The following lists events that happened during 1879 in South Africa.

1879
in
South Africa

Decades:
See also:

Incumbents

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Events

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January
March
  • 7 – The first British troops arrive in Durban from all over the Empire.
  • 12 – A force of 2,000 Zulus attacks a British camp at Ntombi River. Of the 60 men in the camp, only 15 escape.
July
  • 4 – The Zulus are defeated at Ulundi and the war ends.
August

Births

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Deaths

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Railways

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Railway lines opened

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CGR 1st Class 4-4-0
 
CGR 1st Class 2-6-0
 
Table Bay Harbour 0-4-0WT
 
NGR Kitson 2-6-0T
  • March – Natal – Pinetown to Botha's Hill, 14 miles 6 chains (22.7 kilometres).[1]
  • 11 August – Cape Western – Grootfontein to Fraserburg Road, 52 miles 41 chains (84.5 kilometres).[2]
  • 26 August – Cape Midland – Mount Stewart to Graaff-Reinet, 72 miles 18 chains (116.2 kilometres).[2]
  • 1 September – Natal – Avoca to Verulam, 12 miles 2 chains (19.4 kilometres).[1]
  • 3 September – Cape Midland – Alicedale to Grahamstown, 34 miles 71 chains (56.1 kilometres).[2]
  • 17 September – Cape Midland – Alicedale to Middleton, 38 miles 3 chains (61.2 kilometres).[2]
  • 3 November – Cape Eastern – Döhne to Cathcart, 42 miles 48 chains (68.6 kilometres).[2]

Locomotives

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Cape
  • Two new 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Cape gauge locomotive types enter service on the Cape Government Railways (CGR):
    • The first four of fifteen 1st Class 4-4-0 American type passenger locomotives on the Western and Eastern systems.[3]: 30–31 [4]
    • The first six of ten 1st Class 2-6-0 Mogul type goods locomotives on the Western system.[3]: 28–30 [4]
  • The Table Bay Harbour Board places its fourth 7 ft 14 in (2,140 mm) Brunel gauge 0-4-0 well-tank engine in excavation and breakwater construction service.[5]: 115–117 
Natal
  • The Natal Government Railways places seven 2-6-0T locomotives in service, later to be modified to a 4-6-0T wheel arrangement and designated Class G.[6]
  • The Natal Harbours Department in Durban places a single 0-6-0 saddle-tank locomotive in service, named John Milne.[5]: 126–127 

References

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  1. ^ a b Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 181, ref. no. 200954-13
  2. ^ a b c d e Report for year ending 31 December 1909, Cape Government Railways, Section VIII - Dates of Opening and the Length of the different Sections in the Cape Colony, from the Year 1873 to 31st December, 1909.
  3. ^ a b Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 1: 1859–1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
  4. ^ a b C.G.R. Numbering Revised, Article by Dave Littley, SA Rail May–June 1993, pp. 94–95.
  5. ^ a b Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
  6. ^ NGR Class G numbering