In September 1859 Messrs. E. & J. Pickering, contractors to the Cape Town Railway and Dock Company for the construction of the Cape Town-Wellington Railway, imported a small 0-4-2WT well-tank steam locomotive from England for use during the construction of the railway. This locomotive, later to become the Cape Town-Wellington Railway’s engine number 9, was the first locomotive in South Africa. In 1872 the Cape Government took over the operation of all railways and the Cape Town-Wellington and Salt River-Wynberg lines were amalgamated into the Cape Government Railways. No. 9 remained on the Wellington line until June 1874, when it was shipped to the Kowie to assist with construction at the Port Alfred harbour.
See also the Wikipedia article on the South African "Blackie" 0-4-2WT. |