Cape Government Railways

Shortly afterwards, in 1872, the Cape Colony attained responsible government under the leadership of Prime Minister John Molteno, who presented plans for an enormous network of railways to connect the Cape Colony's main ports to its interior and, importantly, to the diamond fields.

[4][5] The management of this system – which was to become the nucleus of the future South African Railways – initially fell under his Public Works Department, until July 1873, when Molteno established a separate Railway Department under the renowned engineer William Brounger.

However, their width, designed for England's landscape, made it impossible at the time to penetrate the mountains of the rugged southern African escarpment.

[7] When the first elected Cape government took power the next year, its select committee set the gauge for all new railways at 3'-6".

However building accelerated massively over the next few years, with twin lines reaching northwards to Graaff-Reinet, and eastwards to Grahamstown.

[15] The Cape Eastern Line was built partially to serve the frontier, and its network of military forts.

[16] By 1885 the separate sections were connected and the Cape Western line reached Kimberley, marking the end of an epic which had begun in 1872, with the network completed faithfully according to the original 1872 plans.

The Cape railway network played a significant role in supporting and supplying the British forces during the Second Boer War.