRODUCTORY PHOTO: A 6 coach 1M1 electric multiple unit (EMU) accelerates past the Cape Town castle on the newly electrified Down Simonstown Line in 1928. The track signs affixed to the electrification and signals bridge mast indicate that a permanent speed restriction of 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) is in operation from that point onwards to the main terminus. In the background, three steam locomotives are going about their shunting duties in the passenger and goods yards. (Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL).
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND THANKS
In alphabetical order, the following contributors are acknowledged and thanked for their valuable inputs:
Andrew Deacon; Bruno Martin; Charlie Lewis; Johannes Haarhoff (Digital Rail Images South Africa (DRISA)); John Wyllie; Leith Paxton; Len Smuts; Les Pivnic; Lionel Penning; Piet Nel; and last but not least, a special word of thanks to Yolanda Meyer (Transnet Heritage Library).
Our sincere apologies to anyone that should have been acknowledged but was unintentionally missed out.
OVERVIEW
The Cape Town inner-suburban rail network and local services originate from the first section of the Cape Town - Wellington standard gauge railway line that was opened on 13 February 1862 as far as Eerste River by the Cape Town, Wellington & Dock Railway Company. At the time intermediate stations were provided at Salt River and D’Urban Road (now Bellville).
Since then, the inner-suburban rail network has expanded in line with Cape Town’s urban sprawl, and this topic will be covered in the following parts, of which the locality is illustrated on Bruno Martin’s map shown in Figure 1 further down:
17: Introduction.
18: Cape Town station precinct.
19: Cape Town – Bellville (known as the Northern Line), including the locomotive depots and running sheds.
20: Cape Town – Simonstown (known as the Southern Suburbs Line).
21: Cape Town – Docks (East Pier), Sea Point and Milnerton.
22: Cape Town – Diep River Junction/Heathfield (known as the Cape Flats Line), Kapteinsklip/ Chris Hani/ Bellville (via Sarepta) (known as the Central Line), and Chempet/ Atlantis.
Although these parts focus on the inner-suburban network and local services, some photos of outer suburban and semi-main line movements on these rails will also be included for their historical interest.
1. With Signal Hill forming a backdrop, an ex-Central South African Railways (CSAR) 4-6-2 Class 10C No 767, departs from Cape Town platform 10 on 18 February 1932 with a Down outer suburban local comprising ex-Cape Government Railways (CGR) stock. At the time, only the Cape Town – Simonstown Line offered an electrified service operated by 1M1 EMU’s, of which one is visible to the left of No 767. (Frank Garrison photo, Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
2. The train shed of 1876/77 in later years became the passenger concourse for the Southern Suburbs (Simonstown) Line as depicted in this 1940’s photo. In the background, 1M1 EMU’s (now outside the original train shed) can be seen in platforms 3 and 4. In the right foreground, the Suburban Line’s departures are displayed at approximately 11 am by “The Clock”, which became a beacon as a favourite meeting place for Capetonians. A model steam locomotive, which operated with coins in aid of the SAR and H children’s homes, is visible below the departures board. (Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
3. With the General Post Office building forming a backdrop, a 1500 V 1M1 EMU arrives from the Up Bellville Line in 1953. The two vehicles ahead of the motorcoach are driving trailers, which in this instance, are standing in as plain trailers as part of the consist. To the left is the 1928 signal cabin that was commissioned at the same time as the Cape Town - Simonstown electrification, which also coincided with the introduction of colour light signals and electrically operated points. To the right, a main line train in platform 13 is awaiting its motive power, which could either be a 4-8-2 Class 15F or Class 23 steam locomotive. (Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
4. On 3 January 1961, 4M set No.7 departs on the Down Bellville Line via Salt River. In the right background, a mainline train has just arrived in platform 14. During November 1954 the Bellville and Cape Flats lines were switched over to 3000 V DC to bring it on par with the main line electrification from Bellville to Touwsriver. The Simonstown line was only switched over to 3000 V DC in March 1956, as a result of which the Cape Town station operated as two terminals to separate the two line voltages during this changeover period. (Les Pivnic photo).
5. In a photo taken from platform 13 on 2 January 1962, set No. 21, a brand new 8 coach 5M2A EMU, with a driving trailer bringing-up the rear, snakes its way across point work on its way to Bellvile as train No. 741. The train is in the new colour scheme adopted for passenger trains in 1960 as a replacement for the Imperial Brown colour scheme shown in the previous photo. (Les Pivnic photo).
6. A Down Bellville train departs from Salt River behind No 418, a Belpaire-boilered 6th class 4-6-0, circa 1930. To the left, the Simonstown Line, having been electrified at 1500 V DC since 1928, veers off in a southerly direction. Electrification of the Bellville service was to follow in 1933. (DF Holland photo, Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
7. On 3 January 1962, 4M set No. 12 is being readied at Bellville for an UP departure to Cape Town from platform 4. The train is in the new station that was commissioned in mid-1956, which consists of seven through platforms and four bay platforms. At the time, platforms 1 and 2 had no rail connections as they were reserved for the future double track electrified main line to Cape Town via Monte Vista, which was later commissioned during 1979/80. Bay platforms 5 and 8 were built through in 2019/20 as part of the Bellville station re-modelling in connection with the PRASA Western Cape Re-signalling Project. (Les Pivnic photo)
8. In 1963, an unidentified 4-6-2 Class 10CR steam locomotive heads a local good train destined for the Simonstown Line. The train was assembled in the Woltemade goods yard, and can be seen on the Maitland Link, whereafter it would join the Simonstown Line at Observatory via the Liesbeek Link. The non-electrified line on the right connects the Woltemade goods yard with the Cape Flats Line and private sidings at Ndabeni station. (Charlie Lewis photo).
9. Already 4 years have passed since the formation of the South African Railways and Harbours (SAR&H) in 1910, when an ex-CGR Class 6 4-6-0 is heading an Up Suburban train between St. James and Muizenberg stations. The line was later provided with seawalls, re-aligned, and doubled as part of the electric train service introduced in 1928. (Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
10. An Up six-coach 1M1 EMU skirts the False Bay coast between St. James and Muizenberg stations during 1928, which is the year in which the electric train service was introduced between Cape Town and Simonstown. The mountain ranges towering above Simonstown, Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay are visible in the distance from left to right, and it gives an indication of the tortuous route that the railway follows along the coastline to reach Simonstown from Muizenberg. (Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
11. In mid-1957, a Class 6 heads a Down goods through Newlands, renowned for its International Rugby and Cricket venues, of which the latter still retains that status today. The locomotive is whistling for the Camp Ground Road level-crossing from where Charlie, who grew up 100 yards away, took the photo. In later years the level-crossing was replaced with an overhead road bridge. To the left, the non-electrified track, as indicated by the “N/E” sign, is part of the private siding serving the local brewery. Today this is one of the very last private sidings still in service on the Cape Peninsula. (Charlie Lewis photo)
12. In the late 1970’s train No. 0201, an eight coach 5M2A EMU and numbered as set No. J, is in the process of crossing the Else River estuary near Glencairn halt. The train is on the single line section between Fish Hoek and Simonstown. On the side of the track, newly off-loaded sleepers await replacement of those in the check-railed curve. The area is also prone to windblown sea sand covering the tracks, which in turn requires constant attention during the onslaught by strong south-easterly winds in the summer season. (Malcolm Bates photo, Leith Paxton collection).
13. On 17 September 2004, 10M3 set No. N is doing duty as Up Suburban train No. 0190 between Simonstown and Cape Town. The 10M3 is a rebuilt from the ageing 5M2A fleet, and it is specially equipped with stainless-steel bodywork for service on the Cape Peninsula’s network. With Simonstown station visible across the bay above the second plain trailer behind the leading motorcoach, the train is on its way to Sunny Cove halt after having stopped at Glencairn. The pre-stressed concrete mast posts in the photo replaced the 1928 all-steel electrification masts during the mid-1990’s as a measure to combat corrosion in this coastal environment with high concentrations of sea spray. (Len Smuts photo).
14. In the early 1920’s, a Down Boat train chugs up Dock road behind a Beatty 4-8-2 Class 4A on its way from East Pier to Monument station from where it will continue its 1000 mile journey to Johannesburg. Behind and to the right of an approaching horse-drawn cart, a Sea Point train has an all-clear signal to branch-off towards Sea Point. (Martin Leendertz photo, Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
15. With Signal Hill forming a backdrop to the right, a 3 coach 1M1 set consisting of a motor coach, plain trailer and a driving trailer bringing up the rear, leans into a check-railed curve along the Atlantic seaboard between Sea Point and Monument stations circa 1928. (Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL))
16. With Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain forming a backdrop, a Milnerton train is headed by a Cape 5th Class on the Milnerton Line during the Cape Government Railways (CGR) era. Having left Cape Town, the train branched-off from the Woodstock - Salt River section at Craig’s Crossing (also known as Milnerton Junction) and can be seen here crossing the first estuary of the Salt River. (Martin Leendertz photo, Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
17. A 2-6-2 Class 6Y at the head of Up Cape Flats train No.9, branches-off the electrified Cape Town - Simonstown Line at Diep River Junction, circa 1930. Electrification of the Cape Flats Line at 1500V DC was to follow during 1934. (DF Holland photo, Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL)).
18. In April 1955, eight coach 4M set No. 12 is on a Down Cape Flats train with a driving trailer bringing up the rear. The train has just departed from Maitland station, which can be identified by the footbridge in the far distance. At this point there are five electrified lines, namely from left to right: the Cape Flats Up and Down Lines before veering off in a southerly direction towards Heathfield; the bi-directional Maitland - Bellville 3rd Line; and the Bellville Up and Down Lines. The three-aspect signal supported by a former semaphore signal gantry stands guard over the Bellville Down Line. To the left of the train are the Maitland Goods yard and the Abattoir sidings, with a steam shunting locomotive doing duty as evidenced by the smoke rising above the middle of the train. To the right is a service line that connects with private sidings on this part of the network. (Transnet Heritage Library Collection (THL))
19. In a photo taken from the Woltemade rail-over-rail flyover in July 1976, train No. 9329, an eight coach 4M EMU, moves away from the camera on the Down Nyanga Line in the direction of Woltemade Junction and Mutual station. With some track maintenance activities in evidence, an unidentified 4-8-2 Class 19C steam locomotive is approaching on the Up Avoiding Line in the direction of Cape Town, and it is about to duck under the three track Main Line between Maitland and Bellville. The electrified line veering off towards the right connects Woltemade Junction with Maitland to facilitate inter alia local goods train movements, with a link line branching-off to connect directly with the Cape Flats Line and private sidings at Ndabeni station. (Piet Nel photo).
20. On a fine morning in Cape Town during the late 1980’s, several types of EMU’s line-up at the Paarden Eiland electric train depot. From left to right: 8M set No. 50 on running shed track No. 4, with a similar set on its left; three 5M2A sets on the staging tracks, with a 6M set to the right thereof. The Paarden Eiland electric train depot that serves the Central Line, was constructed in the mid-1980’s on the site of the former main steam locomotive depot that ceased operations in 1982. (John Wyllie photo).
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
The history of the different line sections is illustrated on Bruno Martin’s well-researched and detailed drawing shown in Figure 2 below:
Figure 2: Development of the Cape Town Inner-suburban Rail Network and Local Services.
1. South African Railways and Harbours Photo Journal, Volumes 1 and 2, Les Pivnic, Cedilla (Pty) Ltd, circa 2000.
2. The Story of the Sea Point Railway at Cape Town, D M Rhind, Creda Communications, 2005.
3. The Cape in the Thirties, A A Jorgensen, SA Transport, circa 1977/78.
4. Railways of Southern Africa 150 years, Locomotives and Trains, JA Dulez, Vidrail, 2012.
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Part 18 is to follow. It will cover the Cape Town station precinct from 1860 onwards.