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 2 Collections and/or Records:
Buffalo River and Harbour, East London, 1900 - 1910
287 x 172 mm. A view looking down on the Buffalo River and wharves at East London, with two steamers moored in the foreground and the sea in the distance.
East London, the Town Hall, 1900 - 1910
191 x 143 mm. Showing the East London Town (now City) Hall, a verandahed stone building with a clocktower set at one corner. Designed by Edwin Page in 1893 and completed in 1899, it is situated between Argyle and Buxton Streets.
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- Subject: East London (inhabited place) X
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- Buffalo (river) 1