Image Not Available

Benguela Railway

AssociatedAssociated with Sir Robert Williams (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1860 - 1938)

Date1907

Object NameAlbum

Mediumpaper

ClassificationsEngineering

DimensionsOverall (Height x Width x Depth): 70 × 281 × 35mm

AcquisitionBequeathed in 1946 by Sir Robert Williams.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS021924

Keywords

About MePhotograph album gifted by J. Norton Griffiths to Robert Williams. A letter at the rear of album is dated 12 December 1907 and describes the Benguela Railway as Robert Williams' "great work". Includes a plan/map of the rail route at the back (with longitudinal section) and shows the construction of the railway and the first ship discharging at Lobito Bay.

Green photograph album with "R.W. FROM J.N.G." inscribed in gold on the front cover, with a map of Southern Africa identifying Lobito Bay, the Benguela Railway, copper belt, Bulawayo, Pretoria and Cape Town. The pages are paper, and the photographs are pasted in and identified with captions written in black ink. 33 pages containing 109 photographs.

Image captions as follows:
Page 1
• Unnamed Panorama (presumed Lobito Bay)
• Unnamed Panorama (presumed Lobito Bay)
Page 2
• First Ship at Lobito Bay, November 1904
• Launching Pontoons at Lobito Bay for discharging Cargo during erection of timber Pier
Page 3 - Lobito Bay (image of sailing dinghy)
Page 4
o Discharging first ship S.S. "Cromarty" with temporary Pontoon Jetty erected in 27 hours
o Timber Jetty, Lobito
o Landing Camels at Jetty for Water carrying
o Lobito’s First Station
Page 5
Standard Type of Locomotive employed: Wheel base, Engine and Tender 46ft 2in; Cylinders 17 in dia. 23 in Stroke; Driving Wheels 3’6 3/4 " dia.; Weight 84 tons
Page 6
o Union Castle and Woermann Liners discharging Railway Material
o Type of Bogie Coaches attached to Material Train for Local Traffic during construction. One of the Cape Government Loco’s purchased by cable running 3 ½ days after arrival.
o Train of Bogie Wagons purchased from Cape Government. Landed as photographed to meet pressure of work.
Page 7
o Standard type of Bogie Passenger Carriage
o Arrival of ship-load of Imported Natives for work on construction
Page 8
o First piece of line towards Coast from Catumbella, laid at rate of mile a day
o Bridging the first River
o Catumbella Bridge. Span 247 feet – Weight 260 tonnes
o Catumbella Bridge & Fort
Page 9
o Local Traffic on Cavaco Bridge
o Bimbus Water Station. From this Station 30,000 gallons of Water daily had been taken up Country during construction on the Waterless Section.
o Type of Hospital Marquee
o Heads of Railway Company’s and Contractor’s staff with Sir Charles Metcalfe in centre.
Page 10
o Lengue Gorge
o Lengue Gorge. Rack Section of 1 in 16 or 6%
o Viaduct No2 in course of construction
o Viaduct No2 in course of construction
Page 11
o Lengue Viaduct No1 showing view of Gorge, rack Section commenced on the right of picture and of Viaduct.
o Lengue Viaduct No3. Extreme end of Rack Section
o Viaduct No1. Span 295 ¼ ft Width 11 ½ ft Weight 141 Tons
o Rack Section between Nos 1 and 2 Viaducts
Page 12 - Viaduct No2 completed, Victoria Falls design. Span 137 ¾ ft Width 15 ½ ft Weight 124 tons
Page 13
o Viaduct No3. Span 236 ft Width 11 ½ ft Weight 123 tons
o Keystone Water Drilling Machine
o View of Rack Section with Rack Engine
o Abutment for Coreteva Viaduct shewing Camels resting after delivering loads of water.
Page 14
o Locomotive "Sir Douglas Fox" at Lobito
o View of Section of Work
o Natal Indians at work. About 2000 Indians were imported from Natal, to supplement local labour.
Page 15
o The only serious accident in three years’ work. The wreck of a material train.
o View of Country at K. 240.
Page 16
o The only serious accident in three years’ work. The wreck of a material train.
o Gang of Indians working on shallow cutting before reaching summit.
Page 17
o Water Depot and Siding
o The largest and smallest Locomotives
o Type of Covered Goods Wagon
o View of Small Kopje
Page 18
o Small Material Train
o Type of Cutting on heavy Section
o Grading up on heavy Section
o Transporting Labour up Country
Page 19
o Temporary Bridge to save delay in Platelaying
o Temporary Bridge to save delay in Platelaying
o Temporary Bridge to save delay in Platelaying
o Nearing easier Country
Page 20
o View of Cutting
o Typical Angola Mountains
o Crossing at K.212.00 Ganda Kubal
Page 21
o Platelaying
o Platelaying
o Platelaying
o Water Carriers Camp on the Waterless Section
Page 22
o No2 Viaduct on Rack Section
o Approaching easier country
o View at K.136
o Railhead Camp, Katingue Summit
Page 23
o Sir Charles Metcalfe, Mr Robins and Mr Griffiths studying contour of Country
o Sir Charles Metcalfe, Mr Robins and Mr Griffiths studying contour of Country
o Sir Charles Metcalfe and party riding through easy country
o Sister Smyth’s Hospital Camp
Page 24
o Earthworks at the end of the Heavy Section, showing view of country ahead.
o Railhead Encampment
o Typical of Plateau, over which an average of a mile a day can be laid.
o Typical view in Angola.
Page 25
o Type of Griffith’s & Cos Transport Wagons
o Construction Camp
o Keystone, Temporary Sidings
o Portuguese Up-country Store
Page 26
o Swimming Horses
o Photograph of ‘Pedro’ the Pet of the Job. This dog is always to be seen approaching the Station before the departure of each scheduled train.
o Encampment during Sir Charles Metcalfe’s Tour of Inspection.
Page 27
o Keystone Drilling Machine, prospecting for Water
o Griffith’s & Cos Staff Head Quarters at Lobito
Page 28 – Visit of Crown Prince of Portugal, Showing Decorations (two photographs)
Page 29
o Visit of Crown Prince of Portugal showing Decorations and Bandstand
o Visit of Crown Prince of Portugal. The Royal Pavilion
Page 30
o S.S. ‘Afric’ on which the Crown Prince of Portugal arrived
o Type of Cutting on heavy section
o Type of Granite Country encountered
Page 31
o Commencement of the Plateau K.380
o Typical View of Plateau K.640
o Typical Valley in Angola
o Typical Angola Country on Bailundu route
o Camp at K.590
o Pets of a survey party
Page 32
o Survey Party Trekking K.490
o Driving Oxen into River Kokema
o Survey Party crossing Kepi River
o Cattle swimming River Kokema
o Survey Party crossing Kokema River K.605
o Granite Formation typical of lower regions of Angola
Page 33
o Koodoo Buck
o Leopard
o Ox Wagons at K.510
o Plateau at K.475
o Chisekele River at K/475