The "End of the Line"

"The narrow gauge railway line that runs from Donnybrook to Ixopo."

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The Railway Commissioner recommended a line from Stuartstown to a suitable
site on the Natal side of Union Bridge at the Umzimkulu River be built.  The country to be traversed was fertile and capable of growing almost anything.
The country was said to be "sparsely" populated with Europeans but
there were thousands of natives in the district.  Approximately 600 first class
and 2 400 third class passengers, "3.5 tons of goods and 2 500 head of
livestock were estimated to be moved in this area per annum 
and the Commissioner felt that the capital cost of constructing the line
would be very soon paid"

The line was constructed departmentally commencing in August 1912.  The track was built with second-hand material of 35 and 45 lb from the Cape.  The maximum axle load was 5 tons and speed 12 miles per hour.
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The Opening of Ixopo - Madonela Branch Line
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The Railway Commissioner recommended a line made from Stura Wood be built  and iron  buildings, a passenger shelter, an office with a lamp room and a shed made up Madonela Station, the native name for Donald Strachan, Ixopo's oldest 
living person.
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Union Bridge Junction is where the lines divide to go to Donnybrook
and down to Madonela, although the narrow gauge line is nowhere
close to bridge known by the same name.  An appropriate
committee was formed and funds collected for the official opening.

Typical of  Ixopo weather, the official completion date was not met
for December 1913.  Instead on February 2, 1914, the first train left
Ixopo at 7:35 p.m. and arrived at Madonela at 9:00 p.m.

The Ixopo - Madonela track was 17.5 miles long
with a maximum ruling grade 1 in 33 compensated and was erected
at a cost of about R 100 000-00.
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1920 Saw the arrival of the first narrow-gauge Garret Engines,
no's 51,52,and 53 arrived from Germany and put into service.
16 Class NGG locomotives were placed into service in the early 1950's.
Due to primitive cooling methods on the dairy farms, and the long and
slow journey up to Donnybrook, milk just never reached it's
final destination fresh enough for human use.  Dairy farmers
were at their wits ends, and the South African Railway put into service
a special "rail motor" to deliver the milk to the factory.

November 2001, the same narrow gauge line is in use by "Paton's Narrow Gauge Railway (PCNGR)" as a 8 ton Lenning Diesel Loco is put into use
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The narrow gauge line lay unused for approximately 20 years from 1980 to 2000 and was first used again by Paton's Express Adventures with a gangers trolley.

With gratitude to B. Mingay and Kwa-Zulu Natal Railway Museum for the valuable information.

  Page was last updated 10/16/02
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