Southern Province Railway

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Southern Province Railway
Overview
Status	closed
History
Opened	1949
Closed	1963
Technical
Line length	275 km (171 mi)
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Route map Legend 0,7 Mtwara Harbour 0 0 Mtwara 9,5 Ufokoni 16,0 Mikindani to Karimjee Sisal plantation 32,3 Namgongoni 38,5 Mbuo 46,6 Mpapura 53,0 Mchicha 56,3 Libobe 61,2 Namuhi 69,4 Kitere 75,5 Nyamgamara 91,6 Kilidu 27,8 Lindi Creek 27,1 Lindi to Lindi Sisal Estates 14,0 Mingoyo 10,0 Mkwaya 0 106,3 Ruo Lukuledi Mtua-Narunyu Sisal-Plantage 118,9 Mtua 131,9 Mtama 143,1 Mahima 152,5 Mkwera 160,8 Nangana 186,7 0 Chilungula 210,7 Nachingwea 12,0 Kilometer 12 Lukuledi 17,6 Lukuledi 30,0 Marambo 37,0 Masasi

The Southern Province Railway was a

. The isolated network operated without connection to the national network. Because of the failure of the Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme the rail system was deprived of its economic existence. After the independence of Tanzania, operations were ceased in February 1963 and the line was abandoned.

Construction

The main reason for the construction was the

.

When the Overseas Food Cooperation ran into financial difficulties in 1952, the railroad was merged with the East African Railways and expanded to a network. As of 1954, the newly built harbor and the port city of Mtwara was connected with Mikindani. In 1958 the route Chilungula-Masasi was constructed.

Rolling stock

Both steam (the series RV/21, G and NZ) and diesel

was used.

See also

• History of rail transport in Tanzania

References

• Burton, David (2014). The Groundnut Line: The Story of the Southern Province Railway of Tanganyika. Telford, Shropshire: David Burton.