The South Western Railway Co. Ltd. operated between Knysna and Deepwalls from 1907 to 1949 in the Southern Cape of South Africa. This unique 2-Ft. narrow gauge railway line brought timber (mostly Yellowwood Podocarpus spp.) from Deep Walls to Knysna for milling into sleepers, creosoting and shipment.
There were three stations situated along the line : Bracken Hill, Parkes Station and Templemans. Sawmills existed at Bracken Hill and Templemans for processing the timber.
Map of the South Western Railway Line in Knysna South Africa
as drawn by Sydney Moir.
The end of the South Western Railway came on 4th April 1949, when fires were drawn on the four locomotives for the last time. The four locomotives, the rails of the main line, the branches in town and the entire stock of battered wagons were sold as scrap.
Millwood House Museum in Knysna published two historical newsletters written by Mrs. Margaret Parkes and V.M. Williams
describing the history of the little 2 ft. narrow gauge railway also known as the South Western Railway - the Forest Train or, as more
affectionately known, the "Coffee Pot": Newsletter No. 36 of November 1990 and Newsletter No. 37. of February 1991
- updated 14 August 04
Yellow wood logs on a SWR Co. timber truck type NG 8-E-3
Trucks supplied by the Hungarian Railway and Wagon works
Note the chain connection between the trucks
Photo Millwood House Museum, Knysna
Photo added 19 May 05
Knysna 1929
Yellow-wood sleepers awaiting despatch from Knysna station
Photo from "The Knysna Story" by Arthur Nimmo
Photo added 19 May 05
Knysna Harbour - December 2005
The 2 foot rails of the SWR Co. are still visible and should be preserved
Photo added 8 January 2007
SAR class NG.3 No.4
The South Western Railways ex Natal Government 2 foot Railway narrow gauge 4-6-2T
- SAR class NG.3 No.4 - is seen here with a load of timber from the Knysna Forest.
Image used with permission from the Transnet Heritage Foundation. Neg. No. 049638
The origins of the locomotives have been establised and verified with the help of a number of people around the world!
There were four (4) locomotives:
- Orenstein & Koppel S/N. 1775 50HP Wood burner 0-4-2T of 1906 - SWR Loco No.1
- Orenstein & Koppel S/N. 2240 100HP Wood burner 0-6-2T of 1907 - SWR Loco No.2
- Orenstein & Koppel S/N. 4880 150HP Wood burner 0-8-0T of 1907 - SWR Loco No.3
- Hawthorn, Leslie & Co. S/N. 2687 Coal burner 4-6-2T of 1907 - SAR class NG3 No.4
Purchased 2nd hand from SAR in 1934
The Orenstein & Koppel S/N. 4880 150HP Wood Burner 0-8-0 of 1907
photographed in front of the Knynsa Station
Image courtesy Hannes Paling
- new photo 21 February 05
Sydney M. Moir used different pictures of the locomotives in both (editions) of his book "24 Inches Apart" which confused me totally!. His first edition shows all four different locomotives clearly. They were however, omitted in the second edition (the one I have). It is believed that the O&K 0-4-2T was used for shunting in Knysna while the other O&K's and SAR NG3 locomotives (see picture of the SAR NG3 above) operated between Deep Walls and Knysna.
A short history and some more photographs of the locomotives can be found here - updated 8 January 07
Any suggestions and feedback on the locomotives will be appreciated
This is South Africa first and only narrow gauge forest / logging railroad and begs to be modeled (not historically correct as another existed called the Evelyn-Pirie Forest Narrow Gauge Railway near King Williamstown in the Eastern Cape between 1910 and 1917). My modest approach would be to model in HOn30 (also known as HOe) which is HO scale on N track.
I have started on my first ever portable "micro / mini" HOn30 layout - so please view my efforts! - new 18 September 04
Links, Model Railway Clubs & Personal Pages
Download Pages
Acknowledgements and Thanks
Contact
Webmaster: Herman Steyn
Pages Updated On: 21-December-2008
©Copyright 2004 - 2008