The Ocean Island Railway (later Banaba Island Railway) was a 3-kilometre (2 mi)-long guano mining railway on Ocean Island (later renamed Banaba Island). It had an initial gauge of 2 ft (610 mm). After 1937, the gauge was widened to 3 ft (914 mm) and, finally, to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) .[1]
| Ocean Island Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 The first Orenstein & Koppel locomotive, 1906
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| Line length | 3 kilometres (1.864 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 2 ft (610 mm), 3 ft (914 mm) and 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Route
editThe track ran along the coast from the northern guano mining areas, through the European Settlement (English:Tabwewa, French: Tapiwa) and the Native Labour Quarters (Tabiang, Tapiang) to the depot and Boat Harbour (Uma, Ooma).[2]
Operation
editInitially, steam locomotives manufactured by Orenstein & Koppel (O&K), and a saddle tank locomotive manufactured by Bagnall, were used. One O&K locomotive was named Florence, one had the number 7 (O&K works number 12678 of 1935)[3] and another one the number 11 (O&K works number 9880 of 1922).[1]
Later, diesel locomotives were used. European passengers were transported in a canopy car and native labourers in an open wagon.[3]
Locomotives
edit| Manufacturer | Type | Works No | Year | Gauge | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bagnall | 0-4-0ST | 610 mm | Saddle tank locomotive | ||
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 9880 | 1922 | 610mm | No 11 |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 11174 | 1926 | 610mm | Location unknown, possibly on another island |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 11291 | 1926 | 610mm | Location unknown, possibly on another island |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 11585 | 1928 | 610mm | |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 11586 | 1928 | 610mm | |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 12678 | 1935 | 610mm | No 7 |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 12887 | 1937 | 914mm | |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 12888 | 1937 | 914mm | |
| O&K | B-t | 12889 | 1937 | 914mm | |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 12890 | 1937 | 914mm | |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 12891 | 1937 | 914mm | |
| O&K | 0-4-0T | 3300 | 1909 | 600mm | 40 PS, delivered to Marrison, James & Co., Australia for Nauru, from 1920 as No 12 on Ocean Island (Replacement boiler 13108 of 1955)[1] |
References
edit
- ^ a b c Thomas Kautzor: Feldbahnen in Ozeanien (Nauru). 18 January 2015.
- ^ "Image: ocean_island.jpg, (638 × 571 px)". legacy.lib.utexas.edu. 2005-04-20. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
- ^ a b Skilnand, Vidar (2015-11-23). "(Ocean Island Railway Photos)". Facebook. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
