Cape Government Railways (fl. 1873-1910)
Dates
- Existence: fl. 1873 - 1910
Biography
Cape Government Railways was established by the Cape Government around 1873 to operate lines previously administered by the Cape Town Dock and Railway Company, with the commissioners of crown lands and public works in charge. The first general manager, Charles Bletterman Elliott, was appointed in 1880 and he was responsible for a significant improvement in the efficiency of the administration. He remained in the post for nearly 25 years.
Between 1875 and 1880 the total distance of lines in the Colony rose from 154 to 913 miles. By 1899 this had reached 2001 miles. From 1889 to 1895 Cape Government Railways also operated the Orange Free State Railways. With the establishment of the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910, the railway companies of the four separate territories (Cape of Good Hope, Natal, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State) merged to form South African Railways and Harbours with Cape Government Railways contributing almost a half of the total mileage of 7577 miles (Lingen 1960, pp.1-27).
Sources:
Lingen, A. van (1960), 'A century of transport', Johannesburg: Da Gama Publications Limited.
Found in 9 Collections and/or Records:
A.C.G.R. Dining express train leaving Cape Town Station for the north, 1900 - 1910
115 x 94 mm. Showing a Cape Government Railways steam locomotive pulling out of Cape Town station.
Adderley Street, Cape Town, 1900 - 1910
111 x 85 mm. A view looking south east along Adderley Street with tramlines and horse carts on the roadway.
Adderley Street, Cape Town, 1900 - 1910
115 x 91 mm. A view looking south east along Adderley Street and showing the Standard Bank (opened in 1883) and the Mansion House Buildings (1898) at the junction with Darling Street. With horse carts and cabs parked in the foreground.
Cape Town and Table Mountain, 1900 - 1910
194 x 138 mm. A view looking south across Cape Town towards Table Mountain with the old Malay cemetery in the foreground.
Cape Town (Camp's Bay), The Twelve Apostles from the Victoria Road, 1900 - 1910
196 x 136 mm. A view looing down on to the Victoria Road which follows the rocky coastline from Cape Town to Camp's Bay, with the pinnacles of the Twelve Apostles on the skyline.
Cape Town Docks, arrival of a mail steamer, 1900 - 1910
191 x 136 mm. A view looking along the docks with a steamer moored on either side of the wharf and carts, hansoms and a railway locomotive in the foregound.
Cape Town, Government Avenue (winter), 1900 - 1910
199 x138 mm. A view looking along the treelined avenue which runs south east from the Parliament Buildings.
Cape Town Houses of Parliament, 1900 - 1910
199 x 200 mm. A view from Grave Street showing the south and east facades of the Parliament buildings, opened by Sir Hercules Robinson in 1885. These buildings, planned by H.S. Greaves, supplanted an earlier design by Charles Freeman. The foundation stone for this original building was laid in 1875 but shortly after construction began major problems with the foundations arose and the design was cancelled.
Groot Schuur (Rondebosch), 1900 - 1910
290 x 201 mm. A view from the garden looking down the hillside to Groot Schuur the residence of the South African Prime Minister. The old Dutch colonial building (originally a granary) was gutted by fire in 1896 shortly after Cecil Rhodes had purchased it. The buildings as seen here embody the alterations designed by Sir Hebert Baker.
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