1911 in South Africa

	1911 in South Africa
1908 1909 1910 « 1911 » 1912 1913 1914
List of years in South Africa

Events

April

• 18 – Lusitania, a Portuguese 5,557 ton passenger liner, strikes Bellows Rock just off Cape Point en route from Mozambique to Lisbon and sinks. Only 8 out of the 774 people on board lose their lives.
• 22 – A passenger train from Port Alfred derails on the Blaauwkrantz Bridge and plunges into the ravine 200 feet (61 metres) below, killing 31 and seriously injuring 23.^{[1]:80–83[2][3][4]}
• 27 – Louis Botha and J.B.M. Hertzog establish the South African Party.

Births

• 8 January – Esther Susanna Mentz, soprano and actress, is born in Edenville, Orange Free State.
• Lillian Masediba Ngoyi, "Ma Ngoyi", dressmaker, political activist and trade unionist, is born in Gamatlala near Pretoria.

Deaths

• 4 February – Piet Cronjé, Boer General, dies in Potchefstroom at the age of 74. (b. 1836)
• 28 May – Ds. S.J. du Toit, pioneer of the Afrikaans language, dies in Paarl. (b. 1847)

Railways

Railway lines opened

• 1 March – Transvaal – India Junction to Alberton, 3 miles 51 chains (5.9 kilometres).^[5]
• 13 April – Natal – Umlaas Road to Mid Illovo (Narrow gauge), 27 miles 35 chains (44.2 kilometres).^[5]
• 11 May – Transvaal – Welverdiend to Lichtenburg, 79 miles 77 chains (128.7 kilometres).^[5]
• 31 May – Cape – Eendekuil to Graafwater, 48 miles 10 chains (77.4 kilometres).^[5]
• 2 July – Transvaal – Welgedag to Modderbee, 6 miles 69 chains (11.0 kilometres).^[5]
• 31 July – Transvaal – Ermelo to Piet Retief, 70 miles 13 chains (112.9 kilometres).^[5]
• 15 August – Transvaal – Pietersburg to Bandelierkop, 71 miles 8 chains (114.4 kilometres).^[5]
• 21 August – Cape – Hopefield to Bergrivier (Narrow gauge), 10 miles 50 chains (17.1 kilometres).^[5]
• 4 September – Free State – Sannaspos to Jammerdrif, 53 miles 60 chains (86.5 kilometres).^[5]
• 7 October – Natal – Merrivale to Howick, 2 miles 36 chains (3.9 kilometres).^[5]
• 8 November – Natal – Port Shepstone to Paddock (Narrow gauge), 24 miles 30 chains (39.2 kilometres).^[5]
• 1 December – Cape – Lady Grey to Melk, 9 miles 77 chains (16.0 kilometres).^[5]
• 2 December – Free State – Bethlehem to Reitz, 35 miles 45 chains (57.2 kilometres).^[5]
• 4 December – Transvaal – Coligny to Delareyville, 61 miles 40 chains (99.0 kilometres).^[5]

Locomotives

Cape

• The Cape Government Railways places two 4-8-2 Mountain steam locomotives in service. In 1912 they will be designated Class 4 on the South African Railways (SAR).^{[6]:12–13, 137[7]:38–39}

Natal

• The Natal Government Railways places the first two of seven 4-6-2 Pacific narrow gauge tank steam locomotives in service. On the SAR they will become the Class NG4.^{[7]:101–102, 110}

Transvaal

Two new Cape gauge locomotive types enter service on the Central South African Railways (CSAR):

• Nine 2-6-6-2 Mallet articulated compound steam locomotives. In 1912 they will be designated Class MF by the SAR.^{[6]:16–19, 140[7]:86–87}
• A single experimental 2-6-6-2 Mallet. In 1912 it will become the sole Class MG on the SAR.^{[6]:16–18, 140[7]:87}

References

1. Holland, D.F. (1971). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 1: 1859-1910 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-5382-0.
2. The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 24.
3. Heritage Portal: The Port Alfred to Grahamstown Railway
4. The Port Alfred Kowie Railway 1883-1913
5. Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 186, ref. no. 200954-13
6. Holland, D.F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways, Volume 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
7. Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. ISBN 0869772112.