Southern Province Railway

The Southern Province Railway was a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) narrow gauge rail network in Tanzania, which was operated only for a few years in the middle of the 20th Century. It ultimately comprised about 275 route kilometers. The central line of the railway network was Mtwara - Nachingwea. The isolated network operated without connection to the national network. Because of the failure of the Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme the rail system was deprived of its economic existence. After the independence of Tanzania, operations were ceased in February 1963 and the line was abandoned.

Southern Province Railway
Overview
Statusclosed
History
Opened1949
Closed1963
Technical
Line length275 km (171 mi)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Route map
0,7
 Mtwara Harbour
0
0
 Mtwara
9,5
 Ufokoni
16,0
 Mikindani
 to Karimjee Sisal plantation
32,3
 Namgongoni
38,5
 Mbuo
46,6
 Mpapura
53,0
 Mchicha
56,3
 Libobe
61,2
 Namuhi
69,4
 Kitere
75,5
 Nyamgamara
91,6
 Kilidu
27,8
 Lindi Creek
27,1
 Lindi
 to Lindi Sisal Estates
14,0
 Mingoyo
10,0
 Mkwaya
0
106,3
 Ruo
Lukuledi
 Mtua-Narunyu Sisal-Plantage
118,9
 Mtua
131,9
 Mtama
143,1
 Mahima
152,5
 Mkwera
160,8
 Nangana
186,7
0
 Chilungula
210,7
 Nachingwea
12,0
 Kilometer 12
Lukuledi
17,6
 Lukuledi
30,0
 Marambo
37,0
 Masasi

Construction

The main reason for the construction was the Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme, as part of the former British colonial rule. The project, whose core component was peanut cultivation on a gigantic scale, ultimately failed. In order to transport the crops, in 1949 the Overseas Food Cooperation put the line Ruo - Nachingwea in operation, it was extended a year later to Lindi on the Indian Ocean. This extension was partly laid on a former 18 km long 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) feldbahn, constructed in 1921, which ran from a sisal plantation in Lindi to Narunyu.

When the Overseas Food Cooperation ran into financial difficulties in 1952, the railroad was merged with the East African Railways and expanded to a network. As of 1954, the newly built harbor and the port city of Mtwara was connected with Mikindani. In 1958 the route Chilungula-Masasi was constructed.

Rolling stock

Both steam (the series RV/21, G and NZ) and diesel locomotives were used (the series 80 and 81). Passenger traffic existed between Mtwara and Nachingwea for which a second hand Diesel Motorized Units of the former Kenya and Uganda Railways was used.

See also

References
  • Burton, David (2014). The Groundnut Line: The Story of the Southern Province Railway of Tanganyika. Telford, Shropshire: David Burton.
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