Ocean Island Railway | |
Linelength: | 3km (02miles) |
Gauge: | , and |
The Ocean Island Railway (later Banaba Island Railway) was a 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1-long guano mining railway on Ocean Island (later renamed Banaba Island). It had an initial gauge of . After 1937, the gauge was widened to and, finally, to .[1]
The 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]
Initially, 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]
Manufacturer | Type | Works No | Year | Gauge | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
610 mm | Saddle tank locomotive | |||||
9880 | 1922 | 610mm | No 11 | |||
O&K | 11174 | 1926 | 610mm | Location unknown, possibly on another island | ||
O&K | 11291 | 1926 | 610mm | Location unknown, possibly on another island | ||
O&K | 11585 | 1928 | 610mm | |||
O&K | 11586 | 1928 | 610mm | |||
O&K | 12678 | 1935 | 610mm | No 7 | ||
O&K | 12887 | 1937 | 914mm | |||
O&K | 12888 | 1937 | 914mm | |||
O&K | B-t | 12889 | 1937 | 914mm | ||
O&K | 12890 | 1937 | 914mm | |||
O&K | 12891 | 1937 | 914mm | |||
O&K | 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) |