Port Shepstone railway station
Encyclopedia
Port Shepstone railway station is a closed railway station located in Port Shepstone, South Africa
.
The station served as both the southern terminus of 111 kilometres (69 mi) line from to Durban
, as well as the southern coastal terminus of the narrow gauge
Alfred County Railway to Harding, KwaZulu-Natal
. Opened for operations in 1917, it also served the port facilities of the local docks.
After the standard gauge Transnet
passenger services shut in 1986, the ACR continued operations until 2005, when the famous Banana Express ceased operation.
Today, the station purely acts as turning/shunting point for the thrice-weekly Transnet Freight Rail limestone
traffic to Saiccor. As a result, the station still houses a diesel shunter. It also acts as the storage point for the unused carriages of the Blue Train
, which have been vandalised through a lack of permanent staffing of the site.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The station served as both the southern terminus of 111 kilometres (69 mi) line from to Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, as well as the southern coastal terminus of the narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
Alfred County Railway to Harding, KwaZulu-Natal
Harding, KwaZulu-Natal
Harding is a town situated in the Mzimkulwana River valley, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Harding was established as a military outpost following the United Kingdom's annexation of East Griqualand in 1874 and was named after the first chief of justice for Natal, Sir Walter Harding.Timber and dairy...
. Opened for operations in 1917, it also served the port facilities of the local docks.
After the standard gauge Transnet
Transnet
Transnet SOC Ltd is a large South African rail, port and pipeline company, headquartered in the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg. It was formed as a limited company on April 1, 1990. A majority of the company's stock is owned by the Department of Public Enterprises, or DPE, of the South African...
passenger services shut in 1986, the ACR continued operations until 2005, when the famous Banana Express ceased operation.
Today, the station purely acts as turning/shunting point for the thrice-weekly Transnet Freight Rail limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
traffic to Saiccor. As a result, the station still houses a diesel shunter. It also acts as the storage point for the unused carriages of the Blue Train
Blue Train (South Africa)
The Blue Train travels an approximately journey in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. It is one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world...
, which have been vandalised through a lack of permanent staffing of the site.